Hamlet Act 5 Scene 2
A hall in the castle.
The Original
Plain Modern English
Enter Hamlet and Horatio.
Hamlet
So much for this, sir: now shall you see the other;
You do remember all the circumstance?
Hamlet
So much for that, sir. Now you'll hear the rest.
You remember all the details?
Horatio
Remember it, my lord?
Horatio
Remember them, my lord?
Hamlet
Sir, in my heart there was a kind of fighting,
That would not let me sleep: methought I lay
Worse than the mutines in the bilboes. Rashly,
And praised be rashness for it, let us know,
Our indiscretion sometimes serves us well,
When our deep plots do pall: and that should teach us
There's a divinity that shapes our ends,
Rough-hew them how we will,—
Hamlet
Sir, there was a kind of struggle in my heart
that wouldn't let me sleep. I felt I was lying
worse off than mutineers in chains. Recklessly —
and thank God for recklessness — let's admit
our impulsiveness sometimes serves us well
when our careful schemes collapse. And that should teach us
there's a divine power shaping our destinies,
however roughly we carve them ourselves—
Horatio
That is most certain.
Horatio
That's certainly true.
Hamlet
Up from my cabin,
My sea-gown scarf'd about me, in the dark
Groped I to find out them; had my desire.
Finger'd their packet, and in fine withdrew
To mine own room again; making so bold,
My fears forgetting manners, to unseal
Their grand commission; where I found, Horatio,—
O royal knavery!—an exact command,
Larded with many several sorts of reasons
Importing Denmark's health and England's too,
With, ho! such bugs and goblins in my life,
That, on the supervise, no leisure bated,
No, not to stay the grinding of the axe,
My head should be struck off.
Hamlet
Out of my cabin,
my sea-coat wrapped round me, in the dark
I groped my way to find them — and succeeded.
I got hold of their package and slipped back
to my own cabin. Being so bold —
my fear overriding my manners — I unsealed
their grand commission, where I found, Horatio —
oh, royal villainy! — a precise order,
stuffed with all sorts of reasons
about Denmark's welfare and England's too,
with — ha! — such bogeymen and monsters bound up in my life,
that on reading it, without a moment's delay —
not even to wait for the axe to be sharpened —
my head was to be cut off.
Horatio
Is't possible?
Horatio
Is that possible?
Hamlet
Here's the commission: read it at more leisure.
But wilt thou hear me how I did proceed?
Hamlet
Here's the document — read it later.
But will you hear what I did next?
Horatio
I beseech you.
Horatio
Please.
Hamlet
Being thus be-netted round with villanies,—
Ere I could make a prologue to my brains,
They had begun the play—I sat me down,
Devised a new commission, wrote it fair:
I once did hold it, as our statists do,
A baseness to write fair and labour'd much
How to forget that learning, but, sir, now
It did me yeoman's service: wilt thou know
The effect of what I wrote?
Hamlet
Caught in a net of villainy like that —
before I could even give my brain a prologue,
it had already started the play — I sat down,
composed a new commission and wrote it out neatly.
I used to think, as our politicians do,
that neat handwriting was beneath me, and worked hard
at forgetting the skill. But now, sir,
it did me sterling service. Do you want to know
what I wrote?
Horatio
Ay, good my lord.
Horatio
Yes, my lord.
Hamlet
An earnest conjuration from the king,
As England was his faithful tributary,
As love between them like the palm might flourish,
As peace should stiff her wheaten garland wear
And stand a comma 'tween their amities,
And many such-like 'As'es of great charge,
That, on the view and knowing of these contents,
Without debatement further, more or less,
He should the bearers put to sudden death,
Not shriving-time allow'd.
Hamlet
A solemn appeal from the King:
that as England was his loyal tributary,
and as he hoped their friendship would flourish like the palm,
and that peace should keep wearing her wheat garland
and stand as a link between their friendships,
and many more weighty clauses like that —
that on reading and understanding these contents,
without any further discussion whatsoever,
he should have the bearers immediately put to death,
without even time to confess their sins.
Horatio
How was this seal'd?
