Gertrudeleaue vs too,
Hamlethither,
Ophelia. Her Father.and my selfe (lawful espials)
Ophelia, I do wish
Hamletswildenesse: so shall I hope your Vertues
Ophelia, walke you heere. Gracious so please ye
Here you can read a digital edition of each play in various views.
Left Column
Right Column
That if you be honest and faire, your Honesty
should admit no discourse to your Beautie.
Could Beautie my Lord, haue better Comerce
then your Honestie?
I trulie: for the power of Beautie, will sooner
transforme Honestie from what it is, to a Bawd, then the
force of Honestie can translate Beautie into his likenesse.
This was sometime a Paradox, but now the time giues it
proofe. I did loue you once.
Indeed my Lord, you made me beleeue so.
You should not haue beleeued me. For ver
cannot so innocculate our old stocke, but we shall r
of it. I loued you not.
Get thee to a Nonnerie. Why would'st thou
be a breeder of Sinners? I am my selfe indifferent honest,
but yet I could accuse me of such things, that it were bet
ter my Mother had not borne me. I am very prowd, re
uengefull, Ambitious, with more offences at my becke,
then I haue thoughts to put them in imagination, to giue
them shape, or time to acte them in. What should such
That if you be honest and faire, your Honesty
should admit no discourse to your Beautie.
Could Beautie my Lord, haue better Comerce
then your Honestie?
I trulie: for the power of Beautie, will sooner
transforme Honestie from what it is, to a Bawd, then the
force of Honestie can translate Beautie into his likenesse.
This was sometime a Paradox, but now the time giues it
proofe. I did loue you once.
Indeed my Lord, you made me beleeue so.
You should not haue beleeued me. For ver
cannot so innocculate our old stocke, but we shall r
of it. I loued you not.
Get thee to a Nonnerie. Why would'st thou
be a breeder of Sinners? I am my selfe indifferent honest,
but yet I could accuse me of such things, that it were bet
ter my Mother had not borne me. I am very prowd, re
uengefull, Ambitious, with more offences at my becke,
then I haue thoughts to put them in imagination, to giue
them shape, or time to acte them in. What should such
Fellows as I do crawling between heaven and Earth.
We are arrant knaues all, beleeue none of vs. Goe thy
wayes to a Nunnery. Where's your Father?
At home, my Lord.
Let the doores be shut vpon him, that he may
play the Foole no way, but in's owne house. Farewell.
O helpe him, you sweet Heauens.
If thou doest Marry, Ile giue thee this Plague
for, thy Dowrie. Be thou as chast 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 mem know well enough, what monsters you
make of them. To a Nunnery go, and quickly too. Far
well.
O heauenly Powers, restore him.
I haue heard of your pratlings too wel enough.
God has giuen you one pace, and you make your selfe an
Gods creatures, and make your Wantonnesse, your Ig
norance. Go too, Ile no more on't, it hath made me mad,
I say, we will haue no more Marriages. Those that are
married already, all but one shall liue, the rest shall keep
as they are. To a Nunnery, go.
