William Shakespeare
The Tragicall Historie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmarke / The First ('Bad') Quarto

The Tragicall Historie of HAMLET Prince of Denmarke

Enter two Centinels.

1. Stand: who is that? 2. T'is I. 1. O you come most carefully vpon your watch, 2. And if you meet Marcellus and Horatio, The partners of my watch, bid them make haste. 1. I will: See who goes there. Enter Horatio and Marcellus. Hor. Friends to this ground. Mar. And leegemen to the Dane, O farewell honest souldier, who hath releeued you? 1. Barnardo hath my place, giue you goodnight. Mar. Holla, Barnardo. 2. Say, is Horatio there? Hor. A peece of him. 2. Welcome Horatio, welcome good Marcellus. Mar. What hath this thing appear'd againe to night. 2. I haue seene nothing. Mar. Horatio says tis but our fantasie, And wil not let beliefe take hold of him, Touching this dreaded sight twice seene by vs, Therefore I haue intreated him a long with vs [B1v] To watch the minutes of this night, That if againe this apparition come, He may approoue our eyes, and speake to it. Hor. Tut, t'will not appeare. 2. Sit downe I pray, and let vs once againe Assaile your eares that are so fortified, What we haue two nights seene. Hor. Wel, sit we downe, and let vs heare Bernardo speake of this. 2. Last night of al, when yonder starre that's west- ward from the pole, had made his course to Illumine that part of heauen. Where now it burnes, The bell then towling one.

Enter Ghost.

Mar. Breake off your talke, see where it comes againe. 2. In the same figure like the King that's dead, Mar. Thou art a scholler, speake to it H_oratio_. 2. Lookes it not like the king? Hor. Most like, it horrors mee with feare and wonder. 2. It would be spoke to. Mar. Question it H_oratio_. Hor. What art thou that thus vsurps the state, in Which the Maiestie of buried Denmarke did sometimes Walke? By heauen I charge thee speake. Mar. It is offended. exit Ghost. 2. See, it stalkes away. Hor. Stay, speake, speake, by heauen I charge thee speake. Mar. Tis gone and makes no answer. 2. How now H_oratio_, you tremble and looke pale, Is not this something more than fantasie? What thinke you on't? Hor. Afore my God, I might not this beleeue, without the sensible and true auouch of my owne eyes. Mar. Is it not like the King? [B2] Hor. As thou art to thy selfe, Such was the very armor he had on, When he the ambitious Norway combated. So frownd he once, when in an angry parle He smot the sleaded pollax on the yce, Tis strange. Mar. Thus twice before, and iump at this dead hower, With Marshall stalke he passed through our watch. Hor. In what particular to worke, I know not, But in the thought and scope of my opinion, This bodes some strange eruption to the state. Mar. Good, now sit downe, and tell me he that knowes Why this same strikt and most obseruant watch, So nightly toyles the subiect of the land, And why such dayly cost of brazen Cannon And forraine marte, for implements of warre, Why such impresse of ship-writes, whose sore taske Does not diuide the sunday from the weeke: What might be toward that this sweaty march Doth make the night ioynt labourer with the day, Who is't that can informe me? Hor. Mary that can I, at least the whisper goes so, Our late King, who as you know was by Forten- Brasse of Norway, Thereto prickt on by a most emulous cause, dared to The combate, in which our valiant H_amlet_, For so this side of our knowne world esteemed him, Did slay this Fortenbrasse, Who by a seale compact well ratified, by law And heraldrie, did forfeit with his life all those His lands which he stoode seazed of by the conqueror, Against the which a moity competent, Was gaged by our King: Now sir, yong Fortenbrasse, Of inapproued mettle hot and full, Hath in the skirts of Norway here and there, [B2v] Sharkt vp a sight of lawlesse Resolutes For food and diet to some enterprise, That hath a stomacke in't: and this (I take it) is the Chiefe head and ground of this our watch. Enter the Ghost. But loe, behold, see where it comes againe, Ile crosse it, though it blast me: stay illusion, If there be any good thing to be done, That may doe ease to thee, and grace to mee. Speake to mee. If thou art priuy to thy countries fate, Which happly foreknowing may preuent, O speake to me, Or if thou hast extorted in thy life, Or hoorded treasure in the wombe of earth, For which they say you Spirites oft walke in death, speake to me, stay and speake, speake, stoppe it Marcellus. 