The Cambridge Shakespeare (Cambridge Library Collection - Literary Studies) (Volume 8)

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The Cambridge Shakespeare Volume 8 William Shakespeare E dited by William George C l ark and William Aldis Wright

C A m b R I D G E U N I V E R SI t y P R E S S Cambridge, New york, melbourne, madrid, Cape town, Singapore, São Paolo, Delhi, Dubai, tokyo Published in the United States of America by Cambridge University Press, New york www.cambridge.org Information on this title: www.cambridge.org/9781108000857 © in this compilation Cambridge University Press 2009 This edition first published 1866 This digitally printed version 2009 ISbN 978-1-108-00085-7 Paperback This book reproduces the text of the original edition. The content and language reflect the beliefs, practices and terminology of their time, and have not been updated. Cambridge University Press wishes to make clear that the book, unless originally published by Cambridge, is not being republished by, in association or collaboration with, or with the endorsement or approval of, the original publisher or its successors in title.

THE

WORKS

OF

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE.

THE WORKS OF

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE EDITED BY

WILLIAM GEORGE CLARK, M.A. FELLOW AND TUTOR OF TRINITY COLLEGE, AND PUBLIC ORATOR IN THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE ;

AND WILLIAM ALDIS WRIGHT, M.A. LIBRARIAN OF TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE.

VOLUME VIII.

UonKon anti <£ambrfoge: MACMILLAN AND CO. 1866.

CONTENTS.

PAGE

T H E Preface HAMLET

Notes to Hamlet The Tragicall Historie of Hamlet Prince of Denmarke . KING LEAR

Notes to King Lear OTHELLO

Notes to Othello

vii 3

185 .197 249

427 437

593

PREFACE.

i. T H E earliest edition of with the following title-page:

HAMLET

appeared in 1603,

I Tragicall Historie of | HAMLET | Prince of Denmai'ke By William Shake-speare. | As it hath beene diuerse times a6led by his Highnesse ser- | uants in the Cittie of London: as also in the two V- j niuersities of Cambridge and Oxford, and else-where | At London printed for N : L. and Iohn Trundell. | 1603. THE

We refer to it as (Qx). A copy of this edition belonged to Sir Thomas Hanmer, though he does not appear to have mentioned it in his notes to Shakespeare or in his correspondence, and its existence was not known till his library came into the possession of Sir E. H. Bunbury in 1821. In a copy of the Reprint of 1825, now at Barton, Sir E. H. Bunbury wrote the following note: 'The only copy of this edition of Hamlet (1603) which is known to be in existence was found by me in the Library at Barton when it came into my possession in 1821. The Hamlet was bound up with ten others of the small 4to editions of Shakespeare's Plays (1598 to 1603) and with The Two Noble Kinsmen (1634). Most of these were complete. I sold the volume in Dec. 1824 for £180 to Messrs Payne and Foss, who resold it to the Duke of Devonshire for ^"230/ This copy wanted the last leaf containing the 22 concluding lines. A second copy, wanting the title-page but otherwise perfe6l; was discovered in 1856 by Mr W. H. b 2

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Rooney of Dublin. ' It was bought/ says Mr Timmins, 'by Mr Rooney from a student of Trinity College, Dublin, who had brought it from Nottinghamshire with his other books. After reprinting the last leaf, Mr Rooney sold the pamphlet to Mr Boone for £?o, from whom Mr J. O. Halliwell bought it for £120, and it is now in the British Museum/ We have reprinted this edition, and recorded in footnotes the few discrepancies which are found between the two copies An extremely accurate reprint was made from the Devonshire copy in 1825, and it was lithographed in facsimile, with the addition of the missing leaf, in 1858, under the direction of Mr Collier and at the expense of the Duke. In i860 Mr J. Allen, Junr., reprinted this edition and the Quarto of 1604, placing the corresponding passages as nearly as possible on opposite pages, with a preface by Mr Samuel Timmins. The edition of 1603 is obviously a very imperfect reprodu6lion of the play, and there is every reason to believe that it was printed from a manuscript surreptitiously obtained. This manuscript may have been compiled in the first instance from short hand notes taken during the representation,, but there are many errors in the printed text which seem like errors of a copyist rather than of a hearer. Compare for example lines 37, 38 of Scene III. of our Reprint, p. 205, with the corresponding lines of the more perfe6l drama as it was printed in the Quarto of 1604, Act I. Scene 3, lines 73, 74, p. 26. In the Quarto of 1603 the passage runs thus: And they of France of the chiefe rancke and station Are of a most select and generall chiefe in that: In that of 1604: ' And they in Fraunce of the best ranck and station, Or of a most seleft and generous, chiefe in that:' It is clear that the corruption in both passages is due to an error in the transcript from which both were copied. Probably the author had originally written:

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ix

And they in France of the best rank and station Are most sele6l and generous in that:'

and then given between the lines or in the margin, 'of/ 'chief meaning these as alternative readings for ' i n ' and ' b e s t ' in the first line. The transcriber by mistake inserted them in the second line. A few lines above both Quartos give courage' for ' comrade,' a mistake due undoubtedly to the eye and not to the ear. We believe then that the defe6ls of the manuscript from which the Quarto of 1603 w a s printed had been in part at least supplemented by a reference to the authentic copy in the library of the theatre. Very probably the man employed for this purpose was some inferior a6lor or servant, who would necessarily work in haste and by stealth, and in any case would not be likely to work very conscientiously for the printer or bookseller who was paying him to deceive his masters. The Quarto of 1604, which we call Q2, has the following title-page : THE I Tragicall Historie of | HAMLET, | Prince o/Denmarke. By William Shakespeare. | Newly imprinted and enlarged to almost as much | againe as it was, according to the true and perfe6l | Coppie. I AT LONDON, | Printed by I. R. for N. L. and are to be sold at his | shoppe vnder Saint Dunstons Church in | Fleetstreet. 1604.

The printer 'I. R.' was no doubt, as Mr Collier says, James Roberts, who had made an entry in the books of the Stationers' company as early as July 26, 1602, of ( A booke, The Revenge of Hamlett prince of Denmarke, as yt was latelie a6led by the Lord Chamberleyn his servantes.' For some unknown reason the proje6led edition was delayed, and in the mean time the popularity of the play encouraged N. L., i. e. Nicholas Ling, and the other publisher, Trundell, to undertake a surreptitious edition. In the interval between the two editions Shakespeare seems to have changed the names of some of his Dramatis

X

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Persons, substituting 'Polonius' for < Corambis' and 'Reynaldo' for 'Montano/ He may also have changed the order of one or two scenes, and here and there erased or inserted a few lines, but we think that no substantial change was made, and that the chief differences between (Qx) and Q2 are only such as might be expe6led between a bona fide, and a mala fide, transcription. The Quarto of 1605, which we call Q3, is not, properly speaking, a new edition, being printed from the same forms as Q2, and differing from it no more than one copy of the same edition may differ from another. The title-page differs only in the date, where 1605 is substituted for 1604. Another Quarto, our Q4, printed in 1611, bears a titlepage which does not substantially differ from that of Q3, except that it is said to be: 6 Printed for lohn Smethwicke, and are to be sold at his shoppe I in Saint Dunstons Church-yeard in Fleetstreet. | Under the Diall. 1611. j '

Another Quarto, without date, is said on the title-page to be 'Newly imprinted and inlarged, according to the true [ and perfe6l Copy lastly Printed,' and to be 'Printed by W. S. for lohn Smethwickc! Otherwise the title-page is identical with that of Q4. Mr Collier supposes this undated Quarto to have been printed in 1607, because there is an entry in the Stationers' books of that year and no edition with that date is known to exist. We are convinced however that the undated Quarto was printed from that of 1611, and we have therefore called it Q5. Another Quarto, printed 'by R. Young for John Smcthtuickc,' was published in 1637. This we call O(, It is printed from Q5, though the spelling is considerably modernized and the punftuation amended. The symbol Qq signifies the agreement of O , O , O ~5 a n d Q«Besides these, several editions, usually known as Players' Quartos, were printed at the end of the seventeenth and beginning of the following century. Of these we have had before us during our collation, editions of 1676, 1685, 1695

PREFA CE.

xi

and 1703. These we call respe&ively Q(i6y6)y Q(i68s), Q(i695) and Q(i7O3). We have given all readings which seemed in any way remarkable, though we need scarcely say that the changes made in these editions have no authority whatever. It is however worthy of notice that many emendations usually attributed to Rowe and Tope are really derived from one or other of these Players' Quartos. When we give a reading as belonging to one of these Quartos, it is to be understood that it occurs there for the first time and that all the subsequent Quartos adopt it The text of Hamlet given in the Folio of 1623 is not derived from any of the previously existing Quartos, but from an independent manuscript Many passages are found in the Folio which do not appear in any of the Quartos. On the other hand many passages found in the Quartos are not found in the Folio. It is to be remarked that several of those which appear in the Folio and not in the Quarto of 1604 or its successors, are found in an imperfe6l form in the Quarto of 1603, and therefore are not subsequent additions. Both the Quarto text of 1604 and the Folio text of 1623 seem to have been derived from manuscripts of the play curtailed, and curtailed differently, for purposes of representation. Therefore in giving in our text all the passages from both Folio and Quarto we are reproducing, as near as may be, the work as it was originally written by Shakespeare, or rather as finally retouched by him after the spurious edition of 1603. We have been unable to procure a copy of the Quarto edition of this play, edited in 1703 by 'the accurate Mr John Hughs' (Theobald's Shakespeare Restored, p. 26), and have therefore quoted the readings of it on Theobald's authority. It is different from the Players' Quarto of 1703, and is not mentioned in Bohn's edition of Lowndes's Bidliographers Manual No copy of it exists in the British Museum, the Bodleian, the library of the Duke of Devonshire, the Capell colleftion, or any other to which we have had access. We have to thank Dr G M. Ingleby for the loan of

xu

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several editions of Hamlet which we should otherwise have had difficulty in procuring. 2. K I N G L E A R first appeared in 1608. In this year there were two editions in Quarto. One bears the following title: M. William Shake-speare, | HIS | True Chronicle History of the life | and death of King Lear, and his | three Daughters. With the vnfortunate life of EDGAR, | sonne and heire to the Earle of Glocester, and | his sullen and assumed humour of TOM | of Bedlam. | As it was plaid before the Kings Maiesty at WhiteHall, vp- I on S. Stephens night, in Christmas Hollidaies. | By his Maiesties Seruants, playing vsually at the | Globe on the Banckside. I Printed for Nathaniel Butter. | 1608.

The printer's device is that of J. Roberts. This we have called Qx. In the few instances in which there are differences between Capell's copy and that in the Duke of Devonshire's library, we have distinguished the readings as those of Q, (Cap.) and Qx (Dev.) respectively. Through the kindness of Sir S. Morton Peto and Mr Lilly, we have been enabled to collate two other copies, but without discovering any variations from that in the Capell collection. In the same year another Quarto edition of this play was issued by the same publisher. Its title is as follows: M. William Shak-speare: | HIS | True Chronicle Historie of the life and | death of King LEAR and his three | Daughters. | With the vnfortunate life of Edgar, so/itic | and heire to the Earle of Gloster, and his I sullen and assumed humor of | TOM of Bedlam: | As it was played before the Kings Maiestie at Whitehall vpon I S. Stephans night in Christmas Hollidayes. \ By his Maiesties seruants playing vsually at the Gloabe | on the Bancke-side. LONDON, I Printed for Nathaniel Butter, and are to be sold at his shop in Pauls | Church-yard at the signe of the Pide Bull neere | S'. Austins Gate. 1608. |

We have called this Q2. In the six copies we have collated there are a large number of very curious and import-

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xiii

ant variations. To distinguish them we have made use of the following notation. 1. Q2 (Cap.). The copy in Capell's collection. 2. Q2 (Dev.). The copy in the Library of the Duke of Devonshire. 3. Q2 (Mus. per.). seum (C. 34. K. 18).

A perfect copy in the British Mu-

4. Q2 (Mus. imp.). An imperfe6l copy (wanting title) in the British Museum (C. 34. K. 17); formerly in the possession of Mr Halliwell. 5. Q2 (Bodl. 1). A copy in the Bodleian Library (Malone 35), with the title, but wanting the last leaf. 6. Q2 (Bodl. 2). A copy in the Bodleian Library (Malone 2>7)y wanting title but having the last leaf. It has been supposed in consequence of statements made by Malone and Boswell that a third edition of King Lear was published in 1608. We shall show that there is no evidence for this. In the Variorum Shakespeare (11. 652), edited by Boswell in 1821, three Quartos are described, which are distinguished in the notes to the play by the letters A, B, C, respectively. The first of these is a copy of Q2, quoted by us as Q2 (Bodl. 1); the second is a copy of Qx; and the third, which is in reality another copy of Q2 and is quoted by us as Q3 (Bodl. 2), is described as follows: "Title the same as the two former, except that like the first it begins at signature B: and like the second, has no reference to the place of sale." This statement of Boswell's is taken from a note in Malone's handwriting prefixed to the copy in question, which we transcribe. "This copy of King Lear differs in some particulars from the two others in Vol. IV. " The title-page of it is the same as the second of those copies, that is, it has no dire6lion to the place of sale, and the first signat. is B,—notwithstanding which there arc

xiv

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minute diversities; thus, in this copy in H 3 verso, we have ' A foole vsurps my bed'; in the other whose first signature is also B, we find—' My foote usurps my body\ and in the copy without any direction to the place of sale (whose first signature is A) 'My foote usurps my head'." Now it is a little remarkable that at present the copy has no title-page at all, and there is no trace of the titlepage having been removed since the volume has been in its present condition. The probability is that the title was originally wanting and that one had been supplied from a copy of Qt before it came into Malone's hands, and that while it was in this condition he wrote the above note upon it. It was then sent to be bound in a volume with other quartos, and the title may have been lost at the binder's, or may have been intentionally removed as not belonging to the book. That alterations were made by the binder is evident from the fa6l that the copy to which Malone refers as the second of those in Vol. IV. is in reality the first Malone, writing his note when Vol. IV. was arranged for binding, described the then order of the plays, which must afterwards have been altered. In any case, however Malone's statement is to be accounted for, it is quite clear that Boswell must have described the Quarto after it was bound, when the title could not have existed. We have said that Boswell quotes the three Quartos of Lear, now in the Bodleian, by the letters A, B, C, respectively. In doing so, however, he is not consistent. We record his mistakes that others may not be misled by them. Bearing in mind therefore that A = Q2 (Bodl. i), B = QX, and C = 0 2 (Bodl. 2), we find in A6t 11. Scene 2 (Vol. X. p. 97) < Quarto B, atisrent; Quarto A, reads wirevermt.' Here B and A should change places. In Act III. Scene 7 (p. 188), 'Quarto A omits roguish:' for A read C. In Act IV. Scene 2 (p. 199), for 'Quartos B and C, the whistling; read 'Quarto C alone. In Act IV. Scene 6 (p. 220) B and A should again be interchanged. In Aft V. Scene 3 (p. 277), 'Quarto A omits this line'; for A read B. It will be seen from these instances that A has been in turn made to represent three different copies.

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xv

The differences in various copies of Q2 are accounted for by supposing that the corrections were made before the sheets were all worked off, and that the corre6led and uncorre6led sheets were bound up indiscriminately. It will be observed that the readings of the uncorre£ted sheets of Q2 agree for the most part with those of O2, and this led us to the conclusion which had previously been arrived at by Capell and also by J. P. Kemble, that the edition which we have called Qx was the earlier of the two printed in the same year. But upon collating a copy of Q2 in the Bodleian, which we have called Q2 (Bodl. i), we found evidence which points to an opposite conclusion. In Kent's soliloquy (II. 2. 160) that copy, as will be seen in our notes, reads, nothing almost sees my rackles But miserie, &c. which of course is an accidental corruption, by displacement of the type, of 'myrackles' (i.e. 'miracles') the true reading. In the corrected copies of Q2 this is altered, apparently by the printer's conje6lure, to 'my wracke', which is also the reading of QT. Throughout the sheet in which this occurs the readings of QT agree with the corrected copies of O2, and had it not been for the instance quoted, we might have supposed that the corrections in the latter were made from Qz. But the corruption 'my rackles' for 'miracles' must have come from the original MS., and 'my wracke' is only a conjectural emendation, so that the order of succession in this sheet at least appears to be the following. First the uncorrected copy of 0 2 , then the same corrected, and lastly QT. On the other hand it is remarkable that Qiy if printed from Q2 at all, must have been printed from a copy made up, with the exception just mentioned from II. I. 128 to II. 4. 133, and another containing from IV. 6. 224 to V. 3. 64, of uncorre6led sheets. Another hypothesis which might be made is that Qx and Q2 were printed from the same manuscript, and that the printer of Qx corrupted 'miracles' into 'my wracke', while the printer of 0 2 made it 'my rackles', which was afterwards altered by a refer-

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ence to Qx. The question, however, is very difficult to decide, and at most is one rather of bibliographical curiosity than of critical importance. We may mention that, without giving the reasons for his conclusion, Jennens, in his edition of Lear in 1770, quotes as the 1st Quarto that which we have called Q2 and vice versa. A third Quarto, which we have called Q3, was printed very carelessly page for page from Qj and published in 1655In the first Folio King Lear was printed from an independent manuscript, and its text is on the whole much superior to that of the Quartos. Each however supplies passages which are wanting in the other. Capell appears to have prepared the play for press in the first instance from Pope's first edition. The manuscript readings and stage dire6lions, marked in his copy of that edition but not adopted in his own, we have quoted as ' Capell 3. O T H E L L O was first printed in Quarto in 1622 with the following title: THE I Tragoedy of Othello, | The Moore of Venice. | As it hath beene diverse times afted at the | Globe, and at the BlackFriers, by I his Maiesties Seruants. \ Written by William Shakespeare. I LONDON, I Printed by N O. for Thomas Walkley, and are to be sold at his | shop, at the Eagle and Child, in Brittans Bursse. | 1622. j

To this edition which we call Q x , the following preface was affixed by the publisher: The Stationer to the Reader. To set forth a booke without an Epistle, were like to the old English prouerbe, A blew coat without a badge, 6- the Author being dead, / thought good to take that piece of workc vpon wee: To commend it, L will not, for that which is good, I hope euery man will commend, without intreaty: and I am the bolder, because the Authors name is sufficient to vent his workc. Thus leauing euery one to the

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xvii

liberty of iudgement: I haue ventered to print this Play, and leaue it to the gemrall censure. Yours,

Thomas Walkley. This first Quarto contains many oaths and expletives, which in all the later editions are altered or omitted. This shows that the MS. from which it was printed had not been recently used as an a6ling copy. Many passages are omitted in Qx, by accident or design, and some which we find only in the later editions look like afterthoughts of the author. The title-page of the second Quarto is letter for letter the same as the first, except that it has the following imprint: LONDON, | Printed by A. M. for Richard Hawkins, and are to be sold at | his shoppe in Chancery-Lane, neere SergeantsInne. I 1630.

Of this Quarto, which we term Q2, Mr Collier says: 'It was unquestionably printed from a manuscript different from that used for the Quarto of 1622, or for the Folio of 1623/ But after a minute comparison of the two it appears to us clear that the Quarto of 1630 must have been printed from a copy of the Quarto of 1622, which had received additions and corre6lions in manuscript. The resemblances between the two are too close to allow of any other supposition. These additions and corre6lions, though agreeing for the most part with the first Folio, which had appeared in the interval, were derived from an independent source. The third Quarto, which we refer to as Q3, was printed from the second, and is called ' The Fourth Edition/ It has the following imprint: L ONDON, I Printed for William Leak at the Crown in Fleet- \ street, between the two Temple Gates, 1655

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Jennens, in his edition of Othello, published in 1773, was not aware of the existence of the Quarto of 1630, and quotes as the readings of the second Quarto those of the edition of 1655. An edition in Quarto, without date, is quoted by Capell on the authority of Pope; but on reference to Pope's list it appears that, though he has omitted the date, he refers to the Quarto of 1622, which contains the publisher's preface. The kindness of Sir S. Morton Peto has enabled us to consult a copy of the first Quarto in the library at Chipstead, which, in cases where its readings differ from those of the copies in the Capell and Devonshire collections, we have distinguished as Qz (Chip.). A Players' Quarto of 1695, for the use of which, as well as for other a6ls of kindness, we have to thank Sir Charles Bunbury, is quoted as Q(i695). In the Addenda we have given some readings which we had not previously seen from an anonymous tra6l published in 1752, with the title, Miscellaneous Observations on the Tragedy of Hainlet> Prince of Denmark. The rest are chiefly from books which have been published since the greater part of our volume was struck off. W. G. C. W. A. W.

ADDENDA. 117, 118. Add to note, As stars with Distempered or As stars with...Discoloured Staunton conj. !• 4» 36; 37. Add to note, the dram of leaven...of a dough Cartwright conj. the dram of evil...oft weigh down Bailey conj. x » 4- 73« your. ..reason'] of sovereignty your Hunter conj. I. 5. 11. Andfor\ Tlu? in Anon. MS. I- 5- 32, 34. shouldst...Wouldst] wouldst...Shouldst Anon. conj. (Misc. Obs. on Hamlet, 1752). II. 2. 82. Add to note, And think upon and answer Anon. conj. (Misc. Obs. on Hamlet, 1752). II. 2. 140. otct of thy star] out of thy soar Bailey conj. 11. 2. 162. Be..J/ie7t;] Let...then Anon. conj. (Misc. Obs. on Hamlet, 1752). II. 2. 438, 439. tyrannous...murder] treacherous and da7nned light To the vile murtherer Anon. conj. (Misc. Obs. on. Hamlet, 17.52). III, 1. 58. dings and arrows] stings a7id harrows Anon. conj. (Misc. Obs. on Hamlet, 1752). stings and horrors Anon. MS. III. 2. 21. scorn] sin Bailey conj. III. 2. 22. the very age] the visage Bailey conj. i n . 2. 23. pressure]posture Bailey conj. i n . 2. 206. Nor...give] Let earth not give me Axiom, conj. (Misc. Obs, on Hamlet, 1752). ill. 3. 15. The cease of] Deceasing Bailey conj. i n . 3. 169. Add to note, And either house Bailey conj. IV. 7. 112. begzin] begnawn Bailey conj. V. 2. 180. and outward...a kind] and out of the habit of encounter got a kind Bailey conj. V. 2. 180, 181. collection] diftion Bailey conj. V. 2. 182. Add to note, profottnd and re7iow7ied Bailey conj.

HAMLET,

I.

I.

72. Add to note, precious treasure Bailey conj. I. 1. 226. Add to note, burde7iy or Bailey conj. II. 4. 92- Add to note, Fiery? what? quality? Taylor conj. MS.

K I N G LEAR, I. I .

HAMLET.

VOL. VIII.

B

DRAMATIS PERSON^ 1 .

CLAUDIUS, king HAMLET, son to

of Denmark. the late, and nephew to the present king. POLONIUS, lord chamberlain, HORATIO, friend to Hamlet. LAERTES, son to Polonius.

VOLTIMAND, CORNELIUS, ROSENCRANTZ, GUILDENSTERN,

courtiers.

OSRIC,

A Gentleman, A Priest. MARCELLUS, I o f f i c e r s < BERNARDO, ) FRANCISCO, a soldier. REYNALDO, servant to Polonius.

Players. Two Clowns, grave-diggers. FORTINBRAS, prince of Norway. A Captain. English Ambassadors. GERTRUDE, queen of Denmark, and OPHELIA, daughter to Polonius.

mother to Hamlet.

Lords, Ladies, Officers, Soldiers, Sailors, Messengers, and other Attendants. Ghost of Hamlet's Father. SCENE: 1

DRAMATIS PERSONS.]

given by Rowe.

First

Denmark*. 2

Denmark] Edd. (Globe ed.) EL sinoor. Rowe.

THE TRAGEDY OF

HAMLET PRINCE

OF

DENMARK,

A C T I. SCENE I.

E7

FRANCISCO

.

. ^

A

• .

.

.

Ismore. A platform before the castle. at his post. Enter to him

BERNARDO.

Ber. Who's t here ? Fran. Nay, a , , , c 1, „ " nswer me: stand, and unfold yourself. Ber.

Fran.

Long- In

**

,1

i .

,

/e the king !

Bernar , > •do r ^^r. H e. Fran. You come most carefully upon your hour. Ber. 'Tis now struck twelve; get thee to bed, Francisco. Fran. For this relief much thanks ; 'tis bitter cold, And I am sick at heart. Acflus Primus. Scsena Prima. Ff. Omitted in Qq. See note (i). Elsinore.] Capell. A platform ] Malone, An open Place before the Palace. Rowe. A Platform before the Palace. Theobald. Platform of the Castle. Capell. Francisco at...] Francisco upon... Capell. Enter Barnardo, and Francisco, two Centinels. QqFf. ACT I. SCENE I.]

i. 1V/io's]F{Q6. Whose The rest. i—5. Who's He\ As in QqFf. Two lines of verse in Capell, the first ending tmfold. 4. Bernardo?} Barnardo? F T F 2 Q 6 F 3 . Barnardo. The rest. 6. carefully} chearfully F 3 F 4 . 7. now struck} new-struck Elze (Steevens conj.). struck} strooke Qq. strook B2

HAMLET.

4

[ACT i.

Ber. Have you had quiet guard ? Fran. Not a mouse stirring. Ber. Well, good night. If you do meet Horatio and Marcellus, The rivals of my-watch, bid them make haste. Fran. I think I hear them. Stand, ho ! Who is there? Enter

HORATIO

and MARCELLUS.

