The Bodleian First Folio

A digital facsimile of the First Folio of Shakespeare's plays, Bodleian Arch. G c.7.



Text and Image

Here you can read a digital edition of each play in various views.

Page Image & Text
Digital Text
XML

Reference: oo2r - Tragedies, p. 259

Left Column


The Tragedie of Hamlet. That you know ought of me; this not to doe: So grace and mercy at your most neede helpe you:
[850]
Sweare.
Ghost. Sweare. Ham. Rest, rest perturbed Spirit: so Gentlemen, With all my loue I doe commend me to you; And what so poore a man as Hamlet is,
[855]
May doe t'expresse his loue and friending to you, God willing shall not lacke: let vs goe in together, And still your fingers on your lippes I pray, The time is out of ioynt: Oh Cursed spight, That euer I was borne to set it right,
[860]
Nay, come let's goe together.
Exeunt.
Actus Secundus. [Act 2, Scene 1] Enter Polonius, and Reynoldo. Polon. Giue him his money, and these notes Reynoldo. Reynol. I will my Lord. Polon. You shall doe maruels wisely: good Reynoldo, Before you visite him you make inquiry
[865]
Of his behauiour.
Reynol. My Lord, I did intend it. Polon. Marry, well said; Very well said. Looke.you Sir, Enquire me first what Danskers are in Paris;
[870]
And how, and who; what meanes; and where they keepe: What company, at what expence: and finding By this encompassement and drift of question, That they doe know my sonne: Come you more nearer Then your particular demands will touch it,
[875]
Take you as 'twere somc distant knowledge of him. And thus I know his father and his friends, And in part him. Doe you marke this Reynoldo?
Reynol. I, very well my Lord. Polon. And in part him, but you may say not well;
[880]
But if't be hee I meane, hees very wilde; Addicted so and so; and there put on him What forgeries you please; marry, none so ranke, As may dishonour him; take need of that: But Sir, such wanton, wild, and vsuall slips,
[885]
As are Companions noted and most knowne To youth and liberty.
Reynol. As gaming my Lord. Polon. I, or drinking, fencing. swearing, Quarelling, drabbi ng. You may goe so farre. Reynol.
[890]
My Lord that would dishonour him.
Polon. Faith no, as you may season it in the charge; You must not put another scandall on him, That hee is open to Incontinencie; That's not my meaning: but breath his faults so quaintly,
[895]
That they may seeme the taints of liberty; The flash and out‑breake of a fiery minde, A sauagenes in vnreclaim'd bloud of generall assault.
Reynol. But my good Lord. Polon. Wherefore should you doe this? Reynol.
[900]
I my Lord, I would know that.
Polon. Marry Sir, here's my drift, And I belieue it is a fetch of warrant: You laying these slight sulleyes on my Sonne, As 'twere a thing a little soil'd i'th'working:
[905]
Marke you your party in conuerse; him you would (sound, Hauing euer seene. In the prenominate crimes,

Right Column


The youth you breath of guilty, be assur'd He closes with you in this consequence: Good sir, or so, or friend, or Gentleman.
[910]
According to the Phrase and the Addition, Of man and Country.
Reynol. Very good my Lord. Polon. And then Sir does he this? He does: what was I about to say?
[915]
I was about to say somthing: where did I leaue?
Reynol. At closes in the consequence: At friend, or so, and Gentleman. Polon. At closes in the consequence, I marry, He closes with you thus. I know the Gentleman,
[920]
I saw him yesterday, or tother day; Or then or then, with such and such; and as you say, There was he gaming, there o'retooke in's Rouse, There falling out at Tennis; or perchance, I saw him enter such a house of saile;
[925]
Videlicet, a Brothell, or so forth. See you now; Your bait of falshood, takes this Cape of truth; And thus doe we of wisedome and of reach With windlesses, and with assaies of Bias, By indirections finde directions out:
[930]
So by my former Lecture and aduice Shall you my Sonne; you haue me, haue you not?
Reynol. My Lord I haue. Polon. God buy you; fare you well. Reynol. Good my Lord. Polon.
[935]
Obserue his inclination in your selfe.
Reynol. I shall my Lord. Polon. And let him plye his Musicke. Reynol. Well, my Lord. Exit. Enter Ophelia. Polon. Farewell:
[940]
How now Ophelia, what's the matter?
Ophe. Alas my Lord, I haue beene so affrighted. Polon. With what, in the name of Heauen? Ophe. My Lord, as I was sowing in my Chamber, Lord Hamlet with his doublet all vnbrac'd,
[945]
No hat vpon his head, his stockings foul'd, Vngartred, and downe giued to his Anckle, Pale as his shirt, his knees knocking each other, And with a looke so pitious in purport, As if he had been loosed out of hell,
[950]
To speake of horrors: he comes before me.
Polon. Mad for thy Loue ? Ophe. My Lord, I doe not know: but truly I do feare it. Polon. What said he? Ophe. He tooke me by the wrist, and held me hard;
[955]
Then goes he to the length of all his arme; And with his other hand thus o're his brow He fals to such perusall of my face, As he would draw it. Long staid he so, At last, a little shaking of mine Arme:
[960]
And thrice his head thus wauing vp and downe; He rais'd a sigh, so pittious and profound, That it did seeme to shatter all his bulke, And end his being. That done, he lets me goe, And with his head ouer his shoulders turn'd,
[965]
He seem'd to finde his way without his eyes, For out adores he went without their helpe; And to the last, bended their light on me.
Polon. Goe with me, I will goe seeke the King, This is the very extasie of Loue,
[970]
Whose violent property foredoes it selfe, And