Horatio
How did you seal it?
Hamlet
Why, even in that was heaven ordinant.
I had my father's signet in my purse,
Which was the model of that Danish seal;
Folded the writ up in form of the other,
Subscribed it, gave't the impression, placed it safely,
The changeling never known. Now, the next day
Was our sea-fight; and what to this was sequent
Thou know'st already.
Hamlet
Even in that, heaven was arranging things.
I had my father's signet ring in my purse,
which was the model for the Danish seal.
I folded the document like the original,
signed it, stamped it, put it back safely,
and the swap was never noticed. The next day
was the sea-fight, and what happened after that
you already know.
Horatio
So Guildenstern and Rosencrantz go to't.
Horatio
So Guildenstern and Rosencrantz go to their deaths.
Hamlet
Why, man, they did make love to this employment;
They are not near my conscience; their defeat
Does by their own insinuation grow:
'Tis dangerous when the baser nature comes
Between the pass and fell incensed points
Of mighty opposites.
Hamlet
Man, they courted this job eagerly.
They don't trouble my conscience. Their destruction
came from their own scheming to get involved.
It's dangerous when lesser men get
between the thrusts and furious blades
of mighty opponents. (Two men he grew up with. He dismisses them in five lines and never mentions them again.)
Horatio
Why, what a king is this!
Horatio
What a king this man is!
Hamlet
Does it not, think'st thee, stand me now upon—
He that hath kill'd my king and whored my mother,
Popp'd in between the election and my hopes,
Thrown out his angle for my proper life,
And with such cozenage—is't not perfect conscience,
To quit him with this arm? and is't not to be damn'd,
To let this canker of our nature come
In further evil?
Hamlet
Isn't it now my duty, don't you think —
this man who killed my king, whored my mother,
stepped in between the succession and my hopes,
and cast his fishing line for my own life
with such trickery — isn't it perfectly right
to pay him back with this arm? And isn't it damnable
to let this cancer on human nature go on
doing further evil?
Horatio
It must be shortly known to him from England
What is the issue of the business there.
Horatio
He'll soon hear from England
how the business turned out over there.
Hamlet
It will be short: the interim is mine;
And a man's life's no more than to say 'One.'
But I am very sorry, good Horatio,
That to Laertes I forgot myself;
For, by the image of my cause, I see
The portraiture of his: I'll court his favours.
But, sure, the bravery of his grief did put me
Into a towering passion.
Hamlet
It'll be soon. The gap in between is mine —
and a man's life takes no longer than counting to one.
But I'm very sorry, Horatio,
that I lost my temper with Laertes.
In the reflection of my own situation I can see
the portrait of his. I'll try to win his friendship.
But honestly, the showiness of his grief drove me
into a towering rage.
Enter Osric.
Osric
Your lordship is right welcome back to Denmark.
Osric
Your lordship is most welcome back to Denmark.
Hamlet
I humbly thank you, sir. Dost know this water-fly?
Hamlet
I humbly thank you, sir. — (to Horatio) Do you know this water-fly?
Horatio
No, my good lord.
Horatio
No, my lord.
Hamlet
Thy state is the more gracious; for 'tis a vice to
know him. He hath much land, and fertile: let a
beast be lord of beasts, and his crib shall stand at
the king's mess: 'tis a chough; but, as I say,
spacious in the possession of dirt.
Hamlet
You're in a better state of grace for it — knowing him
is a vice. He owns a lot of good land. Let a
beast be lord of other beasts and his feeding trough will stand at
the king's table. He's a chattering jackdaw — but, as I say,
extensively supplied with dirt.
Osric
Sweet lord, if your lordship were at leisure, I
should impart a thing to you from his majesty.
Osric
Sweet lord, if your lordship has a moment,
I have something to tell you from His Majesty.
Hamlet
I will receive it, sir, with all diligence of
spirit. Put your bonnet to his right use; 'tis for the head.
Hamlet
I'll receive it, sir, with all due
attention. — Put your hat to its proper use; it's meant for the head.
Osric
I thank your lordship, it is very hot.