Hor. Friends to this ground. Mar. And liegemen to the Dane. Fran. Give you good night. Mar. O, farewell, honest soldier : Who hath relieved you ? Fran. Bernardo hath my place. \Exit. Give you good night. Mar. Holla ! Bernardo ! Ber. Say, What, is Horatio there ? Hor. A piece of him. Ber. Welcome, Horatio : welcome, good Marcellus. Mar. What, has this thing appear'd again to-night ? Ber. I have seen nothing. Mar. Horatio says 'tis but our fantasy, And will not let belief take hold of him Touching this dreaded sight, twice seen of us : Therefore I have entreated him along: With us to watch the minutes of this night, 11 —13. Well,...haste.] As in Qq. Prose in Ff. 1?, 13. Horatio...rivals] Horatio, and Marcellus The rival Warner conj. 14. ho] Qq. om. Ff. Who is] Qq. who's Ff. Enter...] QqFf (after line 13). 16, 18. Give you] om. Q (1676). 16—18. O, farewell...night.] Arranged as by Capell. Two lines in QqFf. 16. soldier] Ff. souldiers Qq. 17. Who haihi Who has Q (1676). kaiimyjQq. /«*'J »*j'FxFa. has my F 3 F 4 .

10

18. [Exit.] Exit Fran. QqF x . Exit Francisco. F 2 F 3 F 4 . Say A Say. Knieht. 18, 19. Say,. ..there ?] As in Capell. One line in QqFf. [Giving his hand. Warburton. I9. Mar.] (QJ Ff. Hora. Qq. 2I. What, has] Q 2 Q 3 FfQ 6 . What has Q 4 Q 5 . to-night?] to night? Qq to night. Ff. 23. our] a Q O O Warburton conj 25. S!^/tt] s ^ J t 26, i7. along With us to] alon
15

2o

25

SCENE I.]

HAMLET.

That if again this apparition come, He may approve our eyes and speak to it. Hor. Tush, tush, 'twill not appear. Ber. Sit down awhile; And let us once again assail your ears, That are so fortified against our story, What we have two nights seen. Hor. Well, sit we down, And let us hear Bernardo speak of this. Ber. Last night of all, When yond same star that's westward from the pole Had made his course to illume that part of heaven Where now it burns, Marcellus and myself, The bell then beating one,—

30

35

Enter Ghost.

Mar. Peace, break thee off; look, where it comes again! 40 Ber. In the same figure, like the king that's dead. Mar. Thou art a scholar; speak to it, Horatio. Ber. Looks it not like the king? mark it, Horatio. Hor. Most like: it harrows me with fear and wonder. Ber. It would be spoke to. Mar. Question it, Horatio. Hor. What art thou, that usurp'st this time of night, Together with that fair and warlike form In which the majesty of buried Denmark 30. Tush, tush,] om. Q (1676). 32, 33. story, What...seen.] story. Mar. What...seen— Hanmer. 33. have two nights'] (Qj)Qq. two nights have Ff. sit we] let's Q (1676). 36. yond]yon F3F4. 37. to illume'] f illume QaQsQ^f/' illumin Q 5 . f illumine Q 6 . to Illumine (Q x ). to enlighten Q (1676). 39. beating] totvling (C^). tolling Collier MS. See note (11). one,—J one— Rowe. one. QqFf. [Castle-bell tolls one. Ingleby conj.

Enter Ghost.] Qq. Enter the Ghost. Ff, after off; line 40. Enter the Ghost armed. Collier MS. 40. Peace.. .again I] As in Qq. Two lines in Ff. off] of Q 2 Q 3 F X (Capell's copy). 43. Ber. Looks...Horatio.~\ Omitted in Q4QsQ6Looks it] Lookes a QSli- Looke it F 2 . 44. harrows] F3F4. horrowes Qq. harrozves FjF 2 . horrors (QJ. startles Q (1676). 45. Question] (QJFf. Speaketo Qq. 46. usurp'st] usurpest Q (1676).

HAMLET.

[ACT i.

Did sometimes march ? by heaven I charge thee, speak ! Mar. It is offended. Ber. See, it stalks away ! Hor. " Stay] speak, speak! I charge thee, speak ! [Exit Ghost. Mar. 'Tis gone, a;nd will not answer. Ber. How now, Horatio ! you tremble and look pale: Is not this something more than fantasy ? What think you on't ? Hor. Before my God, I might not this believe Without the sensible and true avouch Of mine own eyes. Mar. Is it not like the king? Hor. As thou art to thyself: Such was the very armour he had on When he the ambitious Norway combated ; So frown'd he once, when, in an angry parle, He smote the sledded Polacks on the ice. J Tis strange. Mar. Thus twice before, and jump at this dead hour, With martial stalk hath he gone by our watch. Hor. In what particular thought to work I know not; But, in the gross and scope of my opinion, This bodes some strange eruption to our state. Mar. Good now, sit down, and tell me, he that knows, 49. march?] Q 6 . march, Q 2 Q 3 . march: The rest. by heaven~\ om. Q (1676). thee,] Rowe. thee QqFf. 51. speak, speak!] speak; Pope. [Exit Ghost,] Qq. Exit the Ghost. Ff. 55. on't] of it Q4Q5Q6believe] I could not 56. Before believe this Q (1676). not] nor F 2 . 57. true] try\i Warburton. 60. very] om. FC8F3F4. 61. he] om. Ff. 63. smote] smot Q&FJ!.X\sledded] Ff. shaded (Qx)Qq. sturdy Leo conj.

Polacks]Meilone. pollax(Q1)Q2Q3 Q 4 . /^//^vQ 5 F I F 2 Q 6 . PolaxFl3. PoleaxeF4. Pole-axe Rowe. Pelack Pope. 64. ' Tis strange.] '' Tis strange— Rowe. om. Seymour conj. 65. jump] (Qz)Qq. just Ff. jump at this dead] at the same Q (1676). dead] same*F2Q6F3F4. dread Anon. conj. 66. hath he gone by] he passed through (Q r ) Staunton. 67. thought to] it Collier MS. See note (n). 68 - gross and] om. Q (1676). my] (Q^Ff. mine Qq. 70. Good now,] Pray Q (1676).

5°

55

60

g-

yo

SCENE I.]

HAMLET.

Why this same stri<5l and most observant watch So nightly toils the subject of the land, And why such daily cast of brazen cannon, And foreign mart for implements of war; Why such impress of shipwrights, whose sore task Does not divide the Sunday from the week; What might be toward, that this sweaty haste Doth make the night joint-labourer with the day: Who is't that can inform me? Hor. That can I; At least the whisper goes so. Our last king, Whose image even but now appeared to us, Was, as you know, by Fortinbras of Norway, Thereto prick'd on by a most emulate pride, Dared to the combat; in which our valiant HamletFor so this side of our known world esteem'd him— Did slay this Fortinbras ; who by a seal'd compa6l, Well ratified by law and heraldry, Did forfeit, with his life, all those his lands Which he stood seized of, to the conqueror: Against the which, a moiety competent Was gaged by our king; which had returned To the inheritance of Fortinbras, Had he been vanquisher; as, by the same covenant And carriage of the article design'd, His fell to Hamlet. Now, sir, young Fortinbras, 72. 73.

subjedl] subjeds Pope. why] (Q^Ff. with Qq. cast] cost (Qj)Qq. 76. Does] Doft F 3 F 4 . 78. Doth make] Makes Q (1676). joint-labourer] joint labour Q 5 Q683. emulate] emulant Seymour conj. 84. combat] fight Pope. 86. a] om. Pope. 87. and] <jf Hanmer (Warburton). heraldry] heraldy Q2Q388. those] Ff. these Qq. 89. of] Qq. on Ff. in Collier MS. See note (11).

91. returned] Ff. returne Qq, remained Collier MS. See note (11). 93. vanquisher;] Q2Q3Q4Q5- vanquisher, Ff. vanqitisht; Q$. the same] that Pope. covenant] Covenant Ff. comart Q2Q.3Q4Q5- co-mart Q 6 . co7npacrl Q (1676). 94. article designed] F 2 F 3 F 4 . article desseigne Q2Q3* articles deseigne Q 4 . Ai'tides designe QsQ6- Article designe F r articles designed Pope. article then signed Collier MS. See note (11). 95. sir] om. Pope.

w—r

75

80

8

9°

95

8

HAMLET. Of unimproved mettle hot and full, Hath in the skirts of Norway here and there Shark'd up a list of lawless resolutes, For food and diet, to some enterprise That hath a stomach in't: which is no other— As it doth well appear unto our state— But to recover of us, by strong hand And terms compulsatory, those foresaid lands So by his father lost: and this, I take it, Is the main motive of our preparations, The source of this our watch and the chief head Of this post-haste and romage in the land. Ber. I think it be no other but e'en so: Well may it sort, that this portentous figure Comes armed through our watch, so like the king That was and is the question of these wars. Hor. A mote it is to trouble the mind's eye. In the most high and palmy state of Rome, A little ere the mightiest Julius fell, The graves stood tenantless, and the sheeted dead Did squeak and gibber in the Roman streets: . . . . . . . As stars with trains of fire and dews of blood,

[ACT L

ioo

105

no

115

96. unimproved} inapproved (Qx) 115. tenantless]tennatlesse Q 2 Q 3 . Collier conj. unapproved Anon. conj. and} om. Pope. 116. streets: ] Omission first mettle] metall Q 6 . 98. lawless] lawelesse Q 2 Q 3 . law- marked by Jennens, who suggests lesse (QJQ+QsQe- landlessc F j F ^ . Tremendous prodigies in heaven aplandless F 4 . pear'd. Boaden proposes The heavens 98,99. lawless...diet, to] landless too spoke in silent prodigies. Hunter resolutes, For food; and dieted to Theosuggests In the heavens above strange bald conj. (withdrawn). portents did appear. Becket would 100. is] om. Q4Q5Q6. transfer line 123 And prologue...on to JOI. As] Qq. And Ff. follow streets: line 116. 103. compu/satory] Qq. compulsa117. As...blood,} Stars shon with trai7is of fire, dews of bloodfell, Rowe. tive Ff. 108—125. Ber. / think...coimtryOmitted by Rann. Transferred by mm.] Qq. Omitted in Ff. Mitford to follow events, line 121. 108. e'en so] enso Q 2 Q 3 . even so and de:cs] shed de:c>s Harness Q4QsQ6reading Disasters dimmed in line T iS. 112. mote] Q 5 Q 6 . moth Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 . 117,118. As stars with...Disasters 113. palmy] flourishing Q (1676) in] Astres with...Disasterous dimm\i and Rowe. Malone conj. Disastrous...Disasters state]State(\.e. city) Wilson conj. in Becket conj. A star with...Disas-

SCENE I.]

HAMLET.

Disasters in the sun; and the moist star, Upon whose influence Neptune's empire stands, Was sick almost to doomsday with eclipse: And even the like precurse of fierce events, As harbingers preceding still the fates And prologue to the omen coming on, Have heaven and earth together demonstrated Unto our climatures and countrymen.

I2O

125

Re-enter Ghost.

But soft, behold! lo, where it comes again! I'll cross it, though it blast me. Stay, illusion! If thou hast any sound, or use of voice, Speak to me: If there be any good thing to be done, That may to thee do ease and grace to me, Speak to me: If thou art privy to thy country's fate, Which, happily, foreknowing may avoid, O, speak! Or if thou hast uphoarded in thy life Extorted treasure in the womb of earth, For which, they say, you spirits oft walk in death, Speak of it: stay, and speak! \The cock crows^\ Stop it, Marcellus. ters in Jackson conj. As stars with... Did usher in Duane conj. As stars with...Disastering Anon, apud Singer (ed. 2) conj. Astres with...Did over* cast Williams conj, Ay, stars with... Did darken
123. omen] omeii'dTheobald, omens Becket conj. 125. climatures] climatiire Dyce conj. Re-enter Ghost.] Enter Ghost. Qq. Enter Ghost againe. Ff. 127. [It spreads his armes. Qq. om. Ff. He spreads his arms. Q (1676). 129, 130. Speak.. .done] As in Pope. One line in QqFf. 131, 132. That...Speak to me] As in Qq. One line in Ff. ! 34> X35- Which speak!] As in Qq. One line in Ff. 134. foreknowing] foreknowledge Collier MS. See note (11). 138. you] Ff. your Qq. 139. [The cock crows.] Qq, after line 138. om. Ff.

130

HAMLET.

10

[ACT I.

140 Mar. Shall I strike at it with my partisan ? Hor. Do, if it will not stand. Tis here! Ber. 'Tis here! Hor. [Exit Ghost. Mar. 'Tis gone! We do it wrong, being so majestical, To offer it the show of violence; For it is, as the air, invulnerable, And our vain blows malicious mockery. Ber. It was about to speak, when the cock crew. Hor. And then it started like a guilty thing Upon a fearful summons. I have heard, ISO The cock, that is the trumpet to the morn, Doth with his lofty and shrill-sounding throat Awake the god of day, and at his warning, Whether in sea or fire, in earth or air, The extravagant and erring spirit hies To his confine: and of the truth herein 155 This present object made probation. Mar. It faded on the crowing of the cock. Some say that ever 'gainst that season comes Wherein our Saviour's birth is celebrated, The bird of dawning singeth all night long: 160 And then, they say, no spirit dare stir abroad, The nights are wholesome, then no planets strike, No fairy takes nor witch hath power to charm, So hallow'd and so gracious is the time. 140. at] Ff. om. Qq. 141, 142. Hor...Ber...Hor...Mar.] Ber...Mar...Ber...Hor. Steevensconj. 141. if it will] ift will S. Walker conj., ending lines 140, T41 Do,...gone! 142. [Exit Ghost.] Ff. om. Qq. 145. For it is, as] It is ever as Q (1676). 150. morn] morne Qq. morning (Qi). day Ff. 152—155. warning, confine:] warning, TW extravagant...hies To his confine, whether in sea or air, Or

earth orfireJohnson conj.

154. extravagant] extra-vagate Grey conj. T57. on] atQ (1676). 158. say] Qq. saycs Ff. 160. The] (Qx)Ff. This Qq. 161. then] om. F 2 F 3 F 4 . dare stir] dare sturre Q 2 Q3Q 4 . dare stirrc Q 5 . dares stir re Q 6 . dare watte (Qx). can watte Ff. dares walk Rowe. walks Pope. 163. takes] Qq. tattcs F X F 2 . talks F3F4. nor] 110 Q 6 F 4 . 164. the] Ff. that (Qx) Q q .

HAMLET.

SCENE I.J

11

Hor. So have I heard and do in part believe it. 165 But look, the morn, in russet mantle clad, Walks o'er the dew of yon high eastward hill: Break we our watch up; and by my advice, Let us impart what we have seen to-night 170 Unto young Hamlet; for, upon my life, This spirit, dumb to us, will speak to him: Do you consent we shall acquaint him with it, As needful in our loves, fitting our duty? Mar. Let's do't, I pray; and I this morning know [Exeunt, 175 Where we shall find him most conveniently.

SCENE

Flourish.

II.

Enter the

A room of state in the castle.

KING, QUEEN, HAMLET, POLONIUS, LAERTES,

VOLTIMAND, CORNELIUS,

Lords, and Attendants.

King. Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother's death The memory be green, and that it us befitted To bear our hearts in grief and our whole kingdom To be contracted in one brow of woe, Yet so far hath discretion fought with nature That we with wisest sorrow think on him, Together with remembrance of ourselves. Therefore our sometime sister, now our queen, The imperial jointress to this warlike state, 167. eastward] Qq. easterne Ff. 168. advice] Ff. advise Qq. 170. for, up07i my life,] perhaps Q (1676). T72. shall] do Rowe (ed. 2). 174. Let's] Let Y^ 175. conveniently] (QI)Ff. convenient Qq. A room ] Capell, substantially. The Palace. Rowe.X Flourish.] Qq. om. Ff. Enter...] Malone, after Capell. Enter Claudius, King of Denmarke, Gertrad the Queene, Counsaile: as Polonius, and his Sonne Laertes,

Hamlet, Cum Alijs. Qq. Enter Claudius King of Denmarke, Gertrude the Queene, Hamlet, Polonius, Laertes, and his Sister Ophelia, Lords Attendant. Ff (Attendants F O F 3 F 4 ). t, 2. Though...memory be] As... memory'''s Seymour conj. 2. that it us befitted] us befitted Steevens conj. it befitted us Seymour conj. us befitted] fitted Pope. bear] bathe Collier MS. 8. sometime] Qq. sometimes Ff. 9. to] Qq. of Ff.

5

12

HAMLET.

[ACT I.

Have we, as 'twere with a defeated joy,— With an auspicious and a dropping eye, With mirth in funeral and with dirge in marriage, In equal scale weighing delight and dole,— Taken to wife: nor have we herein barr'd Your better wisdoms, which have freely gone With this affair along. For all, our thanks. Now follows, that you know, young Fortinbras, Holding a weak supposal of our worth, Or thinking by our late dear brother's death Our state to be.disjoint and out of frame, Colleagued with this dream of his advantage, He hath not fail'd to pester us with message, Importing the surrender of those lands Lost by his father, with all bonds of law, To our most valiant brother. So much for him. Now for ourself, and for this time of meeting: Thus much the business is: we have here writ To Norway, uncle of young Fortinbras,— Who, impotent and bed-rid, scarcely hears Of this his nephew's purpose,—to suppress His further gait herein; in that the levies, The lists and full proportions, are all made Out of his subje6l: and we here dispatch You, good Cornelius, and you, Voltimand, i i . an...a] Qq. one...one Ff. once ...once Becket conj. a dropping] o?ie drooping Grant White. 16. along. For...thanks.] along: {for...thanks.) Pope, along {for all our thankes) Qq. along, for all our thankes. Ff. 17. know, young] know: young S. Walker conj. 21. Colleagucd] Collogued Hanmer (Theobald conj). Co-leagued Capell. Colluded Becket conj. this] Qq. the Ff. his] this Long MS. and Collier MS. See note (11).

24.

with] by Pope. bonds] Ff. bauds Qq. 25. [Enter Voltemand and Cornelius. Ff (Voltimand F 2 F 3 F 4 ). om. Qq. 26. meeting:] F 4 . meetitig, Qq. meeting F X F 2 F 3 . 29. bed-rid] bedred Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 Q 5 . 31. gait] Capell. gate QqFf. herein; in] hecrein, in Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 . herein, in Q 5 Q 6 . herein. In Ff. the] he F 3 F 4 . 33. subject] subjeds Q 6 . here] now Q (1676). 34- Voltimand] F 2 F 3 F 4 . Valtemand Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 Q 5 . Voltemand F X Q 6 . Voltemar (Q

10

20

SCENE II.]

HAMLET.

For bearers of this greeting to old Norway, Giving to you no further personal power To business with the king more than the scope Of these delated articles allow. Farewell, and let your haste commend your duty. TT 7 \

In that and all things will we show our duty.

King.

35

40

We doubt it nothing: heartily farewell. \Exennt Voltimand and Cornelius. And now, Laertes, what's the news with you ? You told us of some suit; what is't, Laertes? You cannot speak of reason to the Dane, And lose your voice: what wouldst thou beg, Laertes, 45 That shall not be my offer, not thy asking ? The head is not more native to the heart, The hand more instrumental to the mouth, Than is the throne of Denmark to thy father. What wouldst thou have, Laertes? Lacr. My dread lord, 5° Your leave and favour to return to France, From whence though willingly I came to Denmark, To show my duty in your coronation, Yet now, I must confess, that duty done, My thoughts and wishes bend again toward France 55 And bow them to your gracious leave and pardon. King. Have you your father's leave ? What says Polonius ? 3 5. For bearers] (Q T) Qq. For bearing Ff. Our bearers Theobald conj. For beai'ers of this greeting] Ambassadors Q (1676), 36, 37, Giving to you ...To business] Who have... Of t?'eaty Q (1676). Giving to you... Of treaty Rowe. more than] than does Seymour conj. 38. Of] Which Pope. delated] Qq. dilated Ff. related (Qj) Singer*(ed. 1). allow.] allows. Johnson, allow. [Give them. Collier MS. See note (11). 39. duty] service S. Walker conj. 40. Cor.Vol.jCor.Vo.Qq. Volt.Ff.

41.

it nothing] in nothing F4. [Exeunt...] F 4 . Exit... F 3 . Omitted in Qq. 42. And] om. Q (1676). 45. lose] Qq. loose Ff. 46. not thy] nor thy Q (1676). 47. head] blood Hanmer (Warburton). native] motive Bubier conj. 49. is...to] to...is Hanmer (Warburton). 50. My dread] Qq. D?-ead my Ff, My dearQ (1676). 55. toward] Qq. towards Ff. 57. Have...Polonius?] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

HAMLET

[ACT T.

Pol. He hath, my lord, wrung from me my slow leave By laboursome petition, and at last Upon his will I seal'd my hard consent: I do beseech you, give him leave to go. King. Take thy fair hour, Laertes; time be thine, And thy best graces spend it at thy will! But now, my cousin Hamlet, and my son,— Hani. [Aside] A little more than kin, and less than kind. King. How is it that the clouds still hang on you? Ham. Not so, my lord; I am too much i' the sun. Queen. Good Hamlet, cast thy nighted colour off, And let thine eye look like a friend on Denmark. Do not for ever with thy vailed lids Seek for thy noble father in the dust: Thou know'st 'tis common; all that lives must die, Passing through nature to eternity. Ham. Ay, madam, it is common. Queen. If it be, Why seems it so particular with thee? Ham. Seems, madam! nay, it is; I know not 'seems/ Tis not alone my inky cloak, good mother, Nor customary suits of solemn black, Nor windy suspiration of forced breath, No, nor the fruitful river in the eye, 58. He hath] Hath Q 2 Q 3 . lord,] lord: Ff. 58, 59. wrung...petition] by laborersome petition, Wrung from me my slozv leave Rowe and Pope. 58—60. wrung consent i\ Qq. Omitted in Ff. 59. at last] at the last Pope. 62. 63. be thine...spend] is thine, And my best graces; spend Johnson conj. 63. graces] graces; Q 6 . [Exit Laertes. Anon. conj. Exit. (Q,). 64. Hamlet, and] Hamlet.— Kind Warburton. son,—] son— Rowe. sonne. Qq. sonne? Ff.

65. [Aside] Warburton. 67. so] Ff. so much Qq. / ' the sun] V tli* Sun Ff. in the sonne Qq. in the Sun Q (1676). 68. nighted] Qq. nightly Ff. nightlike Collier MS. 70. vailed] Qq. veyled F j F ^ veiled F3F4. 72. know'st ytis] Anoivst—'tis Seymour conj. common;] Theobald, common, Ff. common Qq. lives] QqF,. live F a F 3 F 4 . 77. mv inky] this mourning Q (1676). good mother] Ff. coold mother Q 2 Q3' could smother Q 4 Q 5 Q 6 .

65

70

80

SCENE II.J

HAMLET.

Nor the deje6led haviour of the visage, Together with all forms, moods, shapes of grief, That can denote me truly: these indeed seem, For they are a6lions that a man might play: But I have that within which passes show; These but the trappings and the suits of woe. King. 5Tis sweet and commendable in your nature, Hamlet, To give these mourning duties to your father : But, you must know, your father lost a father, That father lost, lost his, and the survivor bound In filial obligation for some term To do obsequious sorrow: but to persever In obstinate, condolement is a course Of impious stubbornness ; 'tis unmanly grief: It shows a will most incorre6l to heaven, A heart unfortified, a mind impatient, An understanding simple and unschool'd: For what we know must be and is as common As any the most vulgar thing to sense, Why should we in our peevish opposition Take it to heart ? Fie ! 'tis a fault to heaven, A fault against the dead, a fault to nature, To reason most absurd, whose common theme Is death of fathers, and who still hath cried, From the first corse till he that died to-day, ' This must be so.' We pray you, throw to earth This unprevailing woe, and think of us 82.

moods] modes Capell. shapes] Q4QsQ6- chapes shewes F Z F 2 . shews F3F4. 83. denote] FfQ 6 . denote Q dmoute Q5. indeed] may Pope. 85. passes] Qq. passeth Ff. 87. '7Ir Hamlet,] One line in Qq. Two in Ff. sweet and] om. Seymour conj. Hamlet,] om. Pope. 90. That] TheF4. lost, lost his] dead, lost his

his Pope. 92. sorrow] sorrowes Q4Q5Q6. persever] persevere Q6F4. 93. 94. is a course Of] dares express An Q (1676). 94. V/J] om. Pope. 96. a mind] or minde Qq. 103. absurd] absurd F 2 F 3 . 105. corse] courseQzQzQiQs. coarse FfQ 6 . 107. tmprevailing] unavailing Hanmer.

9°

95

100

105

i6

HAMLET.

[ACT I.

