Reading Help HAMLET, PRINCE OF DENMARK
Hor. `
` Heaven will direct it. `
` `
` Mar. `
` Nay, let's follow him. `
` `
` [Exeunt.] `
` `
` `
` `
` Scene V. A more remote part of the Castle. `
` `
` [Enter Ghost and Hamlet.] `
` `
` Ham. `
` Whither wilt thou lead me? speak! I'll go no further. `
` `
` Ghost. `
` Mark me. `
` `
` Ham. `
` I will. `
` `
` Ghost. `
` My hour is almost come, `
` When I to sulph'uous and tormenting flames `
` Must render up myself. `
` `
` Ham. `
` Alas, poor ghost! `
` `
` Ghost. `
` Pity me not, but lend thy serious hearing `
` To what I shall unfold. `
` `
` Ham. `
` Speak;I am bound to hear. `
` `
` Ghost. `
` So art thou to revenge, when thou shalt hear. `
` `
` Ham. `
` What? `
` `
` Ghost. `
` I am thy father's spirit; `
` Doom'd for a certain term to walk the night, `
` And for the day confin'd to wastein fires, `
` Till the foul crimes done in my days of nature `
` Are burnt and purg'd away. But that I am forbid `
` To tell the secrets of my prison-house, `
` I could a tale unfold whose lightest word `
` Would harrow up thy soul; freeze thy young blood; `
` Make thy two eyes, like stars, start from their spheres; `
` Thy knotted and combined locks to part, `
` And each particular hair to stand on end `
` Like quills upon the fretful porcupine: `
` But this eternal blazon must not be `
` To ears of flesh and blood.--List, list, O, list!-- `
` If thou didst ever thy dear father love-- `
` `
` Ham. `
` O God! `
` `
` Ghost. `
` Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder. `
` `
` Ham. `
` Murder! `
` `
` Ghost. `
` Murder most foul, as in the best it is; `
` But this most foul, strange, and unnatural. `
` `
` Ham. `
` Haste me to know't, that I, with wings as swift `
` As meditation or the thoughts of love, `
` May sweep to my revenge. `
` `
` Ghost. `
` I find thee apt; `
` And duller shouldst thou be than the fat weed `
` That rots itself in ease on Lethe wharf, `
` Wouldst thou not stir in this. Now, Hamlet, hear. `
` 'Tis given out that, sleeping in my orchard, `
` A serpent stung me; so the whole ear of Denmark `
` Is by a forged process of my death `
` Rankly abus'd; but know, thou noble youth, `
` The serpent that did sting thy father's life `
` Now wears his crown. `
` `
` Ham. `
` O my prophetic soul! `
` Mine uncle! `
` `
` Ghost. `
` Ay, that incestuous, that adulterate beast, `
` With witchcraft of his wit, with traitorous gifts,-- `
` O wicked wit and gifts, that have the power `
` So to seduce!--won to his shameful lust `
` The will of my most seeming-virtuous queen: `
` O Hamlet, what a falling-off was there! `
` From me, whose love was of that dignity `
` That it went hand in hand even with the vow `
` I made to her in marriage; and to decline `
` Upon a wretch whose natural gifts were poor `
` To those of mine! `
` But virtue, as it never will be mov'd, `
` Though lewdness court it in a shape of heaven; `
` So lust, though to a radiant angel link'd, `
` Will sate itself in a celestial bed `
` And prey on garbage. `
` But soft! methinks I scent the morning air; `
` Brief let me be.--Sleeping within my orchard, `
` My custom always of the afternoon, `
` Upon my secure hour thy uncle stole, `
` With juice of cursed hebenon in a vial, `
` And in the porches of my ears did pour `
` The leperous distilment; whose effect `
` Holds such an enmity with blood of man `
` That, swift as quicksilver, it courses through `
` The natural gates and alleys of the body; `
` And with a sudden vigour it doth posset `
` And curd, like eager droppings into milk, `
` The thin and wholesome blood; so did it mine; `
` And a most instant tetter bark'd about, `
` Most lazar-like, with vile and loathsome crust `
` All my smooth body. `
` Thus was I, sleeping, by a brother's hand, `
` Of life, of crown, of queen, at once dispatch'd: `
` Cut off even in the blossoms of my sin, `
` Unhous'led, disappointed, unanel'd; `
