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No Fear Translations

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Enter HORATIO , GERTRUDE , and a GENTLEMAN
Enter HORATIO , GERTRUDE , and a GENTLEMAN

GERTRUDE

I will not speak with her.

GERTRUDE

I will not speak with her.

GENTLEMAN

She is importunate,
Indeed distract. Her mood will needs be pitied.

GENTLEMAN

She is importunate,
Indeed distract. Her mood will needs be pitied.

GERTRUDE

What would she have?

GERTRUDE

What would she have?

GENTLEMAN

She speaks much of her father, says she hears
There’s tricks i' th' world, and hems, and beats her heart,
Spurns enviously at straws, speaks things in doubt
That carry but half sense. Her speech is nothing,
Yet the unshaped use of it doth move
The hearers to collection. They aim at it,
10 And botch the words up fit to their own thoughts,
Which, as her winks and nods and gestures yield them,
Indeed would make one think there might be thought,
Though nothing sure, yet much unhappily.

GENTLEMAN

She speaks much of her father, says she hears
There’s tricks i' th' world, and hems, and beats her heart,
Spurns enviously at straws, speaks things in doubt
That carry but half sense. Her speech is nothing,
Yet the unshaped use of it doth move
The hearers to collection. They aim at it,
And botch the words up fit to their own thoughts,
Which, as her winks and nods and gestures yield them,
Indeed would make one think there might be thought,
Though nothing sure, yet much unhappily.

HORATIO

'Twere good she were spoken with, for she may strew
15 Dangerous conjectures in ill-breeding minds.

HORATIO

'Twere good she were spoken with, for she may strew
Dangerous conjectures in ill-breeding minds.

GERTRUDE

Let her come in.

GERTRUDE

Let her come in.
Exit GENTLEMAN
Exit GENTLEMAN
(aside) To my sick soul (as sin’s true nature is)
Each toy seems prologue to some great amiss.
So full of artless jealousy is guilt,
It spills itself in fearing to be spilt.
(aside) To my sick soul (as sin’s true nature is)
Each toy seems prologue to some great amiss.
So full of artless jealousy is guilt,
It spills itself in fearing to be spilt.
Enter OPHELIA , distracted
Enter OPHELIA , distracted

OPHELIA

20 Where is the beauteous majesty of Denmark?

OPHELIA

Where is the beauteous majesty of Denmark?

GERTRUDE

How now, Ophelia?

GERTRUDE

How now, Ophelia?

OPHELIA

(sings)
How should I your true love know
  From another one?
By his cockle hat and staff,
  And his sandal shoon.

OPHELIA

(sings)
How should I your true love know
  From another one?
By his cockle hat and staff,
  And his sandal shoon.

GERTRUDE

Alas, sweet lady, what imports this song?

GERTRUDE

Alas, sweet lady, what imports this song?

OPHELIA

Say you? Nay, pray you, mark.
(sings)
He is dead and gone, lady,
  He is dead and gone,
At his head a grass-green turf,
  At his heels a stone.
Oh, ho!

OPHELIA

Say you? Nay, pray you, mark.
(sings)
He is dead and gone, lady,
  He is dead and gone,
At his head a grass-green turf,
  At his heels a stone.
Oh, ho!

GERTRUDE

Nay, but, Ophelia—

GERTRUDE

Nay, but, Ophelia—

OPHELIA

Pray you, mark.
(sings)
White his shroud as the mountain snow

OPHELIA

Pray you, mark.
(sings)
White his shroud as the mountain snow
Enter CLAUDIUS
Enter CLAUDIUS

GERTRUDE

30 Alas, look here, my lord.

GERTRUDE

Alas, look here, my lord.

OPHELIA

(sings)
  Larded all with sweet flowers,
Which bewept to the ground did not go
  With true-love showers.

OPHELIA

(sings)
  Larded all with sweet flowers,
Which bewept to the ground did not go
  With true-love showers.

CLAUDIUS

How do you, pretty lady?

CLAUDIUS

How do you, pretty lady?

OPHELIA

Well, God'ield you! They say the owl was a baker’s daughter. Lord, we know what we are, but know not what we may be. God be at your table.

OPHELIA

Well, God'ield you! They say the owl was a baker’s daughter. Lord, we know what we are, but know not what we may be. God be at your table.

CLAUDIUS

Conceit upon her father.

CLAUDIUS

Conceit upon her father.

OPHELIA

Pray you, let’s have no words of this, but when they ask you what it means, say you this:
(sings)
Tomorrow is Saint Valentine’s day,
  All in the morning betime,
And I a maid at your window,
  To be your Valentine.
Then up he rose, and donned his clothes,
  And dupped the chamber door.
Let in the maid that out a maid
  Never departed more.

OPHELIA

Pray you, let’s have no words of this, but when they ask you what it means, say you this:
(sings)
Tomorrow is Saint Valentine’s day,
  All in the morning betime,
And I a maid at your window,
  To be your Valentine.
Then up he rose, and donned his clothes,
  And dupped the chamber door.
Let in the maid that out a maid
  Never departed more.