As of a father: for let the world take note, You are the most immediate to our throne, And with no less nobility of love Than that which dearest father bears his son Do I impart toward you. For your intent In going back to school in Wittenberg, It is most retrograde to our desire: And we beseech you, bend you to remain Here in the cheer and comfort of our eye, Our chiefest courtier, cousin and our son. Queen. Let not thy mother lose her prayers, Hamlet: I pray thee, stay with us; go not to Wittenberg. Ham. I shall in all my best obey you, madam. King. Why, 'tis a loving and a fair reply: Be as ourself in Denmark. Madam, come; This gentle and unforced accord of Hamlet Sits smiling to my heart: in grace whereof, No jocund health that Denmark drinks to-day, But the great cannon to the clouds shall tell, And the king's rouse the heaven shall bruit again, Re-speaking earthly thunder. Come away. [Flourish. Exeunt all but Hamlet. Ham. O, that this too too solid flesh wrould melt, Thaw and resolve itself into a dew ! 108. for let] and let Q (1676). n o . witli\ with V Theobald. no less nobility] ?wbility no less Badham conj. 11 o—112. with... impart"] still... impart or with...my part Mason conj. 112. Do I] Mine do T Keightley. toward] Qq. towards Ff. you. For] Ff. you for Qq. 113. in Wittenberg] to Wittenberg 114. retrograde] F T Q 6 F 4 . retrogard Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 . retrograd Q 5 . retrogarde F 2 F 3 . 115. bend] beg Anon. MS. J 18. mother] Brother F 4 . lose] FfQ 6 . loose The rest. 119. I pray thee] Qq. I prythec

Fr

Iprethee¥2F3. I prithee F4. 120. /...madam.] One line in Qq. Two in Ff. 121. Why] om. Q (1676). 124. to] at Hanmer. on Ritson conj. 126. tell] tell it Hanmer. 12 7. rouse] rozvsc Qq. rouce Ff. heaven] Qq. heavens Ff. bruit] Q 6 F 3 F 4 . brute Q 2 Q 3 Q4Q5. bruitcY^v 128. Flourish.] Qq. om. Ff. Exeunt...] Qq. Exeunt. Manet Hamlet. Ff. 129. SCENE H I . Pope. too too solid] too-too-solid Theobald. solid] Ff. sallied (Qx) Q q . sullied Anon. conj.

no

120

125

130

SCENE II.]

HAMLET.

Or that the Everlasting had not fix'd His canon 'gainst self-slaughter ! O God ! God ! How weary, stale, flat and unprofitable Seem to me all the uses of this world ! Fie on't! ah fie! 'tis an unweeded garden, That grows to seed; things rank and gross in nature Possess it merely. That it should come to this ! But two months dead! nay, not so much, not two: So excellent a king; that was, to this, Hyperion to a satyr: so loving to my mother, That he might not beteem the winds of heaven Visit her face too roughly. Heaven and earth! Must I remember? why, she would hang on him, As if increase of appetite had grown By what it fed on: and yet, within a month— Let me not think on't—Frailty, thy name is woman ! A little month, or ere those shoes were old With which she followed my poor father's body, Like Niobe, all tears:—why she, even she,— not let e\7u Theobald (in note, ed r, and text, ed. 2). beteem] beteeme Qq. beteene self - slang liter] seale slaughter F T F 2 . beteen F 3 . between F 4 . perQ2Q3Q4Q5. O God! God/] O God, O God! mit Southern MS. 142, T 43. Heaven renwnber ?] Ff. om. Q (1676). Omitted in Q (1676). 133. weary] FfQ^. wary The rest. 143. remember?] Rowe. remember, 134. Seem] Sec me Qq. See??ies Fz Qq. remember: Ff. F 2 . See?ns F 3 F 4 . why, she would] Pope, why 135. Fieojit! ahfie[\ om. Q (1676). ahfie]Qq. Ohfie,fieF X F 2 . she would Ff. why she should Qq. she used to Q (1676). OhfieF 3 . Ofie F 4 . on] upon Anon MS. 137. merely. That] Pointed as 145. and] om. Pope. in Ff. meerely that Q 2 Q 3 Q4Qs. meer146. on V] om. Pope. ly: that Q 6 . 147. shoes] shoos F 3 . shooes The come to this] Ff. come thus Qq. rest, shows Ingleby conj. 139, 140. that...satyr:] Omitted in month, or] Ff. month or Q 2 Q (1676). Q 3 . nioiith. 6>rQ 4 Q 5 . month: OrQ6. 140. satyr'] F4. satire or ere] QqFf. or e'er Rowe. Satyre Q 5 F T F 2 Q 6 F 3 . 148. foll(ni?d\ Rowe. follo7i<edQq¥L T41. he...heaven] theb etecu ed winds 149. tears] in tears Anon. M S . of heaven might not Be eke t conj. tears:—why] teares, why Qq. might not beteem] permitted teares. Why Ff. not Q (167 6) and Rowe. would not let even e'en Theobald (in text, ed. i ) . might ev she,] Ff. Omitted in Qq. 132. Ff.

caiion~\ Q (T703). cannon Qq

VOL. V I I I .

c

135

140

HAMLET.

i8

[ACT L

O God ! a beast, that wants discourse of reason, Would have mourn'd longer,—married with my uncle, My father's brother, but no more like my father Than I to Hercules: within a month; Ere yet the salt of most unrighteous tears Had left the flushing in her galled eyes, She married. O, most wicked speed, to post With such dexterity to incestuous sheets ! It is not, nor it cannot come to good: But break, my heart, for I must hold my tongue! Enter

HORATIO, MARCELLUS,

and

150

155

BERNARDO.

HOT. Hail to your lordship! Ham. I am glad to see you well: 160 Horatio,—or I do forget myself. Hor. The same, my lord, and your poor servant ever. Ham. Sir, my good friend; I'll change that name with you : And what make you from Wittenberg, Horatio? Marcellus? 1§^ Mar. My good lord ? Ham. I am very glad to see you. [To Bcr.] Good even, sir. 150.

O God] Qq. 0 Heaven Ff. of reason] and reason Gifford

conj. 15 j . with my] Qq. with mine Ff. 152. but] om. Pope. 154. most unrighteous] 7noist and righteous Badham conj. 155- in] Qq. of Ff. 157. dexterity] celerity S. Walker conj. T59. breaky my] F 4 . breake my or break my The rest. Marcellus, and Bernardo.] Qq (Barnardo Q 6 ). Barnard, and Marcellus. Ff. 160. SCENE IV. Pope. well] om. Collier (Collier MS.). 160, 161. 1...my self.] As in Ff.

One line in Qq. 161. Horatio,—] Theobald. Horatio, QqFf. Horatio? Pope. do] om. Q (1676). 162. The...ever.] One line in Qq. Two in Ff. 163. Sir,...you:] One line in Qq. Two in Ff. 165. Marcellus?] Capell. Marcellus. QqFf. Marcellus / - R o w e . 166. lord?] Edd. lord. QqFf. lord— Rowe. lord! Keightley. 167. you. Good tTvv/, sir.] you, (good even sir) Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 . you (good c:rn sir) Q 5 Q 6 . ycu: oVod CVCJl s/n Ff(<7'67/, F 4 ). you good:—even, sir. Jackson conj. [To Ber.J Edd. even] morning Hanmer.

SCENE II.]

HAMLET.

But what, in faith, make you from Wittenberg? Hor. A truant disposition, good my lord. Hani. I would not hear your enemy say so, Nor shall you do my ear that violence, To make it truster of your own report Against yourself: I know you are no truant. But what is your affair in Elsinore ? We'll teach you to drink deep ere you depart. 175 Hor. My lord, I came to see your father's funeral. Ha7n. I prethee, do not mock me, fellow-student; I think it was to see my mother's wedding. Hor. Indeed, my lord, it follow'd hard upon. Ham. Thrift, thrift, Horatio! the funeral baked-meats 180 Did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables. Would I had met my dearest foe in heaven Or ever I had seen that day, Horatio ! My father!—methinks I see my father. Hor. O where, my lord ? Hani. In my mind's eye, Horatio. 185 Hor. I saw him once; he was a goodly king. Ham. He was a man, take him for all in all, I shall not look upon his like again. Hor. My lord, I think I saw him yesternight. Ham. Saw? who? Hor. My lord, the king your father. Ham. The king my father ! 168.

what] om. F 4 . in faith] om. Q (1676). 169. good my] my good Q (1676). 170. hear] heare Qq. have Ff. 171. my] Qq. mine Ff. 172. make] take F 2 F 3 F4. make it tnister] be a witness Q (1676). 174. Elsinore] Malone. Elsononre Elsmour F T F 2 Q 6 F 3 . Q2Q3Q4Q5. Elsenoore F 4 . 175. to dri7ik deep] (Qx)Ff. for to drinke Qq. 177. I prethee] Qq. 1'pray theeY\. Iprythee F 2 . Tprithee F 3 F 4 . student] shcdient Q 2 Q 3 .

178. see] (QJFf. Omitted in Qq. 179. follow']d] Q 6 . followedQ2Q3 Q4Q5Fr followeth¥0¥3¥A. 183. Or ever T had] Qq. Ere I had ever Ff. Ere ever I had (Qz) Collier. Ere T had Q (1676). 185. 0 where] Ff. Where Qq. 186. 1S7. he...He] Ff. a...A Qq. 187. for] from Theobald (ed. 1), a misprint. 188. I shall] I should F 2 F 3 F 4 . Eye shall Samwell apud Holt conj. 190. Saw? who?] Ff. Saw, who? (Qi)Qq- Saw 7Cl/i0? Q ( l 6 7 6 ) a n d Singer (ed. 2). Sazu! whom ? Johnson. C 2

HAMLET.

20

[ACT I.

Hor. Season your admiration for a while With an attent ear, till I may deliver, Upon the witness of these gentlemen, This marvel to you. Ham. For God's love, let me hear. Hor. Two nights together had these gentlemen, Marcellus and Bernardo, on their watch, In the dead vast and middle of the night, Been thus encountered. A figure like your father, Armed at point exa6lly, cap-a-pe, Appears before them, and with solemn march Goes slow and stately by them: thrice he walk'd By their oppressed and fear-surprised eyes, Within his truncheon's length; whilst they, distilFd Almost to jelly with the a6l of fear, Stand dumb, and speak not to him. This to me In dreadful secrecy impart they did; And I with them the third night kept the watch: Where, as they had deliver'd, both in time, Form of the thing, each word made true and good, The apparition comes: I knew your father; These hands are not more like. Ham. But where was this ? 192. Season] Defer Q (1676). for]butQ (1676) and Theobald. 193. attent] Q 2 Q3FiF 2 * attentive (QJQ4Q5Q6F3F4. may] om. Pope. 195. marvel] wonder Q (1676). For God] stove,] PrayQ(i6?6). God's] Gods Qq. Heavens Ff. 198. vast] (Q I )Q 5 Q 6 . wast Q 2 Q 3 waste F 2 F 3 F 4 . waist Malone. 200. Armed at point] Qq (poynt Q2Q3Q4)' Armed to poy?tt (Qx). Arm}d atall points Ff. cap-a-pe] Capapea (QI)Q2Q3« Cap apea Q4Q5. Cap a Pe Ff. Cap

apeQ6. 202. stately by them: thrice] stately by them ; thrice Qq. stately: By them thrice Ff.

203. fear-sicrprised] Hyphened in Ff. 204. his] this Q4Q5Q6. distilPd] Q 5 Q 6 . distilled(Qx). afo///V Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 . bestird¥T. bestiWd F 2 . bestilPd¥z¥4r. bechill'd Collier (Collier MS), dissolved or both thrilVd or bethrilPd Bailey conj. 205. the ad of] their Q (1676). tK effed ^Warburton. ad of fear,] ad: Of fear Becket conj. 207. In...did;] They did impart in dreadful secresie, Q (1676).' 209. Where, as] Q 6 . Where as (QJ. Whereas The rest. delivered, both in] delivered both, in Long MS. 211. apparition] apparision Q Q . Q4.

200

205

210

SCENE II.]

HAMLET.

Mar. My lord, upon the platform where we watch'd. Ham. Did you not speak to it ? Hor. My lord, I did, But answer made it none: yet once methought It lifted up its head and did address Itself to motion, like as it would speak: But even then the morning cock crew loud, And at the sound it shrunk in haste away And vanished from our sight. Hani. 'Tis very strange. Hor. As I do live, my honoured lord, 'tis true, And we did think it writ down in our duty To let you know of it. Ham. Indeed, indeed, sirs, but this troubles me. Hold you the watch to-night ? Mar. ) We do, my lord. Bcr. Ham. Arm'd, say you ? Mar. Arm'd, my lord. Bcr. From top to toe ? Ham. Mar. My lord, from head to foot. Ber. Ham. Then saw you not his face? Hor. O, yes, my lord; he wore his beaver up. Ham. What, look'd he frowningly? Hor. A countenance more in sorrow than in anger. Ham. Pale or red ? Hor. Nay, very pale. Ham. And fix'd his eyes upon you ? 214. you not] not you Players' reading. 215. made it] it made Q5. 216. its] Q5Q6F3F4. his (Qz) Staunton. it Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 F I F 2 . 217. like] om. Q (1676). 221. honoured] honourable F,.F4. hono?'able F 3 . 222. writ dow7i in] then Q (1676). 22 3 - of\ om. Q (1676). 224. hideed, indeed] (Q^Ff. Indccde Qq. Seymour would read as

Qq, and end the lines but...to-night7 225, 226, 227. Mar. Ber. J All. (Qx) Qq. Both. Ff. 227. My lord,] om. Q (1676). 227—229. My...up.] As two lines, the first ending not, in Steevens (1793). 228. face?] face. CLQ*. 229. up] down Anon. ap. Hunter conj. 230. What, looked he] Pointed as in Ff. No stop in Qq. How looked he, Staunton, from

21

215

220

225

230

22

HAMLET.

[ACT I.

Hor. Most constantly. Ham. I would I had been there. 2 Hor. It would have much amazed you. 35 Ham. Very like, very like. Stay'd it long? Hor. While one with moderate haste might tell a hundred. Mar. Lon er lon er S > g Ber. Hor. Not when I saw't. Ham. His beard was grizzled? no? Hor. It was, as I have seen it in his life, 240 A sable silver'd. Ham. I will watch to-night; Perchance 'twill walk again. Hor. I warrant it will. Ham. If it assume my noble father's person, I '11 speak to it, though hell itself should gape And bid me hold my peace. I pray you all, 245 If you have hitherto conceal'd this sight, Let it be tenable in your silence still, And whatsoever else shall hap to-night, Give it an understanding, but no tongue: I will requite your loves. So fare you well: 250 Upon the platform, 'twixt eleven and twelve, 2 35—2 38. Three lines ending like,... haste.. .longer, in Capell. 236. Very like, very like] (Qz) Ff. Very like Qq. 237. moderate] modern Knight, ed. I (a misprint). a] an Q 6 . hundred] hundreth Q2Q3Q4Qs« 238. Mar. Ber.] Both. Qq. All. Ff. 239. grizzled? no?] grissVd^ no. Qq. grisly? no.Fz. grisly? F 2 F 3 F 4 . grizled? Q (1676). grisVd? no. Warburton. grizVd? no? Capell. 239. 240. no? Hor. It was] Hor. No! It was Anon. conj. (Gent. Mag. LX. 403). 240. as] om. F3F4. 241. / will] Qq. He or I'll Ff,

reading Ile...againe as one line. 242. walk] zvake Fv warrant] (Qz). war?iit Qq. warrantyOIL Ff.

246. 247.

concealed] concealed F3F'4. be tenable in] require Q (1676). tenable] Qq. tenible (Qj). treble F ^ . trebble F 2 F 3 . tabled Nicholson conj. (withdrawn). tenable in your] m your treble Bailey conj. tenable still] treble..... now Warburton conj. (withdrawn). 248. whatsoever]whatsomeverQ2Q3. else shall hap] shall befall Pope. 250. fare] farre Q2Q3. you] Qq. ye Ff. 251. eleven] a leaven Q 2 Q s .

HAMLET.

SCENE II.]

23

I '11 visit you. All. Our duty to your honour. Ham. Your loves, as mine to you: farewell. \Exeunt all but Hamlet. My father's spirit in arms! all is not well; I doubt some foul play: would the night were come! 255 Till then sit still, my soul: foul deeds will rise, Though all the earth o'erwhelm them, to men's eyes. [Exit.

SCENE III. Enter

A room in Poloniums house. LAERTES

and

OPHELIA.

Laer. My necessaries are embark'd: farewell: And, sister, as the winds give benefit And convoy is assistant, do not sleep, But let me hear from you. Oph. Do you doubt that? Laer. For Hamlet, and the trifling of his favour, Hold it a fashion, and a toy in blood, A violet in the youth of primy nature, Forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting, 252. duty] duties (Qx) Grant White. honour] komor Q 4 . 253. loves'] Qq. love Ff. farewell^] so fare you well. Seymour conj. [Exeunt...Hamlet.] Exeunt. Manet Hamlet. Q (1676). Exeunt Hor. Mar. and Ber. Capell. Exeunt, (after line 252) (QT) QqFf. 254. spirit in arms /] F4. spirit in arnies? F T F 2 F 3 . spirit (in armes) Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 Q 5 . spirit in armes, Q6. spirit! in arms! Rann (Whalley conj.). 256. foul] fonde Q 2 Q 3 . rise, Though.. .them, to] rise, (Thd...them) to Pope, rise Though... them to QzQzQiQs- rise, Though... them to FfQ6. rise, Though.. .them from Q (1676) and Long MS. SCENE IXL] SCENE V. Pope.

A room...] An apartment...Pope. Ophelia.] Ff. Ophelia his Sister. Qq. 1. embarked] inbarckt Q2Q3Q4« imbarkt Q5Q6. imbarkH F j F ^ imbark'd F3F4* 3. convoy is assistant,] convoy is assistant; Ff. convay, in assistant Q2Q3Q4» convay, in assistant, Q5. convay in assistant, Q5. sleep] slip Theobald conj. (withdrawn). 5. favour] Qq. favours Ff. 7. youth of primy] youth, a prime o/q (1676). primy] prime Q 6 . 8. Forward] QqF 3 F 4 . Froward F F sweet, not] the? sweet, not Rowe. sweet, but not Capell.

HAMLET.

[ACT L

The perfume and suppliance of a minute; No more. OpJi. No more but so ? Lacr. Think it no more: For nature crescent does not grow alone In thews and bulk; but, as this temple waxes, The inward service of the mind and soul Grows wide withal Perhaps he loves you now; And now no soil nor cautel doth besmirch The virtue of his will: but you must fear, His greatness weigh'd, his will is not his own; For he himself is subje6l to his birth: He may not, as unvalued persons do, Carve for himself, for on his choice depends The safety and health of this whole state, And therefore must his choice be circumscribed Unto the voice and yielding of that body Whereof he is the head. Then if he says he loves you, It fits your wisdom so far to believe it As he in his particular a6l and place May give his saying deed; which is no further Than the main voice of Denmark goes withal. 9. pei'fume and] Qq. om. Ff. suppliance] soffiance Johnson conj. minute/] F 2 F 3 F 4 . minute Q 2 Q3Q4Q5. minute? F I # minute: Q 6 . 10. No ///ore.] As in Qq. At end of line 9, in Ff. but no more Collier MS. See note (11). so?] Rowe. so. QqFf. 710 //lore] mo more Q4. crescent] F 4 . cressant

11. rest. 12. bulk] bulkes Qq.

The

this] Qq. his Ff. the Hanmer. 13. and] om. Q4. 15. soil nor] foyle nor F 2 F 3 . foil nor F4. soil of Warburton. soil, or So quoted by Heath. 16. will] Qq. feare F j F ^ fear ^ 4 -

fear,] feare, Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 Q 5 . M xFrJ)6. flvr F3F4. fear; Keightley. 17. weigh" d] Ff. wayd Q 2 Q 3 . waid Q4Q5. ivafd Q 6 . 18. For...birth:] Ff. Omitted in Qq. 19. unvalued] inferior Q (1676). 20. Carvefor] Crave for Q4n^O& Bestow Q (1676). 21. safety] Q 4 Q 6 . safty Q 2 (K. safeties5. sandlityFf. sanity Hanmcr (Theobald conj.). health] the health Warburton. this]()q. the Ff. whole'] wcolc F j .

24. he is the] he's Pope. 26. particular aft and place] Oq. peculiar sec? and force Ff. peculiar ac? and place Pope.

10

2O

SCENE III.]

HAMLET.

Then weigh what loss your honour may sustain, If with too credent ear you list his songs, Or lose your heart, or your chaste treasure open To his unmaster'd importunity. Fear it, Ophelia, fear it, my dear sister, And keep you in the rear of your affe6lion, Out of the shot and danger of desire. The chariest maid is prodigal enough, If she unmask her beauty to the moon: Virtue itself'scapes not calumnious strokes: The canker galls the infants of the spring Too oft before their buttons be disclosed, And in the morn and liquid dew of youth Contagious blastments are most imminent. Be wary then; best safety lies in fear: Youth to itself rebels, though none else near. Oph. I shall the effe6t of this good lesson keep, As watchman to my heart. But, good my brother, Do not, as some ungracious pastors do, Show me the steep and thorny way to heaven, Whilst, like a puff'd and reckless libertine, Himself the primrose path of dalliance treads And recks not his own rede. O, fear me not. Laer. I stay too long: but here my father comes. 29. weigh] way Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 . what] that F 3 F 4 . 30. too] two F 2 F 3 . 31. lose] YZY2¥3. loose QqF 4 . 32. un7nasterd] unmasired ,F 3 . unmastered F 4 . 34. keep you in] Qq. keepe within Ff. 39. galls] gatdes Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 Q 5 . Galls, infant Q 4 infants] 40. their] Qq. the Ff. 45. effect] effects Pope. 46. As watchman to] About Q (1676). watchman] Q 2 Q 3 . watchmen

The rest. my] om. Q (1676). 48. steep] step Q 2 . to heaven] of heaven Q 6 . 49. Whilst, like a] Whilst like a Ff. Whiles a Qq. Whilst, he a Warburton. While as a Seymour conj. puff'dand reckless] om. Q (1676). reckless] careless Pope. 5 o. Himself... treads] Thyself... tread^st Seymour conj. 51. recks] Pope, reakes QqF 2 . reaks F j F 3 F 4 . recast Seymour conj. his] thine Seymour conj. rede] reed Qq. reade F x V2. read F 3 F 4 . tread Smyth conj. MS.

3°

35

HAMLET.

26

Enter

[ACT I.

POLONIUS.

A double blessing is a double grace; Occasion smiles upon a second leave. Pol. Yet here, Laertes! Aboard, aboard, for shame! The wind sits in the shoulder of your sail, And you are stay'd for. There; my blessing with thee! And these few precepts in thy memory Look thou chara6ler. Give thy thoughts no tongue, Nor any unproportion'd thought his a<5l. Be thou familiar, but by no means vulgar. Those friends thou hast, and their adoption tried, Grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel, But do not dull thy palm with entertainment Of each new-hatch'd, unfledged comrade. Beware Of entrance to a quarrel; but being in, Bear't, that th' opposed may beware of thee. Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice: Take each man's censure, but reserve thy judgement. Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy, But not expressed in fancy; rich, not gaudy: For the apparel oft proclaims the man; And they in France of the best rank and station Are of a most sele6l and generous chief in that. Neither a borrower nor a lender be: For loan oft loses both itself and friend, 52.

Pope. Enter Polonius.] As in Capell. After reed in Qq : after not in Ff. 53. [Kneeling to Polonius. Capell. 55. Aboard, aboard'] Get aboard Pope. 57. staj/'d] stayed Q 2 Q3. staled Q4Q5. for. There; my] Theobald, substantially, for, there my (Q I )Qq. for there: my Ff. thee] (Qx)Qq. you Ff. [Laying his hand on Laertes's head. Theobald. 59. Look] Qq. See Ff. 62. Those] (Qz)Qq. The Fi. 63. them to] ^Qj)Ff. them unto SCENE VI.

Qq. unto Seymour conj. hoops] hooks Pope. 64. dull] stale S. Walker conj. 65. new-hatchV] new hatcht Qq. ttnhatctft Ff. comrade] Ff. courage (Q I )Qq. court-ape Badham conj. 67. opposed] (Q x )Q a Q 3 Ff. opposer 6$. thy ear] thy care Qq. thine care or thine car Ff. 74. Are...that.] See note (in). 75. lender be] Ff. lender boy Qq. 76. loan] F3F4. Loane F 2 . lone * Q a Q 3 Q 4 Qs. /oveQ6. loses] FfQ 6 . looses Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 Q 5 .

55

60

65

70

75

SCENE IIL]

HA MLE

T.

27

And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry. This above all: to thine own self be true, And it must follow, as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any man. 80 Farewell: my blessing season this in thee! Laer. Most humbly do I take my leave, my lord. PoL The time invites you; go, your servants tend. Laer. Farewell, Ophelia, and remember well What I have said to you. J Oph. Tis in my memory lock'd, 85 And you yourself shall keep the key of it. Laer. Farewell. {Exit. Pol. What is't, Ophelia, he hath said to you? Oph. So please you, something touching the Lord Hamlet. PoL Marry, well bethought: 90 'Tis told me, he hath very oft of late Given private time to you, and you yourself Have of your audience been most free and bounteous: If it be so—as so 'tis put on me, And that in way of caution—I must tell you, 95 You do not understand yourself so clearly A s j t behoves my daughter and your honour. What is between you ? give me up the truth. Oph. He hath, my lord, of late made many tenders 100 Of his affe6lion to me. PoL Affe6tion! pooh! you speak like a green girl, Unsifted in such perilous circumstance. Do you believe his tenders, as you call them?

77- And] Q q F r A F 2 F 3 F 4 . dulls the edge] FfQ 6 . dtdleth edge Q 2 Q 3 . dulleth the edge Q4Qs79. night] light Warburton. the day] to day Q 6 . 81. thee!] Pope. thee. QqFf. 82. ^7 / ] 7^7 Q (1676). 83. invites] Ff. invests Qq. 85. &j/0«] om. Pope. *»] om. F 3 .