Osric
Thank you, my lord, but it's very hot.
Hamlet
No, believe me, 'tis very cold; the wind is northerly.
Hamlet
No, believe me, it's very cold. The wind's from the north.
Osric
It is indifferent cold, my lord, indeed.
Osric
It is rather cold, my lord, indeed.
Hamlet
But yet methinks it is very sultry and hot for my complexion.
Hamlet
And yet it seems very close and hot to me. (He is toying with him. Osric agrees with whatever he says.)
Osric
Exceedingly, my lord; it is very sultry,—as
'twere,—I cannot tell how. But, my lord, his
majesty bade me signify to you that he has laid a
great wager on your head: sir, this is the matter,—
Osric
Exceedingly, my lord — it's very close, as
it were — I can't say quite how. But my lord, His
Majesty asked me to tell you he's placed a
large bet on you. Sir, the matter is this—
Hamlet
I beseech you, remember—
Hamlet
Please — your hat—
Osric
Nay, good my lord; for mine ease, in good faith.
Sir, here is newly come to court Laertes; believe
me, an absolute gentleman, full of most excellent
differences, of very soft society and great showing:
indeed, to speak feelingly of him, he is the card or
calendar of gentry.
Osric
No, my lord — it's more comfortable this way, honestly.
Sir, Laertes has recently come to court. Believe
me, an absolute gentleman, full of the most excellent
qualities, of very refined manners and fine appearance.
Truly, to speak of him properly, he is the very map and
calendar of gentlemanly conduct.
Hamlet
Sir, his definement suffers no perdition in you.
Hamlet
Sir, his description loses nothing in your hands. (Hamlet then mocks Osric by out-jargoning him.)
Osric
Your lordship speaks most infallibly of him.
Osric
Your lordship speaks of him most infallibly.
Hamlet
The concernancy, sir? why do we wrap the gentleman
in our more rawer breath?
Hamlet
What's the point, sir? Why are we wrapping this gentleman
up in our crude breath?
Osric
Sir?
Osric
Sir?
Horatio
Is't not possible to understand in another tongue?
You will do't, sir, really.
Horatio
Can't you understand when someone else uses your own jargon?
You'll manage it, sir, really.
Hamlet
What imports the nomination of this gentleman?
Hamlet
What's the purpose of mentioning this gentleman?
Osric
Of Laertes?
Osric
Of Laertes?
Horatio
His purse is empty already; all's golden words are spent.
Horatio
His purse is empty already — all his golden words are spent.
Hamlet
Of him, sir.
Hamlet
Yes, of him, sir.
Osric
The king, sir, hath wagered with him six Barbary
horses: against the which he has imponed, as I take
it, six French rapiers and poniards, with their
assigns, as girdle, hangers, and so.
The king, sir, hath laid, that in a dozen passes
between yourself and him, he shall not exceed you
three hits: he hath laid on twelve for nine; and it
would come to immediate trial, if your lordship
would vouchsafe the answer.
Osric
The King, sir, has bet six Barbary
horses against six French rapiers and daggers
that Laertes has staked, with all their
fittings — belts, straps and so on.
The King has wagered that in twelve bouts
between you and him, he won't beat you
by more than three hits. Laertes has bet twelve to nine. And it
could be settled immediately if your lordship
would agree to take him on.
Hamlet
How if I answer 'no'?
Hamlet
And if I answer no?
Osric
I mean, my lord, the opposition of your person in trial.
Osric
I mean, my lord, that you'd meet him in the contest.
Hamlet
Sir, I will walk here in the hall: if it please his
majesty, 'tis the breathing time of day with me; let
the foils be brought, the gentleman willing, and the
king hold his purpose, I will win for him an I can;
if not, I will gain nothing but my shame and the odd hits.
Hamlet
Sir, I'll walk here in the hall. If His
Majesty pleases, this is my exercise time. Let
the swords be brought, if the gentleman's willing and the
King keeps to his plan. I'll win for him if I can;
if not, I'll gain nothing but shame and a few hits.