2. Tis heere. exit Ghost. H_or._ Tis heere. Marc. Tis gone, O we doe it wrong, being so maiesti- call, to offer it the shew of violence, For it is as the ayre invelmorable, And our vaine blowes malitious mockery. 2. It was about to speake when the Cocke crew. H_or._ And then it faded like a guilty thing, Vpon a fearefull summons: I haue heard The Cocke, that is the trumpet to the morning, Doth with his earely and shrill crowing throate, Awake the god of day, and at his sound, Whether in earth or ayre, in sea or fire, The strauagant and erring spirite hies To his confines, and of the trueth heereof This present obiect made probation. Marc. It faded on the crowing of the Cocke, Some say, that euer gainst that season comes, Wherein our Sauiours birth is celebrated, The bird of dawning singeth all night long, [B3] And then they say, no spirite dare walke abroade, The nights are wholesome, then no planet frikes, No Fairie takes, nor Witch hath powre to charme, So gratious, and so hallowed is that time. H_or._ So haue I heard, and doe in parte beleeue it: But see the Sunne in russet mantle clad, Walkes ore the deaw of yon hie mountaine top, Breake we our watch vp, and by my aduise, Let vs impart what wee haue seene to night Vnto yong H_amlet_: for vpon my life This Spirite dumbe to vs will speake to him: Do you consent, wee shall acquaint him with it, As needefull in our loue, fitting our duetie? Marc. Lets doo't I pray, and I this morning know, Where we shall finde him most conueniently.

Enter King, Queene, H_amlet, Leartes, Corambis, and the two Ambassadors, with Attendants._

King Lordes, we here haue writ to Fortenbrasse, Nephew to olde Norway, who impudent And bed-rid, scarely heares of this his Nephews purpose: and Wee heere dispatch Yong good Cornelia, and you Voltemar For bearers of these greetings to olde Norway, giuing to you no further personall power To businesse with the King, Then those related articles do shew: Farewell, and let your haste commend your dutie. Gent. In this and all things will wee shew our dutie. King. Wee doubt nothing, hartily farewel: And now Leartes; what's the news with you? You said you had a sute what i'st Leartes? Lea. My gratious Lord, your fauorable licence, Now that the funerall rites are all performed, I may haue leaue to go againe to France, [B3v] For though the fauour of your grace might stay mee, Yet something is there whispers in my hart, Which makes my minde and spirits bend all for France. King Haue you your fathers leaue, Leartes? Cor. He hath, my lord, wrung from me a forced graunt, And I beseech you grant your Highnesse leaue. King With all our heart, Leartes fare thee well. Lear. I in all loue and dutie take my leaue. King. And now princely Sonne Hamlet, Exit. What meanes these sad and melancholy moodes? For your intent going to Wittenberg, Wee hold it most vnmeet and vnconuenient, Being the Ioy and halfe heart of your mother. Therefore let mee intreat you stay in Court, All Denmarkes hope our coosin and dearest Sonne. Ham. My lord, ti's not the sable sute I weare: No nor the teares that still stand in my eyes, Nor the distracted hauiour in the visage, Nor all together mixt with outward semblance, Is equall to the sorrow of my heart, Him haue I lost I must of force forgoe, These but the ornaments and sutes of woe. King This shewes a louing care in you, Sonne Hamlet, But you must thinke your father lost a father, That father dead, lost his, and so shalbe vntill the Generall ending. Therefore cease laments, It is a fault gainst heauen, fault gainst the dead, A fault gainst nature, and in reasons Common course most certaine, None liues on earth, but hee is borne to die. Que. Let not thy mother loose her praiers H_amlet_, Stay here with vs, go not to Wittenberg. Ham. I shall in all my best obay you madam. King Spoke like a kinde and a most louing Sonne, And there's no health the King shall drinke to day, But the great Canon to the clowdes shall tell [B4] The rowse the King shall drinke vnto Prince H_amlet_ Exeunt all but H_amlet._ Ham. O that this too much grieu'd and sallied flesh Would melt to nothing, or that the vniuersall Globe of heauen would turne al to a Chaos! O God, within two months; no not two: married, Mine vncle: O let me not thinke of it, My fathers brother: but no more like My father, then I to Hercules. Within two months, ere yet the salt of most Vnrighteous teares had left