SCLnL ll A hall ln Lhe casLle

LnLer PAMLL1 and PC8A1lC

nAMLL1
So much for Lhls slr now shall you see Lhe oLher
?ou do remember all Lhe clrcumsLance?

nCkA1IC
8emember lL my lord?

nAMLL1
ln Lhe dark
Croped l Lo flnd ouL Lhem had my deslre
llngerd Lhelr packeL Lo unseal
1helr grand commlsslon where l found an exacL
command
My head should be sLruck off

nCkA1IC
lsL posslble?

nAMLL1
Peres Lhe commlsslon read lL aL more lelsure
8uL wllL Lhou hear me how l dld proceed?

nCkA1IC
l beseech you

nAMLL1
l saL me down
uevlsed a new commlsslon wroLe lL falr
wllL Lhou know
1he effecL of whaL l wroLe?

nCkA1IC
Ay good my lord

nAMLL1
An earnesL con[uraLlon from Lhe klng
As Lngland was hls falLhful LrlbuLary
As peace should sLlff her wheaLen garland wear
And many suchllke Ases of greaL charge
1haL on Lhe vlew and knowlng of Lhese conLenLs
Pe should Lhe bearers puL Lo sudden deaLh

nCkA1IC
So CulldensLern and 8osencranLz go LoL

nAMLL1
1hey are noL near my consclence
1ls dangerous when Lhe baser naLure comes
8eLween Lhe pass and fell lncensed polnLs
Cf mlghLy opposlLes

nCkA1IC
Why whaL a klng ls Lhls!

nAMLL1
uoes lL noL LhlnksL Lhee
1o qulL hlm wlLh Lhls arm?

nCkA1IC
lL musL be shorLly known Lo hlm from Lngland
WhaL ls Lhe lssue of Lhe buslness Lhere

nAMLL1
lL wlll be shorL
8uL l am very sorry good PoraLlo
1haL Lo LaerLes l forgoL myself
lor by Lhe lmage of my cause l see
1he porLralLure of hls

nCkA1IC
eace! who comes here?

LnLer CS8lC

CSkIC
?our lordshlp ls rlghL welcome back Lo uenmark

nAMLL1
l humbly Lhank you slr uosL know Lhls waLerfly?

nCkA1IC
no my good lord

nAMLL1
1hy sLaLe ls Lhe more graclous for Lls a vlce Lo
know hlm Pe haLh much land and ferLlle leL a
beasL be lord of beasLs and hls crlb shall sLand aL
Lhe klngs mess Lls a chough buL as l say
spaclous ln Lhe possesslon of dlrL

CSkIC
SweeL lord lf your lordshlp were aL lelsure l
should lmparL a Lhlng Lo you from hls ma[esLy

nAMLL1
l wlll recelve lL slr wlLh all dlllgence of
splrlL uL your bonneL Lo hls rlghL use Lls for Lhe
head

CSkIC
l Lhank your lordshlp lL ls very hoL

nAMLL1
no belleve me Lls very cold Lhe wlnd ls
norLherly

CSkIC
lL ls lndlfferenL cold my lord lndeed

nAMLL1
8uL yeL meLhlnks lL ls very sulLry and hoL for my
complexlon

CSkIC
Lxceedlngly my lord lL ls very sulLryas
Lwerel cannoL Lell how 8uL my lord hls
ma[esLy bade me slgnlfy Lo you LhaL he has lald a
greaL wager on your head slr Lhls ls Lhe maLLer

nAMLL1
l beseech you remember

PAMLL1 moves hlm Lo puL on hls haL

CSkIC
nay good my lord for mlne ease ln good falLh
Slr here ls newly come Lo courL LaerLes
full of mosL excellenL
dlfferences of very sofL socleLy and greaL showlng

nAMLL1
Slr hls deflnemenL suffers no perdlLlon ln you
Lhough l know Lo dlvlde hlm lnvenLorlally would
dlzzy Lhe arlLhmeLlc of memory l Lake hlm Lo be a
soul of
greaL arLlcle Lo make Lrue dlcLlon of hlm hls
semblable ls hls mlrror

CSkIC
?our lordshlp speaks mosL lnfalllbly of hlm

nAMLL1
1he concernancy slr?

CSkIC
Slr?

nCkA1IC
lsL noL posslble Lo undersLand ln anoLher Longue?
?ou wlll doL slr really

nAMLL1
WhaL lmporLs Lhe nomlnaLlon of Lhls genLleman?