Osric
Shall I re-deliver you e'en so?
Osric
Shall I report that back?
Hamlet
To this effect, sir; after what flourish your nature will.
Hamlet
That's the substance, sir — with whatever ornament your nature adds.
Osric
I commend my duty to your lordship.
Osric
I commend my duty to your lordship.
Hamlet
Yours, yours.
Hamlet
Yours, yours.
Exit Osric.
Hamlet
He does well to commend it himself; there are no
tongues else for's turn.
Hamlet
He does well to commend it himself — there are no
other tongues that would do it for him.
Horatio
This lapwing runs away with the shell on his head.
Horatio
This chick runs off with the shell still on his head.
Hamlet
He did comply with his dug, before he sucked it.
Hamlet
He was bowing politely to his mother's breast before he fed from it.
Enter a Lord.
Lord
My lord, his majesty ... sends to know if your pleasure hold to
play with Laertes, or that you will take longer time.
Lord
My lord, His Majesty sends to ask whether you still intend to
fence with Laertes, or would prefer more time.
Hamlet
I am constant to my purpose; they follow the king's
pleasure: if his fitness speaks, mine is ready; now
or whensoever, provided I be so able as now.
Hamlet
I'm holding to my intention. My wishes follow the King's
pleasure. If he's ready, I'm ready — now
or whenever, as long as I'm as fit as I am now.
Lord
The king and queen and all are coming down.
Lord
The King and Queen and everyone are on their way down.
Hamlet
In happy time.
Hamlet
Good timing.
Lord
The queen desires you to use some gentle
entertainment to Laertes before you fall to play.
Lord
The Queen asks you to greet Laertes
courteously before you begin.
Hamlet
She well instructs me.
Hamlet
She advises me well.
Exit Lord.
Horatio
You will lose this wager, my lord.
Horatio
You'll lose this bet, my lord.
Hamlet
I do not think so: since he went into France, I
have been in continual practise: I shall win at the
odds. But thou wouldst not think how ill all's here
about my heart: but it is no matter.
Hamlet
I don't think so. Since he went to France I've
been practising constantly. I'll win with the
odds I'm given. — But you can't imagine how uneasy I feel
around my heart. But it doesn't matter.
Horatio
Nay, good my lord,—
Horatio
No, my lord—
Hamlet
It is but foolery; but it is such a kind of
gain-giving, as would perhaps trouble a woman.
Hamlet
It's only foolishness — but the kind of
misgiving that might trouble a woman.
Horatio
If your mind dislike any thing, obey it: I will
forestall their repair hither, and say you are not fit.
Horatio
If your mind objects to anything, listen to it. I'll
head them off and say you're not well.
Hamlet
Not a whit, we defy augury: there's a special
providence in the fall of a sparrow. If it be now,
'tis not to come; if it be not to come, it will be
now; if it be not now, yet it will come: the
readiness is all: since no man has aught of what he
leaves, what is't to leave betimes?
Hamlet
Not at all. We defy omens. There's a special
providence even in the fall of a sparrow. If it's now,
it isn't still to come; if it isn't still to come, it's
now; and if it isn't now, it will come. The
readiness is everything. Since no man takes anything with him
when he goes, what does it matter to go early?
Enter King Claudius, Queen Gertrude, Laertes, Lords, Osric, and Attendants with foils.
Claudius
Come, Hamlet, come, and take this hand from me.
Claudius
Come, Hamlet — take this hand from me.
Claudius puts Laertes' hand into Hamlet's.
Hamlet
Give me your pardon, sir: I've done you wrong;
But pardon't, as you are a gentleman.
This presence knows,
And you must needs have heard, how I am punish'd
With sore distraction. What I have done,
That might your nature, honour and exception
Roughly awake, I here proclaim was madness.
Was't Hamlet wrong'd Laertes? Never Hamlet:
If Hamlet from himself be ta'en away,
And when he's not himself does wrong Laertes,
Then Hamlet does it not, Hamlet denies it.
Who does it, then? His madness: if't be so,
Hamlet is of the faction that is wrong'd;
His madness is poor Hamlet's enemy.
