Hamlet : Act 1, Scene 2

his son LAERTES, cum aliis [including
VOLTEMAND and CORNELIUS].

1. our: King Claudius uses the royal "we" . more 1 Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother's death
2. green: fresh. it us befitted: it would be entirely befitting for us. 2 The memory be green, and that it us befitted
3 To bear our hearts in grief and our whole kingdom
4. contracted in one brow of woe: knitted in a single woeful brow.

4 To be contracted in one brow of woe,
5 Yet so far hath discretion fought with nature
6 That we with wisest sorrow think on him,

7. remembrance of ourselves: i.e. , due consideration of my own concerns. 8. sometime sister: former sister-in-law.

7 Together with remembrance of ourselves.
8 Therefore our sometime sister, now our queen,
9. jointress: i.e. , joint holder of royal authority. 9 The imperial jointress to this warlike state,
10. defeated: subdued. 10 Have we, as 'twere with a defeated joy,
11. auspicious: cheerful, hopeful. dropping: mournful, weeping.

11 With an auspicious and a dropping eye,
12 With mirth in funeral and with dirge in marriage,
13 In equal scale weighing delight and dole,

14-15. nor . wisdoms: i.e. , in doing this (marrying Gertrude) I have not ignored your wise advice. 15. freely: fully, without reservation.

14 Taken to wife: nor have we herein barr'd
15 Your better wisdoms, which have freely gone
16 With this affair along. For all, our thanks.

17. Now follows that you know: the next order of business is that you be informed that. 18. Holding a weak supposal of our worth: having a low and mistaken estimate of our readiness and courage.

17 Now follows that you know young Fortinbras,
18 Holding a weak supposal of our worth,
19 Or thinking by our late dear brother's death
20 Our state to be disjoint and out of frame,

21. Colleagued with: allied with. dream of his advantage: fantasy that he will be successful. 22. He . . . message: i.e. , he is always pestering us . more 23. Importing: pertaining to. . more 24. with all bands of law: in accordance with legally binding contracts.

21 Colleagued with this dream of his advantage,
22 He hath not fail'd to pester us with message,
23 Importing the surrender of those lands
24 Lost by his father, with all bands of law,
25 To our most valiant brother. So much for him.
26 Now for ourself and for this time of meeting:
27 Thus much the business is: we have here writ
28 To Norway, uncle of young Fortinbras—

29. impotent and bed-rid: feeble and bedridden. 29 Who, impotent and bed-rid, scarcely hears
30 Of this his nephew's purpose—to suppress

31. gait: proceeding. 31-33. in that the levies . Out of his subject: i.e. , since all of Fortinbras' troops and supplies have been drawn from the subjects of the King of Norway.

31 His further gait herein; in that the levies,
32 The lists and full proportions, are all made
33 Out of his subject: and we here dispatch
34 You, good Cornelius, and you, Voltemand,
35 For bearers of this greeting to old Norway;
36 Giving to you no further personal power
37 To business with the king, more than the scope

38. delated articles: detailed instructions.

38 Of these delated articles allow.

39. commend: praise. Perhaps the ambassadors were about to say a few words about their duty to the king, but he tells them that the best way to show their duty is to be quick about carrying out his instructions.

39 Farewell, and let your haste commend your duty.

VOLTEMAND and CORNELIUS
40 In that and all things will we show our duty.

41. nothing: not at all.

41 We doubt it nothing: heartily farewell.

[Exeunt VOLTEMAND and CORNELIUS.]

42 And now, Laertes, what's the news with you?

43. suit: petition, request. 43 You told us of some suit; what is't, Laertes?

44. You cannot speak of reason to the Dane, / And lose your voice: you cannot make any reasonable request to the Danish king and waste your breath.

44 You cannot speak of reason to the Dane,
45 And lose your voice: what wouldst thou beg, Laertes,
46 That shall not be my offer, not thy asking?

47. native: closely related. 47 The head is not more native to the heart,
48. instrumental: serviceable.