87. [Exit.] Exit Laertes. Qq. Exit Laer. Ff. 88. hath] om. F 3 F 4 . 89. Lord] Qq. L. Ff. 98. you ? give truth.] Q 6 . you give...truth, Q 2 Q 3 . you give.. Jncth. Q 4 Q 5 . J^*', give...truth? Ff. 101. pooh!]puh, Qq. puh. Ff. 102. Unsifted] Unsighted Becket conj.

28

HAMLET.

[ACT I.

/ I do not know, my lord, what I should think. Pol Marry, I'll teach you: think yourself a baby, That you have ta'en these tenders for true pay, Which are not sterling. Tender yourself more dearly; Or—not to crack the wind of the poor phrase, Running it thus—you'll tender me a fool. Oph. My lord, he hath importuned me with love In honourable fashion. Pol Ay, fashion you may call it; go to, go to. Oph. And hath given countenance to his speech, my lord, With almost all the holy vows of heaven. Pol Ay, springes to catch woodcocks. I do know, When the blood burns, how prodigal the soul Lends the tongue vows: these blazes, daughter, Giving more light than heat, extinft 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 105. /'//] lie F Z F 2 . Vie F 3 F 4 . / will Qq. 106. these] Qq. his Ff. 107. sterling] Qq. starling FjF-2 F4. startling F 3 . 109. Running] Dyce (Collier conj.). // >
116. prodigal]prodigally Q (1676). 117. Z*//afr] (QJ Qq. C/iw Ff. daughter] oh my daughter Pope. £*#/& daughter Capell. See note (v). 118. both] birth Badham conj. 119. their] the Warburton. 120. take] take V Q 4 Q 5 Q 6 . From this time] Qq. For this time daughter, Ff. From this time daughter, Long MS. 121. something] Qq. somewhat Ff. your] thy Johnson. f22. en treatments] FfQ 6 . intrcatments Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 Q 5 . intraitments Warburton. 123. A?/'Av] FfQ 6 . / ^ Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 Q 5 , 125. & ^ r ] F f . tidcr Q&s. teder Q4Q5. tedder Qe. may he] he may Warburton.

105

no

115

120

125

SCENE III.]

29

HAMLET.

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 san<5tified 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. [Ex'cnnt.

SCENE IV. Enter

The platform.

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: it then draws near the season 128. thatdye]Q6. that die Q2Q3Q4 Q 5 . the eye Ff. that eye Grant White. 129. 77iere] om. Seymour conj. implorators] imploratotors Q 2 Q 3 . i7iiplorers Pope. 130. bawds] Pope, ed. 2 (Theobald), bonds QqFf. bans Becket conj. lauds Anon. conj. 131. beguile] begitide Q 2 Q 3 . 133. slander] squanderCollier (Collier MS.). moment] Q 2 Q3F£ moments Q 4 Q 5 Q 6 . moments Pope, moments1 Collier (ed. 2). 135. come] and so co7iie Seymour conj. so now, come Collier MS. ways] wayes waies Q 5 . way F C? F 3 F 4 .

130

136. conj.

Oph. /...lord.] om. Seymour

Capell. om. Ff. SCENE H I . Rowe. SCENE VII. Pope. The platform.] The Platform before the Palace. Rowe. and] om. Ff. 1. shrewdly] FjQ 6 . shroudly Q 2 Q3Q4Q5- shrew"dly F 2 F 3 F 4 . it is very cold.] Qq. is it very cold? F X F 2 . it is very cold? F 3 F 4 . 2. a] om. Qq. an] om. F 3 F 4 . 4. is] ha^s F 3 F 4 . has not Rowe (ed. 2). struck] F 4 . strooke QqF x F 2 . strook F 3 . 5. LnleedU] Capell. Indeed; I Q2 SCENE IV.]

5

HAMLET.

[ACT I.

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 traduced 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 performed 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, Q 3 Q 4 Q 5 . Indeed I (Q^Ff. Indeed, T Q 6 . / Rowe. it then'] Qq. then it Ff. 6. [A flourish J Malone, after Capell. A florish of trumpets and a. peeces goes of. Qq (goe Qg. off Q 4 Q 5 Q 6 ). A flourish of Trumpets and Guns. Q (1676). Omitted in Ff. Noise of warlike Musick within. Rowe. 7. What...my lord?] Omitted in Steevens's reprint of Q 4 . 8. wake] walke Q4Q5Q6. 9. wassail] wassel (Qz). wassell Qq. wassels Ff. tip-spring reels] tip-spring reeles q- upspring reeles F X F 2 . upspring reels F 3 F 4 . upstart reels Pope. upsy freeze Badham conj. 10. drains] takes Q (1676). 11. bray out] proclaim Q (1676). 12. Is it] It is F 2 .

13. z>7:] is it; of an antique date: Seymour conj. 14. But] Qq. And Ff. native] a native Hanmer (ed. 2). 17—36. This...fault.] Put in the margin by Pope. 17—38. This...scandal^] Qq. Omitted in Ff. 17. revel] reueale Q2Q3- reuelle Q 4 . reuell Q 5 Q 6 . 17. 18. revel east and west. Makes] Pointed as in Qq. revell, east and west; Makes Pope (ed. 1). revcll, east and west, Makes Pope (ed. 2). revel east and west, Makes Warburton. 18. traduced] tradust Q 2 Q 3 . tax'd] Pope, taxed Qq. 19. clepe] Q 6 . clip Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 Q 5 . 23. So, oft] Theobald. So oft Qq. 24. mole] mould Theobald conj. (withdrawn).

10

20

SCENE IV.]

HAMLET.

As, in their birth,—wherein they are not guilty, Since nature cannot choose his origin,— By the overgrowth 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 defeat, 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 of a doubt To his own scandal. 27. 32.

the] Pope, their Qq. livery] levity Becket conj. star] starre Qq. scar Pope, ed. 2 (Theobald). 33. Their] Pope, ed. 2 (Theobald). 36—38. the...seandal] Omitted by Pope. 36,37. the dra m of eale ...of a doubt] Q 2 Q 3 . the dram of ease...of a doubt Q 4 Q 5 Q 6 . the dram of base...of worth 0///Theobald, the dram of base...oft eat out or the dram of base...soil with doubt Heath conj. the dram of ill...of worth out Capell conj. the dram of base Doth eat the noble substance of worth out Id. conj. the dram of base... oft adopt Holt conj. the dram of base ...oft work out Robertson and Davies conj. the dram of ill...of good out Jennens. the dram of base.. .of worth dout Malone. the dram of base.. .often dout Steevens (1793). the dram of base...oft do out Id. conj. (withdrawn). the dram of base...oft corruptMason conj. the dram of doubt...oft anneal Anon. conj. (1814). the dream of'ease\ The noble substance of a doubt,—doth all Becket conj. the dram of ale... over dough or oft a-dough Jackson conj. the dram of ill...often dout Caldecott.

the dram of bale...often doubt Singer (ed. 1). the di'am of base...of a dotcbt Singer (ed. 2). the dram of base...oft adoubt Singer conj. the dram of bale . ..off and out Delius. the dram of base ...derogate Ingleby conj. the drain of lead.. .of a ducat Id. conj. the 'dram of ail of a dotcbt Nichols conj. the dram of lead...of a pound Staunton conj. the dram of evil...oft outdo Jervis conj. the drain of base...offer doubt Brae conj. (N. and Q.). the dram of base Doth, all the itoble substance o^er, a doubt Anon. conj. (N. and Q.). the dram of eale Doth all the noble, substance of a doubt Corson conj. the draui of vile Turns of a draught Leo conj. the dram of evil out of doubt or the dram of evil...of a courtier Keightley conj. (withdrawn), the di-am of base...of ten draw Arrowsmith conj. the dram of evil...oft debase Dyce (ed. 2). the dram of eale oft endoubt Nicholson conj. the dram of calce...so adapt Bullock conj. the dram of earth ...so adapt Bullock conj. (withdrawn). the dram of base.. .overcloud Lloyd conj. the dram of base...of ten drown Taylor conj . M S . the dram of ease... oft work out Smyth conj. MS. See note (vi). 38. To his] To its Steevens conj.

35

HAMLET.

[ACT I.

Enter Ghost.

Hor. Look, m y lord, it comes! 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 comest 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 canonized bones, hearsed in death, Have burst their cerements; why the sepulchre, Wherein we saw thee quietly inurn'd, Hath oped 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, By his Malone conj. By ifs Anon, apud Rann conj. Enter Ghost.] Enter Ghost armed as before. Collier MS. 38. it] where it Q (1676). 39. Pause marked after this line in Collier MS. 42. intents] Qq. events Ff. advent Warburton. 43. a questionable] unquestionable Becket conj. 45. father, royal Dane: O] father, —Royal Dane, O Anon. conj. (St James's Chronicle, 0(51. 15, 1761). O] Qq. Oh, oh Ff. 46, 47. tell...death] tell why Heried and canonized in death, thy bones Becket conj. tell Why thy] tell why Thy

Lloyd conj. 47. canonized] canouizd QqFf. canonized ...death] bones hears* d in canonized earth Hanmer. canoniz\i bones9 heaised in earth Warburton. 48. cerements] Qq. cerments F r ceanncnts F O F 3 F 4 . 49. inurrfd] F 2 F 3 F 4 . enurn'd¥v interr'd (Qx)Qq. immured Anon. conj. 5;,. Revisit'st] ¥4. Revisitst F2F3. Rci'isits QqFj. thus the...moon,] thus, moon Becket conj.

the...

54- ™«] us Pope, ed. 2 (Theobald). $$. horridly] horribly Theobald. 56. the reaches]^, thee; reachesFL 57[Ghost beckons Hamlet.] Ghost beckens Hamlet. Ff. Beckins. Q 2 O 3 . Beckons. Q 4 O 5 . Beckens. Q 6 .

40

45

50

55

SCENE IV.]

HAMLET.

33

As if it some impartment did desire To you alone. Mar. Look, with what courteous a<5lion 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 I will 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 fathoms to the sea And hears it roar beneath. Ham. It waves me still. 61.

waves] (Qx)Qq. wafts Ff. to a more] off to a Johnson. more removed] remote Q (1676). See note (vn). 62. [Holding Hamlet. Rowe. 65. I will] Qq. will I Ff. 64. should] shall Q (1676).

65.

fee;]fr?F3F4.

67. 69.

as] like (Qj) Q 6 . tozvard] towards Q4Q5. flood] floods Q (1676). lord] om. Q 2 . 70. summit] Rowe. so?nnet Qq. sonnet Ff. cliff] F 3 F 4 . cleefe Qq. cliffe F F 71. beetles] Ff. bettles Q 2 Q 3 . bettels VOL. VTTI.

72. assume] Qq. assumes Ff. 73. deprive] deprave Hanmer (Warburton). your reason] you of your soveraign reaso?i Collier MS. See note (11).

74. conj.

draw] drive (Qx) S. Walker it:] it, Qq. it? F r

it. F 2 F 3

F4. 75—78. The very ...beneath.] Qq. Omitted in Ff. 78, 79. It...thee.] As in Qq. One line in Ff. 78. waves] Qq. zvafts Ff. D

60

65

70

HAMLET.

34

[ACT I.

Go on; I'll follow thee. Mar. You shall not go, my lord. Ham. Hold off your hands. Hor. Be ruled; 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. Still am I call'd: unhand me, gentlemen; By heaven, I'll make a ghost of him that lets me: I say, away! Go on; I '11 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. Heaven will dire6l it. Mar. Nay, let's follow him. \Exeunt. SCENE V. Another part of the platform. Enter Ghost and

HAMLET.

Ham.

Whither wilt thou lead me? speak; I'll go no further. Ghost Mark me. Ham. I will. 80.

qf]o/Q2Q3Q4. hands'] Qq. hand Ff. 81. Hor.] Mar. Theobald. [They struggle. Collier MS. See note (n). 82. artery] Q 6. arture Q 2 Q 3 . artyre Q 4 . attire Q 5 F 4 . artire FTF<2F3. . this] his F3F4. 83. As hardy] Hardy Capell. Nemean] Q4Q 5 Q 6 F 3 F 4 . Nemeo7i Q 2 Q 3 . Nemian FjF 2 . [Ghost beckons. Malone. 84. am I] I am Q (1676). calVd:] cald, Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 Q 5 . calVd; Q 6 . caPd?¥v calPd? F 2 F 3 F 4 .

[Breaking from them. Rowe. 86. on] one Q4Qs. [Exeunt...] Ff. Exit... Qq. 87. imagination] imagion Q2Q3. 91. Heaven] Heaven's Collier MS. See note (11). dircft it] discover it Q (1676). deted it Farmer conj. SCENE V.] Capell. SCENE VIII. Pope. Scene continued in Ff. Another part ] Capell. A more remote part... Theobald. Enter...] Re-enter... Pope. 1. Whither] (QX)Q6. Whether Q 2 QsQ4Qs- Where Ff.

80

85

HAMLET.

SCENE V.]

35

Ghost. My hour is almost come, When I to sulphurous 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. Hani. 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 confined to fast in fires, Till the foul crimes done in my days of nature Are burnt and purged 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 an end, Like quills upon the fretful porpentine: 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— Hai?t.

O God!

Ghost. Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder. 2.

hour'] F3F4. honre Qq. hotver F r honour F 2 . 5, 6. Pity...unfold.] Prose in Q4Q5. 5. thy] my Q 5 . 6. hear.] here, Q4. 7. when] what Q (1676). 8. What?] Hear what7 Keightley. Revenge! what? how? Seymour conj. 11. confined to fast] confined fast Theobald conj. (withdrawn). to fast in] to roast in Theobald conj. (withdrawn), too fast in Warburton, to lasting Singer, ed. 2 (Heath conj.). to waste in Steevens conj. (with-

d rawn). to fasting J ackson conj. fast to Anon. conj. (' Once a Week'). 13. that Iaiii] being Seymour conj. 18. knotted] (Qx)Qq. knotty Ff. 19. an end] on end (Qx) Pope. an-end Boswell. 20. fretful] F 4 . fretfull (Q I )F I F 2 F 3 . fcarefull Qq. porpentine] porcupine Q (1676). 22. List, list] Qq. list Hamlet Ff (Hamle F 2 ). 23. love-—] Rowe. love. QqFf. 24. God] Qq. Heaven Ff. D 2

5

io

2O

HAMLET. Ham.

[ACT I.

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 roots 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 abused: but know, thou noble youth, The serpent that did sting thy father's life Now wears his crown. Ham. O my prophetic soul! My uncle! Ghost. Ay, that incestuous, that adulterate beast, With witchcraft of his wit, with traitorous gifts,— 26. Murder F] Q 6 . Murther Q 2 Q 3 Q4Q5. Murther? Ff. 27. Murder most] Most Seymour conj. in] at Long MS. 29. Haste me] Rowe. Hast me Qq. Hast, hast me Fz. Haste, haste me F o F3F4. Haste...swift] One line in Qq. Two in Ff. know^t] Qq. know it Ff. know Pope. / ] om. F x . 30. meditation] mediation Q 6 . 31. sweep] Jiye Q (1676). szuoop Theobald conj. (withdrawn). 32. sJwitldst] shonlJest Q4Q5. 33. roots] Q 5 O 6 . rootcs (OjQ^Qa Q 4 . rots Ff. itself. ..wharf] on Lethe's wharf: itself in ease,— Becket conj. Lethe] Lethe s Q (1676) and Rowe.

35. Ff.

. 7&Q a Q 3 Q 4 Qs.

Ifs

my] Qq. mine Ff. orchard] garden Q (1676). 36. so] om. Pope. 38. know, thou] F4. knowe thoic Q4 F i F 2 Q5 F 3- know tton, Q 6 . 39. life] heart Q (1676). 40. 41. O my ...uncle I] As in Dyce (S. Walker conj.). One line in QqFf. 41. jlfy] ?ny Qq. mineYi. uncle!] Q 6 . uncle? Q 2 Q 3 Ff. uncle: Q4. uncle. Q 5 . 42. Ay,] Ay, Ay S. Walker conj., ending line 41 Ay. Ay, that adulterate] Incestuous, adulterate Seymour conj. 43. witchcraft] witch raft F 2 . wit] Pope, wits QqFf. with] Qq. hath F j F ^ . and F4. gifts,—] gifts, QqF 3 . guifts. F f . gifts. F9. gifts F 4 .

3°

35

4°

SCENE V.]

HAMLET.

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: 0 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 1 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 moved, 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 effe6l Holds such an enmity with blood of man That swift as quicksilver it courses through The natural gates and alleys of the body; 44. wit] wits Q5. on] in F3F4. 58. scent] sent Q 45. to his] QqF 3 F 4 . to to this F r morning] Qq. mornings Ff. to this F 2 . 59. within my orchard] in my 46. seeming-virtuous~\ Hyphen ingarden Q (1676). serted by Theobald. my] Qq. 7nine Ff. 47. a] FfQ 6 . om. Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 Qs60. of] Qq. in (Q^Ff. 50. marriage; and to~\ marriage, to 61. secure] secret Johnson. Ingleby conj. stole] to me stole Q (1676). 52,53. To those moved, ] As in 62. hebe?ion] Ff. hebona (Qx)Qq. Pope. One line in QqFf. 52. mine!] mine, sicrpasses, almost, hebon or he7nlock Elze conj. vial] viall Qq. violl F^YO. thinking. Seymour conj. viol F3F4. 55. lust,] (Qx)Ff. but Qq. 63. my] Qq. mine Ff. angel] F 4 . angell F^F^3. 64. 65. effedl Holds] effects Hold angle Qq. 56, 57. Will...garbage.] Arranged Q (1676). 67. alleys] Hanmer. allies (Qx) as in Qq. One line in Ff. 56. sate] FTF9. sortQq. seat F3F4. QqFf. 57. prey] pray Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 -

37 45

55

6o

HAMLET.

[ACT I.

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 dispatched: Cut off even in the blossoms of my sin, Unhousel'd, disappointed, unanel'd; No reckoning made, but sent to my account With all my imperfe6lions 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 pursuest this a<5t, 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 glow-worm shows the matin to be near, And 'gins to pale his uneffe6lual fire: {Exit. Adieu, adieu, adieu! remember me. Ham. O all you host of heaven! O earth! what else ? 68.

vigour] rigour Staunton conj. posset] Ff. possesse Qq. 69. eager] (Q^Qq. Aygre Ff. 71. bartid] barckt Q 2 Q 3 . barkt Q 4 Q 5 Q 6 . bak'dFL barked (Qz). 75* of queen] of queene Qq. and queene Ff (gueen F 3 F 4 ). dispatched] disjnatch'd Becket conj. despoiVd Collier MS. 76. blossoms] blossom Dyce conj. 77. UnhouseVd] Theobald. U11huzled Q 2 Q 3 . Unnuzled Qi-QsQg. Unhouzzled Ff. disappointed] unanointed Pope. unappointed Theobald. unaneVd] Pope, unanueld Q 2 Q 3 . un-anueld Q4Q5Q6. unnaneld Ff. unaneaVd Theobald. unanoiVd

Jennens. and unknelPd Anon. conj. (Gent. Mag. XLVI. 267). unassoiled Boucher conj. 79. With all] Withall Q 2 Q 3 . 80. See note (vm). 84. howsoever] Ff. howsomeverQq. pursuest] FfQ 6 . pursues Q 2 Q3Q4Q5. 85. Taint] Tain't Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 . contrive] design Q (1676). 89. matin] morning Q (1676). matins so quoted in Drake's Shakespeare and his Times, 11. 414. 91. Adieu, adieu, adieu 1] Adiew, adiew, adiew, Qq {Adieu Q 6 ). Adue, adue, Hamlet: F X F 2 . Adieu, adieu, Hamlet: F 3 F 4 . Farewel, Q (1676). [Exit.] Ff. om. Qq.

70

75

80

90

HAMLET.

SCENE V.]

39

And shall I couple hell? O, fie! Hold, hold, my heart; And you, my sinews, grow not instant old, But bear me stiffly up. Remember thee! 95 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, ioo 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! 105 0 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'm sure it may be so in Denmark. [ Writing. So, uncle, there you are. Now to my word; no It is ' Adieu, adieu! remember me/ 1 have sworn't. Hor

* ] Mar.

[ Within] My lord, my lord! Enter

HORATIO

Mar. 93. O fiel Hold, hold, my] Ok hold, my Pope. Hold, hold, my Capell. O He! Hold, Collier MS. Hold, hold, my] hold, hold my Q 2 Q 3 . hold, my Q4. hold my QsFf Qe95. stiffly]¥i. swiftlyQq. strongly Q (1676). 95, 97. thee I] Q 6 . thee, Q 2 Q 3 Q4 Q 5 . thee? Ff. 96. while] Ff. whiles Qq. 100. saws] sawe Q 4 . saw QsQ67'egisters Q (1676). all pressures] and pressures Q (1676). 104. yes] Qq. yes, yes Ff. 105. per7iicious] preiticious Q4. pernicious and perfidious Collier (Collier MS.). 107. My tables,—] Pope. {My

and MARCELLUS.

Lord Hamlet! tables) (QJ. My tables, Qq. My Tables, my Tables; Ff. set it] set Q 6 . 107—112. down,.. .villain ;. ..me.' ...swornV.] down.—...villain!...me? [Writing...sworn it. [Having kissed the tables. Brae conj. 109. Pm] Ff. I am Qq. [Writing. ] Rowe. om. QqFf. Opposite line 111, Keightley. i n , 112. It...sworn't.] Two lines in Qq. One in Ff. Capell puts It is in a separate line. i n . It is] Its— Jackson conj. 112. / have sworn V.] Tve sworn it— Pope. 113. SCENE IX. Pope. Hor. Mar. [Within] Ff. Hora. Qq. See note (ix).

HAMLET.

4o

Hor. Ham. Mar. Ham. Mar. Hor. Ham. Hor. Ham. Hor. Mar. Ham.

[ACT I.

Heaven secure him!

So be it! Illo, ho, ho, my lord! Hillo, ho, ho, boy! come, bird, come. How is't, my noble lord? What news, my lord? 0, wonderful! Good my lord, tell it. No; you will reveal it Not I, my lord, by heaven. Nor I, my lord. How say you, then; would heart of man once think it ? But you'll be secret? Hor. Ay, by heaven, my lord. Mar. Ham. There's ne'er a villain dwelling in all Denmark But he's an arrant knave. Hor. There needs no ghost, my lord, come from the grave To tell us this. Ham. Why, right; you are i' the right; And so, without more circumstance at all, I hold it fit that we shake hands and part: You, as your business and desire shall point you; For every man hath business and desire, 113. Heaven ] Ff. Heavens (Q1) Q q. 114. Ham.] Qq. Mar. Ff. Mar. [within. Knight. 115. Mar.] Qq. Hor. Ff. 116. 6ird,]Ff. and Qq, doy, (Qx) Pope. 117. Hor. What news, my lord?] Omitted in Q 4 Q 5 Q 6 . TI8. Ham.] Hora. Q4Q5. 119. you will] Qq. you*I F2. you'll F 2 F 3 F 4 . 121. it?] (Q^FfQg. it, The rest. 122. secret f] Ff. secret. Qq. secret— Theobald. Hor. Mar.] Booth. Q 2 Q 3 .

Both. Q 4 Q 5 FfQ 6 .

my lord.] (Qx) Ff. Omitted in Qq. T 2 3. There's... Denmark] One line in (Qx)Ff. Two in Qq. ne'er] F 2 . nerc F T . ne'reF^ F 4 . never Qq. 123, 124. Denmark But] Denmark—But Seymour conj. 124. But] Bate Becket conj. 125, 126. There...this,] As in Qq. Prose in Ff. 126. V the] V W Ff. /;/ the Qq. 129. desire] Qq. desires (Qz)Ff. 130. hath] Qq. hats F z . has F 2 F3F4.

I2O

125

SCENE V.J

HAMLET.

Such as it is; and for my own poor part, Look you, I'll go pray. Hor. These are but wild and whirling words, my lord. Ham. I'm sorry they offend you, heartily; Yes, faith, heartily. Hor. There's no offence, my lord. Ha7n. Yes, by Saint Patrick, but there is, Horatio, And much offence too. Touching this vision here, It is an honest ghost, that let me tell you: For your desire to know what is between us, Overmaster't as you may. And now, good friends, As you are friends, scholars and soldiers, Give me one poor request. Hor. What is't, my lord? we will. Ham. Never make known what you have seen to-night. Hor. ] , , t , M1 \ My lord, we will not. M Ham. Nay, but swear't Hor. In faith, My lord, not I. Mar. Nor I, my lord, in faith. Ham. Upon my sword. Mar. We have sworn, my lord, already. Ham. Indeed, upon my sword, indeed. Ghost. \_BcncatJi\ Swear. 131. my] Qq. mineYi. 132. Look you, Pll] Ff. T will Qq. Look you, I will Capell. 133. zvhirling] Theobald, wherling (Qj) whurling Qq. hurling Ff. windy Q(i6/6). hurting Collier MS. See note (11). 134. r?ii\ Ff. T am Qq. offend] offended F3F4. 135. Yes, faith,] Yes, Pope. 'Faith, Capell. 136. Horatio] (Q^Qq. my Lord Ff. 137. too. Touching] too: touching Q 6 . too, touching (Qz) Ff. to, touching Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 Q5.

here,] lucre, or here, Qq. heere: or here: Ff. 140. O"er master7] Oremastret Q 2 Q3. Cer-master Rowe (ed. 2). 143. we will] om. (Qx) Pope. Mar. We will Collier MS. See note (11). 145. Hor. Mar.] Booth. Q 2 Q 3 . Both. The rest. 145, T46. In faith,.../.] Arranged as by Capell. One line in QqFf. 147. We have] We've Pope. 148. Indeed...indeed.] In deed...in deed Staunton. 149. Ghost. [Beneath] Swear.] Capell. Ghost cries under the Stage.

