PLAYER QUEEN Nor earth to me give food nor heaven light,
Sport and repose lock from me day and night.
To desperation turn my trust and hope
And anchor’s cheer in prison be my scope.
Each opposite that blanks the face of joy
Meet what I would have well and it destroy.
Both here and hence pursue me lasting strife
If once I be a widow ever I be a wife.
HAMLET If she should break it now!
PLAYER KING ’Tis deeply sworn. Sweet, leave me here awhile.
My spirits grow dull, and fain I would beguile
The tedious day with sleep.
PLAYER QUEEN Sleep rock thy brain,
And never come mischance between us twain.
Exit. [He sleeps.] (3.2.210-222)
The Queen is adamant and resolute, nor earth to me give food nor heaven light, sport and repose lock from me day and night. I will NEVER EVER remarry, and if I’m proved wrong in that, let me never eat or sleep, or see daylight or have any pleasure in anything ever again! If I remarry, to desperation turn my trust and hope and anchor’s cheer in prison be my scope: let me despair of everything, and live the life of an anchorite, starving and solitary. Each opposite that blanks the face of joy meet what I would have well and it destroy: let me be frustrated in everything, see everything I long for or wish to go well fail utterly. If I remarry after your death, make my life a misery, make me wish I were dead! Both here and hence pursue me lasting strife if once I be a widow ever I be a wife.
Hamlet’s indecently pleased by this, the degree to which this fictional woman has tied herself up, the violence with which she has sworn fidelity to her husband even in death: if she should break it now! a vow like that! he’s totally wound up. But it’s back to the King: ’tis deeply sworn. I believe you, you’ve made a solemn promise, I know. But sweet, leave me here awhile. My spirits grow dull, and fain I would beguile the tedious day with sleep. I really am getting drowsy; it’s time for my nap. You go off and do your things.
Her final words are tender: sleep rock thy brain—you have a good sleep now—and never come mischance between us twain. Let’s never let any misfortune separate us; let’s be together always, come what may.