48 The hand more instrumental to the mouth,
49 Than is the throne of Denmark to thy father.
50 What wouldst thou have, Laertes?

LAERTES
50 My dread lord,

51. leave: permission.

51 Your leave and favor to return to France;
52 From whence though willingly I came to Denmark,
53 To show my duty in your coronation,
54 Yet now, I must confess, that duty done,
55 My thoughts and wishes bend again toward France

56. leave: permission to depart. pardon: i.e. , as in "I beg your pardon." As a member of the court, Laertes has a duty to attend on the king.

56 And bow them to your gracious leave and pardon.

KING
57 Have you your father's leave? What says Polonius?

58. H'ath: he has. slow leave: permission given reluctantly. 58 H'ath, my lord, wrung from me my slow leave
59 By laborsome petition, and at last
60. I seal'd: I gave my stamp of approval. hard: reluctant.

60 Upon his will I seal'd my hard consent:
61 I do beseech you, give him leave to go.

KING
62 Take thy fair hour, Laertes; time be thine,
63 And thy best graces spend it at thy will!

64. cousin: kinsman. "Cousin" was used of cousins, nephews, nieces, uncles, amd aunts. son: i.e. , stepson.

64 But now, my cousin Hamlet, and my son—

65. A little more than kin, and less than kind: i.e. , I am more kin to you than before, since I am now both your nephew and your stepson; and, at the same time, I am no kin to you in natural feelings or affection. This statement is so insulting that editors sometimes mark it as an aside.

65 A little more than kin, and less than kind.

KING
66 How is it that the clouds still hang on you?

67. I am too much i' the sun: (1) I am too much in the sunshine of your royal favor; (2) You have called me "son" once too often.

67 Not so, my lord; I am too much i' the sun.

QUEEN GERTRUDE
68 Good Hamlet, cast thy nighted color off,

69. Denmark: i.e. , the King of Denmark. Gertrude is pleading with her son to be nice to her new husband . more 70. vailèd: downcast.

69 And let thine eye look like a friend on Denmark.
70 Do not for ever with thy vailèd lids
71 Seek for thy noble father in the dust:

72 - 74. common . . . common: Queen Gertrude means that death is a common (general, universal) occurrence. Hamlet's reply probably uses the word "common" in another sense; he seems to mean that what she says is "common" because it is a vulgar cliché. She wants him to get over his feelings of grief about his father's death; he probably means that she is being unfeeling and stupid — "common."

72 Thou know'st 'tis common; all that lives must die,
73 Passing through nature to eternity.

HAMLET
74 Ay, madam, it is common.

75. particular: individual, personal.

75 Why seems it so particular with thee?

HAMLET
76 Seems, madam! nay it is; I know not "seems."
77 'Tis not alone my inky cloak, good mother,
78 Nor customary suits of solemn black,

79. suspiration: sighing. 79 Nor windy suspiration of forced breath,

80. fruitful river in the eye: i.e. , copious river of tears.
81. havior of the visage: behavior, expression, of the face.

80 No, nor the fruitful river in the eye,
81 Nor the dejected havior of the visage,
82 Together with all forms, moods, shapes of grief,
83 That can denote me truly: these indeed seem,

84. play: act, pretend. 84 For they are actions that a man might play:
85 But I have that within which passeth show;

86. These: i.e. , black clothing, sighs, tears, and "all forms, moods, shapes of grief." but the trappings and the suits: only the ornaments and the clothes.

86 These but the trappings and the suits of woe.

KING
87 'Tis sweet and commendable in your nature, Hamlet,
88 To give these mourning duties to your father:
89 But, you must know, your father lost a father;
90 That father lost, lost his, and the survivor bound
91 In filial obligation for some term

92. obsequious: proper to obsequies, the formalities of funerals. persever: persevere. 93. condolement: expressions of sorrow. . more 94. impious: King Claudius calls Hamlet "impious" because Hamlet's . more 95. a will most incorrect to heaven: a rebellious will.