their flushing In her galled eyes: she married, O God, a beast Deuoyd of reason would not haue made Such speede: Frailtie, thy name is Woman, Why she would hang on him, as if increase Of appetite had growne by what it looked on. O wicked wicked speede, to make such Dexteritie to incestuous sheetes, Ere yet the shooes were olde, The which she followed my dead fathers corse Like Nyobe, all teares: married, well it is not, Nor it cannot come to good: But breake my heart, for I must holde my tongue. Enter Horatio and Marcellus. Hor. Health to your Lordship. Ham. I am very glad to see you, (Horatio) or I much forget my selfe. Hor. The same my Lord, and your poore seruant euer. Ham. O my good friend, I change that name with you: but what make you from Wittenberg H_oratio_? Marcellus. Marc. My good Lord. Ham. I am very glad to see you, good euen sirs; But what is your affaire in Elsenoure? Weele teach you to drinke deepe ere you depart. Hor. A trowant disposition, my good Lord. [B4v] Ham. Nor shall you make mee truster Of your owne report against your selfe: Sir, I know you are no trowant: But what is your affaire in Elsenoure? Hor. My good Lord, I came to see your fathers funerall. Ham. O I pre thee do not mocke mee fellow studient, I thinke it was to see my mothers wedding. Hor. Indeede my Lord, it followed hard vpon. Ham. Thrift, thrift, H_oratio_, the funerall bak't meates Did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables, Would I had met my deerest foe in heauen Ere euer I had seene that day Horatio; O my father, my father, me thinks I see my father. Hor. Where my Lord? Ham. Why, in my mindes eye H_oratio_. Hor. I saw him once, he was a gallant King. Ham. He was a man, take him for all in all, I shall not looke vpon his like againe. Hor. My Lord, I thinke I saw him yesternight, Ham. Saw, who? Hor. My Lord, the King your father. Ham. Ha, ha, the King my father ke you. Hor. Ceasen your admiration for a while With an attentiue eare, till I may deliuer, Vpon the witnesse of these Gentlemen This wonder to you. Ham. For Gods loue let me heare it. Hor. Two nights together had these Gentlemen, Marcellus and Bernardo, on their watch In the dead vast and middle of the night. Beene thus incountered by a figure like your father, Armed to poynt, exactly Capapea Appeeres before them thrise, he walkes Before their weake and feare oppressed eies Within his tronchions length, While they distilled almost to gelly. [C1] With the act of feare stands dumbe, And speake not to him: this to mee In dreadfull secresie impart they did. And I with them the third night kept the watch, Where as they had delivered forme of the thing. Each part made true and good, The Apparition comes: I knew your father, These handes are not more like. Ham. Tis very strange. Hor. As I do liue, my honord lord, tis true, And wee did thinke it right done, In our dutie to let you know it. Ham. Where was this? Mar. My Lord, vpon the platforme where we watched. Ham. Did you not speake to it? Hor. My Lord we did, but answere made it none, Yet once me thought it was about to speake, And lifted vp his head to motion, Like as he would speake, but euen then The morning cocke crew lowd, and in all haste, It shruncke in haste away, and vanished Our sight. Ham. Indeed, indeed sirs, but this troubles me. Hold you the watch to night? All We do my Lord. Ham. Armed say ye? All Armed my good Lord. Ham. From top to toe? All. My good Lord, from head to foote. Ham. Why then saw you not his face? Hor. O yes my Lord, he wore his beuer vp. Ham. How look't he, frowningly? Hor. A countenance more in sorrow than in anger. Ham. Pale, or red? Hor. Nay, verie pal Ham. And fixt his eies vpon you. [C1v] Hor. Most constantly. Ham. I would I had beene there. Hor. It would a much amazed you. Ham. Yea very like, very like, staid it long? Hor. While one with moderate pace Might tell a hundred. Mar. O longer, longer. Ham. His beard was grisleld, no. Hor. It was as I haue seene it in his life, A sable siluer. Ham. I wil watch to night, perchance t'wil walke againe. Hor. I warrant it will. Ham. If it assume my noble fathers person, Ile speake to it, if hell it selfe should gape, And bid me hold my peace, Gentlemen, If you haue hither consealed this sight, Let it be tenible in your silence still, And whatsoeuer else shall chance to night, Giue it an vnderstanding, but no tongue, I will requit your loues, so fare you well, Vpon the platforme, twixt