CLAUDIUS

Pretty Ophelia—

CLAUDIUS

Pretty Ophelia—

OPHELIA

Indeed, without an oath I’ll make an end on ’t:
(sings)
By Gis and by Saint Charity,
  Alack, and fie, for shame!
Young men will do ’t, if they come to ’t.
  By Cock, they are to blame.
Quoth she, “Before you tumbled me,
  You promised me to wed.”
He answers,
“So would I ha' done, by yonder sun,
  An thou hadst not come to my bed.”

OPHELIA

Indeed, without an oath I’ll make an end on ’t:
(sings)
By Gis and by Saint Charity,
  Alack, and fie, for shame!
Young men will do ’t, if they come to ’t.
  By Cock, they are to blame.
Quoth she, “Before you tumbled me,
  You promised me to wed.”
He answers,
“So would I ha' done, by yonder sun,
  An thou hadst not come to my bed.”

CLAUDIUS

How long hath she been thus?

CLAUDIUS

How long hath she been thus?

OPHELIA

I hope all will be well. We must be patient, but I cannot choose but weep, to think they should lay him i' th' cold ground. My brother shall know of it, and so I thank you for your good counsel. Come, my coach! Good night, ladies. Good night, sweet ladies. Good night, good night.

OPHELIA

I hope all will be well. We must be patient, but I cannot choose but weep, to think they should lay him i' th' cold ground. My brother shall know of it, and so I thank you for your good counsel. Come, my coach! Good night, ladies. Good night, sweet ladies. Good night, good night.
Exit OPHELIA
Exit OPHELIA

CLAUDIUS

Follow her close. Give her good watch, I pray you.

CLAUDIUS

Follow her close. Give her good watch, I pray you.
Exit HORATIO
Exit HORATIO
Oh, this is the poison of deep grief. It springs
50 All from her father’s death, and now behold!
O Gertrude, Gertrude,
When sorrows come, they come not single spies
But in battalions. First, her father slain.
Next, your son gone, and he most violent author
55 Of his own just remove. The people muddied,
Thick, and unwholesome in their thoughts and whispers
For good Polonius' death, and we have done but greenly
In hugger-mugger to inter him. Poor Ophelia
Divided from herself and her fair judgment,
60 Without the which we are pictures, or mere beasts.
Last—and as much containing as all these—
Her brother is in secret come from France,
Feeds on his wonder, keeps himself in clouds,
And wants not buzzers to infect his ear
65 With pestilent speeches of his father’s death,
Wherein necessity, of matter beggared,
Will nothing stick our person to arraign
In ear and ear. O my dear Gertrude, this,
Like to a murdering piece, in many places
70 Gives me superfluous death.
Oh, this is the poison of deep grief. It springs
All from her father’s death, and now behold!
O Gertrude, Gertrude,
When sorrows come, they come not single spies
But in battalions. First, her father slain.
Next, your son gone, and he most violent author
Of his own just remove. The people muddied,
Thick, and unwholesome in their thoughts and whispers
For good Polonius' death, and we have done but greenly
In hugger-mugger to inter him. Poor Ophelia
Divided from herself and her fair judgment,
Without the which we are pictures, or mere beasts.
Last—and as much containing as all these—
Her brother is in secret come from France,
Feeds on his wonder, keeps himself in clouds,
And wants not buzzers to infect his ear
With pestilent speeches of his father’s death,
Wherein necessity, of matter beggared,
Will nothing stick our person to arraign
In ear and ear. O my dear Gertrude, this,
Like to a murdering piece, in many places
Gives me superfluous death.
A noise within
A noise within

GERTRUDE

Alack, what noise is this?

GERTRUDE

Alack, what noise is this?

CLAUDIUS

Where are my Switzers? Let them guard the door.

CLAUDIUS

Where are my Switzers? Let them guard the door.
Enter a MESSENGER
Enter a MESSENGER
What is the matter?
What is the matter?

MESSENGER

Save yourself, my lord.
The ocean, overpeering of his list,
Eats not the flats with more impiteous haste
75 Than young Laertes, in a riotous head,
O'erbears your officers. The rabble call him “lord”
And—as the world were now but to begin,
Antiquity forgot, custom not known,
The ratifiers and props of every word—
They cry, “Choose we! Laertes shall be king!”
Caps, hands, and tongues applaud it to the clouds:
“Laertes shall be king, Laertes king!”

MESSENGER

Save yourself, my lord.
The ocean, overpeering of his list,
Eats not the flats with more impiteous haste
Than young Laertes, in a riotous head,
O'erbears your officers. The rabble call him “lord”
And—as the world were now but to begin,
Antiquity forgot, custom not known,
The ratifiers and props of every word—
They cry, “Choose we! Laertes shall be king!”
Caps, hands, and tongues applaud it to the clouds:
“Laertes shall be king, Laertes king!”

GERTRUDE

How cheerfully on the false trail they cry.
O, this is counter, you false Danish dogs!