135

140

i45

HAMLET.

[ACT I.

Ham.

Ah, ha, boy! say'st thou so ? art thou there, true-penny? Come on: you hear this fellow in the cellarage: Consent to swear. Hor. Propose the oath, my lord. Ham. Never to speak of this that you have seen, Swear by my sword. Ghost. \BeneatJt\ Swear. Ham. Hie et ubique ? then we'll shift our ground. Come hither, gentlemen, And lay your hands again upon my sword: Never to speak of this that you have heard, Swear by my sword. Ghost. [Beneath] Swear. Ham. Well said, old mole! canst work i' the earth so^ fast ? A worthy pioner! Once more remove, good friends. Hor. O day and night, but this is wondrous strange! Ham. And therefore as a stranger give it welcome. There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy. But come; Here, as before, never, so help you mercy, (ed. 2). Ghost. Sweare. Qq. Gho. Szveare. Ghost cries under the Stage. Ff. 161. Swear.] (Qx)Ff. Sweare by 150, 151. Ah, ha,... cellarage.] Ar- his sword. Qq. ranged as in Qq. Prose in Ff. 162. canst] canst thou Q 6 . 150. Ah] Ff. Ha Qq. earth] (Q^Qq. ground ¥L good friends] om. Seymour so?] Q 6 . so, Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 Q 5 - so. Ff. conj 151. 07t: you hear] one you here Fz. friends] QqF z . friend F 2 F 3 152. the oath] my oath F 3 F 4 t F4. 153. seen,] see?ze Q2Q3. seene, Q 4 165. give] bid F 3 F 4 . Q 5 Q 6 . seene. F X F 2 . seen. F 3 F 4 . 167. your] (Qx)Qq. our Ff. 155. 161, 182. [Beneath] Capell. 167, 168. Than ...come;] As in om. QqFf. Hanmer. One line in QqFf. 156, Hie] Hie Q 4 Q 5 . 168, T69. But come; Here] But ubique?] Ff. ubique', Qq. Seymour conj. our] Qq. for Ff. 169, Here] Swear Pope (ed. 2). 157—160. See note (x). swear here Keightley, reading But... 159. this that] this which Rowe mercy! as one line.

I

5°

i55

t6o

165

SCENE V.j

HAMLET.

43

How strange or odd soe'er I bear myself, 170 As I perchance hereafter shall think meet T o p u t an antic disposition on, That you, at such times seeing me, never shall, With arms encumbered thus, or this head-shake, Or by pronouncing of some doubtful phrase, 17As ' Well, well, we know/ or i We could, an if we would/ Or ' If we list to speak/ or 'There be, an if they might/ Or such ambiguous giving out, to note T h a t you know aught of me : this not to do, So grace and mercy at your most need help you, 180 Swear. Ghost, [Baicatli] Swear. Ham. Rest, rest, perturbed spirit! [They swear.] So, gentlemen, With all my love I do commend me to you : And what so poor a man as Hamlet is 185 May do, to express his love and friending to you, God willing, 'shall not lack. Let us go in together ; 170—172. How...on] Put in parentheses in Pope. (ed. i). 170—178. How...note] Put in parentheses in Qq. 170. soever] so ere FfQg. so mere 172. As...oii\ Put in parentheses in Ff. 171. meet] fit So quoted by Theobald (' Shakespeare Restored'). 173. times] (Qj)Qq. time Ff. 174. this head-shake] Theobald. this head shake (QI)Q2QsQ4Q5- thus, head shake Ff. head thus shaftt Q 6 . 175. Or] Nor Malone conj. 176. Well, well,] Qq. well, Ff. 176. 177. an if...an if] Hanmer. and if...and if QqFf. and if...or if Q (1676). an...those; An //Seymour conj. 177. they] (Qj)Qq. there Ff. 178. giving] givings Warburton. out, to note] Steevens, 1793 171

(Malone conj.). out, to note) Qq. out to note, Ff. out to note Mai one. to note] denote Pope, ed. 2 (Theobald), to-note Porson conj. MS. 179—181. this... Swear.] this...doe: So...you: Szueare. Ff. this doe swea re, So...you. Qq. this you, must swear. So...y 02c. Q (1676). this do ye swear. So...yOIL. Swear. Pope. This do yoti szuear, So...you! Capell. This not to do, swear; So...you! Boswell. 183. Rest, rest,] Rest, Seymour conj. [They swear.] Edd. (Globe ed.). om. QqFf. 184. / do] om. F 2 F 3 F 4 . do I Theobald. 186. friending] friendship Q (1676). 187. God...laek.] Shall never fail, Q 11676). Let us go in] Let's go Anon, conj. together] om. Hanmer.

HAMLET.

4+

And still your fingers on your lips, I pray. The time is out of joint: O cursed spite, That ever I was born to set it right! Nay, come, let's go together.

ACT SCENE

I.

[ACT I.

190

[Exeunt.

II.

A room in Poloniums house.

Enter POLONIUS and REYNALDO.

Pol. Give him this money and these notes, Reynaldo. Rey. I will, my lord. Pol. You shall do marvellous wisely, good Reynaldo, Before you visit him, to make inquire Of his behaviour. Rey. My lord, I did intend it. Pol. Marry, well said, very well said. Look you, sir, Inquire me first what Danskers are in Paris, And how, and who, what means, and where they keep, What company, at what expense, and finding By this encompassment and drift of question That they do know my son, come you more nearer Than your particular demands will touch it: Take you, as 'twere, some distant knowledge of him, i88. pray.] Rowe. pray, QqFf. 190. set] see F 3 F 4 . A C T 11.

SCENE I.J Q ( I 6 7 6 )

and

Rowe. Acftus Secundus. Ff. A room...] An Apartment... Rowe. Enter...Reynaldo.] Capell. Enter old Polonius, with his man or two. Qq. Enter...Reynoldo. Ff. 1. this] Qq. his Ff. these] Q 2 Q 3 F z . these two Q 4 Q 5

Q 6 . those F 2 F 3 F 4 . 1, 3, 15. Reynaldo] Qq. Reynoldo Ff. 3. marvellous] QsQ^. meruiles Q 2 Q 3 . maruelous Q 4 . 7narucls Fj. marvels F 2 F 3 F 4 .

wisely,] Q 6 . wisely Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 Q5. wisely: Ff. 4. to make inquire] Qq. you make inquiry Ff. make you inquiry Rowe. to 7?iake inquiry Q (1676) and Pope. 6. Marry...sir,] As in Qq. Two lines in Ff. Marry] Mary Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 . 7. Danskers] Dantz"ckers Capell (corrected in MS.). 9. at] om. F 4 . n , 12. nearer Than] Capell. nccrcr Then QqF x . neere Than F 2 . near Then F 3 . near. Then Q (1676) and Pope, near, Then F 4 .

IO

SCENE L]

HAMLET.

As thus, ' I know his father and his friends, And in part him:' do you mark this, Reynaldo ? Rey. Ay, very well, my lord. Pol ' And in part him; but/ you may say, 'not well: But ift be he I mean, he's very wild, Addi6led so and so ;' and there put on him What forgeries you please; marry, none so rank As may dishonour him; take heed of that; But, sir, such wanton, wild and usual slips As are companions noted and most known To youth and liberty. Rey. As gaming, my lord. Pol. Ay, or drinking, fencing, swearing, quarrelling, Drabbing : you may go so far. Rey. My lord, that would dishonour him. Pol. Faith, no ; as you may season it in the charge You must not put another scandal on him, That he is open to incontinency ; That's not my meaning: but breathe his faults so quaintly That they may seem the taints of liberty, The flash and outbreak of a fiery mind, A savageness in unreclaimed blood, Of general assault Rey. But, my good lord,— Pol. Wherefore should you do this ? Rey. Ay, my lord, I would know t h a t Pol. Marry, sir, here's my drift,

14. As] Qq. And Ff. 18. i/v]Ff. yy?Q 2 Q 3 Q4Qs- if it Q6. 25, 26. Ay ...far.] Arranged as in Capell. In QqFf the first line ends at swearing. 25. fencing] Put in brackets by Warburton as an interpolation. 28. no] Ff. om. Qq. 29. another] an utter Hanmer (Theobald conj. withdrawn).

30. That] Than Keightley. 34, 35. A savageness,..assault.] As in Qq. One line in Ff. 34. unreclaimed] QsQg. unreclamed Q2Q3Q4- unreclaimed Ff. 35. lord)—] lord— Pope. Lord. QqFf. 36. 37. Ay,...that.] AsinSteevens (1778). One line in QqFf. 36. lord] good lord Capell, ending the line at lord.

20

35

46

HAMLET.

[ACT IL

And I believe it is a fetch of warrant: You laying these slight sullies on my son, As 'twere a thing a little soil'd i' the working, Mark you, Your party in converse, him you would sound, Having ever seen in the prenominate crimes The youth you breathe of guilty, be assured He closes with you in this consequence; ' Good sir/ or so, or ' friend/ or ' gentleman/ According to the phrase or the addition Of man and country. Rey. Very good, my lord. Pol. And then, sir, does he this—he does—what was I about to say? By the mass, I was about to say something: where did I leave ? Rey. At ' closes in the consequence/ at l friend or so/ and ' gentleman.' Pol. At l closes in the consequence/ ay, marry ; He closes with you thus : ' I know the gentleman ; 38. warra?zt] Ff. wit Qq. 39. sullies] Q4Q5Q6F4. sallies Q 2 Q 3 . sulleyes F j F ^ ^ 40. Vihe] VtK Ff. with Qq. 41. 42. Mark ...sound,] As in Malone. One line in QqFf. 41. you,] Qq. you Ff. 42. hini\ he Q 6 . you would] you" Id Johnson. 43. seen iii\ seene in Qq. seene. In F j F , ^ . seen. In F 4 . prenominate] prenominat Q 2 Q3Q4. 44. breathe] Rowe (ed. 2). breath QqFf. speak Pope. 45. consequence] cosequence Q 4 . 46. or so] Put in parentheses in Qq. or so, or] or Sir, or Hanmer. or sire or Warburton. forsooth, or Johnson conj. or so forth, Steevens conj. (1778). 47. or] Qq. andFf.

addition] addistion Q2Q3« 49—51- And then...leaveT] Prose first by Malone. Three lines in Qq, endi ng say ? someth ing, leave ? Three lines in Ff, ending this?...say? ...leave? Capell ends the lines was I...say... leave? 49. does he this—he does] does he this? He does: Ff. doos a this, a doos, Q 2 Q 3 . doos a this, a doos: Q4Q5. does a this, a does: Q 6 . 50. By the mass] Qq. Omitted in Ff. something] nothing F 2 F 3 F 4 . 52,53. At...gentleman.'] Prose in Globe ed. Two lines, the first ending consequence: in Ff. at 'friend...gentleman."] Omitted in Qq. 54. Pol.] Reynol. F 2 . Pelon. F 3 . 55. closes with you thus] Ff. closes thus Qq. closeth with him thus (Qx).

40

45

55

SCENE L]

HAMLET.

I saw him yesterday, or t'other day, Or then, or then, with such, or such, and, as you say, There was a' gaming, there o'ertook in's rouse, There falling out at tennis :' or perchance, ' I saw him enter such a house of sale,' Videlicet, a brothel, or so forth. See you now; Your bait of falsehood takes this carp of truth : And thus do we of wisdom and of reach, With windlasses and with assays of bias, By indirections find directions out: So, by my former Ie6lure and advice, Shall you my son. You have me, have you not ? Rey. My lord, I have. Pol. God be wi' ye ; fare ye well. Rey. Good my lord ! Pol. Observe his inclination in yourself. Rey. I shall, my lord. Pol. And let him ply his music Well, my lord. Rey. [Exit Reynaldo. Pol. Farewell! Enter

OPHELIA.

How now, Ophelia! what's the matter? 56. fother] tother F 2 F 2 . 'father F 3 F 4 . tK other Qq. 57. Or then, or then,] Or theii. Pope. or such~\ Qq. and such Ff. 58. a'] a Qq. heFi. gaming, there] gaming, there Ff. gaming there Qq. o'ertook] or tooke Qq. 59. There] Their F 2 F 3 . 60. such] Q2Q3Ff. such or such Q4Q5. such and such Q5. sale] Qq. sailed\F'2. sail F3F 4. 61. 62. Videlicet...7iow] As in Capell. One line in QqFf. 63. falsehood takes] falshood takes Q5. falshood, takes Ff. falshood take Q2Q3' falshood: take Q4Q5.

carp] carpe Qq. cape Ff. 65. assays] essayes Q^. 66. indirections] indirefis Q4Q5Q6. 67. advice] FfQ 6 . advise Q2Q3Q4

Qs69. be wP ye] buy ye Qq. bity you F I F 2 F 3 . Pit?you F 4 . fare ye] Q 6 . far ye Q 2 Q 3 . far yee Q4Q5. fare you Ff. 70. Good my loi'd!] Dyce. Good my Lord. QqFf. Good my Lord— Rowe. But) my good lord,— Capell conj. 71. in] e'en Hanmer. 74. [Exit Reynaldo.] Exit Rey. Qq (after lord). Exit. Ff (after lord). SCENE I I . ] Pope. [Enter Ophelia.] As in Singer

47

60

HAMLET.

[ACT II.

Oph. O, my lord, my lord, I have been so affrighted ! Pol. With what, i' the name of God ? Oph. My lord, as I was sewing in my closet, Lord Hamlet, with his doublet all unbraced, No hat upon his head, his stockings foul'd, Ungarter'd and down-gyved to his ancle; Pale as his shirt, his knees knocking each other, And with a look so piteous in purport As if he had been loosed out of hell To speak of horrors, he comes before me. Pol. Mad for thy love ? Oph. My lord, I do not know, But truly I do fear it. Pol. What said he? Oph. He took me by the wrist and held me hard; Then goes he to the length of all his arm, And with his other hand thus o'er his brow, He falls to such perusal of my face As he would draw it Long stay'd he so; At last, a little shaking of mine arm, And thrice his head thus waving up and down, He raised a sigh so piteous and profound As it did seem to shatter all his bulk And end his being: that done, he lets me go:

ed. 2). Before Farewell! in QqFf. 84. horrors', he] Qq. horrors: he Enter Ophelia, hastily. Capell. Ff. horrors; thus he Pope, horrors 75. O, my lord,] Qq. Alas, Ff. there, he Anon. conj. 76. ithe] tth Qq. in the Ff. 85, 86. My lord...it.] As in Qq. God] Qq. Heaven Ff. One line in Ff. 77. sewing] Warburton. sowing Qq 87. and held me hard] Omitted in Ff. reading Q (1676). F2F3F4. closet] Q 6 . closset Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 Q 5 . 91. As he] Ff. As a Qq. chamber Ff. Long] Long time Pope. 78. Lord] Prince Q (1676). 92. mine] QqF x . my F 2 F 3 F 4 . his 79. fonVd] FfQ6. fouled Q2Q3Q4 Pope (ed. 2). Q 5 . loose Q (1676). See note (xi). 94. piteous] Q6. pittioits Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 80. down-gyved] F 3 F 4 . downc Q 5 F r hideous F 2 F 3 F 4 . gyved Q 2 Q 3 Q 6 . doumc gyred Q 4 Q 5 . 95. As] Qq. That Ff. downegivedFx. doumc-gyvcdY2. down96. that done,] Then Pope. rr Ox yrcd Theobald. me] om. F 2 F 3 F 4 .

75

80

90

95

HAMLET.

SCENE I.]

49

And with his head over his shoulder turn'd, He seem'd to find his way without his eyes; For out o' doors he went without their helps, And to the last bended their light on me. Pol Come, go with me: I will go seek the king. This is the very ecstasy of love; Whose violent property fordoes itself And leads the will to desperate undertakings As oft as any passion under heaven That does affli6l our natures. I am sorry. What, have you given him any hard words of late ? Oph. No, my good lord, but, as you did command, I did repel his letters and denied His access to me. Pol. That hath made him mad. I am sorry that with better heed and judgement I had not quoted him: I fear'd he did but trifle And meant to wreck thee; but beshrew my jealousy! By heaven, it is as proper to our age To cast beyond ourselves in our opinions As it is common for the younger sort To lack discretion. Come, go we to the king: This must be known; which, being kept close, might move More grief to hide than hate to utter love. \Exeunt. Come. 97- shozilder]Q2Q^ shoulders The rest. 99. Jdoors] Theobald, adoores Q 2 Q 3 . a dooi'es Q 4 . of dooj-es QsQ6adores FJF2. adoors F 3 F 4 . helps] OoO^O^ helpes QzQfr A?^(QI)FIF2-

/^/F3F4-

101. Cktf^] Qq. om. Ff. 103. fordoes] forgoes Q4Q5Q6105. passion] Ff. passions Qq. i n . /##z] /'w Pope. Aao/] Q 5 Q 6 - ^ ^ Q2QsQ4. r / ^ Ff. 112. quoted] Ff. ^ ^ / Q coated Qg. « ^ « / Warburton.

VOL. VIII.

fear'd] Qq. feare F X F 2 . fear did but trifle] trifled Pope. 113. wreck] wrack QqF 3 F 4 . wracke FjF 2 . rack Upton conj. beshreiu] FfQg. beshrow Q 2 Q3Q4Q* 114. By heaven, ] (Qj)Qq. It seetnes F T F 2 . / / seems F 3 F 4 . 117. we] with me Q (1676). 118. which] w F r 119. than hate] hate, than Hanmer. than haste Anon. conj. 120. Come.] Qq. om. Ff.

E

ioo

105

110

120

HAM LET,

SCENE

Flourish.

Enter

II.

[ACT I

A room in the castle.

KING, QUEEN, ROSENCRANTZ, GUILDENSTERN,

and Attendants.

King. Welcome, dear Rosencrantz and Guildenstern! Moreover that we much did long to see you, The need we have to use you did provoke Our hasty sending. Something have you heard Of Hamlet's transformation; so call it, Sith nor the exterior nor the inward man Resembles that it was. What it should be, More than his father's death, that thus hath put him So much from th' understanding of^himself, I cannot dream of: I entreat you both, That, being of so young days brought up with him And sith so neighboured to his youth and haviour, That you vouchsafe your rest here in our court Some little time: so by your companies To draw him on to pleasures, and to gather So much as from occasion you may glean, Scena secunda. Ff. SCENE H I . Pope. A room...] Capell. The Palace. Rowe. Flourish.] om. Ff. Rosencrantz, ] Malone. Rossencraft, (Qj). Rosencraus Qq. Rosincrane, F T . Rosincrosse, F ? F 3 . Rosincross, F4. Roseneraus, Rowe (ed. 2). Rosincrantz, Theobald. Guildenstern] Rowe. Gilderstone (Qj). Guyldensterne Q2Q3Q4Qs. Guildensterne FjQ^. Guildenstare F 2 SCENE

II.]

and Attendants.] Lords and other Attendants. Rowe. Omitted in Qq. Cumalijs. F I F O . cum aliis. F 3 F 4 . r > 33> 34* Roseucraniz] Malone.

Rosencratis Qq. Rosincrance FT. Rosincros F 2 . Rosin cross F 3 F 4 . r ? 33? 34* Guildenster)i\ Rowe. Guyldensterne Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 Q 5 . Guildcusterne F X Q 6 . Guildenstare F 2 F 3 F 4 . 4. have you] you have Q5. 5. call] Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 Qs- I call FIQCy 6. Sith nor] Qq. Since not Ff. 10. dream] dreavie Qq. deeme F x F 2 . deem F 3 F 4 . 12. sith] Qq. since Ff. 7ieighbour'd] Ff. nabored Q o Q 3 . neighboredQtf neighboured'Q5O6. haviour] Q 5 Q 6 . hauior Q2()3. hau r Q 4 . humour Ff. 'havour Warburton. 16. occasion] Qq. occasions Ff.

IO

SCENE II.]

HAMLET.

Whether aught to us unknown affli6ls him thus, That open'd lies within our remedy. Queen. Good gentlemen, he hath much talked of you, And sure I am two men there are not living 20 To whom he more adheres. If it will please you To show us so much gentry and good will As to expend your time with us awhile For the supply and profit of our hope, Your visitation shall receive such thanks As fits a king's remembrance. Ros. Both your majesties Might, by the sovereign power you have of us, Put your dread pleasures more into command Than to entreaty. GuiL But we both obey, And here give up ourselves, in the full bent 3° To lay our service freely at your feet, To be commanded. King. Thanks, Rosencrantz and gentle Guildenstern. Queen. Thanks, Guildenstern and gentle Rosencrantz: And I beseech you instantly to visit 35 My too much changed son. Go, some of you, And bring these gentlemen where Hamlet is. GuiL Heavens make our presence and our pra£tices Pleasant and helpful to him! Queen. Ay, amen! \Exeunt Rosencrantz, Giiildenstemy and some A ttendants. 17. Whether...thus,]Qq. Omitted in Ff. If ...thus, Rowe. 18. opened] om. Q (1676). 20. are] is Q2Q322. gentry] gentleness Q (J 676). 23. expend] extend Q4Q5. employ Q (1676). 25. shall] should Q 6 . 27. of us] over us Q (1676). o'er us Mason conj. 29. to] into Keightley. But we] Qq. We Ff. 31. service] Qq. services Ff.

32.

To be commanded^] Omitted in

36. My .you,] As in Qq. Two lines in Ff. y°u] Qq. ye Ff. 37. these] Qq. the Ff. 39. Ay,] Capell. I Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 Q 5 . om. FfQ 6 . Amen, Keightley. [Exeunt Rosencrantz...] Exeunt Ros. and Gui.? Attendants with them. Capell. Exeunt Ros. and Guyld. Qq. Exit. F j (after him). Exeunt. F 2 F 3 F 4 (after him). E 2

HAMLET. Enter

[ACT II.

POLONIUS.

Pol. The ambassadors from Norway, my good lord, Are joyfully returned. King. Thou still hast been the father of good news. Pol Have I, my lord? I assure my good liege, I hold my duty as I hold my soul, Both to my God and to my gracious king: And I do think, or else this brain of mine Hunts not the trail of policy so sure As it hath used to do, that I have found The very cause of Hamlet's lunacy. King. O, speak of that; that do I long to hear. Pol Give first admittance to the ambassadors; My news shall be the fruit to that great feast. King. Thyself do grace to them, and bring them in. [Exit Polonius. He tells me, my dear Gertrude, he hath found The head and source of all your son's distemper. Queen. I doubt it is no other but the main; His father's death and our o'erhasty marriage. King. Well, we shall sift him. Re-enter POLONIUS, with

VOLTIMAND

and

CORNELIUS.

Welcome, my good friends! 43. [Asideto the King. Anon. conj. I assure] Qq. Assure you, Ff. 45. and] Qq. one Ff. 4 7. sure] be sure F 3 F 4 . 48. it hath] Qq. / have Ff. 50. that; that] Capell. that, that QqFf. do I] doe I Qq. I do F ^ F ^ / doe F 2 . 52. fruit] Q 5 Q 6 . fruite Q 2 Q 3 . frute Q 4 . newes F T F 2 . news F 3 F 4 . nuts Hunter conj. to] of Johnson. 53. [Exit Polonius.] Ex. Pol. Rowe. Omitted in QqFf.

54. my dear Gertrude] Capell. my deere Gertrard Q 2 Q 3 . my decree: Gertrud Q4Q5. my deare Gertrud Q 6 . mv sweet queene, that Yi (queen F 3 F 4 ). 57. o'erhasty] hastie Q 2 Q 3 Q 5 Q 6 . hasty Q 4 . 58. SCENE IV. Pope. Re-enter Polonius ] Theobald. Enter Polonius, Yoltimand, and Cornelius. Ff (Voltumand, Fx)9 after line 57. Enter Embassadors. Qq, after line 57. Welcome, my] Welcome home, S. Walker conj. my] Qq. om. Ff.

40

45

55

SCENE II.J

HAMLET.

Say, Voltimand, what from our brother Norway? Volt. Most fair return of greetings and desires. Upon our first, he sent out to suppress His nephew's levies, which to him appeared To be a preparation 'gainst the Polack, But better look'd into, he truly found It was against your highness: whereat grieved, That so his sickness, age and impotence Was falsely borne in hand, sends out arrests On Fortinbras; which he, in brief, obeys, Receives rebuke from Norway, and in fine Makes vow before his uncle never more To give the assay of arms against your majesty. Whereon old Norway, overcome with joy, Gives him three thousand crowns in annual fee And his commission to employ those soldiers, So levied as before, against the Polack: With an entreaty, herein further shown, {Giving a paper. That it. might please you to give quiet pass Through your dominions for this enterprise, On such regards of safety and allowance As therein are set down. King. It likes us well, And at our more consider'd time we'll read, Answer, and think upon this business. Meantime we thank you for your well-took labour: Go to your rest; at night we'll feast together: Most welcome home! \Exeunt Voltimandand Cornelius. Pol This business is well ended. 59. Voltimand] F 2 F 3 F 4 . Volteviand Qq. Voltumand Fz. 62. levies] lives Q (1695). 63, 75. Polack] Polacke (Q x ). Pollacke Qq. Poleak F r Polak F 2 F 3 F 4 . 73. three] (Q^Ff. threescore Qq. 76. shown] shone Q2QsQ4Q5' [Giving a paper.] Malone. om. QqFf. Letter. CollierMS. Seenote(n). 78. this] Qq. his Ff. that (Qx). 80. therein] herein Q 6 .