<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<div type="scene" n="1" rend="notPresent">
<head type="supplied">[Act 3, Scene 1]</head>
<stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter King, Queene, Polonius, Ophelia, Ro
<lb/>sincrance, Guildenstern, and Lords.</stage>
<sp who="#F-ham-cla">
<speaker rend="italic">King.</speaker>
<l n="1604">And can you by no drift of circumstance</l>
<l n="1605">Get from him why he puts on this Confusion:</l>
<l n="1606">Grating so harshly all his dayes of quiet</l>
<pb facs="FFimg:axc0775-0.jpg" n="265"/>
<cb n="1"/>
<l n="1607">With turbulent and dangerous Lunacy.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-ham-ros">
<speaker rend="italic">Rosin.</speaker>
<l n="1608">He does confesse he feeles himselfe distracted,</l>
<l n="1609">But from what cause he will by no meanes speake.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-ham-gui">
<speaker rend="italic">Guil.</speaker>
<l n="1610">Nor do we finde him forward to be sounded,</l>
<l n="1611">But with a crafty Madnesse keepes aloofe:</l>
<l n="1612">When we would bring him on to some Confession</l>
<l n="1613">Of his true state.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-ham-ger">
<speaker rend="italic">Qu.</speaker>
<l n="1614">Did he receiue you well?</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-ham-ros">
<speaker rend="italic">Rosin.</speaker>
<l n="1615">Most like a Gentleman.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-ham-gui">
<speaker rend="italic">Guild.</speaker>
<l n="1616">But with much forcing of his disposition.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-ham-ros">
<speaker rend="italic">Rosin.</speaker>
<l n="1617">Niggard of question, but of our demands</l>
<l n="1618">Most free in his reply.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-ham-ger">
<speaker rend="italic">Qu.</speaker>
<l n="1619">Did you assay him to any pastime?</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-ham-ros">
<speaker rend="italic">Rosin.</speaker>
<l n="1620">Madam.it so fell out, that certain Players</l>
<l n="1621">We ore‑wrought on the way: of these we told him,</l>
<l n="1622">And there did seeme in him a kinde of ioy</l>
<l n="1623">To heare of it: They are about the Court,</l>
<l n="1624">And (as I thinke) they haue already order</l>
<l n="1625">This night to play before him.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-ham-pol">
<speaker rend="italic">Pol.</speaker>
<l n="1626">'Tis most true:</l>
<l n="1627">And he beseech'd me to intreate your Maiesties</l>
<l n="1628">To heare, and see the matter.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-ham-cla">
<speaker rend="italic">King.</speaker>
<l n="1629">With all my heart, and it doth much content me</l>
<l n="1630">To heare him so inclin'd. Good Gentlemen,</l>
<l n="1631">Giue him a further edge, and driue his purpose on</l>
<l n="1632">To these delights.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-ham-ros">
<speaker rend="italic">Rosin.</speaker>
<l n="1633">We shall my Lord.</l>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Exeunt.</stage>
<sp who="#F-ham-cla">
<speaker rend="italic">King.</speaker>
<l n="1634">Sweet<hi rend="italic">Gertrude</hi>leaue vs too,</l>
<l n="1635">For we haue closely sent for<hi rend="italic">Hamlet</hi>hither,</l>
<l n="1636">That he, as 'twere by accident, may there</l>
<l n="1637">Affront<hi rend="italic">Ophelia</hi>. Her Father.and my selfe (lawful espials)</l>
<l n="1638">Will so bestow our selues, that seeing vnseene</l>
<l n="1639">We may of their encounter frankely iudge,</l>
<l n="1640">And gather by him, as he is behaued,</l>
<l n="1641">If't be th'affliction of his loue, or no.</l>
<l n="1642">That thus he suffers for.<gap extent="1"
unit="chars"
reason="nonstandardCharacter"
agent="inkedSpacemarker"
resp="#ES"/>
</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-ham-ger">
<speaker rend="italic">Qu.</speaker>
<l n="1643">I shall obey you,</l>
<l n="1644">And for your part<hi rend="italic">Ophelia</hi>, I do wish</l>
<l n="1645">That your good Beauties be the happy cause</l>
<l n="1646">Of<hi rend="italic">Hamlets</hi>wildenesse: so shall I hope your Vertues</l>
<l n="1647">Will bring him to his wonted way againe,</l>
<l n="1648">To both your Honors.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-ham-oph">
<speaker rend="italic">Ophe.</speaker>