Hamlet
Forgive me, sir. I've wronged you.
But pardon it, as you are a gentleman.
Everyone here knows,
and you must have heard, how I'm afflicted
with severe mental disturbance. Whatever I've done
that might have roughly awakened your feelings,
your honour and your resentment, I declare here was madness.
Was it Hamlet who wronged Laertes? Never Hamlet.
If Hamlet is taken away from himself,
and while not himself wrongs Laertes,
then Hamlet doesn't do it — Hamlet disowns it.
Who does it then? His madness. If that's so,
then Hamlet is on the side of the wronged;
his madness is poor Hamlet's enemy. (A brilliant argument, and an evasion. He knows exactly what he did.)
Laertes
I am satisfied in nature,
Whose motive, in this case, should stir me most
To my revenge: but in my terms of honour
I stand aloof; and will no reconcilement,
Till by some elder masters, of known honour,
I have a voice and precedent of peace,
To keep my name ungored. But till that time,
I do receive your offer'd love like love,
And will not wrong it.
Laertes
My natural feelings are satisfied,
and they're what should most drive me
to revenge. But as to my honour
I hold back, and won't be reconciled
until some senior authorities of known honour
give me a ruling and precedent for peace
that keeps my name unwounded. But until then
I accept your offered friendship as friendship
and won't abuse it. (He is about to fight with a poisoned sword.)
Hamlet
I embrace it freely;
And will this brother's wager frankly play.
Give us the foils. Come on.
Hamlet
I accept it gladly,
and will fight this brotherly match openly.
Bring the swords. Come on.
Laertes
Come, one for me.
Laertes
Come on — one for me.
Hamlet
I'll be your foil, Laertes: in mine ignorance
Your skill shall, like a star i' the darkest night,
Hamlet
I'll be your foil, Laertes. Against my clumsiness
your skill will stand out like a star on the darkest night.
Laertes
You mock me, sir.
Laertes
You're mocking me, sir.
Hamlet
No, by this hand.
Hamlet
No — I swear it.
Claudius
Give them the foils, young Osric. Cousin Hamlet,
You know the wager?
Claudius
Give them the swords, Osric. — Nephew Hamlet,
you know the terms of the bet?
Hamlet
Very well, my lord
Your grace hath laid the odds o' the weaker side.
Hamlet
Very well, my lord.
Your Grace has bet on the weaker man.
Claudius
I do not fear it; I have seen you both:
But since he is better'd, we have therefore odds.
Claudius
I'm not worried. I've seen you both.
But since he's improved, we've taken odds.
Laertes
This is too heavy, let me see another.
Laertes
This one's too heavy — let me see another.
Hamlet
This likes me well. These foils have all a length?
Hamlet
This one suits me. Are these swords all the same length? (They are not. Laertes is choosing an unblunted, poisoned blade in front of everyone.)
Osric
Ay, my good lord.
Osric
Yes, my good lord.
Claudius
Set me the stoops of wine upon that table.
If Hamlet give the first or second hit,
Or quit in answer of the third exchange,
Let all the battlements their ordnance fire:
The king shall drink to Hamlet's better breath;
And in the cup an union shall he throw,
Richer than that which four successive kings
In Denmark's crown have worn. Give me the cups;
And let the kettle to the trumpet speak,
The trumpet to the cannoneer without,
The cannons to the heavens, the heavens to earth,
'Now the king dunks to Hamlet.' Come, begin:
And you, the judges, bear a wary eye.
Claudius
Put the wine jugs on that table.
If Hamlet scores the first or second hit,
or answers back in the third exchange,
let all the battlements fire their cannon.
The King will drink to Hamlet's stamina,
and will drop a pearl into the cup
richer than any worn by four successive kings
in the Danish crown. Give me the cups.
Let the kettledrum signal the trumpet,
the trumpet the gunner outside,
the cannon the heavens, the heavens the earth:
'Now the King drinks to Hamlet.' Come — begin.
And you judges, keep a careful watch.
Hamlet
Come on, sir.