81. consider'
53 60

75

80

HAMLET.

54

[ACT II.

My liege, and madam, to expostulate What majesty should be, what duty is, Why day is day, night night, and time is time, Were nothing but to waste night, day and time. Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes, I will be brief. Your noble son is mad: Mad call I it; for, to define true madness, What is't but to be nothing else but mad? But let that go. Queen. More matter, with less art. Pol. Madam, I swear I use no art at all. That he is mad, 'tis true: 'tis true 'tis pity, And pity 'tis 'tis true: a foolish figure; But farewell it, for I will use no art. Mad let us grant him then: and now remains That we find out the cause of this effe6l, Or rather say, the cause of this defe6l, For this effe£l defe6live comes by cause: Thus it remains and the remainder thus. Perpend. I have a daughter,—have while she is mine,— Who in her duty and obedience, mark, {Reads. Hath given me this: now gather and surmise. ' To the celestial, and my soul's idol, the most beautified Ophelia/— 90.

since] Ff. om. Qq. brevity is] brevity"1 s Pope. 91. limbs] lines Theobald conj. (withdrawn). 93. it;] it? Q (1676). 94. mad?] Q 4 Q 5 Q 6 . mad, Q 2 Q 3 . mad. Ff. 97. he is] Ff. /ice's Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 Q 6 . he's Q 5 . mad, "'tis] mad, is Capell. 98. itis1tis]itis¥t. it is, V/jHanmer. 99. farewell it] farewell, wit Anon, conj. 101. the] the the F 2 . 104, 105. remains...Perpend.] re-

mains: remainder thus perpend. Maginn conj. 104. thus.]FfQ6. thus Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 Q5T05. Perpend.] A separate line in Qq. Ending line 104 in Ff. Consider. Q(i6 7 6). 106. while] (Q I )Qq. 7c////V/F I F 3 F 4 . whilst F 2 . 108. [Reads.] Q (1676). The Letter. Ff. om. Qq. He opens a Letter, and reads. Rowe. 109. and] om. Q 6 . idol] fair idol Capell, reading as verse. beautified] beatified Theobald.

90

95

100

10

SCENE II.]

HAMLET.

That's an ill phrase, a vile phrase; 'beautified' is a vile phrase: but you shall hear. Thus: [Reads. ' In her excellent white bosom, these/ &c. Queen. Came this from Hamlet to her? Pol. Good madam, stay awhile; I will be faithful. [Reads. fire; ' Doubt thou the stars are Doubt that the sun doth move; Doubt truth to be a liar; But never doubt I love. ' O dear Ophelia, I am ill at these numbers; I have not art to reckon my groans: but that I love thee best, O most best, believe it. Adieu. ' Thine evermore, most dear lady, whilst this machine is to him, HAMLET.' This in obedience hath my daughter shown me; And more above, hath his solicitings, As they fell out by time, by means and place, All given to mine ear. King. But how hath she Received his love? Pol. What do you think of me ? King. As of a man faithful and honourable. Pol. I would fain prove so. But what might you think, When I had seen this hot love on the wing,— As I perceived it, I must tell you that, Before my daughter told me,—what might you, no.

vile] QqF 4 . vilde F T F 2 F 3 . beautified] that beatify1 d Capell, reading as verse. vile] QqF 4 . vilde F . F ^ . i n , 112. Thus:...thesei'> &c] See note (xn). i n . [Reads.] Dyce. om. QqFf. 112. excellent white] excellent-zvhite Dyce, ed. 2 (S. Walker conj.). &c] Qq. om. Ff. 114. [Reads.] Reading. Rowe. Letter. Qq. om. Ff. 123. HAMLET.] See note ( x m ) . 124. shown] showne Qq. shewed

Ff. 125. above] F 2 F 3 F 4 . aboue F z . about Qq. above, hath] aboitt have Q 6 . concerning Q (1676). solicitings] Qq. soliciting Ff. 127, 128. Bid...love?] As in Capell. One line in QqFf. 130. think,] Capell. thinke Qq. think? Ff. 131. this] his F3F4. wing,— ] wing, wing? Q4Q5.

55 no

115

T20

125

130

HAMLET.

[ACT II.

Or my dear majesty your queen here, think, If I had play'd the desk or table-book, Or given my heart a winking, mute and dumb, Or look'd upon this love with idle sight; What might you think ? No, I went round to work, And my young mistress thus I did bespeak: 140 * Lord Hamlet is a prince, out of thy star; This must not be:' and then I prescripts gave her, That she should lock herself from his resort, Admit no messengers, receive no tokens. Which done, she took the fruits of my advice; 145 And he repulsed, a short tale to make, Fell into a sadness, then into a fast, Thence to a watch, thence into a weakness, Thence to a lightness, and by this declension Into the madness wherein now he raves 150 And all we mourn for. King. Do you think this? Queen. It may be, very like. Pol. Hath there been such a time, I 'Id fain know that, That I have positively said ' 'tis so/ When it proved otherwise? King. Not that I know. 134. your] you F 2 . A F x , repelVd, a Q 2 Q 3 Q 6 . repeVd. a 135. play*d\ ply*d Keightley conj. Q 4 . repeVd, a Q5. repelled, a Jennens. 136. a winking] FfQ 6 . a working 146. Fell into] Fell to Pope. 147. watch] wath Q 2 Q 3 . watching Q3Q4Q5- working Pope. Pope, watch ; and Keightley. 139. my young mistress] Put in parentheses in F I # thence into] then into Q thus] this Q4Q5. (1676). and thence into Maginn conj. 140. prince, out] prince:—out Stee147. 148. into a weakness, Thence vens. to] to a weakness; thence Into S. Walker out of thy star] Q 2 Q 3 . out of conj. thy starre Q 4 Q5F r out ofyour starre 148. a] om. Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 Q 5 . (Qj). out of thy sphere F 2 Q 6 F 3 F 4 . 149. wherein] Qq. whe; con Ff. above thy sphere Q (1676). 150. all we mourn] all we mourne 141. prescripts] Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 Q5. preQq. all zve wail Ff. we all wail Colcepts FfQ 6 . lier MS. 142. his]Q4q5Y(Q6. her Q2Q3. 151. this] Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 Q 5 . 'tis this 144, 145. she took And he] see too...For, he Warburton. ^ . likely 145. repulsed, a] F a F 3 F 4 . repulsed. 152. rid] Pde Ff. / would Qq.

SCENE II.]

HAMLET.

57

Pol.

{Pointing to his head and shoulder] Take this from this, if this be otherwise: J o5 If circumstances lead me, I will find Where truth is hid, though it were hid indeed Within the centre. King. How may we try it further? Pol You know, sometimes he walks four hours together Here in the lobby. Queen. So he does, indeed. 160 Pol. At such a time I'll loose my daughter to him: Be you and I behind an arras then; Mark the encounter: if he love her not, And be not from his reason fall'n thereon, 165 Let me be no assistant for a state, But keep a farm and carters. King. We will try it. Qiteen. But look where sadly the poor wretch comes reading. Pol. Away, I do beseech you, both away: I'll board him presently. [Exeunt King, Queen, and Attendants. r- H

Enter HAMLET, reading.

O, give me leave: how does my good Lord Hamlet ? Ham. Well, God-a-mercy. Pol. Do you know me, my lord ? 155. [Pointing... shoulder] Pope, ed. 2 (Theobald), om. QqFf. this, if ...otherwise:] this, if... otherwise; Q,Sh^lA^ *&***' ifotherwise^ F x ; this, if ...otherwise, F 2

170

then, Marhe QqFf [Mark F 4 ). arras; then Mark Staunton. arras then To mark Keightley. 166. But]Qq. AndYi. 167.

Pope. But reading.] One line in 158. further] farther Collier. 159, 160. You...lobby.] As in Qq. Qq. Two, the first ending wretch, in Three lines, ending sometimes...heere Ff. 168. you, both] Ff. you both Qq. ...lobby, in Ff. 159. four] F3F4. foure The rest. you, both, Anon. conj. 169. [Exeunt... Enter...] See note for Hanmer. 160. does] Q.4QsQ.6- d°oes QaQs- (xiv). 171. Well, God- a - mercy. ] Excellen t hats Yv has F 2 F 3 F 4 . well. Q (1676). 162. an arras] the arras Q5. 162, 163. arras then; Mark] arras SCENE V.

HAMLET.

[ACT II.

Ham. Excellent well; you are a fishmonger. Pol. Not I, my lord. Ham. Then I would you were so honest a man. Pol. Honest, my lord ! Ham. Ay, sir; to be honest, as this world goes, is to be one man picked out of ten thousand. Pol. That's very true, my lord. Ham. For if the sun breed maggots in a dead dog, being a god kissing carrion—Have you a daughter ? Pol I have, my lord. Ham. Let her not walk i' the sun: conception is a blessing; but as your daughter may conceive,—friend, look to't. Pol. [Aside] How say you by that? Still harping on my daughter: yet he knew me not at first; he said I was a fishmonger: he is far gone: and truly in my youth I suffered much extremity for love; very near this. I'll speak to him again. What do you read, my lord? Ham. Words, words, words. Pol. What is the matter, my lord ? Ham. Between who ? Pol I mean, the matter that you read, my lord. 173. Excelle?it] Qq. Excellent, excellent Ff. you are] Qq. y'are Ff. yotCre Dyce. 176. lord/] lord? FfQ 6 . lord. Q 2 177,178. Ay, sir... thousand. ] Prose in Ff. Two lines, the first endinggoes, in Qq. 178. man] om. F 3 F 4 . *«] QsQ6- tenne Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 . two Ff. 180. Ham.] Ham. [reads]. Staunton. 181. god kissing carrion] Hanmer (Warburton). good kissing carrion Qq Ff. god-kissing carrion Malone conj. good, kissing carrion Whiter conj. carrion-kissing godr Mitford conj. carrion—] Ff. cai'rion. Qq. 184. but as conceive, —friend] Malone. hit as...conceave} friend Qq.

but not as...conceive. Friend Ff. 186—190. How...again.] Marked as 'Aside' by Capell. Still...again.] Marked as * Aside 7 by Steevens. Verse, Maginn conj., ending the lines on...first; ...he is...youth...love;...again. 187. at first] at the first Q (1676). 187, 188. he said...he] Ff. a said ...a Qq. hit said...he Q (1676). 188—190. he is...again.] Marked as ' Aside' by Pope, who reads as three lines of verse. 188. far gone] Qq. far re gone, far re gone Ff. 189. much] om, Maginnconj. 190, 192. lord?] FfQ 6 . lord. Q , Q3Q4Q5. 193. who?] F X Q 6 . who. Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 Q 5 . 7cv^/;*?F 2 F 3 F 4 . 194. that you read] Qq. you meane FjF 2 . you mean

175

180

185

190

SCENE II.]

HAMLET.

59

Ham. Slanders, sir: for the satirical rogue says here that 195 old men have grey beards, that their faces are wrinkled, their eyes purging thick amber and plum-tree gum, and that they have a plentiful lack of wit, together with most weak hams: all which, sir, though I most powerfully and potently believe, yet I hold it not honesty to have it thus 2 -° set down; for yourself, sir, shall grow old as I am, if like a crab you could go backward. Pol [Aside] Though this be madness, yet there is method in't. Will you walk out of the air, my lord ? 205 Ham. Into my grave. Pol. Indeed, that's out of the air. [Aside] How pregnant sometimes his replies are! a happiness that often madness hits on, which reason and sanity could not so prosperously be delivered of. I will leave him, and suddenly contrive the means of meeting between him and my daughter. My 210 honourable lord, I will most humbly take my leave of you. Ham. You cannot, sir, take from me any thing that I will more willingly part withal: except my life, except my life, except my life. 195. rogue] Qq. slave Fi. 197. and'plum-tree]Q5Q6. &*plumtree Q2QsQ4. or plum-tree Ff. 198. lack] lacke Qq. locke F T F 2 . lock F 3 F 4 . most] Qq. om. Ff. 201. yowself] yoitr selfe Qq. you your selfe F^F^. you your self F^F 4. shall grow old] Qq. should be old Ff. shall be as old Rowe. shall be but as old Hanmer. shall grow as old Malone. 203. [Aside] First marked by Capell. 203, 204. Though...lord?] Prose in Qq. Three lines, ending madnesse,... walke lord? in Ff. Two lines of verse, the first ending ///7, in Rowe. 203. there is] therms Rowe. 205. grave.] Qq. grave? Ff. 206—2ii. Indeed...y01c] Prose in Qq. Eleven irregular lines in Ff:

nine in Rowe and Pope. 206. thafs otct of the] Qq. that is out ottt Ff. [Aside] Marked first by Capell. 207. often madness] madness often Jennens. 208. reason and sanity] F 2 F 3 F4. reason and sanitie Fz. reason and sandity Qq. sanity and reason Pope. 208, 209. so prosperously be] so happily be Q5. be So prosperously Pope. 209. [will] ril Pope. 209, 210. and suddenly'.. .him] Ff. Omitted in Qq. 210, 211. My...humbly] Ff. My lord, I zvill Qq. 212. sir] Ff. om. Qq. 213. will] Ff. will not Qq. 213, 214. except my life] Three times in Qq. except my life, my life. Ff. except my life. Pope. [Aside] except...life. Anon. conj.

6o

HAMLET.

[ACT II.

Pol. Fare you well, my lord. These tedious old fools ! Enter

ROSENCRANTZ

and

2L

5

GUILDENSTERN.

Pol. You go to seek the Lord Hamlet; there he is. Ros. [To Polonius] God save you, sir! [Exit Polonius. Guil. My honoured lord ! 22 Ros. My most dear lord ! ° Ham. My excellent good friends! How dost thou, Guildenstern? Ah, Rosencrantz ! Good lads, how do you both? Ros. As the indifferent children of the earth. Guil. Happy, in that we are not over-happy; 225 On Fortune's cap we are not the very button. Ham. Nor the soles of her shoe ? Ros. Neither, my lord. Ham. Then you live about her waist, or in the middle of her favours ? Guil. Faith, her privates we. 230 Ham. In the secret parts of Fortune? O, most true; she is a strumpet. What's the news ? Ros. None, my lord, but that the world's grown honest. Ham. Then is doomsday near: but your news is not 216. These... fools!] Thou... fool! Maginn conj. Enter...] As in Capell. Enter Guyldersterne, and Rosencraus. Qq (after line 214). Enter Rosincran and Guildensterne. F z . Enter Rosincros and Guildenstar. F 2 F 3 . Enter Rosincros and Guildensterne. F 4 (after line 217 in Ff). 217. the Lord] Qq. my Lord Ff. lord Pope. 218. SCENE VI. Pope. [To Polonius] Malone. [Exit Polonius.] As in Capell. Exit. Pope (after line 217). 219. My]Qq. Mine Ff. 221. excellent] extent Q 2 Q3. cxelent Q 4 . 222. Ah]Q6. AQ2Q3Q4Q5. OAFL you] Qq. ye Ff. 224,225. Happy...button.] Arranged

as by Hanmer. Two lines, the first ending lap} in Qq {cap Q 6 ). Prose in Ff. over-happy ; On Fortune's cap we] Hanmer. over-happy: on Fortunes cap, we Ff. ever happy on Fortunes lap, We Qq (cap Q 6 ). 225. On] Of Anon. conj. 226. shoe] shooes Collier MS. See note (11). shoe?] shoo? F x . shooe? F 2 F3F4. shooe. Qq. 228. waist] Johnson. wast Qq. waste Ff. 229. favours?] Pope, favors. Qq. favour? Ff. 230. her] in her Pope, ed. 2. 232. What's the] Ff. What Qq. news?] nezves? QqF x . nezves. F 2 F 3 . nezvs. F 4 . 233. ///a/] Ff. ora. Qq. 234. but] sure Q (1676).

SCENE

ii.]

HAMLET.

true. Let me question more in particular: what have you, my good friends, deserved at the hands of Fortune, that she sends you to prison hither ? Guil. Prison, my lord ! Ham. Denmark's a prison. Ros. Then is the world one. Ham. A goodly one; in which there are many confines, wards and dungeons, Denmark being one o' the worst. Ros. We think riot so, my lord. Ham. Why, then 'tis none to you; for there is nothing either good or bad, but thinking makes it so: to me it is a prison. Ros. Why, then your ambition makes it one; 'tis too narrow for your mind. Hani. O God, I could be bounded in a nut-shell and count myself a king of infinite space, were it not that I have bad dreams. GuiL Which dreams indeed are ambition; for the very substance of the ambitious is merely the shadow of a dream. Ham. A dream itself is but a shadow. Ros. Truly, and I hold ambition of so airy and light a quality that it is but a shadow's shadow. Ham. Then are our beggars bodies, and our monarchs and outstretched heroes the beggars' shadows. Shall we to the court ? for, by my fay, I cannot reason. Ros. GuiL We'll wait upon you. Ham. No such matter: I will not sort you with the rest of my servants ; for, to speak to you like an honest man, I am most dreadfully attended. But, in the beaten way of friendship, what make you at Elsinore ? Ros. To visit you, my lord ; no other occasion. Ham. Beggar that I am, I am even poor in thanks; but 235—263. Let me...attended.] Ff. Omitted in Qq. 242. 0" the]
260. Ros. GuiL] Both. Ff. '264. friendship,] Q q F r friendship. F2F3F4. 264,352. Elsinore] Malone. Elsonoure Q2QsQ4Q5- Elsonower Fz. ElsinooerF2. Elsenour Qg. Elsinoore F3F4. 266. even] FfQ 6 . ever Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 Q5-

61 235

240

245

250

255

260

265

62

HAMLET.

[ACT IT.

I thank you: and sure, dear friends, my thanks are too dear a halfpenny. Were you not sent for? Is it your own inclining? Is it a free visitation ? Come, deal justly with me: come, come; nay, speak. Guil. What should we say, my lord ? Ham. Why, any thing, but to the purpose. You were sent for; and there is a kind of confession in your looks, which your modesties have not craft enough to colour: I know the good king and queen have sent for you. Ros. To what end, my lord ? Ham. That you must teach me. But let me conjure you, by the rights of our fellowship, by the consonancy of our youth, by the obligation of our ever-preserved love, and by what more dear a better proposer could charge you withal, be even and direfl with me, whether you were sent for, or no. Ros. [Aside to Guil?\ What say you? Ham. [Aside] Nay then, I have an eye of you.—If you love me, hold not off. Giril. My lord, we were sent for. Ham. I will tell you why; so shall my anticipation prevent your discovery, and your secrecy to the king and queen moult no feather. I have of late—but wherefore I know not —lost all my mirth, foregone all custom of exercises; and indeed it goes so heavily with my disposition that this goodly frame, the earth, seems to me a sterile promontory; this most 268. a halfpenny} of a halfpenny Theobald, at a halfpenny Hanmer. 269. Come, deal] Ff. come, come, deale Qq. 272. Why] Ff. om. Qq. any thing, but] Q 6 . any thing but Q2Q3Q4Qs. any thing. But Ff. purpose. Yon] purpose you Q (1676). ^73- of] Qq. om. Ff. 278. our fellowship] our fello%vships Q 6 . your fellowship F3F4. 279. ever-preserved] ever preferred Q (1676). 280. could] Ff. can Qq. chatge] change Q 5 . 28r. 710.] QqFf. no? Pope.

282. [Aside to Guil.] Edd. (Globe ed.). To Guilden. Theobald. To Hamlet. Delius conj. 283, 284. Ham. Nay...off.] Omitted by Jennens. 283. [Aside] Marked first by Steevens (i793)of you.—] of you: Ff. ofyou ? Q2Q3- of you, Q 4 Q 5 Q 6 . on you Harness conj. 287. discovery, and] discovery of'Ff. 287. 288. and your...mottlt] Qq. of your...queene: moult Ff. of your .. .queen. Moult Knight. 288. feather. 1] feather: T Q 6 . feather, T The rest. 289. exercises] Qq. exercise Ff. 290. heavily] Qq. heavenly Ff.

2

7°

275

280

285

290

SCENE II.]

HAMLET.

excellent canopy, the air, look you, this brave overhanging firmament, this majestical roof fretted with golden fire, why, it appears no other thing to me than a foul and pestilent congregation of vapours. What a piece of work is a man ! how noble in reason! how infinite in faculty! in form and moving how express and admirable! in a6lion how like an angel! in apprehension how like a god! the beauty of the world! the paragon of animals! And yet, to me, what is this quintessence of dust? man delights not me; no, nor woman neither, though by your smiling you seem to say so. Ros. My lord, there was no such stuff in my thoughts. Ham. Why did you laugh then, when I said 'man delights not me' ? Ros. To think, my lord, if you delight not in man, what lenten entertainment the players shall receive from you: we coted them on the way; and hither are they coming, to offer you service. Ham. He that plays the king shall be welcome ; his majesty shall have tribute of me; the adventurous knight shall use his foil and target; the lover shall not sigh gratis; the humourous man shall end his part in peace ; the clown shall make those laugh whose lungs are tickled o' the sere, and the lady shall say her mind freely, or the blank verse shall halt for't What players are they ? 292. brave overhanging] brave-d'erhanging S. Walker conj. d ei'hanging] ore-hanged Q 4 Q5Q5. derchangijig Jennens. 293. firmament] Qq. Omitted in Ff. 294. appears] appeares F r appeared F O F 3 F 4 . appeareth Qq. no other thing to me than] nothing to me but Qq. 295. What a piece] FfQ 6 . What peece Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 Q 5 . a i?ian] man Q5. 296. faculty] Ff. faculties Qq. 296—298. faculty!...god!] Pointed as in Q 6 and Ff, substantially, faculties, in...mooving, how'...aflion, how... apprehension, how...God: (no other stops).

300.

no] om. Qq. womaii\ women Q S Q 3 . 301. seem] see me F 2 . 303. you]Yi. j>a?Q2Q3Q4Q5. then] Qq. om. Ff. 306. lenieri] Q 6 . Lenton The rest. 307. coted] Q2Q3Q4Q5- coated Ff Q 6 . met Q (1676). accosted Rowe. Posted Capell. quoted Jennens conj. escoted S taunt on conj. arc they] are the Q4Q5. 310. of me]FfQ6. on meQ2Q3Q4Q5. 311. sigh] singQ4Q5. 312. 313. the clow 11...sere,] Omitted in Qq. 313. d the] a" iJC Fj. atl? F 2 F 3 F 4 . sere] scene Malone conj. 314. blank] black Q 2 Q 3 .

295

3°°

3°5

310

315

c4

HAMLET.

[ACT IT.

Ros. Even those you were wont to take such delight in, the tragedians of the city. Ham. How chances it they travel ? their residence, both in reputation and profit, was better both ways. Ros. I think their inhibition comes by the means of the late innovation. Ham. Do they hold the same estimation they did when I was in the city ? are they so followed ? Ros. No, indeed, are they not. Ham. How comes it ? do they grow rusty ? Ros. Nay, their endeavour keeps in the wonted pace : but there is, sir, an eyrie of children, little eyases, that cry out on the top of question and are most tyranically clapped for't: these are now the fashion, and so berattle the common stages—so they call them—that many wearing rapiers are afraid of goose-quills, and dare scarce come thither. Ham. What, are they children ? who maintains 'em ? how are they escoted ? Will they pursue the quality no longer than they can sing ? will they not say afterwards, if they should grow themselves to common players,—as it is most like, if their means are no better,—their writers do them wrong, to make them exclaim against their own succession ? Ros. Faith, there has been much to do on both sides, and the nation holds it no sin to tarre them to controversy: 316. such] Qq. om. Ff. 317. in, the] QqF 4 . m/A* F 1 F 2 F 3 . 318. they] the Q4Q5. travel] Q6F3F4. travaile The rest. 319. was] were Anon conj. 320. 321. inhibition ..innovation.] itineration innovation. Theobald conj. (withdrawn). in7iovation... inhib ition. Johnson conj. 320. the means] means Johnson. 321. innovation.] innovation? Ff. 322. Do they] Do the Q4Q5. 324. are they] Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 Q 5 . they are FfQ5325—345. Ham. How...load too.] Omitted in Qq. 327. eyrie] ayrie F T . ayry F . airy

F3F4. eyases] Theobald. Yases Ff. 328. question] the question Capell. 329. fashion]faertion Hughs. berattle] be-rattle F 3 F 4 . be rath F 2 . be-7'atled Fx. 330. stages] stagers Theobald conj. (withdrawn). 332. V//z] them Capell. 335- flayers,]players? Pope (ed. T). 336. most like, ] Pope, like most Ff. like, most, Capell. like most will, Anon. conj. no] not F 2 . them] them on Pope (ed. 2). 337. succession?] Pope, ed. 2 (Theobald), success7'on. Ff.

3

20

325

330

335

HAMLET.

SCENE II.]

there was for a while no money bid for argument unless the poet and the player went to cuffs in the question. Ham. Is't possible ? GuiL O, there has been much throwing about of brains, Hani. Do the boys carry it away ? Ros. Ay, that they do, my lord; Hercules and his load too. Ham. It is not very strange; for my uncle is king of Denmark, and those that would make mows at him while my father lived, give twenty, forty, fifty, a hundred ducats a-piece, for his pi6lure in little. 'Sblood, there is something in this more than natural, if philosophy could find it out. [Flourish of trumpets within. GuiL There are the players. Ham. Gentlemen, you are welcome to Elsinore. Your hands, come then: the appurtenance of welcome is fashion and ceremony: let me comply with you in this garb, lest my extent to the players, which, I tell you, must show fairly outwards, should more appear like entertainment than yours. You are welcome: but my uncle-father and aunt-mother are deceived. GuiL In what, my dear lord ? Ham. I am but mad north-north-west: when the wind is southerly I know a nawk from a handsaw. Enter

Pol.

