it: As thus; Alexander died, Alexander was buried, Alexander returneth to dust; the dust is, earth; of earth we make loam : And why of that loam, whereto he was converted, might they not stop a beerbarrel? Imperious Cæsar, dead, and turn'd to clay, Might stop a hole, to keep the wind away: But soft! but soft! king, [A Bell tolls. -Aside; here comes the The queen, the courtiers:-Who is this they fol low? And with such maimed rites!-This doth betoken, Couch we a while, and mark. [Retiring with HORATIO.-Bell tolls. Enter FRIAR, KING, QUEEN, LAERTES, MARCEL- Laer. What ceremony else? A very noble youth. Laer. What ceremony else? Friar. Her obsequies have been as far enlarg'd As we have warranty: Her death was doubtful; And, but that great command o'ersways the order, She should in ground unsanctified have lodg'd Till the last trumpet; for charitable prayers, Shards, flints, and pebbles, should be thrown on her; Yet here she is allow'd her virgin crants, Her maiden strewments, and the bringing home Laer. Must there no more be done? Friar. No more be done! We should profane the service of the dead, To sing a Requiem, and such rest to her Laer. Lay her i' the earth ; And from her fair and unpolluted flesh [They put the Coffin in the Grave. I tell thee, churlish priest, A minst'ring angel shall my sister be, When thou liest howling. Ham. What, the fair Ophelia! Queen. Sweets to the sweet: Farewell! [Scattering Flowers. I hop'd, thou should'st have been my Hamlet's wife; I thought, thy bride-bed to have deck'd, sweet maid, And not have strew'd thy grave. Laer. O, treble woe Fall ten times treble on that cursed head, Whose wicked deed the most ingenious sense [The GRAVEDIGGER about to throw the Earth into Hold off the earth a while, Till I have caught her once more in mine arms: [LAERTES leaps into the Grave. Now pile your dust upon the quick and dead; Till of this flat a mountain you have made, To o'ertop old Pelion, or the skyish head Of blue Olympus. [Exit GRAVEDIGGER. Ham. [Advancing.] What is he whose grief Bears such an emphasis? Whose phrase of sorrow Conjures the wand'ring stars, and makes them stand Like wonder-wounded hearers? This is I, Hamlet the Dane. Laer. The devil take thy soul! [Springing out of the Grave, and seizing HAMLET. Ham. Thou pray'st not well. I pr'ythee, take thy fingers from my throat; Which let thy wisdom fear: Hold off thy hand. [They are parted by HORATIO and MARCELLUS. Queen. Hamlet, Hamlet! Ham. Why, I will fight with him upon this theme, Until my eyelids will no longer wag. Queen. O, my son! what theme? Ham. I lov'd Ophelia; forty thousand brothers Make up my sum.-What wilt thou do for her? Ham. Come, show me what thou❜lt do : Woul't weep? woul't fight? woul't fast? woul't tear thyself? I'll do't.-Dost thou come here to whine? To outface me with leaping in her grave? And, if thou prate of mountains, let them throw Singeing his pate against the burning zone, Queen. This is mere madness: And thus a while the fit will work on him; Anon, as patient as the female dove, When that her golden couplets are disclos'd, His silence will sit drooping. What is the reason that you use me thus ? [Exit HAMLET. King. I pray thee, good Horatio, wait upon him. [Exit HORATIO. Strengthen your patience in our last night's speech; [TO LAERTES. We'll put the matter to the present push.Good Gertrude, set some watch over your son.[Exeunt QUEEN and LADIES. This grave shall have a living monument; An hour of quiet thereby shall we see ; [Bell tolls.[Exeunt KING, LAERTES, SCENE II. A Hall in the Palace. Enter HAMLET and HORATIO. Ham. 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. Hor. Peace; who comes here? Enter OSRICK. Osr. Your lordship is right welcome back to Denmark. Ham. I humbly thank you, sir.-Dost know this water-fly? Hor. No, my good lord. Ham. Thy state is the more gracious; for, 'tis a vice, to know him. Osr. Sweet lord, if your lordship were at leisure, I should impart a thing to you from his majesty. Ham. I will receive it, sir, with all diligence of spirit:-Your bonnet to his right use; 'tis for the head. Osr. I thank your lordship, 'tis very hot. Ham. No, believe me, 'tis very cold; the wind is northerly. Osr. It is indifferent cold, my lord, indeed. Ham. But yet, methinks, it is very sultry and hot; or my complexion Osr. Exceedingly, my lord; it is very sultry,-as 'twere,-I cannot tell how.- -My lord, his majesty bade me signify to you, that he has laid a great wager on your head: Sir, this is the matter;Ham. I beseech you, remember [HAMLET signs to him to put on his Hat. Osr. Nay, good my lord; for my 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: for you shall find in him the continent of what part a gentleman would see. Ham. Sir, his definement suffers no perdition in you :-What imports the nomination of this gentle man? Osr. Of Laertes? |