Hamlet
Come on, sir.
Laertes
Come, my lord.
Laertes
Come on, my lord.
They fence.
Hamlet
One.
Hamlet
One.
Laertes
No.
Laertes
No.
Hamlet
Judgment.
Hamlet
Ruling, please.
Osric
A hit, a very palpable hit.
Osric
A hit — a very obvious hit.
Laertes
Well; again.
Laertes
Fine. Again.
Claudius
Stay; give me drink. Hamlet, this pearl is thine;
Here's to thy health.
Give him the cup.
Claudius
Wait — give me a drink. Hamlet, this pearl is yours.
Here's to your health.
Give him the cup.
Hamlet
I'll play this bout first; set it by awhile. Come.
Hamlet
I'll fight this round first. Set it aside for now. Come on.
They fence.
Hamlet
Another hit; what say you?
Hamlet
Another hit. What do you say?
Laertes
A touch, a touch, I do confess.
Laertes
A touch, a touch, I admit it.
Claudius
Our son shall win.
Claudius
Our son will win.
Gertrude
He's fat, and scant of breath.
Here, Hamlet, take my napkin, rub thy brows;
The queen carouses to thy fortune, Hamlet.
Gertrude
He's sweating and out of breath.
Here, Hamlet, take my handkerchief and wipe your forehead.
The Queen drinks to your success, Hamlet.
Hamlet
Good madam!
Hamlet
Thank you, madam.
Claudius
Gertrude, do not drink.
Claudius
Gertrude — don't drink.
Gertrude
I will, my lord; I pray you, pardon me.
Gertrude
I will, my lord. Please excuse me. (Three words that damn Claudius: he watches her drink and says nothing more.)
Claudius
It is the poison'd cup; it is too late.
Claudius
(aside) That's the poisoned cup. It's too late.
Hamlet
I dare not drink yet, madam; by and by.
Hamlet
I daren't drink yet, madam. In a moment.
Gertrude
Come, let me wipe thy face.
Gertrude
Come, let me wipe your face.
Laertes
My lord, I'll hit him now.
Laertes
My lord, I'll hit him this time.
Claudius
I do not think't.
Claudius
I doubt it.
Laertes
And yet 'tis almost 'gainst my conscience.
Laertes
(aside) And yet it's almost against my conscience.
Hamlet
Come, for the third, Laertes: you but dally;
I pray you, pass with your best violence;
I am afeard you make a wanton of me.
Hamlet
Come on, the third round, Laertes. You're only toying with me.
Please, thrust with your full force.
I'm afraid you're treating me like a child.
Laertes
Say you so? come on.
Laertes
Is that so? Come on.
They fence.
Osric
Nothing, neither way.
Osric
Nothing, either way.
Laertes
Have at you now!
Laertes
Take that!
Laertes wounds Hamlet; then, in scuffling, they exchange rapiers, and Hamlet wounds Laertes.
Claudius
Part them; they are incensed.
Claudius
Separate them — they're enraged.
Hamlet
Nay, come, again.
Hamlet
No — come on, again.
Queen Gertrude falls.
Osric
Look to the queen there, ho!
Osric
See to the Queen there!
Horatio
They bleed on both sides. How is it, my lord?
Horatio
They're both bleeding. — How are you, my lord?
Osric
How is't, Laertes?
Osric
How are you, Laertes?
Laertes
Why, as a woodcock to mine own springe, Osric;
I am justly kill'd with mine own treachery.
Laertes
Like a bird caught in my own trap, Osric.
I'm justly killed by my own treachery.
Hamlet
How does the queen?
Hamlet
How is the Queen?
Claudius
She swounds to see them bleed.
Claudius
She's fainted at the sight of blood.
Gertrude
No, no, the drink, the drink,—O my dear Hamlet,—
The drink, the drink! I am poison'd.
Gertrude
No, no — the drink, the drink! Oh, my dear Hamlet —
the drink, the drink! I've been poisoned.
She dies.
Hamlet
O villany! Ho! let the door be lock'd:
Treachery! Seek it out.