Download the digital text and images of the play



 
Actus Secundus. [Act 2, Scene 1] Enter Polonius, and Reynoldo. Polon. Giue him his money, and these notes Reynoldo. Reynol. I will my Lord. Polon. You shall doe maruels wisely: good Reynoldo, Before you visite him you make inquiry
[865]
Of his behauiour.
Reynol. My Lord, I did intend it. Polon. Marry, well said; Very well said. Looke.you Sir, Enquire me first what Danskers are in Paris;
[870]
And how, and who; what meanes; and where they keepe: What company, at what expence: and finding By this encompassement and drift of question, That they doe know my sonne: Come you more nearer Then your particular demands will touch it,
[875]
Take you as 'twere somc distant knowledge of him. And thus I know his father and his friends, And in part him. Doe you marke this Reynoldo?
Reynol. I, very well my Lord. Polon. And in part him, but you may say not well;
[880]
But if't be hee I meane, hees very wilde; Addicted so and so; and there put on him What forgeries you please; marry, none so ranke, As may dishonour him; take need of that: But Sir, such wanton, wild, and vsuall slips,
[885]
As are Companions noted and most knowne To youth and liberty.
Reynol. As gaming my Lord. Polon. I, or drinking, fencing. swearing, Quarelling, drabbi ng. You may goe so farre. Reynol.
[890]
My Lord that would dishonour him.
Polon. Faith no, as you may season it in the charge; You must not put another scandall on him, That hee is open to Incontinencie; That's not my meaning: but breath his faults so quaintly,
[895]
That they may seeme the taints of liberty; The flash and out‑breake of a fiery minde, A sauagenes in vnreclaim'd bloud of generall assault.
Reynol. But my good Lord. Polon. Wherefore should you doe this? Reynol.
[900]
I my Lord, I would know that.
Polon. Marry Sir, here's my drift, And I belieue it is a fetch of warrant: You laying these slight sulleyes on my Sonne, As 'twere a thing a little soil'd i'th'working:
[905]
Marke you your party in conuerse; him you would (sound, Hauing euer seene. In the prenominate crimes, The youth you breath of guilty, be assur'd He closes with you in this consequence: Good sir, or so, or friend, or Gentleman.
[910]
According to the Phrase and the Addition, Of man and Country.
Reynol. Very good my Lord. Polon. And then Sir does he this? He does: what was I about to say?
[915]
I was about to say somthing: where did I leaue?
Reynol. At closes in the consequence: At friend, or so, and Gentleman. Polon. At closes in the consequence, I marry, He closes with you thus. I know the Gentleman,
[920]
I saw him yesterday, or tother day; Or then or then, with such and such; and as you say, There was he gaming, there o'retooke in's Rouse, There falling out at Tennis; or perchance, I saw him enter such a house of saile;
[925]
Videlicet, a Brothell, or so forth. See you now; Your bait of falshood, takes this Cape of truth; And thus doe we of wisedome and of reach With windlesses, and with assaies of Bias, By indirections finde directions out:
[930]
So by my former Lecture and aduice Shall you my Sonne; you haue me, haue you not?
Reynol. My Lord I haue. Polon. God buy you; fare you well. Reynol. Good my Lord. Polon.
[935]
Obserue his inclination in your selfe.
Reynol. I shall my Lord. Polon. And let him plye his Musicke. Reynol. Well, my Lord. Exit. Enter Ophelia. Polon. Farewell:
[940]
How now Ophelia, what's the matter?
Ophe. Alas my Lord, I haue beene so affrighted. Polon. With what, in the name of Heauen? Ophe. My Lord, as I was sowing in my Chamber, Lord Hamlet with his doublet all vnbrac'd,
[945]
No hat vpon his head, his stockings foul'd, Vngartred, and downe giued to his Anckle, Pale as his shirt, his knees knocking each other, And with a looke so pitious in purport, As if he had been loosed out of hell,
[950]
To speake of horrors: he comes before me.
Polon. Mad for thy Loue ? Ophe. My Lord, I doe not know: but truly I do feare it. Polon. What said he? Ophe. He tooke me by the wrist, and held me hard;
[955]
Then goes he to the length of all his arme; And with his other hand thus o're his brow He fals to such perusall of my face, As he would draw it. Long staid he so, At last, a little shaking of mine Arme:
[960]
And thrice his head thus wauing vp and downe; He rais'd a sigh, so pittious and profound, That it did seeme to shatter all his bulke, And end his being. That done, he lets me goe, And with his head ouer his shoulders turn'd,
[965]
He seem'd to finde his way without his eyes, For out adores he went without their helpe; And to the last, bended their light on me.
Polon. Goe with me, I will goe seeke the King, This is the very extasie of Loue,
[970]
Whose violent property foredoes it selfe, And leads the will to desperate Vndertakings, As oft as any passion vnder Heauen, That does afflict our Natures. I am sorrie, What haue you giuen him any hard words of late?
Ophe.
[975]
No my good Lord: but as you did command, I did repell his Letters, and deny'de His accesse to me.
Pol. That hath made him mad. I am sorrie that with better speed and iudgement
[980]
I had not quoted him. I feare he did but trifle, And meant to wracke thee: but beshrew my iealousie: It seemes it is as proper to our Age, To cast beyond our selues in our Opinions, As it is common for the yonger sort
[985]
To lacke discretion. Come, go we to the King, This must be knowne, w c being kept close might moue More greefe to hide, then hate to vtter loue.
Exeunt.
 