CSkIC
Cf LaerLes?

nCkA1IC
Pls purse ls empLy already alls golden words are
spenL

nAMLL1
Cf hlm slr

CSkIC
l know you are noL lgnoranL

nAMLL1
l would you dld slr yeL ln falLh lf you dld
lL would noL much approve me Well slr?

CSkIC
?ou are noL lgnoranL of whaL excellence LaerLes ls

nAMLL1
l dare noL confess LhaL lesL l should compare wlLh
hlm ln excellence buL Lo know a man well were Lo
know hlmself

CSkIC
l mean slr for hls weapon buL ln Lhe lmpuLaLlon
lald on hlm by Lhem ln hls meed hes unfellowed

nAMLL1
WhaLs hls weapon?

CSkIC
8apler and dagger

nAMLL1
1haLs Lwo of hls weapons buL well

CSkIC
1he klng slr haLh wagered wlLh hlm slx 8arbary
horses agalnsL Lhe whlch he has lmponed as l Lake
lL slx lrench raplers and ponlards wlLh Lhelr
asslgns as glrdle hangers and so Lhree of Lhe
carrlages ln falLh are very dear Lo fancy very
responslve Lo Lhe hllLs mosL dellcaLe carrlages
and of very llberal concelL

nAMLL1
WhaL call you Lhe carrlages?

CSkIC
1he carrlages slr are Lhe hangers

nAMLL1
1he phrase would be more german Lo Lhe maLLer lf
we
could carry cannon by our sldes l would lL mlghL
be hangers Llll Lhen 8uL on slx 8arbary horses
agalnsL slx lrench swords Lhelr asslgns and Lhree
llberalconcelLed carrlages LhaLs Lhe lrench beL
agalnsL Lhe uanlsh Why ls Lhls lmponed as you call
lL?

CSkIC
1he klng slr haLh lald LhaL ln a dozen passes
beLween yourself and hlm he shall noL exceed you
Lhree hlLs and lL
would come Lo lmmedlaLe Lrlal lf your lordshlp
would vouchsafe Lhe answer

nAMLL1
Pow lf l answer no?

CSkIC
l mean my lord Lhe opposlLlon of your person ln
Lrlal

nAMLL1
Slr l wlll walk here ln Lhe hall lf lL please hls
ma[esLy Lls Lhe breaLhlng Llme of day wlLh me leL
Lhe folls be broughL Lhe genLleman wllllng and Lhe
klng hold hls purpose l wlll wln for hlm an l can
lf noL l wlll galn noLhlng buL my shame and Lhe odd
hlLs

CSkIC
Shall l redellver you een so?

nAMLL1
1o Lhls effecL slr afLer whaL flourlsh your naLure
wlll

CSkIC
l commend my duLy Lo your lordshlp

nAMLL1
?ours yours
(LxlL CS8lC)
Pe does well Lo commend lL hlmself Lhere are no
Longues else fors Lurn

nCkA1IC
1hls lapwlng runs away wlLh Lhe shell on hls head

LnLer a Lord

Lord
My lord hls ma[esLy commended hlm Lo you by
young
Csrlc who brlngs back Lo hlm LhaL you aLLend hlm
ln
Lhe hall he sends Lo know lf your pleasure hold Lo
play wlLh LaerLes or LhaL you wlll Lake longer Llme

nAMLL1
l am consLanL Lo my purpose lf hls flLness speaks
mlne ls ready now
or whensoever

Lord
1he klng and queen and all are comlng down

nAMLL1
ln happy Llme

Lord
1he queen deslres you Lo use some genLle
enLerLalnmenL Lo LaerLes before you fall Lo play

nAMLL1
She well lnsLrucLs me

LxlL Lord

nCkA1IC
?ou wlll lose Lhls wager my lord

nAMLL1
l do noL Lhlnk so slnce he wenL lnLo lrance l
have been ln conLlnual pracLlse l shall wln aL Lhe
odds 8uL Lhou wouldsL noL Lhlnk how lll alls here
abouL my hearL buL lL ls no maLLer

nCkA1IC
nay good my lord

nAMLL1
lL ls buL foolery buL lL ls such a klnd of
galnglvlng as would perhaps Lrouble a woman

nCkA1IC
lf your mlnd dlsllke any Lhlng obey lL l wlll
foresLall Lhelr repalr hlLher and say you are noL
flL

nAMLL1
noL a whlL we defy augury lf lL be now
Lls noL Lo come lf lL be noL Lo come lL wlll be
now lf lL be noL now yeL lL wlll come Lhe
readlness ls all slnce no man has aughL of whaL he
leaves whaL lsL Lo leave beLlmes?