Hamlet
Villainy! Lock the doors!
Treachery! Find it out!
Laertes
It is here, Hamlet: Hamlet, thou art slain;
No medicine in the world can do thee good;
In thee there is not half an hour of life;
The treacherous instrument is in thy hand,
Unbated and envenom'd: the foul practise
Hath turn'd itself on me lo, here I lie,
Never to rise again: thy mother's poison'd:
I can no more: the king, the king's to blame.
Laertes
It's here, Hamlet. Hamlet, you're a dead man.
No medicine in the world can help you.
You have less than half an hour to live.
The treacherous weapon is in your hand,
unblunted and poisoned. The foul plot
has turned back on me — here I lie,
never to get up again. Your mother's been poisoned.
I can't go on. The King — the King is to blame.
Hamlet
The point!—envenom'd too!
Then, venom, to thy work.
Hamlet
The point — poisoned too!
Then, poison, do your work.
He stabs Claudius.
All
Treason! treason!
All
Treason! Treason!
Claudius
O, yet defend me, friends; I am but hurt.
Claudius
Defend me, friends — I'm only wounded!
Hamlet
Here, thou incestuous, murderous, damned Dane,
Drink off this potion. Is thy union here?
Follow my mother.
Hamlet
Here, you incestuous, murdering, damned Dane —
drink this down. Is your pearl in there?
Go after my mother.
Claudius dies.
Laertes
He is justly served;
It is a poison temper'd by himself.
Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Hamlet:
Mine and my father's death come not upon thee,
Nor thine on me.
Laertes
He's justly served.
It's a poison he mixed himself.
Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Hamlet.
May my death and my father's not be blamed on you,
nor yours on me.
He dies.
Hamlet
Heaven make thee free of it! I follow thee.
I am dead, Horatio. Wretched queen, adieu!
You that look pale and tremble at this chance,
That are but mutes or audience to this act,
Had I but time—as this fell sergeant, death,
Is strict in his arrest—O, I could tell you—
But let it be. Horatio, I am dead;
Thou livest; report me and my cause aright
To the unsatisfied.
Hamlet
May heaven clear you of it. I'm coming after you.
I'm a dead man, Horatio. — Poor queen, goodbye.
You who look pale and tremble at this event,
who are only silent extras or audience to it —
if I had time — but this cruel arresting officer, death,
is strict about his arrests — oh, I could tell you—
But let it go. Horatio, I'm dying.
You're alive. Report me and my cause truthfully
to those who don't understand.
Horatio
Never believe it:
I am more an antique Roman than a Dane:
Here's yet some liquor left.
Horatio
Never.
I'm more an ancient Roman than a Dane.
There's still some drink left here.
Hamlet
As thou'rt a man,
Give me the cup: let go; by heaven, I'll have't.
O good Horatio, what a wounded name,
Things standing thus unknown, shall live behind me!
If thou didst ever hold me in thy heart
Absent thee from felicity awhile,
And in this harsh world draw thy breath in pain,
To tell my story.
Hamlet
As you're a man,
give me the cup. Let go — by heaven, I'll have it.
Good Horatio, what a damaged reputation
will survive me, with things left unexplained like this.
If you ever held me in your heart,
stay away from the happiness of death a while longer,
and in this harsh world draw your breath in pain,
to tell my story.
A march far off, and a shot within.
Hamlet
What warlike noise is this?
Hamlet
What warlike noise is that?
Osric
Young Fortinbras, with conquest come from Poland,
To the ambassadors of England gives
This warlike volley.
Osric
Young Fortinbras, returning victorious from Poland,
is firing this salute to the ambassadors
from England.
Hamlet
O, I die, Horatio;
The potent poison quite o'er-crows my spirit:
I cannot live to hear the news from England;
But I do prophesy the election lights
On Fortinbras: he has my dying voice;
So tell him, with the occurrents, more and less,
Which have solicited. The rest is silence.
Hamlet
I'm dying, Horatio.
The powerful poison is overwhelming my spirit.
I won't live to hear the news from England.
But I predict the succession will fall
on Fortinbras. He has my dying vote.