92 To do obsequious sorrow: but to persever
93 In obstinate condolement is a course
94 Of impious stubbornness; 'tis unmanly grief;
95 It shows a will most incorrect to heaven,
96 A heart unfortified, a mind impatient,
97 An understanding simple and unschool'd:
98 For what we know must be and is as common

99. any the most vulgar thing to sense: i.e. , what is the most obvious to common sense

99 As any the most vulgar thing to sense,
100 Why should we in our peevish opposition
101 Take it to heart? Fie! 'tis a fault to heaven,
102 A fault against the dead, a fault to nature,

103. absurd: contrary. 103 To reason most absurd: whose common theme
104 Is death of fathers, and who still hath cried,
105. corse: corpse.

105 From the first corse till he that died to-day,
106 "This must be so." We pray you, throw to earth

107. unprevailing: unavailing, useless. 107 This unprevailing woe, and think of us
108 As of a father: for let the world take note,

109. the most immediate to our throne: i.e. , the one who will inherit my position as King of Denmark.

109 You are the most immediate to our throne;
110 And with no less nobility of love
111. dearest: most loving. 111 Than that which dearest father bears his son,
112. impart toward you: bestow upon you. 112 Do I impart toward you. For your intent
113. Wittenberg: A famous university in Germany. 113 In going back to school in Wittenberg,
114. retrograde: contrary. 114 It is most retrograde to our desire:
115. bend you: commit yourself.

115 And we beseech you, bend you to remain
116 Here, in the cheer and comfort of our eye,
117 Our chiefest courtier, cousin, and our son.

118. prayers: earnest requests.

118 Let not thy mother lose her prayers, Hamlet:
119 I pray thee, stay with us; go not to Wittenberg.

HAMLET
120 I shall in all my best obey you, madam.

121. fair: pleasing, comely.

121 Why, 'tis a loving and a fair reply:
122 Be as ourself in Denmark. Madam, come;
123 This gentle and unforced accord of Hamlet
124 Sits smiling to my heart: in grace whereof,

125. jocund: joyful, merry. 125 No jocund health that Denmark drinks today,
126 But the great cannon to the clouds shall tell,
127. rouse: bumper, draft of liquor. bruit again: i.e. , echo loudly.

127 And the king's rouse the heavens shall bruit again,
128 Respeaking earthly thunder. Come away.

Flourish. Exeunt all but HAMLET.

129. solid: In Q2, . more 129 O, that this too too solid flesh would melt,
130. resolve: i.e. , transform. 130 Thaw and resolve itself into a dew!
131 Or that the Everlasting had not fix'd
132. canon: law. 132 His canon 'gainst self-slaughter! O God! God!
133 How weary, stale, flat and unprofitable,
134. uses: customs.

134 Seem to me all the uses of this world!
135 Fie on't! ah fie! 'tis an unweeded garden,
136 That grows to seed; things rank and gross in nature

137. merely: completely, utterly.

137 Possess it merely. That it should come to this!
138 But two months dead: nay, not so much, not two:

139. to: in comparison with. 139 So excellent a king; that was, to this,
140. Hyperion: In Greek mythology, the sun god, . more 141. beteem: allow.

140 Hyperion to a satyr; so loving to my mother
141 That he might not beteem the winds of heaven
142 Visit her face too roughly. Heaven and earth!
143 Must I remember? why, she would hang on him,
144 As if increase of appetite had grown
145 By what it fed on: and yet, within a month—
146 Let me not think on't—Frailty, thy name is woman!—
147 A little month, or ere those shoes were old
148 With which she follow'd my poor father's body,

149. Niobe: Figure of Greek mythology who wept endlessly for her dead children. 150. wants discourse of reason: lacks the power of reason.

149 Like Niobe, all tears:—why she, even she—
150 O, God! a beast, that wants discourse of reason,
151 Would have mourn'd longer—married with my uncle,
152 My father's brother, but no more like my father

153. Hercules: mythological superhero. 153 Than I to Hercules: within a month:
154. unrighteous: i.e. , hypocritical. 154 Ere yet the salt of most unrighteous tears
155. flushing: redness. galled: inflamed. 155 Had left the flushing in her galled eyes,
156. post: hurry, rush. 156 She married. O, most wicked speed, to post

157. incestuous: Many in Shakespeare's time regarded the marriage of a man to his brother's widow as incestuous.