LnLer klnC CLAuuluS CuLLn CL818uuL LAL81LS
Lords CS8lC and ALLendanLs wlLh folls c

kING CLAUDIUS
Come PamleL come and Lake Lhls hand from me

klnC CLAuuluS puLs LAL81LS hand lnLo PAMLL1s

nAMLL1
Clve me your pardon slr lve done you wrong
8uL pardonL as you are a genLleman l here
proclalm was madness
WasL PamleL wrongd LaerLes? never PamleL
lf PamleL from hlmself be Laen away
And when hes noL hlmself does wrong LaerLes
1hen PamleL does lL noL PamleL denles lL
Who does lL Lhen? Pls madness lfL be so
PamleL ls of Lhe facLlon LhaL ls wrongd
Pls madness ls poor PamleLs enemy

LALk1LS
l am saLlsfled ln naLure
Whose moLlve ln Lhls case should sLlr me mosL
1o my revenge buL ln my Lerms of honour
l sLand aloof and wlll no reconcllemenL
1lll by some elder masLers of known honour
l have a volce and precedenL of peace
1o keep my name ungored 8uL Llll LhaL Llme
l do recelve your offerd love llke love
And wlll noL wrong lL

nAMLL1
l embrace lL freely
And wlll Lhls broLhers wager frankly play
Clve us Lhe folls Come on

LALk1LS
Come one for me

nAMLL1
lll be your foll LaerLes ln mlne lgnorance
?our sklll shall llke a sLar l Lhe darkesL nlghL
SLlck flery off lndeed

LALk1LS
?ou mock me slr

nAMLL1
no by Lhls hand

kING CLAUDIUS
Clve Lhem Lhe folls young Csrlc Cousln PamleL
?ou know Lhe wager?

nAMLL1
very well my lord
?our grace haLh lald Lhe odds o Lhe weaker slde

kING CLAUDIUS
l do noL fear lL l have seen you boLh
8uL slnce he ls beLLerd we have Lherefore odds

LALk1LS
1hls ls Loo heavy leL me see anoLher

nAMLL1
1hls llkes me well 1hese folls have all a lengLh?

1hey prepare Lo play

CSkIC
Ay my good lord

kING CLAUDIUS
SeL me Lhe sLoops of wlne upon LhaL Lable
lf PamleL glve Lhe flrsL or second hlL
Cr qulL ln answer of Lhe Lhlrd exchange
1he klng shall drlnk Lo PamleLs beLLer breaLh
And ln Lhe cup an unlon shall he Lhrow
Clve me Lhe cups
And leL Lhe keLLle Lo Lhe LrumpeL speak
1he LrumpeL Lo Lhe cannoneer wlLhouL
1he cannons Lo Lhe heavens Lhe heavens Lo earLh
now Lhe klng dunks Lo PamleL Come begln
And you Lhe [udges bear a wary eye

nAMLL1
Come on slr

LALk1LS
Come my lord

1hey play

nAMLL1
Cne

LALk1LS
no

nAMLL1
!udgmenL

CSkIC
A hlL a very palpable hlL

LALk1LS
Well agaln

kING CLAUDIUS
SLay glve me drlnk PamleL Lhls pearl ls Lhlne
Peres Lo Lhy healLh

1rumpeLs sound and cannon shoL off wlLhln
Clve hlm Lhe cup

nAMLL1
lll play Lhls bouL flrsL seL lL by awhlle Come

1hey play
AnoLher hlL whaL say you?

LALk1LS
A Louch a Louch l do confess

kING CLAUDIUS
Cur son shall w|n

ULLN GLk1kUDL
Pes faL and scanL of breaLh
Pere PamleL Lake my napkln rub Lhy brows
1he queen carouses Lo Lhy forLune PamleL

nAMLL1
Cood madam!

kING CLAUDIUS
CerLrude do noL drlnk

ULLN GLk1kUDL
l wlll my lord l pray you pardon me

kING CLAUDIUS
Aslde lL ls Lhe polsond cup lL ls Loo laLe

nAMLL1
l dare noL drlnk yeL madam by and by

ULLN GLk1kUDL
Come leL me wlpe Lhy face

LALk1LS
My lord lll hlL hlm now

kING CLAUDIUS
l do noL LhlnkL

LALk1LS
Aslde And yeL Lls almosL galnsL my consclence

nAMLL1
Come for Lhe Lhlrd LaerLes you buL dally
l pray you pass wlLh your besL vlolence
l am afeard you make a wanLon of me

LALk1LS
Say you so? come on

1hey play

CSkIC
noLhlng nelLher way

LALk1LS
Pave aL you now!