<l n="1649">Madam, I wish it may.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-ham-pol">
<speaker rend="italic">Pol.</speaker>
<l n="1650">
<hi rend="italic">Ophelia</hi>, walke you heere. Gracious so please ye</l>
<l n="1651">We will bestow our selues: Reade on this booke,</l>
<l n="1652">That shew of such an exercise may colour</l>
<l n="1653">Your lonelinesse. We are oft too blame in this,</l>
<l n="1654">'Tis too much prou'd, that with Deuotions visage,</l>
<l n="1655">And pious Action, we do surge o're</l>
<l n="1656">The diuell himselfe.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-ham-cla">
<speaker rend="italic">King.</speaker>
<l n="1657">Oh'tis true:</l>
<l n="1658">How smart a lash that speech doth giue my Conscience?</l>
<l n="1659">The Harlots Cheeke beautied with plaist'ring Art</l>
<l n="1660">Is not more vgly to the thing that helpes it,</l>
<l n="1661">Then is my deede, to my most painted word.</l>
<l n="1662">Oh heauie burthen!</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-ham-pol">
<speaker rend="italic">Pol.</speaker>
<l n="1663">I heare him comming, let's withdraw my Lord.</l>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Exeunt.</stage>
<stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter Hamlet.</stage>
<sp who="#F-ham-ham">
<speaker rend="italic">Ham.</speaker>
<l n="1664">To be, or not to be, that is the Question:</l>
<l n="1665">Whether 'tis Nobler in the minde to suffer</l>
<l n="1666">The Slings and Arrowes of outragious Fortune,</l>
<l n="1667">Or to take Armes against a Sea of troubles,</l>
<l n="1668">And by opposing end them: to dye, to sleepe</l>
<l n="1669">No more; and by a sleepe, to say we end</l>
<l n="1670">The Heart‑ake, and the thousand Naturall shockes</l>
<cb n="2"/>
<l n="1671">That Flesh is heyre too? 'Tis a consummation</l>
<l n="1672">Deuoutly to be wish'd. To dye to sleepe,</l>
<l n="1673">To sleepe, perchance to Dreame; I, there's the rub,</l>
<l n="1674">For in that sleepe of death, what dreames may come,</l>
<l n="1675">When we haue shufflel'd off this mortall coile,</l>
<l n="1676">Must giue vs pawse. There's the respect</l>
<l n="1677">That makes Calamity of so long life:</l>
<l n="1678">For who would beare the Whips and Scornes of time,</l>
<l n="1679">The Oppressors wrong, the poore mans Contumely,</l>
<l n="1680">The pangs of dispriz'd Loue, the Lawes delay,</l>
<l n="1681">The infolence of Office, and the Spurnes</l>
<l n="1682">That patient merit of the vnworthy takes,</l>
<l n="1683">When he himselfe might his<hi rend="italic">Quietus</hi>make</l>
<l n="1684">With a bare Bodkin? Who would these Fardles beare</l>
<l n="1685">To grunt and sweat vnder a weary life,</l>
<l n="1686">But that the dread of something after death,</l>
<l n="1687">The vndiscouered Countrey, from whose Borne</l>
<l n="1688">No Traueller returnes, Puzels the will,</l>
<l n="1689">And makes vs rather beare those illes we haue,</l>
<l n="1690">Then flye to others that we know not of.</l>
<l n="1691">Thus Conscience does make Cowards of vs all,</l>
<l n="1692">And thus the Natiue hew of Resolution</l>
<l n="1693">Is sicklied o're, with the pale cast of Thought,</l>
<l n="1694">And enterprizes of great pith and moment,</l>
<l n="1695">With this regard their Currants turne away,</l>
<l n="1696">And loose the name of Action. Soft you now,</l>
<l n="1697">The faire<hi rend="italic">Ophelia</hi>? Nimph, in thy Orizons</l>
<l n="1698">Be all my sinnes remembred.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-ham-oph">
<speaker rend="italic">Ophe.</speaker>
<l n="1699">Good my Lord,</l>
<l n="1700">How does your Honor for this many a day?</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-ham-ham">
<speaker rend="italic">Ham.</speaker>
<l n="1701">I humbly thanke you: well, well, well.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-ham-oph">
<speaker rend="italic">Ophe.</speaker>
<l n="1702">My Lord, I haue Remembrances of yours,</l>
<l n="1703">That I haue longed long to re‑deliuer.</l>
<l n="1704">I pray you now, receiue them.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-ham-ham">
<speaker rend="italic">Ham.</speaker>
<l n="1705">No, no, I neuer gaue you ought.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-ham-oph">
<speaker rend="italic">Ophe.</speaker>
<l n="1706">My honor'd Lord, I know right well you did,</l>
<l n="1707">And with them words of so sweet breath compos'd,</l>
<l n="1708">As made the things more rich, then perfume left:</l>