eleuen and twelue, Ile visit you. All. Our duties to your honor. exeunt. Ham. O your loues, your loues, as mine to you. Farewell, my fathers spirit in Armes, Well, all's not well. I doubt some foule play, Would the night were come, Till then, sit still my soule, foule deeds will rise Though all the world orewhelme them to mens eies. Exit. Enter Leartes and Ofelia. Leart. My necessaries are inbarkt, I must aboord, But ere I part, marke what I say to thee: I see Prince Hamlet makes a shew of loue Beware Ofelia, do not trust his vowes, Perhaps he loues you now, and now his tongue, Speakes from his heart, but yet take heed my sister, [C2] The Chariest maide is prodigall enough, If she vnmaske hir beautie to the Moone. Vertue it selfe scapes not calumnious thoughts, Belieu't Ofelia, therefore keepe a loofe Lest that he trip thy honor and thy fame. Ofel. Brother, to this I haue lent attentiue care, And doubt not but to keepe my honour firme, But my deere brother, do not you Like to a cunning Sophister, Teach me the path and ready way to heauen, While you forgetting what is said to me, Your selfe, like to a carelesse libertine Doth giue his heart, his appetite at ful, And little recks how that his honour dies. Lear. No, feare it not my deere Ofelia, Here comes my father, occasion smiles vpon a second leaue. Enter Corambis. Cor. Yet here Leartes? aboord, aboord, for shame, The winde sits in the shoulder of your saile, And you are staid for, there my blessing with thee And these few precepts in thy memory. "Be thou familiar, but by no meanes vulgare; "Those friends thou hast, and their adoptions tried, "Graple them to thee with a hoope of steele, "But do not dull the palme with entertaine, "Of euery new vnfleg'd courage, "Beware of entrance into a quarrell; but being in, "Beare it that the opposed may beware of thee, "Costly thy apparrell, as thy purse can buy. "But not exprest in fashion, "For the apparell oft proclaimes the man. And they of France of the chiefe rancke and station Are of a most select and generall chiefe in that: "This aboue all, to thy owne selfe be true, And it must follow as the night the day, Thou canst not then be false to any one, [C2v] Farewel, my blessing with thee. Lear. I humbly take my leaue, farewell Ofelia, And remember well what I haue said to you. exit. Ofel. It is already lock't within my hart, And you your selfe shall keepe the key of it. Cor. What i'st Ofelia he hath saide to you? Ofel. Somthing touching the prince Hamlet. Cor. Mary wel thought on, t'is giuen me to vnderstand, That you haue bin too prodigall of your maiden presence Vnto Prince Hamlet, if it be so, As so tis giuen to mee, and that in waie of caution I must tell you; you do not vnderstand your selfe So well as befits my honor, and your credite. Ofel. My lord, he hath made many tenders of his loue to me. Cor. Tenders, I, I, tenders you may call them. Ofel. And withall, such earnest vowes. Cor. Springes to catch woodcocks, What, do not I know when the blood doth burne, How prodigall the tongue lends the heart vowes, In briefe, be more scanter of your maiden presence, Or tendring thus you'l tender mee a foole. Ofel. I shall obay my lord in all I may. Cor. Ofelia, receiue none of his letters, "For louers lines are snares to intrap the heart; "Refuse his tokens, both of them are keyes To vnlocke Chastitie vnto Desire; Come in Ofelia, such men often proue, "Great in their wordes, but little in their loue. Ofel. I will my lord. exeunt. Enter Hamlet, Horatio, and Marcellus. Ham. The ayre bites shrewd; it is an eager and An nipping winde, what houre i'st? Hor. I think it lacks of twelue, Sound Trumpets. Mar. No, t'is strucke. Hor. Indeed I heard it not, what doth this mean my lord? [C3] Ham. O the king doth wake to night, & takes his rowse, Keepe wassel, and the swaggering vp-spring reeles, And as he dreames, big draughts of renish downe, The kettle, drumme, and trumpet, thus bray out, The triumphes of his pledge. Hor. Is it a custome here? Ham. I mary i'st and though I am Natiue here, and to the maner borne, It is a custome, more honourd in the breach, Then in the obseruance. Enter the Ghost. Hor. Looke my Lord, it comes. Ham. Angels and Ministers of grace defend vs, Be thou a spirite of health, or goblin damn'd, Bring with thee ayres from heanen, or blasts from hell: Be thy intents wicked or charitable, Thou commest in such questionable shape, That I will speake to thee, Ile call thee