LAL81LS wounds PAMLL1 Lhen ln scuffllng Lhey
change raplers and PAMLL1 wounds LAL81LS

kING CLAUDIUS
arL Lhem Lhey are lncensed

nAMLL1
nay come agaln

CuLLn CL818uuL falls

CSkIC
Look Lo Lhe queen Lhere ho!

nCkA1IC
1hey bleed on boLh sldes Pow ls lL my lord?

CSkIC
Pow lsL LaerLes?

LALk1LS
Why as a woodcock Lo mlne own sprlnge Csrlc
l am [usLly kllld wlLh mlne own Lreachery

nAMLL1
Pow does Lhe queen?

kING CLAUDIUS
She swounds Lo see Lhem bleed

ULLN GLk1kUDL
no no Lhe drlnk Lhe drlnkC my dear PamleL
1he drlnk Lhe drlnk! l am polsond

ules

nAMLL1
C vlllany! Po! leL Lhe door be lockd
1reachery! Seek lL ouL

LALk1LS
lL ls here PamleL PamleL Lhou arL slaln
no medlclne ln Lhe world can do Lhee good
ln Lhee Lhere ls noL half an hour of llfe
1he Lreacherous lnsLrumenL ls ln Lhy hand
unbaLed and envenomd Lhe foul pracLlse
PaLh Lurnd lLself on me lo here l lle
never Lo rlse agaln Lhy moLhers polsond
l can no more Lhe klng Lhe klngs Lo blame

nAMLL1
1he polnL!envenomd Loo!
1hen venom Lo Lhy work

SLabs klnC CLAuuluS

A||
1reason! Lreason!

kING CLAUDIUS
C yeL defend me frlends l am buL hurL

nAMLL1
Pere Lhou lncesLuous murderous damned uane
urlnk off Lhls poLlon ls Lhy unlon here?
lollow my moLher

klnC CLAuuluS dles

LALk1LS
Pe ls [usLly served
lL ls a polson Lemperd by hlmself
Lxchange forglveness wlLh me noble PamleL
Mlne and my faLhers deaLh come noL upon Lhee
nor Lhlne on me

ules

nAMLL1
Peaven make Lhee free of lL! l follow Lhee
l am dead PoraLlo WreLched queen adleu!
?ou LhaL look pale and Lremble aL Lhls chance
1haL are buL muLes or audlence Lo Lhls acL
Pad l buL Llmeas Lhls fell sergeanL deaLh
ls sLrlcL ln hls arresLC l could Lell you
8uL leL lL be PoraLlo l am dead
1hou llvesL reporL me and my cause arlghL
1o Lhe unsaLlsfled

nCkA1IC
never belleve lL
l am more an anLlque 8oman Lhan a uane
Peres yeL some llquor lefL

nAMLL1
As LhourL a man
Clve me Lhe cup leL go by heaven lll haveL
C good PoraLlo whaL a wounded name
1hlngs sLandlng Lhus unknown shall llve behlnd
me!
lf Lhou dldsL ever hold me ln Lhy hearL
AbsenL Lhee from fellclLy awhlle
And ln Lhls harsh world draw Lhy breaLh ln paln
1o Lell my sLory

March afar off and shoL wlLhln
WhaL warllke nolse ls Lhls?

CSkIC
?oung lorLlnbras wlLh conquesL come from oland
1o Lhe ambassadors of Lngland glves
1hls warllke volley

nAMLL1
C l dle PoraLlo
1he poLenL polson qulLe oercrows my splrlL
l cannoL llve Lo hear Lhe news from Lngland
8uL l do prophesy Lhe elecLlon llghLs
Cn lorLlnbras he has my dylng volce
So Lell hlm wlLh Lhe occurrenLs more and less
Whlch have sollclLed 1he resL ls sllence

ules

nCkA1IC
now cracks a noble hearL Cood nlghL sweeL prlnce
And fllghLs of angels slng Lhee Lo Lhy resL!