<l n="1709">Take these againe, for to the Noble minde</l>
<l n="1710">Rich gifts wax poore, when giuers proue vnkinde.</l>
<l n="1711">There my Lord.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-ham-ham">
<speaker rend="italic">Ham.</speaker>
<l n="1712">Ha, ha: Are you honest<gap extent="1"
unit="chars"
reason="nonstandardCharacter"
agent="inkedSpacemarker"
resp="#ES"/>?</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-ham-oph">
<speaker rend="italic">Ophe.</speaker>
<l n="1713">My Lord.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-ham-ham">
<speaker rend="italic">Ham.</speaker>
<l n="1714">Are you faire?</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-ham-oph">
<speaker rend="italic">Ophe.</speaker>
<l n="1715">What meanes your Lordship?</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-ham-ham">
<speaker rend="italic">Ham.</speaker>
<p n="1716">That if you be honest and faire, your Honesty
<lb n="1717"/>should admit no discourse to your Beautie.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-ham-oph">
<speaker rend="italic">Ophe.</speaker>
<p n="1718">Could Beautie my Lord, haue better Comerce
<lb n="1719"/>then your Honestie?</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-ham-ham">
<speaker rend="italic">Ham.</speaker>
<p n="1720">I trulie: for the power of Beautie, will sooner
<lb n="1721"/>transforme Honestie from what it is, to a Bawd, then the
<lb n="1722"/>force of Honestie can translate Beautie into his likenesse.
<lb n="1723"/>This was sometime a Paradox, but now the time giues it
<lb n="1724"/>proofe. I did loue you once.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-ham-oph">
<speaker rend="italic">Ophe.</speaker>
<p n="1725">Indeed my Lord, you made me beleeue so.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-ham-ham">
<speaker rend="italic">Ham.</speaker>
<p n="1726">You should not haue beleeued me. For ver<note resp="#ES">This r is partially worn away.</note>tue
<lb n="1727"/>cannot so innocculate our old stocke, but we shall r<note resp="#ES">This r is partially worn away.</note>ellish
<lb n="1728"/>of it. I loued you not.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-ham-oph">
<speaker rend="italic">Ophe.</speaker>
<l n="1729">I was the more deceiued.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-ham-ham">
<speaker rend="italic">Ham.</speaker>
<p n="1730">Get thee to a Nonnerie. Why would'st thou
<lb n="1731"/>be a breeder of Sinners? I am my selfe indifferent honest,
<lb n="1732"/>but yet I could accuse me of such things, that it were bet
<lb n="1733"/>ter my Mother had not borne me. I am very prowd, re
<lb n="1734"/>uengefull, Ambitious, with more offences at my becke,
<lb n="1735"/>then I haue thoughts to put them in imagination, to giue
<lb n="1736"/>them shape, or time to acte them in. What should such</p>
<pb facs="FFimg:axc0776-0.jpg" n="266"/>
<cb n="1"/>
<p n="1737">Fellows as I do crawling between heaven and Earth.
<lb n="1738"/>We are arrant knaues all, beleeue none of vs. Goe thy
<lb n="1739"/>wayes to a Nunnery. Where's your Father?</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-ham-oph">
<speaker rend="italic">Ophe.</speaker>
<p n="1740">At home, my Lord.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-ham-ham">
<speaker rend="italic">Ham.</speaker>
<p n="1741">Let the doores be shut vpon him, that he may
<lb n="1742"/>play the Foole no way, but in's owne house. Farewell.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-ham-oph">
<speaker rend="italic">Ophe.</speaker>
<p n="1743">O helpe him, you sweet Heauens.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-ham-ham">
<speaker rend="italic">Ham.</speaker>
<p n="1744">If thou doest Marry, Ile giue thee this Plague
<lb n="1745"/>for, thy Dowrie. Be thou as chast as Ice, as pure as Snow,
<lb n="1746"/>thou shalt not escape Calumny. Get thee to a Nunnery.
<lb n="1747"/>Go, Farewell. Or if thou wilt needs Marry, marry a fool:
<lb n="1748"/>for Wise mem know well enough, what monsters you
<lb n="1749"/>make of them. To a Nunnery go, and quickly too. Far
<lb n="1750"/>well.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-ham-oph">
<speaker rend="italic">Ophe.</speaker>
<p n="1751">O heauenly Powers, restore him.</p>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-ham-ham">
<speaker rend="italic">Ham.</speaker>
<p n="1752">I haue heard of your pratlings too wel enough.