157 With such dexterity to incestuous sheets!
158 It is not nor it cannot come to good:
159 But break, my heart; for I must hold my tongue.

Enter HORATIO, MARCELLUS,
and BARNARDO.

HORATIO
160 Hail to your lordship!

HAMLET
160 I am glad to see you well:
161 Horatio!—or I do forget myself.

HORATIO
162 The same, my lord, and your poor servant ever.

163. change: exchange. . more 163 Sir, my good friend; I'll change that name with you:

164. what make you from: what are you doing away from. Wittenberg: Wittenberg is a famous university in Germany.

164 And what make you from Wittenberg, Horatio?
165 —Marcellus.

MARCELLUS
166 My good lord.

HAMLET
167 I am very glad to see you. [ To Barnardo ] Good even, sir.—

168 But what, in faith, make you from Wittenberg?

169. truant disposition: inclination to play truant.

169 A truant disposition, good my lord.

170. I would not hear your enemy say so: I would refuse to listen to your enemy say as you have said.

170 I would not hear your enemy say so,
171 Nor shall you do mine ear that violence,
172 To make it truster of your own report
173 Against yourself: I know you are no truant.
174 But what is your affair in Elsinore?
175 We'll teach you to drink deep ere you depart.

HORATIO
176 My lord, I came to see your father's funeral.

HAMLET
177 I pray thee, do not mock me, fellow-student;
178 I think it was to see my mother's wedding.

179. hard upon.: close behind.

179 Indeed, my lord, it followed hard upon.

180. baked meats: pastries. 180 Thrift, thrift, Horatio! the funeral baked meats
181. coldly: 1) when cold; 2) without feeling. 181 Did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables.
182. dearest: direst; most intensely hated. 182 Would I had met my dearest foe in heaven
183. Or ever I had seen that day: before I had ever seen that day.

183 Or ever I had seen that day, Horatio!
184 My father!—methinks I see my father.

HORATIO
185 Where, my lord?

HAMLET
185 In my mind's eye, Horatio.

186 I saw him once. 'A was a goodly king.

HAMLET
187 'A was a man, take him for all in all,
188 I shall not look upon his like again.

HORATIO
189 My lord, I think I saw him yesternight.

HAMLET
190 Saw? who?

HORATIO
191 My lord, the king your father.

HAMLET
191 The king my father!

192. Season: calm down, restrain. admiration: wonder, astonishment. 193. attent: attentive. deliver: report.

192 Season your admiration for a while
193 With an attent ear, till I may deliver,

194. Upon the witness of these gentlemen: i.e. , confirmed by what Marcellus and Barnardo have witnessed.

194 Upon the witness of these gentlemen,
195 This marvel to you.

HAMLET
195 For God's love, let me hear.

HORATIO
196 Two nights together had these gentlemen,
197 Marcellus and Barnardo, on their watch,

198. waste: emptiness. 198 In the dead waste and middle of the night,
199 Been thus encount'red: A figure like your father,

200. Armed at point exactly, cap-a-pe: armed [as your father was] exactly in every way, from head to foot.

200 Armed at point exactly, cap-a-pe,
201 Appears before them, and with solemn march
202 Goes slow and stately by them: thrice he walk'd

203. By: before, in front of. oppress'd: overwhelmed. 204. truncheon's length: Six feet? . more

203 By their oppress'd and fear-surprised eyes,
204 Within his truncheon's length; whilst they, distilled

205. act: action, effect. 205 Almost to jelly with the act of fear,

206-207. This to me / In dreadful secrecy impart they did: i.e. , they told me this as a dreadful secret.

206 Stand dumb and speak not to him. This to me
207 In dreadful secrecy impart they did;
208 And I with them the third night kept the watch;

209. as they had deliver'd: just as they had reported.