GERTRUDE

How cheerfully on the false trail they cry.
O, this is counter, you false Danish dogs!
Noise within
Noise within

CLAUDIUS

85 The doors are broke.

CLAUDIUS

The doors are broke.
Enter LAERTES with others
Enter LAERTES with others

LAERTES

Where is this king?—Sirs, stand you all without.

LAERTES

Where is this king?—Sirs, stand you all without.

ALL

No, let’s come in!

ALL

No, let’s come in!

LAERTES

I pray you, give me leave.

LAERTES

I pray you, give me leave.

ALL

We will, we will.

ALL

We will, we will.
Exeunt LAERTES' FOLLOWERS
Exeunt LAERTES' FOLLOWERS

LAERTES

90 I thank you. Keep the door.—O thou vile king,
Give me my father!

LAERTES

I thank you. Keep the door.—O thou vile king,
Give me my father!

GERTRUDE

Calmly, good Laertes.

GERTRUDE

Calmly, good Laertes.

LAERTES

That drop of blood that’s calm proclaims me bastard,
Cries “Cuckold!” to my father, brands the “harlot”
Even here between the chaste unsmirchèd brow
95 Of my true mother.

LAERTES

That drop of blood that’s calm proclaims me bastard,
Cries “Cuckold!” to my father, brands the “harlot”
Even here between the chaste unsmirchèd brow
Of my true mother.

CLAUDIUS

What is the cause, Laertes,
That thy rebellion looks so giant-like?—
Let him go, Gertrude. Do not fear our person.
There’s such divinity doth hedge a king
That treason can but peep to what it would,
100 Acts little of his will.—Tell me, Laertes,
Why thou art thus incensed.—Let him go, Gertrude.—
Speak, man.

CLAUDIUS

What is the cause, Laertes,
That thy rebellion looks so giant-like?—
Let him go, Gertrude. Do not fear our person.
There’s such divinity doth hedge a king
That treason can but peep to what it would,
Acts little of his will.—Tell me, Laertes,
Why thou art thus incensed.—Let him go, Gertrude.—
Speak, man.

LAERTES

Where is my father?

LAERTES

Where is my father?

CLAUDIUS

Dead.

CLAUDIUS

Dead.

GERTRUDE

But not by him.

GERTRUDE

But not by him.

CLAUDIUS

Let him demand his fill.

CLAUDIUS

Let him demand his fill.

LAERTES

How came he dead? I’ll not be juggled with.
105 To hell, allegiance! Vows, to the blackest devil!
Conscience and grace, to the profoundest pit!
I dare damnation. To this point I stand
That both the worlds I give to negligence.
Let come what comes, only I’ll be revenged
110 Most thoroughly for my father.

LAERTES

How came he dead? I’ll not be juggled with.
To hell, allegiance! Vows, to the blackest devil!
Conscience and grace, to the profoundest pit!
I dare damnation. To this point I stand
That both the worlds I give to negligence.
Let come what comes, only I’ll be revenged
Most thoroughly for my father.

CLAUDIUS

Who shall stay you?

CLAUDIUS

Who shall stay you?

LAERTES

My will, not all the world.
And for my means, I’ll husband them so well,
They shall go far with little.

LAERTES

My will, not all the world.
And for my means, I’ll husband them so well,
They shall go far with little.

CLAUDIUS

Good Laertes,
115 If you desire to know the certainty
Of your dear father’s death, is ’t writ in your revenge,
That, swoopstake, you will draw both friend and foe,
Winner and loser?

CLAUDIUS

Good Laertes,
If you desire to know the certainty
Of your dear father’s death, is ’t writ in your revenge,
That, swoopstake, you will draw both friend and foe,
Winner and loser?

LAERTES

None but his enemies.

LAERTES

None but his enemies.

CLAUDIUS

120 Will you know them then?

CLAUDIUS

Will you know them then?

LAERTES

To his good friends thus wide I’ll ope my arms
And, like the kind life-rendering pelican,
Repast them with my blood.

LAERTES

To his good friends thus wide I’ll ope my arms
And, like the kind life-rendering pelican,
Repast them with my blood.

CLAUDIUS

Why, now you speak
Like a good child and a true gentleman.
125 That I am guiltless of your father’s death
And am most sensible in grief for it,
It shall as level to your judgment pierce
As day does to your eye.

CLAUDIUS

Why, now you speak
Like a good child and a true gentleman.
That I am guiltless of your father’s death
And am most sensible in grief for it,
It shall as level to your judgment pierce
As day does to your eye.
Noise within: “Let her come in!”
Noise within: “Let her come in!”

LAERTES

How now? What noise is that?