POLONIUS.

Well be with you, gentlemen !

345. load] club Theobald conj. (withdrawn). 346. very strange; for] Qg. very strange, for Q2Q3Q4Q5- strange: for F r strange for ¥ J?y strange, for F 4 . my\ Qq. mine Ff. 347. mows] mowes Ff. mouths Q 2 Q3Q4Q5. mouthes Q 6 .

348. fifty] Qq. om. Ff. a] Qq. an Ff. 349. 'Sblood] S" blood Q 6 . S'bloud Q2Q3Q4Q5. om. Ff. 350. [Flourish...] Capell. A Florish. Qq. Flourish for the Players. Ff. 351. There.. .players.] Shallzvecall VOL. VIII.

the players? Q (1676). 353. theii\ Qq. om. Ff. appurtenance] apportenance 354. comply] complementHanmer. this] Qq. the Ff. 354. 355- test my] FfQ 6 . let me Q 2 Q 3 . let my Q 4 Q 5 . 355. extent] ostent Collier conj. 356. outwards] Qq. outward Ff. 361. handsaw] Ff. hand saw Q Q 3 . hand-saw Q4QsQ6- hcnishaw Hanmer. hcronscw Anon. conj. 362. SCENE VII. Pope.

340

345

350

355

360

66

HAMLET.

[ACT II.

Ham. Hark you, Guildenstern; and you too: at each ear a hearer: that great baby you see there is not yet out of his swaddling clouts. Ros. Happily he's the second time come to them; for they say an old man is twice a child. Ham, I will prophesy he comes to tell me of the players; mark it. You say right, sir: o'Monday morning; 37° 'twas so, indeed. Pol. My lord, I have news to tell you. Ham. My lord, I have news to tell you. When Roscius was an aftor in Rome,— Pol. The a6lors are come hither, my lord. 37 Ham. Buz, buz ! Pol Upon my honour,— Ham. Then came each a6lor on his ass,— Pol The best aclors in the world, either for tragedy, comedy, history, pastoral, pastoral-comical, historical-pastoral, tragical-historical, tragical-comical-historical-pastoral, scene iridividable, or poem unlimited: Seneca cannot be too

at

363. too: at] Ff. too, at Q 6 . to, Q 2 Qs- *°> are Q4Q5. 364. you see there is] as you see is

365. swaddling clouts] swadling clouts Qq. swathing clouts Ff. swat/.* ling clouts Rowe (ed. 2). 366. Happily] Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 Q5F I F 2 F 3 . Happely Q 6 . Haply F 4 . he's] F I F 3 F ^ . he is Qq. lies 368. prophesy he] prophecy, he Q 2 Q 3 . prophecy that he Q 4 . prophecie that he Q 5 Q 6 . pi-ophesie. Hee F T . prophesie, He F 2 F 3 F 4 . 369. it. You] it: You Q 6 . //, You Q 2 Q 3 . it, you Q4Q5Yf. 0'] Capell. a Qq. for a Fz F 2 F 3 . for on F 4 . morni?ig;] morning, Q 2 Q 3 . viorning Q 4 QsFfQ 6 . 370. so] (Qz)Ff. then Qq. 372. Roscius] F a F 3 F 4 . Rossius Qq

373. Qq. 376.

7vas] Qq. om, Ff. Rome,—] Rome— Ff.

Rome.

my] Qq. mine Ff. honour,—] honour— Rowe. honor, or honour. QqFf. . 377. Then...ass, — ] Marked as a quotation by Steevens (Johnson conj.). came] Qq. can Ff, ass,—] asse— Ff. asse. Qq. 379) 3So. pasto7'al-co7nical, historical-pastoral] Q 4 QsQ6- pasiomll comicall, historical I pastoi'all Q 2 Q 3 . pastor/call - comicall - historical! - pastorall Ff. 380. t?-agical- h istorical, tragicalcomical-historical-pastoral~\ Omitted in Qq. 381. scene] seeme Q 4 Q 5 . inaividable] indevidible Q 2 Q 3 . indevidable Q 4 Q 5 Q 6 . indivible Ff. undividable Rowe.

SCENE II.J

HAMLET.

heavy, nor Plautus too light. For the law of writ and the liberty, these are the only men. Ham. O Jephthah, judge of Israel, what a treasure hadst thou! Pol. What a treasure had he, my lord ? Ham. Why, ' One fair daughter, and no more, The which he loved passing well. Pol. [Aside] Still on my daughter. Ham. Am I not i' the right, old Jephthah ? Pol. If you call me Jephthah, my lord, I have a daughter that I love passing well. Ham. Nay, that follows not. Pol. What follows, then, my lord? Ham. Why, ' As by lot, God wot/ and then, you know, i It came to pass, as most like it was/— the first row of the pious chanson will show you more ; for look, where my abridgement comes.

382, 383. light. For...liberty, these] 392—394. Pol. If ...not.] Omitted Theobald, light for... liberty: these Q 2 Q4QsQ6Q3Q4Q5. light, for...liberty. These 392. you] thou Jennens. Ff. light for liberty; these Q 6 396, 397. Why...wot,] As in MaQ (1676). lone. Prose in QqFf. Pope prints 382. writ] wit Q (16 76) and Rowe. as a quotation by...wot. 382, 383. the liberty'] liberty Q (1676). 398, 399. and then...7vasj] As in 384. O Jephthah Israel] As a Pope. Prose in QqFf. quotation in Pope. 400. pious chanson] Q.2Q3Q4Q5. 384, &c. Jephthah] Hanmer. IepPons Chanson F r Pans Chanson F 2 tha Qq. Iephta F Z F 2 . Jephta F 3 F 4 . F 3 F4. pa?is chanson Q6# godly 386. What a treasure] (Qj)QqFf. Ballet (Qx). rubrick Q (1676). PontWhat treasure Dyce, ed. 2 (S. Walker chansons Hanmer. Pont chanson conj.). (i. e. ' chanson du Pont Neuf') Hunter 387—389. Why weW] As in conj. Capell. Prose in Qq. Two lines in 40r. abridgement comes] (Q^QsQg. Ff. Marked as a quotation in Pope. abridgment comes Q2QsQ4» abridge30.0. [Aside] Marked first by Caments come Ff. pell. F 2

385

390

395

4°°

63

HAMLET.

[ACT IT.

Enter four orJive Players.

You are welcome, masters; welcome, all. I am glad to see thee well. Welcome, good friends. O, my old friend! Why thy face is valanced since I saw thee last; comest thou to beard me in Denmark ? What, my young lady and mistress ! By 'r lady, your ladyship is nearer to heaven than when I saw you last, by the altitude of a chopine. Pray God, your voice, like a piece of uncurrent gold, be not cracked within the ring. Masters, you are all welcome. We'll e'en to't like French falconers, fly at any thing we see: we'll have a speech straight: come, give us a taste of your quality; come, a passionate speech. First Play. What speech, my good lord ? Ham. I heard thee speak me a speech once, but it was never a<5ted; or, if it was, not above once; for the play, I remember, pleased not the million; 'twas caviare to the general: but it was—as I received it, and others, whose judgements in such matters cried in the top of mine—an excellent play, well digested in the scenes, set down with as much modesty as cunning. I remember, one said there were no sallets in the lines to make the matter savoury, nor no matter in the Enter J Ff. Enter the Players. Qq. Enter certain players, usher'd. Capell. 402. Yen are] Qq. Y'are Ff. 403. thee~\you Hanmer. my] Ff. om. Qq. 403, 404. Why, thy] Qq. Thy Ff. 404. valanced] vallanced (QJ. valand Q 2 Q 3 . valanced Q4Q5Q6« valiant Ff. 406. By'r lady] Byrlady F,. Berlady F 2 F 3 F 4 . bitrlady (QJ. by lady Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 . my Ladie Q 5 . my Lady Q 6 . ladyship] lordship F 3 F 4 . to heaven] Qq. heaven Ff. 407. chopine] (Q^Qq. choppine Ff. chioppine Pope, chapin Jennens. 410. een to V] Q 6 . ento V Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 Q5. c'neto'tYl

French] (Qj)Ff. friendly Qq. falconers] (Q^. fankners Q 2 Q 3 . faukners Q4Q5Q6. faide oners Ff. 413, 446, &c. First Play.J 1 Play. Ff. Player. Qq. 413. good] (Q^Qq. om. Ff. 416. caviare] Johnson, caniary Q 2 Q3Q4Q5. cauiarie F r cautary F 2 F 3 F 4 . caviary Q 6 . a caviary Q ([676). caviar Rowe. contrary Long MS. 417. received] conceived Collier MS. See note (11). judgements] Qq. jndge?nentYi. 420. lucre no sallets] Qq. was no sallets (Q^Ff. was 710 salts Pope (ed. 1). was no salt Pope (ed. 2). were no salts Capell. were no saletes Becket conj.

405

4

10

415

420

SCENE II.J

HAMLET.

phrase that might indidl the author of affeftion; but called it an honest method, as wholesome as sweet, and by very much more handsome than fine. One speech in it I chiefly loved: 'twas -/Eneas' tale to Dido; and thereabout of it especially, where he speaks of Priam's slaughter: if it live in your memory, begin at this line; let me see, let me see; 'The rugged Pyrrhus, like th' Hyrcanian beast/— It is not so: it begins with 'Pyrrhus.' ' The rugged Pyrrhus, he whose sable arms, Black as his purpose, did the night resemble When he lay couched in the ominous horse, Hath now this dread and black complexion smear'd With heraldry more dismal: head to foot Now is he total gules ; horridly trick'd With blood of fathers, mothers, daughters, sons, Baked and impasted with the parching streets, That lend a tyrannous and a damned light To their lord's murder: roasted in wrath and fire, And thus o'er-sized with coagulate gore, With eyes like carbuncles, the hellish Pyrrhus Old grandsire Priam seeks.' So, proceed you. 422.

indict] Collier, indite QqFf. affeclion] Qq. affectation Ff. but] but /Johnson conj. 423. 424. as wholesome...fine] Qq. Omitted in Ff. 424. speech] Qq. cheefe speech F ' r chicfe speech F 2 . chief speech F 3 F 4 . in it] (QJFf. in"t Qq. 425. ^Sneas"]FoipQ. Ae7ieasQ2Q^ ALneas Q4QsFfQ6. tale] (QJFf. talke Qq. talkt Q (167 6). 426. where] (Q^Ff. when Qq. 428. th" Hyrcanian] Ff. TV ireanian Q2Q3Q4Qs* th" ircanian Q 6 . 429. It is not so:] Ff. Us not so, Q 2 Q 3 . Us not Q4Q5. 'tis not Q 6 . 'tis not, Q (1695). 431. his] he F 2 F 3 . 432.' he] his F 2 F 4 . the ominous] (Qx)Ff. tK omy-

69

423

43°

435

440

nous Q 2 Q 3 . th" ominous Q4Q5Q6. 433, this'] his (QI)Q6434. heraldry] heraldy QzQsQ^Qsdismal: head to foot] Pointed as in Ff. dismall head to foote, Q 2 Q 3 Q4Q5. dismall headto foot: Q 6 . 435. total gules] totall Gules Qq. to take Geulles FjF 2 . to take Geules F 3 F 4 . 437. impasted] imbasted Q4Q5Q6. streets] fires Pope. 438. and a] Qq. and Ff. 4 39 • th eir lord"s murder] th eir Loi'ds murther Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 Q s . their Lords murder Q 6 . their vildc Murthers F t F 2 F 3 . their vile Murthers F4. the vile Murthers Rovre. murthers vile Pope. their lords" murder S. Walker conj. 44°» o"er-sizat] orecised Qq. 44 f • carbuncles] carbuncle Q 6 . 443- ^ proceed you.] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

HAMLET.

[ACT II.

Pol. 'Fore God, my lord, well spoken, with good accent and good discretion. First Play. ' Anon he finds him Striking too short at Greeks; his antique sword, Rebellious to his arm, lies where it falls, Repugnant to command: unequal matched, Pyrrhus at Priam drives; in rage strikes wide; But with the whiff and wind of his fell sword The unnerved father falls. Then senseless Ilium, Seeming to feel this blow, with flaming top Stoops to his base, and with a hideous crash Takes prisoner Pyrrhus' ear: for, lo! his sword, Which was declining on the milky head Of reverend Priam, seem'd T the air to stick: So, as a painted tyrant, Pyrrhus stood, And like a neutral to his will and matter, Did nothing. But as we often see, against some storm, A silence in the heavens, the rack stand still, The bold winds speechless and the orb below As hush as death, anon the dreadful thunder Doth rend the region, so after Pyrrhus' pause Aroused vengeance sets him new a-work; And never did the Cyclops' hammers fall 447. antique] Pope, anticke or antick QqFf. 448. to his] in his Rowe (ed. 1). 449. matched] tnaicht Qq. match Ff. 452. falls...Ilium] falls then senseless. Ilium Theobald conj. (withdrawn). Then senseless Ilium] Ff. Omitted in Qq. 453. this] Qq. his Ff. 454. base] Qq. Bace Ff. 45 5,465,469. Pyrrhus''] Apostrophe inserted by Pope. 457. reverend] Ff. reverent Qq. 4,-8. painted] Omitted in F3F4. 459. And like] F^F^ Like Qq.

Andlik'd

F2F3. and matter] Erased in Long

MS. 459? 46°- And nothing.] As in Qq. One line in Ff. 462. rack]rackesQfr wrackTheobald conj. (withdrawn). 463. winds] wind Q5. 465. region, so] Qq. region. So Ff. 466. Aroused] Collier. A rowsed QqF 2 F 3 F 4 . A ro wsed F r A roused Theobald (ed. 2). a-work] a-ivorke F x . aworke Q 6 . a worke Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 Q 5 F 2 . a work F 3 F 4 . a" work Capell. 467. Cyclops'] Apostrophe inserted by Theobald,

445

450

455

460

465

SCENE II.]

HAMLET.

On Mars's armour, forged for proof eterne, With less remorse than Pyrrhus' bleeding sword Now falls on Priam. 470 Out, out, thou strumpet, Fortune! All you gods, In general synod take away her power, Break all the spokes and fellies from her wheel, And bowl the round nave down the hill of heaven As low as to the fiends!' 475 Pol. This is too long. Ham. It shall to the barber s, with your beard. Prithee, say on: he's for a jig or a tale of bawdry, or he sleeps: say on: come to Hecuba. First Play. 'But who, O, who had sttn the mobled queen—' 480 Ham. 'The mobled queen?' Pol. That's good; 'mobled queen' is good. First Play. ' Run barefoot up and down, threatening the flames With bisson rheum; a clout upon that head Where late the diadem stood; and for a robe, 485 About her lank and all o'er-teemed loins, A blanket, in the alarm of fear caught up: Who this had seen, with tongue in venom steep'd 468. Mars's arm our] Capell. A/arses Armor Q 2 Q 3 Q4Qs. Mars his Armours Ff. Mars his armour Q 6 . 471. strumpet', Fortune] Hyphened in Ff. 473. fellies] F 4 . follies Q2Qs' folks Q 4 . fellowes Q 5 . fallies F x F a F 3 . felloes Q^. 476. too] two F 3 . 477. to the] (Qx)Qq. to'th F X F 3 . to tti F 3 F 4 . 480. who, O> who] who, Owho(Qz). who, O who, Ff. who, a woe, Q 2 Q 3 Q4 Q 5 . who, ah woe Q5. who alas Q (1676). who, a woe! CapelL who, ah woe! Malone (Mason conj.). 480, 481. mobled] Qq. Moblea F 2 F 3 F 4 . mobled F r mob-led Upton

conj. eunobPd Capell. mabled'Malone. mobiled Becket conj. 480. queen—] queen,— Theobald. queem, Q 2 Q 3 Q4- queene. QsF 2 Q 6 . quee7i. FjF 3 . queen? F 4 . 481. queen?] Pointed as in Ff. queene. Q2QsQ4Q5« queene! Q 6 . 482. mobled...good.] F 2 F 3 F 4 . Inobled...good. F r Omitted in Qq. 483. Rim.. .flames] One line in Qq. Two in Ff. flames] Qq. flame Ff. 484. bisson rheum] F 4 . Bison rehume {Bison in italics) Q 2 Q 3 . bison rhume Q4Q5Q6- bisson rheume F j F a 487. Ff.

alarm] alarme Qq.

alarum

HAMLET.

[ACT IL

'Gainst Fortune's state would treason have pronounced : But if the gods themselves did see her then, When she saw Pyrrhus make malicious sport In mincing with his sword her husband's limbs, The instant burst of clamour that she made, Unless things mortal move them not at all, Would have made milch the burning eyes of heaven And passion in the gods/ Pol. Look, whether he has not turned his colour and has tears in's eyes. Prithee, no more. Ham. Tis well; I'll have thee speak out the rest of this soon. Good my lord, will you see the players well bestowed? Do you hear, let them be well used, for they are the abstrafl and brief chronicles of the time: after your death you were better have a bad epitaph than their ill report while you live. Pol. My lord, I will use them according to their desert. Ham. God's bodykins, man, much better: use every man after his desert, and who shall 'scape whipping? Use them after your own honour and dignity: the less they deserve, the more merit is in your bounty. Take them in. Pol. Come, sirs. Ham. Follow him, friends : we'll hear a play to-morrow. \_Exit Polonius zvith all the Players but the First. 4S9. state] Qq. state, Ff. pronounced:~\ prononnst; Q 2 Q 3 . pronounced; Q4Q5. pronounced: 0.6- pronounced? Ff. 492. husband's] husband Q2Q3» 494. move] meant F3F4. at] om. F3F4. 495. milch] melt Pope. 496. passion in] passioned Hanmer. passionate Elze (Collier MS.). passion e'en Taylor conj. MS. 497. whether] Mai one. where Qq Ff- ? /'(Qi) p °pe. whire Theobald. wh£r Capell. there7 if Long MS. zvher Dyce. 498. has tears] has not tears Hanmer. Prithee] Prethee Qq. Pray

you Ff. 499. of this] Qq. Omitted in Ff. 500. will] doe Q 6 . 501. you hear] ye heare ox ye hear Ff. abstracT] Qq. abstracts Ff. 503. live] Qq. lived'Ff. 504. 506. desert] desart F X F 2 . 505. God's] Odd's Johnson. bodykins] Ff. bodkin Qq. bodikin Capell. much]Qq. om.Ff. farre(Q1), 506. shall] Qq. should (Qx)Ff. 510. hear] here Q4Q5. [Exit...] Dyce. Exit Polon. Ff, after line 509. Exeunt Pol. and Players. Qq (after Elsinore, line 520). Exeunt Polonius, and Players. Capeli (after not, line 519). Exit Pol. with

49°

495

500

505

510

SCENE II.]

HAMLET.

73

Dost thou hear me, old friend; can you play the Murder of Gonzago ? First Play. Ay, my lord. Ham. We'll ha't to-morrow night. You could, for a need, study a speech of some dozen or sixteen lines, which 5*5 I would set down and insert in't, could you not? First Play. Ay, my lord. Ham. Very well. Follow that lord; and look you mock him not. [Exit First Player^ My good friends, I'll leave you till night: you are welcome to Elsinore. 520 Ros. Good my lord ! Ham. Ay, so, God be wi' ye! \_Exeiint Rosencrantz and Giuldenstern?[ Now I am alone. O, what a rogue and peasant slave am I ! Is it not monstrous that this player here, But in a fiction, in a dream of passion, 525 Could force his soul so to his own conceit That from her working all his visage wann'd; Tears in his eyes, distra6lion in's aspe<5l, A broken voice, and his whole function suiting With forms to his conceit? and all for nothing! 530 some of the Players. Reed (after line 509). 511, 514, 518. [Aside to Player. Staunton. 512. Gonzago] Gonzaga Johnson. 514. ha't] Ff. hate Q2Qs- hav't Q4Q5Q6- have it Q (1676). 5T4, 5*5- fir a need] (Q^Ff. for need Qq. 515. dozen] (Q I )F 3 F 4 . dosen FTF^ dosen lines Qq. or sixteen] om. Q (1676). 516. you] Qq. ye Ff. 519. [Exit First Player. J Exit Player. Reed. om. QqFf. [To Ros. and Guild. Johnson. 520. [Exeunt Players. Collier MS. See note (11). 521. Good my] Good, my Capell. 522. SCENE VIII. Pope. God be wi" ye] God V w> ye

F 4 . God buy 'ye F j F ^ . God buy to you Qq. Good ft w* ye Rowe. God be wiJ you Capell. [Exeunt...] Edd. (Globe ed.). Exeunt. Q 2 Q 3 Ff (after line 522). Exit. Q4Q5Q6 (after line 522). / am] am IQ5. 525. jiftion] F 2 Q 6 F 3 F 4 . fixion The rest. 526. owit] Qq. whole Ft. 527. his visage] Ff. the visage Q q. wann'd] wand Qq. warm\l

Ff. 528. Ms] FJQ6F3F4. ins F 2 . in his Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 Q5. 529. and] an Q 2 Q 3 . 530. conceit?] Ff. conceit; Q 2 Q3 Q4Q5. conceit, Q 6 . nothing!] nothing? Ff. nothings Qq.

HAMLET.

74

[ACT II.

For Hecuba ! What's Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba, That he should weep for her? What would he do, Had he the motive and the cue for passion That I have? He would drown the stage with tears And cleave the general ear with horrid speech, Make mad the guilty and appal the free, Confound the ignorant, and amaze indeed The very faculties of eyes and ears. Yet I, A dull and muddy-mettled rascal, peak, Like John-a-dreams, unpregnant of my cause, And can say nothing; no, not for a king, Upon whose property and most dear life A damn'd defeat was made. Am I a coward ? Who calls me villain ? breaks my pate across ? Plucks off my beard, and blows it in my face ? Tweaks me by the nose? gives me the lie i' the throat, As deep as to the lungs ? who does me this ? Ha! 'Swounds, I should take it: for it cannot be But I am pigeon-liver'd and lack gall To make oppression bitter, or ere this 531. conj.

For Hecuba!] om, Seymour

541. muddy-mettled] Hyphened in Ff. Hecuba I] Hecuba ? Ff Q 6 . 542. John-a~dreams] John a-deames Hecuba. Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 Qs. F 2 F 3 F 4 . John-a-droyncs Becket, after 532. to Hectcba] (Q^Ff. to her Qq. Steevens, conj. 534. the cue for] Ff. that for Qq. 545—549« coward?...this?] Pointthat cue for Anon. conj. ed as in Ff, and Q 6 substantially. 537. appal] appall Rowe. appah Stops in Qq. Commas in Q2QsQ4Q5. 550. Hal] As a separate line by 539, 540. The... Yet /,] Arranged Steevens (1793). It begins line 552 as in Johnson. One line in QqFf. in QqFf {Hah, Q 2 Q 3 . Hah! Q 4 Q 5 . Hah? Q 6 . Ha? Ff), and ends line 539. faculties] Qq. faculty Ff. eyes and ears] ears and eyes 550 in Collier. Omitted by Pope. 55 r. 'Swounds //;] Q q (,?, Q 6 ). Johnson. 540, 541. Yet /, A dull and] Yet Why I...it: F j F ^ Why should 1 take / , a Seymour conj. it? F3F4. Yet I should take it— Pope. 540—543. Yet I, A dull...can say] 553- oppression] transgression ColYet I say Pope, giving the omitted lier MS. aggression Singer conj. (withdrawn). words in the margin,

535

540

545

550

SCENE II.]

HAMLET.

I should have fatted all the region kites With this slave's offal: bloody, bawdy villain ! Remorseless, treacherous, lecherous, kindless villain ! O, vengeance! Why, what an ass am I! This is most brave, That I, the son of a dear father murder'd, Prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell, Must, like a whore, unpack my heart with words, And fall a-cursing, like a very drab, A scullion ! Fie upon't! foh! About, my brain! Hum, I have heard That guilty creatures, sitting at a play, Have by the very cunning of the scene Been struck so to the soul that presently They have proclaimed their malefa6lions ; For murder, though it have no tongue, will speak With most miraculous organ. I'll have these players Play something like the murder of my father Before mine uncle : I'll observe his looks ; I'll tent him to the quick : if he but blench, 554. have] a (Q I )Q 2 Q : . 555 • offal; bloody,] off all; bloudy, Q 6 . cffall, bloody, Q2Q3Q4Q5. offall, bloudy: a Ff {bloody: F 3 F 4 ). 556. Remorseless... villain !] Omitted by Jennens. 557. Oy vengeance!] Omitted in Qq. 558. Why, ] Why Qq. Who ? Ff. om. Knight. This] Qq. I sure, this Ff. 559. a dearfather murder* d] a dear father murther^d Capell. a deere murthered Q2Q3- # deere father murthered Q 4 Q 5 . a deare father murthei'ed Q 6 . the deere micrthered Ff (dear F 3 F 4 ). 562—565. And fall .play] Arranged as in Capell. Three lines, ending foh heard .play, in Qq. Three lines, ending drab,...brame... play, in Ff. Four lines, ending drab, .. foh !... heard,.. .play, in Johnson. 562, 563. drab, A scullion] Ff. drabbe; a stallyon Q 2 Q 3 . drabbe; a stallion Q4. drabbe; stallion Q 5 . drabbe,

stallion Q 6 . drab—A stallion Pope. drab—A cullion Theobald. 564. Aboict, my brain!] About my brai7ie, (Qx). About my braine. Ff (brain. F 3 F 4 ). About my braines; Q 2 Q 3 . About my braines, Q 4 Q 5 Qg. about my brain— Pope (ed. 1). about my brain!— Pope (ed. 2). about, my brain!— Theobald. about V my brains! Hunter conj. See note (xv). Hum] Qq. om. Ff. / have] Vve Pope. 565. sitting] om. Pope. 567. struck so to] F 3 F 4 . strooke so to QqFjF 2 . struck unto Rowe (ed. 2). 570. / ' / / have these players] Pll observe his looks, Pope (ed. i), correcfted in ed. 2. 573. toi/]QqFI. m^F2F3F4. he but] Ff. a doe Qq. he do Q (1676) and Capell. blench] blink Taylor conj. MS. bleach Anon. conj.

to

C rf *

ODD

560

565

57O

HAMLET.