209 Where, as they had deliver'd, both in time,
210 Form of the thing, each word made true and good,
211 The apparition comes: I knew your father;

212. These hands are not more like: i.e. , my two hands do not resemble each other more closely than the apparition resembled Hamlet's father.

212 These hands are not more like.

HAMLET
212 But where was this?

MARCELLUS
213 My lord, upon the platform where we watch'd.

HAMLET
214 Did you not speak to it?

HORATIO
214 My lord, I did;
215 But answer made it none: yet once methought

216. it: its. 216-217. did address / Itself to motion, like as it would speak: began to make a gesture, as if it were about to speak.

216 It lifted up it head and did address
217 Itself to motion, like as it would speak;
218 But even then the morning cock crew loud,
219 And at the sound it shrunk in haste away,
220 And vanish'd from our sight.

HAMLET
220 'Tis very strange.

HORATIO
221 As I do live, my honour'd lord, 'tis true;
222 And we did think it writ down in our duty
223 To let you know of it.

HAMLET
224 Indeed, indeed, sirs, but this troubles me.
225 Hold you the watch tonight?

MARCELLUS and BARNARDO
225 We do, my lord.

HAMLET
226 Arm'd, say you?

MARCELLUS and BARNARDO
227 Arm'd, my lord.

HAMLET
228 From top to toe?

MARCELLUS and BARNARDO
228 My lord, from head to foot.

HAMLET
229 Then saw you not his face?

230. beaver: visor.

230 O, yes, my lord; he wore his beaver up.

HAMLET
231 What, look'd he frowningly?

HORATIO
231 A countenance more
232 In sorrow than in anger.

HAMLET
232 Pale or red?

HORATIO
233 Nay, very pale.

HAMLET
233 And fix'd his eyes upon you?

HORATIO
234 Most constantly.

HAMLET
234 I would I had been there.

HORATIO
235 It would have much amazed you.

HAMLET
236 Very like, very like. Stay'd it long?

237. tell: count.

237 While one with moderate haste might tell a hundred.

MARCELLUS and BARNARDO
238 Longer, longer.

HORATIO
239 Not when I saw't.

239. grizzled: mixed with grey.

239 His beard was grizzled—no?

HORATIO
240 It was, as I have seen it in his life,

241. A sable silver'd: In heraldry, "sable" is the word for black. Hamlet asked if the Ghost's beard was "grizzled," and Horatio says it was, but the words he uses makes the mixture of black and white sound impressively dignified.

241 A sable silver'd.

HAMLET
241 I will watch tonight;
242 Perchance 'twill walk again.

HORATIO
242 I warrant it will.

HAMLET
243 If it assume my noble father's person,

244. gape: open its mouth wide (as though to swallow him). 245. bid me hold my peace: i.e. , tell me to be quiet, shut up.

244 I'll speak to it, though hell itself should gape
245 And bid me hold my peace. I pray you all,
246 If you have hitherto conceal'd this sight,

247. tenable: held close. 247 Let it be tenable in your silence still;
248. hap: happen to happen. 248 And whatsoever else shall hap tonight,

249. Give it an understanding, but no tongue: i.e. , pay attention, and remember, but don't say anything. 250. I will requite your loves: I will return your friendship. Hamlet may also mean that he will give them some sort of reward for keeping the secret.

249 Give it an understanding, but no tongue:
250 I will requite your loves. So, fare you well:
251 Upon the platform, 'twixt eleven and twelve,
252 I'll visit you.

All
252 Our duty to your honor.

253. Your loves, as mine to you: i.e. , what you have done shows more than duty; it shows deep friendship, and I return that friendship.

253 Your loves, as mine to you: farewell.

Exeunt [all but HAMLET].

254 My father's spirit in arms! all is not well;

255. doubt: suspect.

255 I doubt some foul play: would the night were come!
256 Till then, sit still, my soul. Foul deeds will rise,
257 Though all the earth o'erwhelm them, to men's eyes.