LAERTES

How now? What noise is that?
Enter OPHELIA
Enter OPHELIA
130 O heat, dry up my brains! Tears seven times salt,
Burn out the sense and virtue of mine eye!
By heaven, thy madness shall be paid by weight,
Till our scale turn the beam. O rose of May,
Dear maid, kind sister, sweet Ophelia!
O heavens, is ’t possible a young maid’s wits
Should be as mortal as an old man’s life?
Nature is fine in love, and where ’tis fine,
It sends some precious instance of itself
After the thing it loves.
O heat, dry up my brains! Tears seven times salt,
Burn out the sense and virtue of mine eye!
By heaven, thy madness shall be paid by weight,
Till our scale turn the beam. O rose of May,
Dear maid, kind sister, sweet Ophelia!
O heavens, is ’t possible a young maid’s wits
Should be as mortal as an old man’s life?
Nature is fine in love, and where ’tis fine,
It sends some precious instance of itself
After the thing it loves.

OPHELIA

(sings)
They bore him barefaced on the bier,
  Hey, non nonny, nonny, hey, nonny,
And in his grave rained many a tear.
Fare you well, my dove.

OPHELIA

(sings)
They bore him barefaced on the bier,
  Hey, non nonny, nonny, hey, nonny,
And in his grave rained many a tear.
Fare you well, my dove.

LAERTES

Hadst thou thy wits, and didst persuade revenge,
It could not move thus.

LAERTES

Hadst thou thy wits, and didst persuade revenge,
It could not move thus.

OPHELIA

You must sing A-down a-down—And you, Call him a- down-a—Oh, how the wheel becomes it! It is the false steward that stole his master’s daughter.

OPHELIA

You must sing A-down a-down—And you, Call him a- down-a—Oh, how the wheel becomes it! It is the false steward that stole his master’s daughter.

LAERTES

This nothing’s more than matter.

LAERTES

This nothing’s more than matter.

OPHELIA

There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance. Pray you, love, remember. And there is pansies, that’s for thoughts.

OPHELIA

There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance. Pray you, love, remember. And there is pansies, that’s for thoughts.

LAERTES

A document in madness. Thoughts and remembrance fitted.

LAERTES

A document in madness. Thoughts and remembrance fitted.

OPHELIA

There’s fennel for you, and columbines.—There’s rue for you, and here’s some for me. We may call it “herb of grace” o' Sundays.—Oh, you must wear your rue with a difference.—There’s a daisy. I would give you some violets, but they withered all when my father died. They say he made a good end (sings) For bonny sweet Robin is all my joy

OPHELIA

There’s fennel for you, and columbines.—There’s rue for you, and here’s some for me. We may call it “herb of grace” o' Sundays.—Oh, you must wear your rue with a difference.—There’s a daisy. I would give you some violets, but they withered all when my father died. They say he made a good end (sings) For bonny sweet Robin is all my joy

LAERTES

Thought and affliction, passion, hell itself,
She turns to favor and to prettiness.

LAERTES

Thought and affliction, passion, hell itself,
She turns to favor and to prettiness.

OPHELIA

(sings)
And will he not come again?
And will he not come again?
  No, no, he is dead,
  Go to thy deathbed.
He never will come again.
His beard was as white as snow,
All flaxen was his poll.
  He is gone, he is gone,
  And we cast away moan,
God ha' mercy on his soul.—
And of all Christian souls, I pray God. God be wi' ye.

OPHELIA

(sings)
And will he not come again?
And will he not come again?
  No, no, he is dead,
  Go to thy deathbed.
He never will come again.
His beard was as white as snow,
All flaxen was his poll.
  He is gone, he is gone,
  And we cast away moan,
God ha' mercy on his soul.—
And of all Christian souls, I pray God. God be wi' ye.
Exit OPHELIA
Exit OPHELIA

LAERTES

Do you see this, O God?

LAERTES

Do you see this, O God?

CLAUDIUS

Laertes, I must commune with your grief,
Or you deny me right. Go but apart,
165 Make choice of whom your wisest friends you will.
And they shall hear and judge ’twixt you and me.
If by direct or by collateral hand
They find us touched, we will our kingdom give,
Our crown, our life, and all that we can ours,
170 To you in satisfaction. But if not,
Be you content to lend your patience to us,
And we shall jointly labor with your soul
To give it due content.

CLAUDIUS

Laertes, I must commune with your grief,
Or you deny me right. Go but apart,
Make choice of whom your wisest friends you will.
And they shall hear and judge ’twixt you and me.
If by direct or by collateral hand
They find us touched, we will our kingdom give,
Our crown, our life, and all that we can ours,
To you in satisfaction. But if not,
Be you content to lend your patience to us,
And we shall jointly labor with your soul
To give it due content.

LAERTES

Let this be so.
His means of death, his obscure funeral—
175 No trophy, sword, nor hatchment o'er his bones,
No noble rite nor formal ostentation—
Cry to be heard as ’twere from heaven to earth,
That I must call ’t in question.

LAERTES

Let this be so.
His means of death, his obscure funeral—
No trophy, sword, nor hatchment o'er his bones,
No noble rite nor formal ostentation—
Cry to be heard as ’twere from heaven to earth,
That I must call ’t in question.

CLAUDIUS

So you shall.
And where the offense is, let the great ax fall.
180 I pray you, go with me.