[ACT II.

I know my course. The spirit that I have seen May be the devil; and the devil hath power To assume a pleasing shape ; yea, and perhaps Out of my weakness and my melancholy, As he is very potent with such spirits, Abuses me to damn me. I'll have grounds More relative than this. The play's the thing Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king.

575

580

[Exit

ACT III. SCENE

I. A room in the castle.

Enter KING, QUEEN, POLONIUS, OPHELIA, ROSENCRANTZ, and GUILDENSTERN.

King. And can you, by no drift of circumstance, Get from him why he puts on this confusion, Grating so harshly all his days of quiet With turbulent and dangerous lunacy ? Ros. He does confess he feels himself distracted, But from what cause he will by no means speak. GuiL Nor do we find him forward to be sounded; But, with a crafty madness, keeps aloof, When we would bring him on to some confession Of his true state. Queen. Did he receive you well ? 574. The] This Johnson. 575. be the devil] F 3 F 4 . be the divell (Q I )F I F 2 . be a deale Q 2 Q 3 . be a divell Q4Q5Q6. and the devil] and the deale A C T H I . SCENE L ]

Q (1676) and

Rowe. Omitted in Ff. A room in the castle] Malone. The Palace. Rowe. Another room in the same. Capell. Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern. ]

Capell. Rosencraus, Guyldensterne, Lords. Qq. Rosincrance, Guildenstern, and Lords. F r Rosincros, Guildenstar, and Lords. F 2 F 3 F 4 (Guildenstare, F 4 ). 1. ciraimstance\Yi. conference Qq. 2. confusioii\ confesion Rowe (ed. 2). confession Pope (in margin). 6. he will] a will Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 Q5. 7—10. Nor...state.] Continued to Ros. by Jennens. 10.

state] estate

10

SCENE I.]

HAMLET.

Ros. Most like a gentleman. Gnil. But with much forcing of his disposition. Ros. Niggard of question, but of our demands Most free in his reply. Qiteen. Did you assay him To any pastime ? Ros. Madam, it so fell out that certain players We o'er-raught on the way: of these we told him, And there did seem in him a kind of joy To hear of i t : they are about the court, And, as I think, they have already order This night to play before him. Pol. 'Tis most true : And he beseech'd me to entreat your majesties To hear and see the matter. King. With all my heart; and it doth much content me To hear him so inclined. Good gentlemen, give him a further edge, And drive his purpose on to these delights. Ros. We shall, my lord. [Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. King. Sweet Gertrude, leave us too; For we have closely sent for Hamlet hither, That he, as 'twere by accident, may here 13. 14. Niggard of...of our...Most free] Unapt to...of our...Most free Q (1676). Most free of...to our...Niggard Hanmer. Most free of ...of our ... Niggard Warburton. Niggard of... to our... Most free Collier MS. 74, 15. Did...pastime?] As in Capell. One line in QqFf. 14. assay] invite Q (1676). 15. To] unto Hanmer. 16. so] om. Johnson. 17. o'er-raught] ore-raught Qq. ore-wrought F z F 2 . dre-took F 3 F 4 . d er- rode Warburton. 19. about] Ff. heere about Q 2 Q 3 Q4Q5. here about Q5. 24—27. I Vith...delights.] Arranged

as by Pope. Five lines ending hart, ... me,... incli??d... edge,... delights, in Qq. Four lines, ending me ...gentlemen, ...on...delights, in Ff. 27. drive...on to] drive...on ToYi. drive...into Qq. twge him to Q (1676). 28. [Exeunt... ] Exeunt Ros. & Guyl. Qq. Exeunt. Ff. Gertrude] Ff. Gertrard Qq. too] Ff. two Qq. 29. hither] FfQ 6 . hether The rest. 30. he] we Jennens. here] Q 6 . heere Q2Q3Q4Q5there Ff. 30, 31. here Affront Ophelia] meet Ophelia here Q (1676).

11

20

25

30

HAMLET.

[ACT HI.

Affront Ophelia: Her father and myself, lawful espials, Will so bestow ourselves that, seeing unseen, We may of their encounter frankly judge, And gather by him, as he is behaved, 35 I f t be the affliction of his love or no That thus he suffers for. Queen. I shall obey you : And for your part, Ophelia, I do wish That your good beauties be the happy cause 40 Of Hamlet's wildness : so shall I hope your virtues Will bring him to his wonted way again, To both your honours. Oph. Madam, I wish it may. [Exit Queen. Pol. Ophelia, walk you here. Gracious, so please you, We will bestow ourselves. [To Ophelia.] Read on this book; That show of such an exercise may colour 45 Your loneliness. We are oft to blame in this,— 'Tis too much proved—that with devotion's visage And pious a6lion we do sugar o'er The devil himself. King. [Aside] O, 'tis too true ! How smart a lash that speech doth give my conscience ! The harlot's cheek, beautied with plastering art, Is not more ugly to the thing that helps it Than is my deed to my most painted word : 31. 3 2. Affront ...espialrs,] As in Johnson. One line in Ff. One line, ending myself in Qq. 32. lawful espials'] Omitted in Qq. 33. Will]YL »V/,? Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 Q S . Wee"II Q 6 . unseen] and unseen Q(i6>j6). 34. frankly] om. Q (1676). 36. no] Qq. no, F 4 . no. FjF 2 F3. 38. for your] Q2Q3Ff. for my Q 4 QsQ639. 40. beauties... vu tues] beauty... virtue S. Walker conj. 40. shall] om. Pope.

41.

Will] May Pope. [Exit Queen.] Theobald, om.

QqFf. 43. please you] Qq. please ye Ff. 44. [To Ophelia.] To Oph. Johnson. 46. loneliness] lowlines Q2Q^. lowlinesse Q4Qsto blame] Q 6 F 3 F 4 . too blame The rest. 48. sugar] Qq. surge Ff. 49. [Aside] First marked by Pope. 'tis too] Qq. His Ff. it is but too Hanmer.

SCENE I.]

HAMLET.

79

O heavy burthen ! Pol. I hear him coming : let's withdraw, my lord. \Exeunt King and Polonius. Enter

HAMLET.

Ham. To be, or not to be : that is the question Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune, Or to take arms against a sea of troubles, And by opposing end them ? To die : to sleep ; No more ; and by a sleep to say we end The heart-ache, and the thousand natural shocks That flesh is heir to, 'tis a consummation Devoutly to be wish'd. To die, to sleep ; To sleep : perchance to dream : ay, there's the rub ; For in that sleep of death what dreams may come, When we have shuffled off this mortal coil, Must give us pause: there's the respect That makes calamity of so long life ; For who would bear the whips and scorns of time, 60, 61. die: to sleep; No] die to 55. Pol.] Erased in Collier MS. See note (n). sleepe No Qq (dyeQ6). dye, to sleepe No F r dye, to sleepe: No F 2 . dye, to let's] om. Qq. sleep No F3F4. die,—to sleep—No [Exeunt...]Capell. Exeunt.Ff. Pope. om. Qq. Exeunt all but Ophelia. Rowe. 61. more;] F X Q 6 . more, Q2Q^ 56. SCENE I I . Pope. more: Q4Q5F 2 F 3 F 4 . more? Capell. Enter Hamlet.] As in Ff. say we end] straightway ejid After burthen, line 54, in Qq. Enter Bailey conj. Hamlet, with a book in his hand. 63. to,] to; Qq. too? F x . to? F 2 Hunter conj. He would transfer the F 3 . to. F 4 . soliloquy to II. 2. 169. 64. wished. To] Ff. wisht to Q a 58. slings] sling Campbell, stings Fleischer (S. Walker conj.). Q3Q4Q5- wisK to Q 6 . 67. we have] he*have F 2 . he hath 59. a sea of] a siege of Theobald conj. (withdrawn), tit assay of ox a F3F4. ''say ^/"Theobald conj. assailing Hanshuffled] shufflerd F X F 2 . mer conj. #Jvrtf/7
60

70

8o

HAMLET,

[ACT

in.

The oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely, The pangs of despised love, the law's delay, The insolence of office, and the spurns That patient merit of the unworthy takes, When he himself might his quietus make With a bare bodkin ? who would fardels bear, To grunt and sweat under a weary life, But that the dread of something after death, The undiscover'd country from whose bourn No traveller returns, puzzles the will, And makes us rather bear those ills we have Than fly to others that we know not of? Thus conscience does make cowards of us all, And thus the native hue of resolution Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought, And enterprises of great pitch and moment With this regard their currents turn awry And lose the name of a6lion. Soft you now ! The fair Ophelia ! Nymph, in thy orisons Be all my sins remembered. Opk. Good my lord, ivhips...tyrants or quips...title Johnson 79. The tindiscover'd] Qq. The conj. whips 61 the times Steevens imdiscovered Ff. That tindiscoverW conj. scorns 0/'weaponV time Becket Pope. In the undiscover d Keightley. conj. scorns of whiphand time Id. bourn] Capell. bourne Pope. conj. (withdrawn). borne QqFjF 2 . born F 3 F 4 . 80. returns, puzzles] returnes. Puzels 71. proud] Q 5 Q 6 . proude Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 . poore FjF 2 . poor F 3 F 4 . i 72. pangs] pang Pope. 8$. of us all] (Qx)Ff. om. Qq. despised love, the] despiz'd love, 84. / « / < ? ] F 3 F 4 . h i e w Q q . h e w F ^ the Q2Q3- office, and the Q4Q5. dis8 5 . sicklied] FfQ 6 . sickled The prized love, the Ff. despised love, and rest. the Q5. misprizd love, the Collier MS. 86. pitch] Qq. pith Ff. See note (erased). See note (11). (XVI). 75.. When he] When Q4Q5. When 87. awry] Qq. away Ff. "as Q 6 . 88. [Seeing Oph. Rowe. quietus] quietas Q2Q^Q^ 89. Ophelia!] Ophelia? Yi. Ophe76. who would fardels] wlufd these lia, Qq. fardels Grant White (S. Walker conj.). orisons] Theobald, orizons Q 2 fardels] Qq. these fardles Ff. QsQ4Q5Fi- horizons F 2 F 3 F 4 . ori77. grunt] groan Q (1676) and zons? Q 6 . oraisons Rowe. Pope. 90. rememberV.] remembred? Q 6 .

80

90

SCENE I.J

HAMLET

How does your honour for this many a day ? Ham. I humbly thank you : well, well, well. Oph. My lord, I have remembrances of yours, That I have longed long to re-deliver; I pray you, now receive them. Ham. No, not I ; I never gave you aught. Oph. My honoured lord, you know right well you did; And with them words of so sweet breath composed As made the things more rich: their perfume lost, Take these again; for to the noble mind Rich gifts wax poor when givers prove unkind. There, my lord. Ham. Ha, ha! are you honest? Oph. My lord ? Ham. Are you fair? Oph. What means your lordship ? Ham. That if you be honest and fair, your honesty should admit.no discourse to your beauty. Oph. Could beauty, my lord, have better commerce than with honesty? Ham. Ay, truly; for the power of beauty will sooner transform honesty from what it is to a bawd than the force of honesty can translate beauty inj;o his likeness: this was sometime a paradox, but now the time gives it proof. I did love you once. Oph. Indeed, my lord, you made me believe so. 92. you: well, well, well.] Ff. you well. Q2Q3- you; well. Q4Q5. you, well. Q5. 94. long] om. Q (1676). much Pope. 95. No, not I] Qq. No, no Ff. No Pope. 95, 96. No...aught.] Arranged as by Capell. One line in QqFf. 97. you know] Qq. I knowYi. 99. the things] Ff. these things Qq. rich: their perfume lost,] Q 4 Q 5 Q 6 . rich, their perfume lost, Q2Q3rich, then perfume left: F j F ^ . rich, than perfume left: F 4 . rich : that pcrVOL. VIII.

fume lost, Rowe. 104. lord?] Capell. lord. QqFf. lord—Rowe. 107. yotir honesty] Ff. you Qq. 107, 108. your honesty beauty.\ you should admit your honesty to no discourse with your beauty. Johnson conj. 109. commerce] Q5Q6F4. comerse Q 2 Q 3 . comerce Q 4 F T F 2 F 3 . co7tverse Anon. conj. n o . with] Qq. your Ff. 113. into] in Q5. to Q5. his] its Pope. 114. sometime] sometimes F 3 F 4 . G

81

95

100

105

110

82

HAMLET.

[ACT III.

Ham. You should not have believed m e ; for virtue cannot so inoculate our old stock but we shall relish of it: I loved you not. Oph. I was the more deceived. 120 Ham. Get thee to a nunnery: why wouldst thou be a breeder of sinners? I am myself indifferent honest; but yet I could accuse me of such things that it were better my mother had not borne m e : I am very proud, revengeful, ambitious; with more offences at my beck than I have 125 thoughts to put them in, imagination to give them shape, or time to a£l them in. What should such fellows as I do crawling between heaven and earth? W e are arrant knaves all; believe none of us. Go thy ways to a nunnery. Where's your father? 130 Oph. A t home, my lord. Ham. Let the doors be shut upon him, that he may play the fool no where but in's own house. Farewell. Oph. O, help him, you sweet heavens! Ham. If thou dost marry, 111 give thee this plague for T35 thy dowry: be thou as chaste as ice, as pure as snow, thou shalt not escape calumny. Get thee to a nunnery, go: farewell. Or, if thou wilt needs marry, marry a fool; for wise men know well enough what monsters you make of them. To a nunnery, g o ; and q.uickly too. Farewell. 140 Oph. O heavenly powers, restore him! Ham. I have heard of your paintings too, well enough; God hath given you one face, and you make yourselves 118. inoculate] innocculateFx. inocculate F ^Fy inocualte F 4 . euocutat Q2Q3- cuaatat Q 4 . euacuatcQ^. evacuate Q 6 . 119. T loved you not.] I did love you once. Rowe (ed. 2). 121. to] Ff. om. Qq. 125. at my beck] on ??iy back Long MS. at my back Collier MS. 126. in, imagination to] Qq. /;/ imagination, to Ff. in namey imagination to Warburton. 128. heaven and earth] (Q x )Ff. earth and heaven Qq. 129. all] (Q1) Ff. om. Qq.

I

33« Let...housed] Prose in Ff. Two lines, the first ending /ii?ji, in Qq. 133. no where] Qq. no way Ff. T 35- plague]plage Q 4 . J 37- go] Ff. om. Qq. 140. too]FIQ6. A? The rest. 141. O] Ff. om. Qq. 142. paintings] (Q x )Qq. pratlings . pratling F 2 F 3 F 4 . painting Pope. Aw] Ff. om. Qq. 143 God] Nature Q (1676). hath] Qq. /foj Ff. / ^ ] ( Q i ) Q q . pace Ff. yourselves] your selves Q 5 Q 6 .

SCENE I.J

HAMLET.

another: you jig, you amble, and you lisp, and nick-name God's creatures, and make your wantonness your ignor- 145 ance. Go to, I'll no more on't; it hath made me mad. I say, we will have no more marriages: those that are married already, all but one, shall live; the rest shall keep as they are. To a nunnery, go. {Exit. Oph. O, what a noble mind is here overthrown! I5O The courtier's, soldier's, scholar's, eye, tongue, sword: The expe6lancy and rose of the fair state, The glass of fashion and the mould of form, The observed of all observers, quite, quite down! And I, of ladies most deje£t 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 unmatched form and feature of blown youth J6O Blasted with ecstasy: O, woe is me, To have seen what I have seen, see what I see! soldier's Hanmer and Staunton, from your selfes Q2Q3Q4. yoicr selfe FjF 2 . your self F 3 F 4 . (Qx). 144. you jig] gig Q6. / ^ ( Q i ) . scholars,] schollers, Q 2 Q 3 Q4. / ^ ] Q ( i 6 7 6 ) . ^ f Q q . gidge scholers, Q 5 . scholars, Q5. schollers: Ff. Fr schollers? F 2 . schollars? F 3 . you amble] Ff. and amble Qq. scholars! F 4 . om. Jennens. lisp,] Q(i676)F 4 . lispe, F T 152. expectancy] F 3 F 4 . expedlansie F Q F 3 . list Qq. F Z F 2 . expectation Qq. 155. And I] Qq. Have I Y^'^. and nick-name] Ff. you nickT am F 3 F 4 . name Qq. 145. God's] Heavens Q (1676). 156. music] musickt Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 . 145. 146. wantonness your ignorvows,] Pointed as by Hanmer. ance] ignorance your wantonness Anon. vozoes; Qq. vowes: or vows: Ff. conj. 157. that noble] Ff. what noble^Qq. your ignorance] (Qj)Ff. igno158. jangled, out of tiuie] Capell. jangled out of time, Qq. jangled out rance Qq. 146. Go to] Q s . Goe to Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 . of tune, Ff. 159. unmatched] unmarcht Q 5 . Go loo F I Q 6 . Goe F 2 . Go F 3 F 4 . unsnatclid Jennens. 147. no more marriages] (Q1)Ff. form] forme QqF r . fortune no mo marriage Q2Q3Q4Qs- no moc marriages Q5. feature] Ff. stature Qq. statute 148. live] om. F 2 F-F 4 . Q(i695). 149. [Exit.] Qq. Exit Hamlet. Ff. 161. To have] T have QqFf. f5,o. derthrowii] othrowneQ/Q$. scr!] see. Exit. Qq and Elze. 151. soldierV, scholars] scholar^s, C» 2

HAMLET. Re-enter KING and

[ACT

in.

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 negle6led tribute: Haply the seas and countries different With variable objefts 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 neglefted 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 placed, so please you, in the ear Re-enter...] Capell. Enter... QqFf. 162.

Pope. Love!] Q 6 . Love, Q 2 Q 3 . Love: Q4Q5. Love? Ff. 163. Nor] For Q 6 . 164. There's something] Something V Pope. sold] soule? F j . 167. for to] Qq. fo F I F 2 < how to F3F4. 169. //] om. Q 4 Q 5 Q 6 , 173. someth ing-settItid ] II y phene d by Warburton. sometime-settled Daniel conj. 174) *75- Whereon on't?] Arranged as in Ff. Three lines, ending SCENE HI.

beating:. JiimselJce\. .on }t? in Qq. 174. brains] F3F4. braines QqF x F 2 . brain Collier MS. brain's Grant White. 176, 177. but...grief] Arranged as in Ff. One line in Q2Q3176. do I] Tdoe Q 6 . 177. his grief ] Q2Q3. *VQ 4 Q 5 Q 6 , reading But,..of it as one line, this g reefe Ff. 178. [Enter Ophelia. Elze. 180. [Exit Ophelia. Elze. 1S3. grief] griefe Qq. greefes Fx. gricfes F 2 . griefs F 3 F 4 . 184. placed, so please yon] placd so, please you F T F 2 .

165

170

180

SCENE I.J

HAMLET.

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.

185

[Exeunt.

SCENE II. A hall in the castle. Enter HAMLET a?id 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 your 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 ears 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. 188. vjiwalctid]¥i. tinmatchtQq. SCENE I I . ] Capell. SCENE IV. Pope. om. Ff. A hall...] A Hall, in the same, fitted as for a Play. Capell. and Players.]and the Players. (QT). and three of the Players. Qq. and two or three of the Players. Ff. 1. pronounced] pronoun}d Q^Qy 2. trippingly on] smoothly from Q (1676). 3. your players] (Qj)Ff. our players Qq. lief] Steevens (1793). live Q 2 Q3Q4Q5F1F,. U™ QeFsF* spoke] Qq. had spoke Ff.

4.

Nor] And Pope. much with your] Qq. much your Ff. much, your Caldecott. 6. -whirlwind of your passion] Qq. the wJiirlc-winde ofpassion Ff. whirlwind ofpassion Collier, the whirlwind of your passion S taunton. 8. hear] Qq. sec Ff. robustious] robustous Q(i6>]6) F 4 . 9. periwig-pated] Q (1676). perwigpated Qq. Pery-wig-pated F x . Perywig-parted F 2 . Perrnvig-paried F 3 F 4 . to tatters] Ff. to totters Qq. om. Q(i6 7 6). 10. split] Ff. spied Qq. 12. would] (Q z )Qq. could

10

86

HAMLET.

[ACT III.

First Play. I warrant your honour. Ham. Be not too tame neither, but let your own discretion be your tutor: suit the a6tion to the word, the word to the aftion; with this special observance, that you o'erstep not the modesty of nature; for any thing 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 2O nature; to show virtue her own feature, 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 allow- 2 ance 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 50 some of nature's journeymen had made men, and not made them well, they imitated humanity so abominably. First Play. I hope we have reformed that indifferently with us, sir. Ham. O, reform it altogether. And let those that play 35 14, 33. First Play.] 1. P. Capell. Player, or Play. QqFf. 16. suit] Hanmer. sute QqF T F 3 F 4 . sure F 2 . 17. overstep] ore-steppe Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 . ore-step Q5Q6. ore-stop Ff. ore-top Long MS. 18. ovej-done] ore-doone Q2Q3Q4ore-done QsQg. 19. #/ the first] at first Q5Q6. 21. 7/6Vtf7c>//feature] her feature Qq. 22. the very] every Mason conj. age] face ox page Johnson conj. eye Taylor conj. MS. 23. tardy] trady Q4f

off] of Q6, and Mason conj. 23, 24. though it make] though it makes Qq. 25. the censure] in the censure Long MS.

the which one] Ff. which one Qq. one of which Hanmer. 26. d1 erweigh] ore-weigh Qq. d'reway F j . ore-sway F 2 F 3 F 4 . 27. /ra*j
SCENE II.J

HAMLET.

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 mean time some necessary question of the play be then to be considered: that's villanous, and shows a most pitiful am- 40 bition 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. Guil. We will, my lord. [Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. 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 coped withal. Hor. O, my dear lord,— Ham. Nay, do not think I flatter; For what advancement may I hope from thee,

37. themselves'] of themselves F 3 F 4 . Q 2 Q 3 . Exeunt those two. Exeunt. Ff. 38. too] to Q2Q3Q4Q5. 47. SCENE V. Pope. 41. [Exeunt Players.] F 2 F 3 F 4 . What ho!] What hoe, Q 6 . Exit Players. F T . Omitted in Qq. Enter Rosencrantz, and What hoa, F . F ^ . What ho, F 4 . Guildenstern. ] As in Ff. Enter What howe, Q 2 Q 3 . What how, Q4Q5. Guyldensterne, & Rosencraus. Qq Enter Horatio.] As in Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 Q 5 . After line 46 in Ff. Omitted (after work? line 42). 42. SCENE I V . ] Warburton. in Q 6 . 48. sweet lord] my lord Q (1676). 43. too] FfQ 6 . to The rest. 50. coped] copt Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 Q 5 - C0P't 44. [Exit Polonius.] Ff. ora. Qq. Q 6 . coafdYi. met Q (1676). 46. Ros. Guil.] Both. Ff. Ros. Qq. 51. lord,—] lord— Rowe. lord. Wewill]Yl /Qq. QqFf. [Exeunt...] Exeunt they two.

5°

HAMLET.

[ACT H I .

That no revenue hast but thy good spirits, To feed and clothe thee ? W h y 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 ele6lion 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 blest are those Whose blood and judgement 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 prithee, when thou seest that aft a-foot, Even with the very comment of thy soul Observe my uncle: if his occulted guilt Do not itself unkennel in one speech, 53. no revenue hast] hast no revenue Q (1676). 54. thcc?\ Q 6 . thee, Q 2 Q 3 Q 4 Qs. thee. Ff. JFhy] om. Pope. 55. lick] Q 4 Q S . licke Q 2 Q 3 Q 6 . like Ff. absurd} obsurd Q4Q5. 56. pregnant] begging Collier MS. (in pencil). See note (11). 57. fawning.]fawn'n?g: Q 6 . fauning; Q2Q3- fanning, Q 4 . fawning, Q 5 . faining. I \ F 2 F 3 . feigning. F 4 . hear'/] heare? <}(). hcare, or hear, The rest. 5 8. dt\t1'] elea 1 * J oh 11 son o > 11 j. her] Qrf. 11 iv Ff. 5 fy, fko. distinguish, Hath] 1 i.

distinguish her election, S'hath Qq (Shath Q 4 Q 5 . SJiath Q 6 ). 61. fortune s] fortune F 3 F 4 . 63. Hast] Qq. Hath Ff. 64. commingled] co-mingled ¥f. comedled Qq. commcdlcd Q (1676, 1683, IO 95)- commended Q (1703). comerd Capell conj. 66. stop] stops Q (1676). 68. of heart] of hearts Q (1676). ,72. ///