Ham. Horatio, thou art e'en as just a man Ham. Nay, do not think I flatter: For what advancement may I hope from thee, To feed and clothe thee? Should the poor be flatter'd? No, let the candied tongue lick absurd pomp, Where thrift may follow fawning. Dost thou hear? As Vulcan's stithy: Give him heedful note: Hor, Well, my lord, [Flourish of Trumpets and Drums. Ham. They are coming to the play; I must be idle : Get you a place. A grand March. Enter POLONIUS, KING, QUEEN, OPHELIA, ROSENCRANTZ, GUILDENSTERN, OSRICK, MARCELLUS, BERNARDO, FRANCISCO, GENTLEMEN, and LA DIES. King. How fares our cousin Hamlet? Ham. Excellent, i' faith; of the camelion's dish: I eat the air, promise-cramm'd: you cannot feed capons so. King. I have nothing with this answer, Hamlet; these words are not mine. Ham. No, nor mine now. My lord, you play'd once in the university, you say? Pol. That did I, my lord; and was accounted a good actor. Ham. And what did you enact? Pol. I did enact Julius Cæsar: I was kill'd i' the capitol; Brutus kill'd me. Ham. It was a brute part of him, to kill so capital a calf there.-Be the players ready? Ros. Ay, my lord; they stay upon your patience. [Bell rings, and the Curtain rises for the Play. Queen. Come hither, my dear Hamlet, sit by me. Ham. No, good mother, here's metal more attractive. Pol. O ho! do you mark that? Ham. Lady, shall I lie in your lap? Oph. You are merry, my lord. [Lying down at OPHELIA's feet. Ham. O! your only jig-maker. What should a man do, but be merry? for, look you, how cheerfully my mother looks, and my father died within these two hours. Oph. Nay, 'tis two months, my lord. Ham. So long? Nay, then let the devil wear black, for I'll have a suit of sables. Die two months ago, and not forgotten yet? Then there's hope, a great man's memory may outlive his life half a year: But, by-'r-lady, he must build churches then. Oph. What means the play, my lord? Ham. Miching mallecho; it means mischief. Enter Second ACTOR, as the Prologue. Ham. We shall know by this fellow. [Exit Second ACTOR. Ham. Is this a prologue, or the posy of a ring? Oph. 'Tis brief, my lord. Ham. As woman's love. Enter the ACTRESS, and First ACTOR, as a Duchess, and Duke. 1 Act. Full thirty times hath Phœbus' cart gone round Neptune's salt wash, and Tellus' orbed ground; Actress. So many journies may the sun and moon So far from cheer, and from your former state, 1 Act. Faith, I must leave thee, love, and shortly too ; My operant powers their functions leave to do: F And thou shalt live in this fair world behind, Actress. O, confound the rest! Such love must needs be treason in my In second husband let me be accurst! breast: None wed the second, but who kill'd the first. 1 Act. I do believe, you think what now you speak; Sport and repose lock from me, day, and night, 1 Act. 'Tis deeply sworn. Ham. If she should break it now,- My spirits grow dull, and fain I would beguile [He sits down, and sleeps. Actress. Sleep rock thy brain; And never come mischance between us twain ! [Exit ACTRESS. Ham. Madam, how like you this play? Queen. The lady doth protest too much, methinks. King. Have you heard the argument? Is there no offence in't? Ham. No, no, they do but jest, poison in jest; no offence i'the world. King. What do you call the play? Ham. The mouse-trap. Marry, how? Tropically, This play is the image of a murder done in Vienna: Gonzago is the duke's name; his wife, Baptista. You shall see anon, 'tis a knavish piece of work: But what of that? Your majesty, and we that have free souls, it touches us not: Let the gall'd jade wince, our withers are unwrung. Enter SECOND ACTOR, as LUCIANUS. This is one Lucianus, nephew to the duke. Begin, murderer, leave thy damnable faces, and begin: Come: The croaking raven Doth bellow for revenge. 2 Act. Thoughts black, hands apt, drugs fit, and time agreeing; Confederate season, else no creature seeing ; [Pours the Poison into his Ear-Exit. Ham. He poisons him i' the garden for his estate. His name's Gonzago; the story is extant, and written in very choice Italian: You shall see anon, how the murderer gets the love of Gonzago's wife. King. Give me some light:-away! Pol. Lights, lights, lights! [Exeunt all but HAMLET and HORATIO. Ham. Why, let the strucken deer go weep, The hart ungalled play; For some must watch, while some must sleep; O, good Horatio, I'll take the ghost's word for a thousand pound. Didst perceive? |