CLAUDIUS

So you shall.
And where the offense is, let the great ax fall.
I pray you, go with me.
Exeunt
Exeunt

Original Text

Modern Text

Enter HORATIO , GERTRUDE , and a GENTLEMAN
Enter HORATIO , GERTRUDE , and a GENTLEMAN

GERTRUDE

I will not speak with her.

GERTRUDE

I will not speak with her.

GENTLEMAN

She is importunate,
Indeed distract. Her mood will needs be pitied.

GENTLEMAN

She is importunate,
Indeed distract. Her mood will needs be pitied.

GERTRUDE

What would she have?

GERTRUDE

What would she have?

GENTLEMAN

She speaks much of her father, says she hears
There’s tricks i' th' world, and hems, and beats her heart,
Spurns enviously at straws, speaks things in doubt
That carry but half sense. Her speech is nothing,
Yet the unshaped use of it doth move
The hearers to collection. They aim at it,
10 And botch the words up fit to their own thoughts,
Which, as her winks and nods and gestures yield them,
Indeed would make one think there might be thought,
Though nothing sure, yet much unhappily.

GENTLEMAN

She speaks much of her father, says she hears
There’s tricks i' th' world, and hems, and beats her heart,
Spurns enviously at straws, speaks things in doubt
That carry but half sense. Her speech is nothing,
Yet the unshaped use of it doth move
The hearers to collection. They aim at it,
And botch the words up fit to their own thoughts,
Which, as her winks and nods and gestures yield them,
Indeed would make one think there might be thought,
Though nothing sure, yet much unhappily.

HORATIO

'Twere good she were spoken with, for she may strew
15 Dangerous conjectures in ill-breeding minds.

HORATIO

'Twere good she were spoken with, for she may strew
Dangerous conjectures in ill-breeding minds.

GERTRUDE

Let her come in.

GERTRUDE

Let her come in.
Exit GENTLEMAN
Exit GENTLEMAN
(aside) To my sick soul (as sin’s true nature is)
Each toy seems prologue to some great amiss.
So full of artless jealousy is guilt,
It spills itself in fearing to be spilt.
(aside) To my sick soul (as sin’s true nature is)
Each toy seems prologue to some great amiss.
So full of artless jealousy is guilt,
It spills itself in fearing to be spilt.
Enter OPHELIA , distracted
Enter OPHELIA , distracted

OPHELIA

20 Where is the beauteous majesty of Denmark?

OPHELIA

Where is the beauteous majesty of Denmark?

GERTRUDE

How now, Ophelia?

GERTRUDE

How now, Ophelia?

OPHELIA

(sings)
How should I your true love know
  From another one?
By his cockle hat and staff,
  And his sandal shoon.

OPHELIA

(sings)
How should I your true love know
  From another one?
By his cockle hat and staff,
  And his sandal shoon.

GERTRUDE

Alas, sweet lady, what imports this song?

GERTRUDE

Alas, sweet lady, what imports this song?

OPHELIA

Say you? Nay, pray you, mark.
(sings)
He is dead and gone, lady,
  He is dead and gone,
At his head a grass-green turf,
  At his heels a stone.
Oh, ho!

OPHELIA

Say you? Nay, pray you, mark.
(sings)
He is dead and gone, lady,
  He is dead and gone,
At his head a grass-green turf,
  At his heels a stone.
Oh, ho!

GERTRUDE

Nay, but, Ophelia—

GERTRUDE

Nay, but, Ophelia—

OPHELIA

Pray you, mark.
(sings)
White his shroud as the mountain snow

OPHELIA

Pray you, mark.
(sings)
White his shroud as the mountain snow
Enter CLAUDIUS
Enter CLAUDIUS

GERTRUDE

30 Alas, look here, my lord.

GERTRUDE

Alas, look here, my lord.

OPHELIA

(sings)
  Larded all with sweet flowers,
Which bewept to the ground did not go
  With true-love showers.

OPHELIA

(sings)
  Larded all with sweet flowers,
Which bewept to the ground did not go
  With true-love showers.

CLAUDIUS

How do you, pretty lady?

CLAUDIUS

How do you, pretty lady?

OPHELIA

Well, God'ield you! They say the owl was a baker’s daughter. Lord, we know what we are, but know not what we may be. God be at your table.

OPHELIA

Well, God'ield you! They say the owl was a baker’s daughter. Lord, we know what we are, but know not what we may be. God be at your table.

CLAUDIUS

Conceit upon her father.

CLAUDIUS

Conceit upon her father.

OPHELIA

Pray you, let’s have no words of this, but when they ask you what it means, say you this:
(sings)
Tomorrow is Saint Valentine’s day,
  All in the morning betime,
And I a maid at your window,
  To be your Valentine.
Then up he rose, and donned his clothes,
  And dupped the chamber door.
Let in the maid that out a maid
  Never departed more.

OPHELIA

Pray you, let’s have no words of this, but when they ask you what it means, say you this:
(sings)
Tomorrow is Saint Valentine’s day,
  All in the morning betime,
And I a maid at your window,
  To be your Valentine.
Then up he rose, and donned his clothes,
  And dupped the chamber door.
Let in the maid that out a maid
  Never departed more.