<lb n="1753"/>God has giuen you one pace, and you make your selfe an
<lb n="1754"/>
<c rend="italic">o</c>ther: you gidge, you amble, and you lispe, and nickname
<lb n="1755"/>Gods creatures, and make your Wantonnesse, your Ig
<lb n="1756"/>norance. Go too, Ile no more on't, it hath made me mad,
<lb n="1757"/>I say, we will haue no more Marriages. Those that are
<lb n="1758"/>married already, all but one shall liue, the rest shall keep
<lb n="1759"/>as they are. To a Nunnery, go.</p>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Exit Hamlet.</stage>
<sp who="#F-ham-oph">
<speaker rend="italic">Ophe.</speaker>
<l n="1760">O what a Noble minde is heere o're‑throwne?</l>
<l n="1761">The Courtiers, Soldiers, Schollers: Eye, tongue, sword,</l>
<l n="1762">Th'expectansie and Rose of the faire State,</l>
<l n="1763">The glasse of Fashion, and the mould of Forme,</l>
<l n="1764">Th'obseru'd of all Obseruers, quite, quite downe.</l>
<l n="1765">Haue I of Ladies most deiect and wretched,</l>
<l n="1766">That suck'd the Honie of his Musicke Vowes:</l>
<l n="1767">Now see that Noble, and most Soueraigne Reason,</l>
<l n="1768">Like sweet Bels iangled out of tune, and harsh,</l>
<l n="1769">That vnmatch'd Forme and Feature of blowne youth,</l>
<l n="1770">Blasted with extasie. Oh, woe is me,</l>
<l n="1771">T'haue seene what I haue seene: see what I see.</l>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic center" type="entrance">Enter King, and Polonius.</stage>
<sp who="#F-ham-cla">
<speaker rend="italic">King.</speaker>
<l n="1772">Loue? His affections do not that way tend,</l>
<l n="1773">Nor what he spake, though it lack'd Forme a little,</l>
<l n="1774">Was not like Madnesse. There's something in his soule?</l>
<l n="1775">O're which his Melancholly sits on brood,</l>
<l n="1776">And I do doubt the hatch, and the disclose</l>
<l n="1777">Will be some danger, which to preuent</l>
<l n="1778">I haue in quicke determination</l>
<l n="1779">Thus set it downe. He shall with speed to England</l>
<l n="1780">For the demand of our neglected Tribute:</l>
<l n="1781">Haply the Seas and Countries different</l>
<l n="1782">With variable Obiects, shall expell</l>
<l n="1783">This something setled matter in his heart:</l>
<l n="1784">Whereon his Braines still beating, puts him thus</l>
<l n="1785">From fashion of himselfe. What thinke youon't?</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-ham-pol">
<speaker rend="italic">Pol.</speaker>
<l n="1786">It shall do well. But yet do I beleeue</l>
<l n="1787">The Origin and Commencement of this greefe</l>
<l n="1788">Sprung from neglected loue. How now<hi rend="italic">Ophelia?</hi>
</l>
<l n="1789">You neede not tell vs, what Lord<hi rend="italic">Hamlet</hi>saide,</l>
<l n="1790">We heard it all. My Lord, do as you please,</l>
<l n="1791">But if you hold it fit after the Play,</l>
<l n="1792">Let his Queene Mother all alone intreat him</l>
<l n="1793">To shew his Greefes: let her be round with him,</l>
<l n="1794">And Ile be plac'd so, please you in the eare</l>
<l n="1795">Of all their conference. If she finde him not,</l>
<l n="1796">To England send him: Or confine him where</l>
<l n="1797">Your wisedome best shall thinke.</l>
</sp>
<sp who="#F-ham-cla">
<speaker rend="italic">King.</speaker>
<l n="1798">It shall be so:</l>
<l n="1799">Madnesse in great Ones, must not vnwatch'd go.</l>
</sp>
<stage rend="italic rightJustified" type="exit">Exeunt.</stage>
</div>