SCENE IV. A Plain in Denmark. Enter FOR INBRAS and Forces marching. Fortinbras. Go, Captain; from me greet the Danish King: Tell him that, by his license, Fortinbras Claims the conveyance of a promis'd march Captain. Go softly on. I will do't, my lord. [Exeunt FORTINBRAS and Forces. [Enter HAMLET, ROSENCRANTZ, GUILDENSTERN, &c. Ham. Good sir, whose powers are these? Cap. They are of Norway, sir. Cap. The nephew to old Norway, Fortinbras. Ham. Goes it against the main of Poland, sir, Or for some frontier? Cap. Truly to speak, and with no addition, Ham. Why, then the Polack never will defend it. Cap. Yes, 'tis already garrison'd. Ham. Two thousand souls, and twenty thousand ducats, Will not debate the question of this straw: This is th' imposthume of much wealth and peace, That inward breaks, and shews no cause without Why the man dies. I humbly thank you, sir. Cap. God b' wi' you, sir. Ros. [Exit Captain. Will 't please you go, my lord? Ham. I'll be with you straight, Go a little be fore. [Exeunt ROSENCRANTZ and Guildenstern. To fust in us unus'd. Now, whether it be Of thinking too precisely on th' event, A thought, which, quarter'd, hath but one part wis dom, And ever three parts coward, I do not know Why yet I live to say, 'This thing 's to do ;' Sith I have cause, and will, and strength, and means, To do't. Examples gross as earth exhort me: Whose spirit, with divine ambition puff'd, To all that fortune, death, and danger, dare, When honour's at the stake. How stand I, then, Go to their graves like beds; fight for a plot SCENE V. Elsinore. A Room in the Castle. Enter Queen and HORATIO. Queen. I will not speak with her. Hor. She is importunate; indeed, distract: Her mood will needs be pitied. Queen. What would she have? Hor. 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. Queen. [Aside.] 'Twere good she were spoken with, for she may strew Dangerous conjectures in ill-breeding minds. [To HOR.] Let her come in. [Exit HORATIO. To my sick soul, as sin's true nature is, Each toy seems prologue to some great amiss: It spills itself in fearing to be spilt. HORATIO returns with OPHELIA. Oph. Where is the beauteous majesty of Denmark ? Queen. How now, Ophelia? Oph. "How should I your true love know From another one? By his cockle hat and staff, And his sandal shoon." [Sings. Queen. Alas, sweet lady! what imports this song? Oph. Say you? nay, pray you, mark. "He is dead and gone, lady, He is dead and gone: At his head a grass-green turf, Queen. Nay, but, Ophelia, Oph. [Sings. Pray you, mark. [Sings. "White his shroud as the mountain snow," Enter King. Queen. Alas! look here, my lord. Oph. [Sings. "Larded with sweet flowers; Which bewept to the grave did go, King. How do you, pretty lady? 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! King. Conceit upon her father. Oph. Pray you, let's have no words of this; but when they ask you what it means, say you this: [Sings. "To-morrow is Saint Valentine's day, All in the morning betime, To be your Valentine: Then, up he rose, and donn'd his clothes, And dupp'd the chamber door ; Let in the maid, that out a maid Never departed more." King. Pretty Ophelia! Oph. Indeed, la! without an oath, I'll make an end on't: "By Gis, and by Saint Charity, Alack, and fie for shame! [Sings. Young men will do't, if they come to't; By cock, they are to blame. Quoth she, before you tumbled me, You promis'd me to wed:" [He answers,] "So would I ha' done, by yonder sun, King. How long hath she been thus ? Oph. I hope all will be well. We must be pa |