CLAUDIUS

Pretty Ophelia—

CLAUDIUS

Pretty Ophelia—

OPHELIA

Indeed, without an oath I’ll make an end on ’t:
(sings)
By Gis and by Saint Charity,
  Alack, and fie, for shame!
Young men will do ’t, if they come to ’t.
  By Cock, they are to blame.
Quoth she, “Before you tumbled me,
  You promised me to wed.”
He answers,
“So would I ha' done, by yonder sun,
  An thou hadst not come to my bed.”

OPHELIA

Indeed, without an oath I’ll make an end on ’t:
(sings)
By Gis and by Saint Charity,
  Alack, and fie, for shame!
Young men will do ’t, if they come to ’t.
  By Cock, they are to blame.
Quoth she, “Before you tumbled me,
  You promised me to wed.”
He answers,
“So would I ha' done, by yonder sun,
  An thou hadst not come to my bed.”

CLAUDIUS

How long hath she been thus?

CLAUDIUS

How long hath she been thus?

OPHELIA

I hope all will be well. We must be patient, but I cannot choose but weep, to think they should lay him i' th' cold ground. My brother shall know of it, and so I thank you for your good counsel. Come, my coach! Good night, ladies. Good night, sweet ladies. Good night, good night.

OPHELIA

I hope all will be well. We must be patient, but I cannot choose but weep, to think they should lay him i' th' cold ground. My brother shall know of it, and so I thank you for your good counsel. Come, my coach! Good night, ladies. Good night, sweet ladies. Good night, good night.
Exit OPHELIA
Exit OPHELIA

CLAUDIUS

Follow her close. Give her good watch, I pray you.

CLAUDIUS

Follow her close. Give her good watch, I pray you.
Exit HORATIO
Exit HORATIO
Oh, this is the poison of deep grief. It springs
50 All from her father’s death, and now behold!
O Gertrude, Gertrude,
When sorrows come, they come not single spies
But in battalions. First, her father slain.
Next, your son gone, and he most violent author
55 Of his own just remove. The people muddied,
Thick, and unwholesome in their thoughts and whispers
For good Polonius' death, and we have done but greenly
In hugger-mugger to inter him. Poor Ophelia
Divided from herself and her fair judgment,
60 Without the which we are pictures, or mere beasts.
Last—and as much containing as all these—
Her brother is in secret come from France,
Feeds on his wonder, keeps himself in clouds,
And wants not buzzers to infect his ear
65 With pestilent speeches of his father’s death,
Wherein necessity, of matter beggared,
Will nothing stick our person to arraign
In ear and ear. O my dear Gertrude, this,
Like to a murdering piece, in many places
70 Gives me superfluous death.
Oh, this is the poison of deep grief. It springs
All from her father’s death, and now behold!
O Gertrude, Gertrude,
When sorrows come, they come not single spies
But in battalions. First, her father slain.
Next, your son gone, and he most violent author
Of his own just remove. The people muddied,
Thick, and unwholesome in their thoughts and whispers
For good Polonius' death, and we have done but greenly
In hugger-mugger to inter him. Poor Ophelia
Divided from herself and her fair judgment,
Without the which we are pictures, or mere beasts.
Last—and as much containing as all these—
Her brother is in secret come from France,
Feeds on his wonder, keeps himself in clouds,
And wants not buzzers to infect his ear
With pestilent speeches of his father’s death,
Wherein necessity, of matter beggared,
Will nothing stick our person to arraign
In ear and ear. O my dear Gertrude, this,
Like to a murdering piece, in many places
Gives me superfluous death.
A noise within
A noise within

GERTRUDE

Alack, what noise is this?

GERTRUDE

Alack, what noise is this?

CLAUDIUS

Where are my Switzers? Let them guard the door.

CLAUDIUS

Where are my Switzers? Let them guard the door.
Enter a MESSENGER
Enter a MESSENGER
What is the matter?
What is the matter?

MESSENGER

Save yourself, my lord.
The ocean, overpeering of his list,
Eats not the flats with more impiteous haste
75 Than young Laertes, in a riotous head,
O'erbears your officers. The rabble call him “lord”
And—as the world were now but to begin,
Antiquity forgot, custom not known,
The ratifiers and props of every word—
They cry, “Choose we! Laertes shall be king!”
Caps, hands, and tongues applaud it to the clouds:
“Laertes shall be king, Laertes king!”

MESSENGER

Save yourself, my lord.
The ocean, overpeering of his list,
Eats not the flats with more impiteous haste
Than young Laertes, in a riotous head,
O'erbears your officers. The rabble call him “lord”
And—as the world were now but to begin,
Antiquity forgot, custom not known,
The ratifiers and props of every word—
They cry, “Choose we! Laertes shall be king!”
Caps, hands, and tongues applaud it to the clouds:
“Laertes shall be king, Laertes king!”

GERTRUDE

How cheerfully on the false trail they cry.
O, this is counter, you false Danish dogs!

