DramaasLiteraryArt1.storytellingatthebeginningoftheplaySceneI.[ElsinoreCastle.Theplatformofthewatch.]EnterBernardoandFrancisco,twosentinels[fromoppositedirections].①Ber.Who'sthere?Fran.Nay,answerme.Standandunfoldyourself.Ber.LonglivetheKing!Fran.Bernardo?Ber.He.Fran.Youcomemostcarefullyuponyourhour.Ber.'Tisnowstrucktwelve.Gettheetobed,Francisco.Fran.Forthisreliefmuchthanks.'Tisbittercold,AndIamsickatheart.Ber.Haveyouhadquietguard?Fran.Notamousestirring.Ber.Well,goodnight.IfyoudomeetHoratioandMarcellus,Therivalsofmywatch,bidthemmakehaste.EnterHoratioandMarcellus.Fran.IthinkIhearthem.Stand!Who'sthere?Hor.Friendstothisground.Mar.AndliegementotheDane.Fran.Giveyougoodnight.Mar.O,farewell,honestsoldier.Whohathrelievedyou?Fran.Bernardohathmyplace.Giveyougoodnight.Exit.Mar.Holla,Bernardo!Ber.Say--What,isHoratiothere?Hor.Apieceofhim.Ber.Welcome,Horatio.Welcome,goodMarcellus.Mar.What,hasthisthingappearedagaintonight?Ber.Ihaveseennothing.Mar.Horatiosays'tisbutourfantasy,AndwillnotletbelieftakeholdofhimTouchingthisdreadedsight,twiceseenofus.ThereforeIhaveentreatedhimalong,Withustowatchtheminutesofthisnight,6
That,ifagainthisapparitioncome,Hemayapproveoureyesandspeaktoit.Hor.Tush,tush,'twillnotappear.Ber.Sitdownawhile,Andletusonceagainassailyourears,Thataresofortifiedagainstourstory,Whatwetwonightshaveseen.Hor.Well,sitwedown,AndletushearBernardospeakofthis.Ber.Lastnightofall,Whenyondsamestarthat'swestwardfromthepoleHadmadehiscourset'illumethatpartofheavenWherenowitburns,Marcellusandmyself,Thebellthenbeatingone—EnterGhost.Mar.Peace!breaktheeoff!Lookwhereitcomesagain!Ber.Inthesamefigure,liketheKingthat'sdead.Mar.Thouartascholar;speaktoit,Horatio.Ber.LooksitnotliketheKing?Markit,Horatio.Hor.Mostlike.Itharrowsmewithfearandwonder.Ber.Itwouldbespoketo.Mar.Questionit,Horatio.…④Mar.'Tisgoneandwillnotanswer.Ber.Hownow,Horatio?Youtrembleandlookpale.Isnotthissomethingmorethanfantasy?Whatthinkyouon't?Hor.BeforemyGod,ImightnotthisbelieveWithoutthesensibleandtrueavouchOfmineowneyes.Mar.IsitnotliketheKing?Hor.Asthouarttothyself.…②Hor.Ifthouhastanysound,oruseofvoice,Speaktome.Iftherebeanygoodthingtobedone,Thatmaytotheedoease,andgracetome,Speaktome.…③Thecockcrows.6
Speakofit!Stay,andspeak!—Stopit,Marcellus!Mar.ShallIstrikeatitwithmypartisan?Hor.Do,ifitwillnotstand.Ber.Tishere!Hor.Tishere!Mar:Tisgone!ExitGhost.…⑤Ber.Itwasabouttospeak,whenthecockcrew.Hor.Andthenitstarted,likeaguiltythingUponafearfulsummons.IhaveheardThecock,thatisthetrumpettothemorn,Dothwithhisloftyandshrill-soundingthroatAwakethegodofday;andathiswarning,Whetherinseaorfire,inearthorair,TheextravagantanderringspirithiesTohisconfine;andofthetruthhereinThispresentobjectmadeprobation.Mar.Itfadedonthecrowingofthecock.Somesaythatever'gainstthatseasoncomesWhereinourSaviour'sbirthiscelebrated,Thebirdofdawningsingethallnightlong;Andthen,theysay,nospiritdarestirabroad,Thenightsarewholesome,thennoplanetsstrike,Nofairytakes,norwitchhathpowertocharm,Sohallowedandsograciousisthetime.Hor.SohaveIheardanddoinpartbelieveit.Butlook,themorn,inrussetmantleclad,Walkso'erthedewofyonhigheasternhill.Breakweourwatchup;andbymyadviceLetusimpartwhatwehaveseentonightUntoyoungHamlet;for,uponmylife,Thisspirit,dumbtous,willspeaktohim.2.retrospectionSceneII.[ElsinoreCastle.Anaudiencechamber.]Flourish.EnterClaudius,KingofDenmark,GertrudetheQueen,Hamlet,Polonius,LaertesandhissisterOphelia,LordsAttendant.King.ThoughyetofHamletourdearbrother'sdeathThememorybegreen,andthatitusbefittedTobearourheartsingrief,andourwholekingdomTobecontractedinonebrowofwoe,YetsofarhathdiscretionfoughtwithnatureThatwewithwisestsorrowthinkonhim6