Tell him that, and everything that happened, large and small,
that brought this on. The rest is silence.
He dies.
Horatio
Now cracks a noble heart. Good night sweet prince:
And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest!
Why does the drum come hither?
Horatio
Now a noble heart breaks. Good night, sweet prince,
and may flights of angels sing you to your rest.
Why is the drum coming this way?
Enter Fortinbras, the English Ambassadors, and others.
Fortinbras
Where is this sight?
Fortinbras
Where is this spectacle?
Horatio
What is it ye would see?
If aught of woe or wonder, cease your search.
Horatio
What is it you want to see?
If it's grief or astonishment, stop looking — it's here.
Fortinbras
This quarry cries on havoc. O proud death,
What feast is toward in thine eternal cell,
That thou so many princes at a shot
So bloodily hast struck?
Fortinbras
This heap of dead proclaims a massacre. Proud death,
what feast are you preparing in your eternal cell,
that you've struck down so many princes
so bloodily at one blow?
First Ambassador
The sight is dismal;
And our affairs from England come too late:
The ears are senseless that should give us hearing,
To tell him his commandment is fulfill'd,
That Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead:
Where should we have our thanks?
First Ambassador
It's a grim sight,
and our news from England comes too late.
The ears that should hear us are deaf,
so we can't tell him his order was carried out:
that Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead.
Who's going to thank us?
Horatio
Not from his mouth,
Had it the ability of life to thank you:
He never gave commandment for their death.
But since, so jump upon this bloody question,
You from the Polack wars, and you from England,
Are here arrived give order that these bodies
High on a stage be placed to the view;
And let me speak to the yet unknowing world
How these things came about: so shall you hear
Of carnal, bloody, and unnatural acts,
Of accidental judgments, casual slaughters,
Of deaths put on by cunning and forced cause,
And, in this upshot, purposes mistook
Fall'n on the inventors' reads: all this can I
Truly deliver.
Horatio
Not from his mouth,
even if he were alive to thank you.
He never gave the order for their deaths.
But since you've arrived so exactly on this bloody scene —
you from the Polish wars, and you from England —
give orders for these bodies
to be placed high on a platform in public view,
and let me tell the world, which doesn't yet know,
how all this came about. You'll hear
of unnatural, bloody, carnal deeds,
of accidental sentences and random killings,
of deaths brought about by cunning and by force,
and, in this final outcome, of plots misfiring
onto the heads of those who planned them. All this I can
tell you truthfully.
Fortinbras
Let us haste to hear it,
And call the noblest to the audience.
For me, with sorrow I embrace my fortune:
I have some rights of memory in this kingdom,
Which now to claim my vantage doth invite me.
Fortinbras
Let's hurry to hear it,
and call the noblest to listen.
As for me, I accept my fortune with sorrow.
I have some remembered claims on this kingdom,
which my position now invites me to claim.
Horatio
Of that I shall have also cause to speak,
And from his mouth whose voice will draw on more;
But let this same be presently perform'd,
Even while men's minds are wild; lest more mischance
On plots and errors, happen.
Horatio
I'll have reason to speak of that too,
quoting the man whose voice will bring others with it.
But let this be done at once,
while people's minds are still wild — in case more disaster
follows from plots and mistakes.
Fortinbras
Let four captains
Bear Hamlet, like a soldier, to the stage;
For he was likely, had he been put on,
To have proved most royally: and, for his passage,
The soldiers' music and the rites of war
Speak loudly for him.
Take up the bodies: such a sight as this
Becomes the field, but here shows much amiss.
Go, bid the soldiers shoot.
Fortinbras
Let four captains
carry Hamlet, like a soldier, to the platform.
He would probably, if he'd been given the chance,
have proved a great king. And for his funeral,
let the soldiers' music and the rites of war
speak loudly for him.
Take up the bodies. A sight like this
belongs on a battlefield; here it looks all wrong.
Go — tell the soldiers to fire.
A dead march. Exeunt, bearing off the dead bodies; after which a peal of cannon is shot off. — THE END.