GERTRUDE

How cheerfully on the false trail they cry.
O, this is counter, you false Danish dogs!
Noise within
Noise within

CLAUDIUS

85 The doors are broke.

CLAUDIUS

The doors are broke.
Enter LAERTES with others
Enter LAERTES with others

LAERTES

Where is this king?—Sirs, stand you all without.

LAERTES

Where is this king?—Sirs, stand you all without.

ALL

No, let’s come in!

ALL

No, let’s come in!

LAERTES

I pray you, give me leave.

LAERTES

I pray you, give me leave.

ALL

We will, we will.

ALL

We will, we will.
Exeunt LAERTES' FOLLOWERS
Exeunt LAERTES' FOLLOWERS

LAERTES

90 I thank you. Keep the door.—O thou vile king,
Give me my father!

LAERTES

I thank you. Keep the door.—O thou vile king,
Give me my father!

GERTRUDE

Calmly, good Laertes.

GERTRUDE

Calmly, good Laertes.

LAERTES

That drop of blood that’s calm proclaims me bastard,
Cries “Cuckold!” to my father, brands the “harlot”
Even here between the chaste unsmirchèd brow
95 Of my true mother.

LAERTES

That drop of blood that’s calm proclaims me bastard,
Cries “Cuckold!” to my father, brands the “harlot”
Even here between the chaste unsmirchèd brow
Of my true mother.

CLAUDIUS

What is the cause, Laertes,
That thy rebellion looks so giant-like?—
Let him go, Gertrude. Do not fear our person.
There’s such divinity doth hedge a king
That treason can but peep to what it would,
100 Acts little of his will.—Tell me, Laertes,
Why thou art thus incensed.—Let him go, Gertrude.—
Speak, man.

CLAUDIUS

What is the cause, Laertes,
That thy rebellion looks so giant-like?—
Let him go, Gertrude. Do not fear our person.
There’s such divinity doth hedge a king
That treason can but peep to what it would,
Acts little of his will.—Tell me, Laertes,
Why thou art thus incensed.—Let him go, Gertrude.—
Speak, man.

LAERTES

Where is my father?

LAERTES

Where is my father?

CLAUDIUS

Dead.

CLAUDIUS

Dead.

GERTRUDE

But not by him.

GERTRUDE

But not by him.

CLAUDIUS

Let him demand his fill.

CLAUDIUS

Let him demand his fill.

LAERTES

How came he dead? I’ll not be juggled with.
105 To hell, allegiance! Vows, to the blackest devil!
Conscience and grace, to the profoundest pit!
I dare damnation. To this point I stand
That both the worlds I give to negligence.
Let come what comes, only I’ll be revenged
110 Most thoroughly for my father.

LAERTES

How came he dead? I’ll not be juggled with.
To hell, allegiance! Vows, to the blackest devil!
Conscience and grace, to the profoundest pit!
I dare damnation. To this point I stand
That both the worlds I give to negligence.
Let come what comes, only I’ll be revenged
Most thoroughly for my father.

CLAUDIUS

Who shall stay you?

CLAUDIUS

Who shall stay you?

LAERTES

My will, not all the world.
And for my means, I’ll husband them so well,
They shall go far with little.

LAERTES

My will, not all the world.
And for my means, I’ll husband them so well,
They shall go far with little.

CLAUDIUS

Good Laertes,
115 If you desire to know the certainty
Of your dear father’s death, is ’t writ in your revenge,
That, swoopstake, you will draw both friend and foe,
Winner and loser?

CLAUDIUS

Good Laertes,
If you desire to know the certainty
Of your dear father’s death, is ’t writ in your revenge,
That, swoopstake, you will draw both friend and foe,
Winner and loser?

LAERTES

None but his enemies.

LAERTES

None but his enemies.

CLAUDIUS

120 Will you know them then?

CLAUDIUS

Will you know them then?

LAERTES

To his good friends thus wide I’ll ope my arms
And, like the kind life-rendering pelican,
Repast them with my blood.

LAERTES

To his good friends thus wide I’ll ope my arms
And, like the kind life-rendering pelican,
Repast them with my blood.

CLAUDIUS

Why, now you speak
Like a good child and a true gentleman.
125 That I am guiltless of your father’s death
And am most sensible in grief for it,
It shall as level to your judgment pierce
As day does to your eye.

CLAUDIUS

Why, now you speak
Like a good child and a true gentleman.
That I am guiltless of your father’s death
And am most sensible in grief for it,
It shall as level to your judgment pierce
As day does to your eye.
Noise within: “Let her come in!”
Noise within: “Let her come in!”

LAERTES

How now? What noise is that?