Togetherwithremembranceofourselves.Thereforeoursometimesister,nowourqueen,Theimperialjointresstothiswarlikestate,Havewe,as'twerewithadefeatedjoy,Withanauspicious,andadroppingeye,Withmirthinfuneral,andwithdirgeinmarriage,Inequalscaleweighingdelightanddole,Takentowife;norhavewehereinbarredYourbetterwisdoms,whichhavefreelygoneWiththisaffairalong.Forall,ourthanks.Nowfollows,thatyouknow,youngFortinbras,Holdingaweaksupposalofourworth,Orthinkingbyourlatedearbrother'sdeathOurstatetobedisjointandoutofframe,Colleaguedwiththisdreamofhisadvantage,HehathnotfailedtopesteruswithmessageImportingthesurrenderofthoselandsLostbyhisfather,withallbandsoflaw,Toourmostvaliantbrother.Somuchforhim.3.reportingSailor.Godblessyou,sir.Hor.Lethimblesstheetoo.Sailor.Heshall,sir,an'tpleasehim.There'saletterforyou,sir,—itcomesfromtheambassadorthatwasboundforEngland—ifyournamebeHoratio,asIamlettoknowitis.Hor.(Readstheletter.)Horatio,whenthoushallhaveoverlookedthis,givethesefellowssomemeanstotheKing.Theyhavelettersforhim.Ereweweretwodaysoldatsea,apirateofverywarlikeappointmentgaveuschase.Findingourselvestooslowofsail,weputonacompelledvalor,andinthegrappleIboardedthem.Ontheinstanttheygotclearofourship;soIalonebecametheirprisoner.Theyhavedealtwithmelikethievesofmercy;buttheyknewwhattheydid:Iamtodoagoodturnforthem.LettheKinghavethelettersIhavesent,andrepairthoutomewithasmuchspeedasthouwouldstflydeath,Ihavewordstospeakinthineearwillmaketheedumb;yetaretheymuchtoolightfortheboreofthematter.ThesegoodfellowswillbringtheewhereIam.RosencrantzandGuildensternholdtheircourseforEngland.OfthemIhavemuchtotellthee.Farewell.Hethatthouknowestthine,hamlet.4.choriccommentarythechorusattheopeningofHenryVOforamuseoffire,thatwouldascendThebrightestheavenofinvention,Akingdomforastage,princestoact,Andmonarchstobeholdtheswellingscene!ThenshouldthewarlikeHarry,likehimself,6
AssumetheportofMars;andathisheels,Leasht-inlikehounds,shouldfamine,sword,andfire,Crouchforemployment.Butpardon,gentlesall,ThatflatunraisedspiritsthathavedaredOnthisunworthyscaffoldtobringforthSogreatanobject:canthiscockpitholdThevastyfieldsofFrance?ormaywecramWithinthiswoodenOtheverycasquesThatdidaffrighttheairatAgincourt?Opardon!SinceacrookedfiguremayAttestinlittleplaceamillion;Andletus,cipherstothisgreataccompt,Onyourimaginaryforceswork.SupposewithinthegirdleofthesewallsArenowconfinedtwomightymonarchies,Whosehigh-uprearedandabuttingfrontsTheperilousnarrowoceanpartsasunder;Pieceoutourimperfectionswithyourthoughts;Intoathousandpartsdivideoneman,Andmakeimaginarypuissance;Think,whenwetalkofhorses,thatyouseethemPrintingtheirproudhoofsi’th’receivingearth;-For’tisyourthoughtsthatnowmustdeckourkings,Carrythemhereandthere;jumpingo’ertimes,Turningth’accomplishmentofmanyyearsIntoanhour-glass;forthewhichsupply,AdmitmeChorustothishistory;Who,prologue-like,yourhumblepatiencepray,Gentlytohear,kindlytojudge,ourplay.Hamlet’ssoliloquysTobe,ornottobe:thatisthequestion:Whether’tisnoblerinthemindtosufferTheslingsandarrowsofoutrageousfortune,Ortotakearmsagainstaseaoftroubles,Andbyopposingendthem.Todie,tosleep;NoMore;andbyasleeptosayweendTheheart-acheandthethousandnaturalshocksThatfleshisheirto,’tisaconsummationDevoutlytobewished.Todie,tosleep;Tosleep!Perchancetodream:ay,there’stherub;Forinthatsleepofdeathwhatdreamsmaycome,Whenwehaveshuffledoffthismortalcoil,Mustgiveuspause:there’stherespectThatmakescalamityofsolonglife;6
Forwhowouldbearthewhipsandscornsoftime,Theoppressor’swrong,theproudman’scontumely,Thepangsofdespisedlove,thelaw’sdelay,TheinsolenceofofficeandthespurnsThatpatientmeritoftheunworthytakes,WhenhehimselfmighthisquietusmakeWithabarebodkin?Whowouldfardelsbear,Togruntandsweatunderawearylife,Butthatthedreadofsomethingafterdeath,Theundiscover’dcountry,fromwhosebournNotravelerreturns,puzzlesthewill,AndmakesusratherbearthoseillswehaveThanflytoothersthatweknownotof?Thusconsciencedoesmakecowardsofusall,AndthusthenativehueofresolutionIssickliedo’erwiththepalecastofthought,AndenterprisesofgreatpithandmomentWiththisregardtheircurrentsturnawry,Andlosethenameofaction.DramaasPerformingArtRomeoandJulietRomeoIfIprofanewithmyunworthiesthandThisholyshrine,thegentlesinisthis:Mylips,twoblushingpilgrimsreadystandTosmooththatroughtouchwithatenderkiss.JulietGoodpilgrim,youdowrongyourhandtoomuch,Whichmannerlydevotionshowsinthis;Forsaintshavehandsthatpilgrims’handsdotouch,Andpalmtopalmisholypalmers'kiss.RomeoHavenotsaintslips,andholypalmerstoo?JulietAy,pilgrim,lipsthattheymustuseinprayer.RomeoOh,then,dearsaint,letlipsdowhathandsdo!Theypray;grantthou,lestfaithturntodespair.JulietSaintsdonotmove,thoughgrantforprayers’sake.RomeoThenmovenotwhilemyprayer’seffectItake.Thusfrommylips,bythinemysinispurged.6