HAMLET         What a piece of work is a man – how noble in reason; how infinite in faculties, in form and moving; how express and admirable in action; how like an angel in apprehension; how like a god; the beauty of the world; the paragon of animals. And yet to me what is this quintessence […]

HAMLET         I will tell you why. So shall my anticipation prevent your discovery and your secrecy to the King and Queen moult no feather. I have of late, but wherefore I know not, lost all my mirth, forgone all custom of exercises and, indeed, it goes so heavily with my disposition that this goodly frame […]

ROSENCRANTZ                     To what end, my lord? HAMLET         That you must teach me. But let me conjure you, by the rights of our fellowship, by the consonancy of our youth, by the obligation of our ever-preserved love, and by what more dear a better proposer can charge you withal, be even and direct with me whether […]

HAMLET         Beggar that I am, I am ever poor in thanks, but I thank you, and sure, dear friends, my thanks are too dear a halfpenny. Were you not sent for? Is it your own inclining? Is it a free visitation? Come, come, deal justly with me. Come, come, nay speak. GUILDENSTERN        What should we […]

GUILDENSTERN        Happy, in that we are not ever happy. On Fortune’s cap we are not the very button. HAMLET         Nor the soles of her shoe. ROSENCRANTZ         Neither, my lord. HAMLET         Then you live about her waist, or in the middle of her favours. GUILDENSTERN        Faith, her privates we. HAMLET         In the secret parts of Fortune? […]

POLONIUS      Fare you well, my lord. HAMLET         These tedious old fools. Enter GUILDENSTERN and ROSENCRANTZ. POLONIUS      You go to seek the Lord Hamlet? There he is. ROSENCRANTZ         [to Polonius] God save you, sir. [Exit Polonius.] GUILDENSTERN        My honoured lord. ROSENCRANTZ         My most dear lord. HAMLET         My excellent good friends. How dost thou, Guildenstern? Ah, Rosencrantz! […]

POLONIUS      [aside] Though this be madness yet there is method in’t. — Will you walk out of the air, my lord? HAMLET         Into my grave. POLONIUS      [aside] Indeed, that’s out of the air. How pregnant sometimes his replies are – a happiness that often madness hits on, which reason and sanity could not so prosperously […]

POLONIUS      What is the matter, my lord? HAMLET         Between who? POLONIUS      I mean the matter that you read, my lord. HAMLET         Slanders, sir. For the satirical rogue says here that old men have grey beards, that their faces are wrinkled, their eyes purging thick amber and plumtree gum, and that they have a plentiful lack […]

HAMLET         For if the sun breed maggots in a dead dog, being a good kissing carrion – have you a daughter? POLONIUS      I have, my lord. HAMLET         Let her not walk i’th’ sun: conception is a blessing but as your daughter may conceive, friend – look to’t. POLONIUS      [aside] How say you by that? Still harping on my […]

Enter HAMLET . GERTRUDE    But look where sadly the poor wretch comes reading. POLONIUS      Away, I do beseech you both, away. I’ll board him presently. O, give me leave. (Exeunt CLAUDIUS and GERTRUDE.) How does my good lord Hamlet? HAMLET                                 Well, God-a-mercy. POLONIUS      Do you know me, my lord? HAMLET         Excellent well, you are a fishmonger. POLONIUS      Not I, my lord. HAMLET         Then I would you were so honest a man. POLONIUS      […]