LAERTES

How now? What noise is that?
Enter OPHELIA
Enter OPHELIA
130 O heat, dry up my brains! Tears seven times salt,
Burn out the sense and virtue of mine eye!
By heaven, thy madness shall be paid by weight,
Till our scale turn the beam. O rose of May,
Dear maid, kind sister, sweet Ophelia!
O heavens, is ’t possible a young maid’s wits
Should be as mortal as an old man’s life?
Nature is fine in love, and where ’tis fine,
It sends some precious instance of itself
After the thing it loves.
O heat, dry up my brains! Tears seven times salt,
Burn out the sense and virtue of mine eye!
By heaven, thy madness shall be paid by weight,
Till our scale turn the beam. O rose of May,
Dear maid, kind sister, sweet Ophelia!
O heavens, is ’t possible a young maid’s wits
Should be as mortal as an old man’s life?
Nature is fine in love, and where ’tis fine,
It sends some precious instance of itself
After the thing it loves.

OPHELIA

(sings)
They bore him barefaced on the bier,
  Hey, non nonny, nonny, hey, nonny,
And in his grave rained many a tear.
Fare you well, my dove.

OPHELIA

(sings)
They bore him barefaced on the bier,
  Hey, non nonny, nonny, hey, nonny,
And in his grave rained many a tear.
Fare you well, my dove.

LAERTES

Hadst thou thy wits, and didst persuade revenge,
It could not move thus.

LAERTES

Hadst thou thy wits, and didst persuade revenge,
It could not move thus.

OPHELIA

You must sing A-down a-down—And you, Call him a- down-a—Oh, how the wheel becomes it! It is the false steward that stole his master’s daughter.

OPHELIA

You must sing A-down a-down—And you, Call him a- down-a—Oh, how the wheel becomes it! It is the false steward that stole his master’s daughter.

LAERTES

This nothing’s more than matter.

LAERTES

This nothing’s more than matter.

OPHELIA

There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance. Pray you, love, remember. And there is pansies, that’s for thoughts.

OPHELIA

There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance. Pray you, love, remember. And there is pansies, that’s for thoughts.

LAERTES

A document in madness. Thoughts and remembrance fitted.

LAERTES

A document in madness. Thoughts and remembrance fitted.

OPHELIA

There’s fennel for you, and columbines.—There’s rue for you, and here’s some for me. We may call it “herb of grace” o' Sundays.—Oh, you must wear your rue with a difference.—There’s a daisy. I would give you some violets, but they withered all when my father died. They say he made a good end (sings) For bonny sweet Robin is all my joy

OPHELIA

There’s fennel for you, and columbines.—There’s rue for you, and here’s some for me. We may call it “herb of grace” o' Sundays.—Oh, you must wear your rue with a difference.—There’s a daisy. I would give you some violets, but they withered all when my father died. They say he made a good end (sings) For bonny sweet Robin is all my joy

LAERTES

Thought and affliction, passion, hell itself,
She turns to favor and to prettiness.

LAERTES

Thought and affliction, passion, hell itself,
She turns to favor and to prettiness.

OPHELIA

(sings)
And will he not come again?
And will he not come again?
  No, no, he is dead,
  Go to thy deathbed.
He never will come again.
His beard was as white as snow,
All flaxen was his poll.
  He is gone, he is gone,
  And we cast away moan,
God ha' mercy on his soul.—
And of all Christian souls, I pray God. God be wi' ye.

OPHELIA

(sings)
And will he not come again?
And will he not come again?
  No, no, he is dead,
  Go to thy deathbed.
He never will come again.
His beard was as white as snow,
All flaxen was his poll.
  He is gone, he is gone,
  And we cast away moan,
God ha' mercy on his soul.—
And of all Christian souls, I pray God. God be wi' ye.
Exit OPHELIA
Exit OPHELIA

LAERTES

Do you see this, O God?

LAERTES

Do you see this, O God?

CLAUDIUS

Laertes, I must commune with your grief,
Or you deny me right. Go but apart,
165 Make choice of whom your wisest friends you will.
And they shall hear and judge ’twixt you and me.
If by direct or by collateral hand
They find us touched, we will our kingdom give,
Our crown, our life, and all that we can ours,
170 To you in satisfaction. But if not,
Be you content to lend your patience to us,
And we shall jointly labor with your soul
To give it due content.

CLAUDIUS

Laertes, I must commune with your grief,
Or you deny me right. Go but apart,
Make choice of whom your wisest friends you will.
And they shall hear and judge ’twixt you and me.
If by direct or by collateral hand
They find us touched, we will our kingdom give,
Our crown, our life, and all that we can ours,
To you in satisfaction. But if not,
Be you content to lend your patience to us,
And we shall jointly labor with your soul
To give it due content.

LAERTES

Let this be so.
His means of death, his obscure funeral—
175 No trophy, sword, nor hatchment o'er his bones,
No noble rite nor formal ostentation—
Cry to be heard as ’twere from heaven to earth,
That I must call ’t in question.

LAERTES

Let this be so.
His means of death, his obscure funeral—
No trophy, sword, nor hatchment o'er his bones,
No noble rite nor formal ostentation—
Cry to be heard as ’twere from heaven to earth,
That I must call ’t in question.

CLAUDIUS

So you shall.
And where the offense is, let the great ax fall.
180 I pray you, go with me.

CLAUDIUS

So you shall.
And where the offense is, let the great ax fall.
I pray you, go with me.
Exeunt
Exeunt