Hamlet, King, Father, Royall Dane, O answere mee, let mee not burst in ignorance, But say why thy canonizd bones hearsed in death Haue burst their ceremonies: why thy Sepulcher, In which wee saw thee quietly interr'd, Hath burst his ponderous and marble Iawes, To cast thee vp againe: what may this meane, That thou, dead corse, againe in compleate steele, Reuissets thus the glimses of the Moone, Making night hideous, and we fooles of nature, So horridely to shake our disposition, With thoughts beyond the reaches of our soules? Say, speake, wherefore, what may this meane? Hor. It beckons you, as though it had something To impart to you alone. Mar. Looke with what courteous action It waues you to a more remoued ground, But do not go with it. [C3v] Hor. No, by no meanes my Lord. Ham. It will not speake, then will I follow it. Hor. What if it tempt you toward the flood my Lord. That beckles ore his bace, into the sea, And there assume some other horrible shape, Which might depriue your soueraigntie of reason, And driue you into madnesse: thinke of it. Ham. Still am I called, go on, ile follow thee. Hor. My Lord, you shall not go. Ham. Why what should be the feare? I do not set my life at a pinnes fee, And for my soule, what can it do to that? Being a thing immortall, like it selfe, Go on, ile follow thee. Mar. My Lord be rulde, you shall not goe. Ham. My fate cries out, and makes each pety Artiue As hardy as the Nemeon Lyons nerue, Still am I cald, vnhand me gentlemen; By heauen ile make a ghost of him that lets me, Away I say, go on, ile follow thee. Hor. He waxeth desperate with imagination. Mar. Something is rotten in the state of Denmarke. Hor. Haue after; to what issue will this sort? Mar. Lets follow, tis not fit thus to obey him. exit. Enter Ghost and Hamlet. Ham. Ile go no farther, whither wilt thou leade me? Ghost Marke me. Ham. I will. Ghost I am thy fathers spirit, doomd for a time To walke the night, and all the day Confinde in flaming fire, Till the foule crimes done in my dayes of Nature Are purged and burnt away. Ham. Alas poore Ghost. Ghost Nay pitty me not, but to my vnfolding Lend thy listning eare, but that I am forbid [C4] To tell the secrets of my prison house I would a tale vnfold, whose lightest word Would harrow vp thy soule, freeze thy yong blood, Make thy two eyes like stars start from their spheres, Thy knotted and combined locks to part, And each particular haire to stand on end Like quils vpon the fretfull Porpentine, But this same blazon must not be, to eares of flesh and blood Hamlet, if euer thou didst thy deere father loue. Ham. O God. Gho. Reuenge his foule, and most vnnaturall murder: Ham. Murder. Ghost Yea, murder in the highest degree, As in the least tis bad, But mine most foule, beastly, and vnnaturall. Ham. Haste me to knowe it, that with wings as swift as meditation, or the thought of it, may sweepe to my reuenge. Ghost O I finde thee apt, and duller shouldst thou be Then the fat weede which rootes it selfe in ease On Lethe wharffe: briefe let me be. Tis giuen out, that sleeping in my orchard, A Serpent stung me; so the whole eare of Denmarke Is with a forged Prosses of my death rankely abusde: But know thou noble Youth: he that did sting Thy fathers heart, now weares his Crowne. Ham. O my prophetike soule, my vncle! my vncle! Ghost Yea he, that incestuous wretch, wonne to his will O wicked will, and gifts! that haue the power (with gifts, So to seduce my most seeming vertuous Queene, But vertne, as it neuer will be moued, Though Lewdnesse court it in a shape of heauen, So Lust, though to a radiant angle linckt, Would fate it selfe from a celestiall bedde, And prey on garbage: but soft, me thinkes I sent the mornings ayre, briefe let me be, Sleeping within my Orchard, my custome alwayes [C4v] In the after noone, vpon my secure houre Thy vncle came, with iuyce of Hebona In a viall, and through the porches of my eares Did powre the leaprous distilment, whose effect Hold such an enmitie with blood of man, That swift as quickesilner, it posteth through The naturall gates and allies of the body, And turnes the thinne and wholesome blood Like eager dropings into milke. And all my smoothe body, barked, and tetterd ouer. Thus was I sleeping by a brothers hand Of Crowne, of Queene, of life, of dignitie At once depriued, no reckoning made of, But sent vnto my graue, With all my accompts and sinnes vpon my head, O horrible, most horrible! Ham.