Download the digital text of the play

                                
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<div type="scene" n="1">
   <head rend="italic center">Actus Secundus.</head>
   <head type="supplied">[Act 2, Scene 1]</head>
   <stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter Polonius, and Reynoldo.</stage>
   <sp who="#F-ham-pol">
      <speaker rend="italic">Polon.</speaker>
      <l n="861">Giue him his money, and these notes<hi rend="italic">Reynoldo</hi>.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ham-rey">
      <speaker rend="italic">Reynol.</speaker>
      <l n="862">I will my Lord.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ham-pol">
      <speaker rend="italic">Polon.</speaker>
      <l n="863">You shall doe maruels wisely: good<hi rend="italic">Reynoldo,</hi>
      </l>
      <l n="864">Before you visite him you make inquiry</l>
      <l n="865">Of his behauiour.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ham-rey">
      <speaker rend="italic">Reynol.</speaker>
      <l n="866">My Lord, I did intend it.</l>
      <l n="867">
         <hi rend="italic">Polon</hi>. Marry, well said;</l>
      <l n="868">Very well said. Looke.you Sir,</l>
      <l n="869">Enquire me first what Danskers are in Paris;</l>
      <l n="870">And how, and who; what meanes; and where they keepe:</l>
      <l n="871">What company, at what expence: and finding</l>
      <l n="872">By this encompassement and drift of question,</l>
      <l n="873">That they doe know my sonne: Come you more nearer</l>
      <l n="874">Then your particular demands will touch it,</l>
      <l n="875">Take you as 'twere somc distant knowledge of him.</l>
      <l n="876">And thus I know his father and his friends,</l>
      <l n="877">And in part him. Doe you marke this<hi rend="italic">Reynoldo?</hi>
      </l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ham-rey">
      <speaker rend="italic">Reynol.</speaker>
      <l n="878">I, very well my Lord.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ham-pol">
      <speaker rend="italic">Polon.</speaker>
      <l n="879">And in part him, but you may say not well;</l>
      <l n="880">But if't be hee I meane, hees very wilde;</l>
      <l n="881">Addicted so and so; and there put on him</l>
      <l n="882">What forgeries you please; marry, none so ranke,</l>
      <l n="883">As may dishonour him; take need of that:</l>
      <l n="884">But Sir, such wanton, wild, and vsuall slips,</l>
      <l n="885">As are Companions noted and most knowne</l>
      <l n="886">To youth and liberty.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ham-rey">
      <speaker rend="italic">Reynol.</speaker>
      <l n="887">As gaming my Lord.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ham-pol">
      <speaker rend="italic">Polon.</speaker>
      <l n="888">I, or drinking, fencing. swearing,</l>
      <l n="889">Quarelling, drabbi<c rend="inverted">n</c>g. You may goe so farre.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ham-rey">
      <speaker rend="italic">Reynol.</speaker>
      <l n="890">My Lord that would dishonour him.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ham-pol">
      <speaker rend="italic">Polon.</speaker>
      <l n="891">Faith no, as you may season it in the charge;</l>
      <l n="892">You must not put another scandall on him,</l>
      <l n="893">That hee is open to Incontinencie;</l>
      <l n="894">That's not my meaning: but breath his faults so quaintly,</l>
      <l n="895">That they may seeme the taints of liberty;</l>
      <l n="896">The flash and out‑breake of a fiery minde,</l>
      <l n="897">A sauagenes in vnreclaim'd bloud of generall assault.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ham-rey">
      <speaker rend="italic">Reynol.</speaker>
      <l n="898">But my good Lord.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ham-pol">
      <speaker rend="italic">Polon.</speaker>
      <l n="899">Wherefore should you doe this?</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ham-rey">