` No reckoning made, but sent to my account `
` With all my imperfections on my head: `
` O, horrible! O, horrible! most horrible! `
` If thou hast nature in thee, bear it not; `
` Let not the royal bed of Denmark be `
` A couch for luxury and damned incest. `
` But, howsoever thou pursu'st this act, `
` Taint not thy mind, nor let thy soul contrive `
` Against thy mother aught: leave her to heaven, `
` And to those thorns that in her bosom lodge, `
` To prick and sting her. Fare thee well at once! `
` The glowworm shows the matin to be near, `
` And 'gins to pale his uneffectual fire: `
` Adieu, adieu! Hamlet, remember me. `
` `
` [Exit.] `
` `
` Ham. `
` O all you host of heaven! O earth! what else? `
` And shall I couple hell? O, fie!--Hold, my heart; `
` And you, my sinews, grow not instant old, `
` But bear me stiffly up.--Remember thee! `
` Ay, thou poor ghost, while memory holds a seat `
` In this distracted globe. Remember thee! `
` Yea, from the table of my memory `
` I'll wipe away all trivial fond records, `
` All saws of books, all forms, all pressures past, `
` That youth and observation copied there; `
` And thy commandment all alone shall live `
` Within the book and volume of my brain, `
` Unmix'd with baser matter: yes, by heaven!-- `
` O most pernicious woman! `
` O villain, villain, smiling, damned villain! `
` My tables,--meet it is I set it down, `
` That one may smile, and smile, and be a villain; `
` At least, I am sure, it may be so in Denmark: `
` `
` [Writing.] `
` `
` So, uncle, there you are. Now to my word; `
` It is 'Adieu, adieu! remember me:' `
` I have sworn't. `
` `
` Hor. `
` [Within.] My lord, my lord,-- `
` `
` Mar. `
` [Within.] Lord Hamlet,-- `
` `
` Hor. `
` [Within.] Heaven secure him! `
` `
` Ham. `
` So be it! `
` `
` Mar. `
` [Within.] Illo, ho, ho, my lord! `
` `
` Ham. `
` Hillo, ho, ho, boy! Come, bird, come. `
` `
` [Enter Horatio and Marcellus.] `
` `
` Mar. `
` How is't, my noble lord? `
` `
` Hor. `
` What news, my lord? `
` `
`
` Heaven will direct it. `
` `
` Mar. `
` Nay, let's follow him. `
` `
` [Exeunt.] `
` `
` `
` `
` Scene V. A more remote part of the Castle. `
` `
` [Enter Ghost and Hamlet.] `
` `
` Ham. `
` Whither wilt thou lead me? speak! I'll go no further. `
` `
` Ghost. `
` Mark me. `
` `
` Ham. `
` I will. `
` `
` Ghost. `
` My hour is almost come, `
` When I to sulph'uous and tormenting flames `
` Must render up myself. `
` `
` Ham. `
` Alas, poor ghost! `
` `
` Ghost. `
` Pity me not, but lend thy serious hearing `
` To what I shall unfold. `
` `
` Ham. `
` Speak;I am bound to hear. `
` `
` Ghost. `
` So art thou to revenge, when thou shalt hear. `
` `
` Ham. `
` What? `
` `
` Ghost. `
` I am thy father's spirit; `
` Doom'd for a certain term to walk the night, `
` And for the day confin'd to wastein fires, `
` Till the foul crimes done in my days of nature `
` Are burnt and purg'd away. But that I am forbid `
` To tell the secrets of my prison-house, `
` I could a tale unfold whose lightest word `
` Would harrow up thy soul; freeze thy young blood; `
` Make thy two eyes, like stars, start from their spheres; `
` Thy knotted and combined locks to part, `
` And each particular hair to stand on end `
` Like quills upon the fretful porcupine: `
` But this eternal blazon must not be `
` To ears of flesh and blood.--List, list, O, list!-- `
` If thou didst ever thy dear father love-- `
` `
` Ham. `
` O God! `
` `
` Ghost. `
` Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder. `
` `
` Ham. `
` Murder! `
` `
` Ghost. `
` Murder most foul, as in the best it is; `
` But this most foul, strange, and unnatural. `
` `
` Ham. `
` Haste me to know't, that I, with wings as swift `
` As meditation or the thoughts of love, `
` May sweep to my revenge. `
` `
` Ghost. `
` I find thee apt; `
` And duller shouldst thou be than the fat weed `
` That rots itself in ease on Lethe wharf, `
` Wouldst thou not stir in this. Now, Hamlet, hear. `