      <speaker rend="italic">Reynol.</speaker>
      <l n="900">I my Lord, I would know that.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ham-pol">
      <speaker rend="italic">Polon.</speaker>
      <l n="901">Marry Sir, here's my drift,</l>
      <l n="902">And I belieue it is a fetch of warrant:</l>
      <l n="903">You laying these slight sulleyes on my Sonne,</l>
      <l n="904">As 'twere a thing a little soil'd i'th'working:</l>
      <l n="905">Marke you your party in conuerse; him you would
      <lb rend="turnover"/>
         <pc rend="turnover">(</pc>sound,</l>
      <l n="906">Hauing euer seene. In the prenominate crimes,</l>
      <cb n="2"/>
      <l n="907">The youth you breath of guilty, be assur'd</l>
      <l n="908">He closes with you in this consequence:</l>
      <l n="909">Good sir, or so, or friend, or Gentleman.</l>
      <l n="910">According to the Phrase and the Addition,</l>
      <l n="911">Of man and Country.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ham-rey">
      <speaker rend="italic">Reynol.</speaker>
      <l n="912">Very good my Lord.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ham-pol">
      <speaker rend="italic">Polon.</speaker>
      <l n="913">And then Sir does he this?</l>
      <l n="914">He does: what was I about to say?</l>
      <l n="915">I was about to say somthing: where did I leaue?</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ham-rey">
      <speaker rend="italic">Reynol.</speaker>
      <l n="916">At closes in the consequence:</l>
      <l n="917">At friend, or so, and Gentleman.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ham-pol">
      <speaker rend="italic">Polon.</speaker>
      <l n="918">At closes in the consequence, I marry,</l>
      <l n="919">He closes with you thus. I know the Gentleman,</l>
      <l n="920">I saw him yesterday, or tother day;</l>
      <l n="921">Or then or then, with such and such; and as you say,</l>
      <l n="922">There was he gaming, there o'retooke in's Rouse,</l>
      <l n="923">There falling out at Tennis; or perchance,</l>
      <l n="924">I saw him enter such a house of saile;</l>
      <l n="925">
         <hi rend="italic">Videlicet</hi>, a Brothell, or so forth. See you now;</l>
      <l n="926">Your bait of falshood, takes this Cape of truth;</l>
      <l n="927">And thus doe we of wisedome and of reach</l>
      <l n="928">With windlesses, and with assaies of Bias,</l>
      <l n="929">By indirections finde directions out:</l>
      <l n="930">So by my former Lecture and aduice</l>
      <l n="931">Shall you my Sonne; you haue me, haue you not?</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ham-rey">
      <speaker rend="italic">Reynol.</speaker>
      <l n="932">My Lord I haue.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ham-pol">
      <speaker rend="italic">Polon.</speaker>
      <l n="933">God buy you; fare you well.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ham-rey">
      <speaker rend="italic">Reynol.</speaker>
      <l n="934">Good my Lord.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ham-pol">
      <speaker rend="italic">Polon.</speaker>
      <l n="935">Obserue his inclination in your selfe.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ham-rey">
      <speaker rend="italic">Reynol.</speaker>
      <l n="936">I shall my Lord.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ham-pol">
      <speaker rend="italic">Polon.</speaker>
      <l n="937">And let him plye his Musicke.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ham-rey">
      <speaker rend="italic">Reynol.</speaker>
      <l n="938">Well, my Lord.</l>
   </sp>
   <stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Exit.</stage>
   <stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter Ophelia.</stage>
   <sp who="#F-ham-pol">
      <speaker rend="italic">Polon.</speaker>
      <l n="939">Farewell:</l>
      <l n="940">How now<hi rend="italic">Ophelia,</hi>what's the matter?</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ham-oph">
      <speaker rend="italic">Ophe.</speaker>
      <l n="941">Alas my Lord, I haue beene so affrighted.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ham-pol">
      <speaker rend="italic">Polon.</speaker>
      <l n="942">With what, in the name of Heauen?</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ham-oph">
      <speaker rend="italic">Ophe.</speaker>
      <l n="943">My Lord, as I was sowing in my Chamber,</l>
      <l n="944">Lord<hi rend="italic">Hamlet</hi>with his doublet all vnbrac'd,</l>
      <l n="945">No hat vpon his head, his stockings foul'd,</l>
      <l n="946">Vngartred, and downe giued to his Anckle,</l>
      <l n="947">Pale as his shirt, his knees knocking each other,</l>
      <l n="948">And with a looke so pitious in purport,</l>
      <l n="949">As if he had been loosed out of hell,</l>
      <l n="950">To speake of horrors: he comes before me.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ham-pol">
      <speaker rend="italic">Polon.</speaker>
      <l n="951">Mad for thy Loue<c rend="italic">?</c>
      </l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ham-oph">
      <speaker rend="italic">Ophe.</speaker>
      <l n="952">My Lord, I doe not know: but truly I do feare it.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ham-pol">
      <speaker rend="italic">Polon.</speaker>
      <l n="953">What said he?</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ham-oph">
      <speaker rend="italic">Ophe.</speaker>
      <l n="954">He tooke me by the wrist, and held me hard;</l>
      <l n="955">Then goes he to the length of all his arme;</l>
      <l n="956">And with his other hand thus o're his brow</l>
      <l n="957">He fals to such perusall of my face,</l>
      <l n="958">As he would draw it. Long staid he so,</l>
      <l n="959">At last, a little shaking of mine Arme:</l>
      <l n="960">And thrice his head thus wauing vp and downe;</l>
      <l n="961">He rais'd a sigh, so pittious and profound,</l>
      <l n="962">That it did seeme to shatter all his bulke,</l>
      <l n="963">And end his being. That done, he lets me goe,</l>
      <l n="964">And with his head ouer his shoulders turn'd,</l>
      <l n="965">He seem'd to finde his way without his eyes,</l>
      <l n="966">For out adores he went without their helpe;</l>
      <l n="967">And to the last, bended their light on me.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ham-pol">
      <speaker rend="italic">Polon.</speaker>
      <l n="968">Goe with me, I will goe seeke the King,</l>
      <l n="969">This is the very extasie of Loue,</l>
      <l n="970">Whose violent property foredoes it selfe,</l>
      <pb facs="FFimg:axc0770-0.jpg" n="260"/>
      <cb n="1"/>
      <l n="971">And leads the will to desperate Vndertakings,</l>
      <l n="972">As oft as any passion vnder Heauen,</l>
      <l n="973">That does afflict our Natures. I am sorrie,</l>
      <l n="974">What haue you giuen him any hard words of late?</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ham-oph">
      <speaker rend="italic">Ophe.</speaker>
      <l n="975">No my good Lord: but as you did command,</l>
      <l n="976">I did repell his Letters, and deny'de</l>
      <l n="977">His accesse to me.</l>
   </sp>
   <sp who="#F-ham-pol">
      <speaker rend="italic">Pol.</speaker>
      <l n="978">That hath made him mad.</l>
      <l n="979">I am sorrie that with better speed and iudgement</l>
      <l n="980">I had not quoted him. I feare he did but trifle,</l>
      <l n="981">And meant to wracke thee: but beshrew my iealousie:</l>
      <l n="982">It seemes it is as proper to our Age,</l>
      <l n="983">To cast beyond our selues in our Opinions,</l>
      <l n="984">As it is common for the yonger sort</l>
      <l n="985">To lacke discretion. Come, go we to the King,</l>
      <l n="986">This must be knowne, w<hi rend="superscript">c</hi>being kept close might moue</l>
      <l n="987">More greefe to hide, then hate to vtter loue.</l>
   </sp>
   <stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Exeunt.</stage>
</div>

                                
                            

Download the XML