` 'Tis given out that, sleeping in my orchard, `
` A serpent stung me; so the whole ear of Denmark `
` Is by a forged process of my death `
` Rankly abus'd; but know, thou noble youth, `
` The serpent that did sting thy father's life `
` Now wears his crown. `
` `
` Ham. `
` O my prophetic soul! `
` Mine uncle! `
` `
` Ghost. `
` Ay, that incestuous, that adulterate beast, `
` With witchcraft of his wit, with traitorous gifts,-- `
` O wicked wit and gifts, that have the power `
` So to seduce!--won to his shameful lust `
` The will of my most seeming-virtuous queen: `
` O Hamlet, what a falling-off was there! `
` From me, whose love was of that dignity `
` That it went hand in hand even with the vow `
` I made to her in marriage; and to decline `
` Upon a wretch whose natural gifts were poor `
` To those of mine! `
` But virtue, as it never will be mov'd, `
` Though lewdness court it in a shape of heaven; `
` So lust, though to a radiant angel link'd, `
` Will sate itself in a celestial bed `
` And prey on garbage. `
` But soft! methinks I scent the morning air; `
` Brief let me be.--Sleeping within my orchard, `
` My custom always of the afternoon, `
` Upon my secure hour thy uncle stole, `
` With juice of cursed hebenon in a vial, `
` And in the porches of my ears did pour `
` The leperous distilment; whose effect `
` Holds such an enmity with blood of man `
` That, swift as quicksilver, it courses through `
` The natural gates and alleys of the body; `
` And with a sudden vigour it doth posset `
` And curd, like eager droppings into milk, `
` The thin and wholesome blood; so did it mine; `
` And a most instant tetter bark'd about, `
` Most lazar-like, with vile and loathsome crust `
` All my smooth body. `
` Thus was I, sleeping, by a brother's hand, `
` Of life, of crown, of queen, at once dispatch'd: `
` Cut off even in the blossoms of my sin, `
` Unhous'led, disappointed, unanel'd; `
` No reckoning made, but sent to my account `
` With all my imperfections on my head: `
` O, horrible! O, horrible! most horrible! `
` If thou hast nature in thee, bear it not; `
` Let not the royal bed of Denmark be `
` A couch for luxury and damned incest. `
` But, howsoever thou pursu'st this act, `
` Taint not thy mind, nor let thy soul contrive `
` Against thy mother aught: leave her to heaven, `
` And to those thorns that in her bosom lodge, `
` To prick and sting her. Fare thee well at once! `
` The glowworm shows the matin to be near, `
` And 'gins to pale his uneffectual fire: `
` Adieu, adieu! Hamlet, remember me. `
` `
` [Exit.] `
` `
` Ham. `
` O all you host of heaven! O earth! what else? `
` And shall I couple hell? O, fie!--Hold, my heart; `
` And you, my sinews, grow not instant old, `
` But bear me stiffly up.--Remember thee! `
` Ay, thou poor ghost, while memory holds a seat `
` In this distracted globe. Remember thee! `
` Yea, from the table of my memory `
` I'll wipe away all trivial fond records, `
` All saws of books, all forms, all pressures past, `
` That youth and observation copied there; `
` And thy commandment all alone shall live `
` Within the book and volume of my brain, `
` Unmix'd with baser matter: yes, by heaven!-- `
` O most pernicious woman! `
` O villain, villain, smiling, damned villain! `
` My tables,--meet it is I set it down, `
` That one may smile, and smile, and be a villain; `
` At least, I am sure, it may be so in Denmark: `
` `
` [Writing.] `
` `
` So, uncle, there you are. Now to my word; `
` It is 'Adieu, adieu! remember me:' `
` I have sworn't. `
` `
` Hor. `
` [Within.] My lord, my lord,-- `
` `
` Mar. `
` [Within.] Lord Hamlet,-- `
` `
` Hor. `
` [Within.] Heaven secure him! `
` `
` Ham. `
` So be it! `
` `
` Mar. `
` [Within.] Illo, ho, ho, my lord! `
` `
` Ham. `
` Hillo, ho, ho, boy! Come, bird, come. `
` `
` [Enter Horatio and Marcellus.] `
` `
` Mar. `
` How is't, my noble lord? `
` `
` Hor. `
` What news, my lord? `
` `
`