MESSENGER              Save yourself, my lord. The ocean overpeering of his list Eats not the flats with more impiteous haste Than young Laertes in a riotous head O’erbears your officers. The rabble call him lord And, as the world were now but to begin, Antiquity forgot, custom not known, The ratifiers and props of every word, They cry, ‘Choose we: Laertes shall be king!’ – […]

CLAUDIUS                  O my dear Gertrude, this, Like to a murdering-piece in many places Gives me superfluous death. (A noise within) Enter a Messenger. Attend! Where is my Switzers? Let them guard the door. What is the matter?   (4.5.94-98) Claudius is barely remaining in control of himself, and again he turns to Gertrude with a vivid conceit: O my dear Gertrude, this, like to a […]

CLAUDIUS      Last, and as much containing as all these, Her brother is in secret come from France, Feeds on this wonder, keeps himself in clouds And wants not buzzers to infect his ear With pestilent speeches of his father’s death – Wherein necessity, of matter beggared, Will nothing stick our person to arraign In ear and ear.            (4.5.87-94) Last, and as much containing as all these—of equal weight and impact as all […]

 CLAUDIUS     … first, her father slain; Next, your son gone, and he most violent author Of his own just remove; the people muddied, Thick and unwholesome in thoughts and whispers For good Polonius’ death, and we have done but greenly In hugger-mugger to inter him; poor Ophelia Divided from herself and her fair judgement, Without the which we are pictures or mere beasts… (4.5.79-86) Claudius starts […]

CLAUDIUS      O, this is the poison of deep grief. It springs All from her father’s death, and now behold – O Gertrude, Gertrude, When sorrows come they come not single spies But in battalions…     (4.5.75-9) Claudius may be the play’s villain but again and again he gets speeches of penetrating psychological insight, and straightforward reasonableness; this is the beginning of a long outpouring of […]

CLAUDIUS      How long hath she been thus? OPHELIA        I hope all will be well. We must be patient. But I cannot choose but weep to think they would lay him i’th’ cold ground. My brother shall know of it. And so I thank you for your good counsel. Come, my coach! Goodnight, ladies, goodnight. Sweet […]

CLAUDIUS      Pretty Ophelia – OPHELIA        Indeed, without an oath I’ll make an end on’t. [Sings.]         By Gis and by Saint Charity,         Alack and fie for shame,         Young men will do’t if they come to’t:         By Cock they are to blame.         Quoth she, ‘Before you tumbled me         You promised me to wed.’ He answers:         ‘So would I ha’ done by yonder sun         An thou hadst not come to my […]

CLAUDIUS      Conceit upon her father – OPHELIA        Pray, let’s have no words of this, but when they ask you what it means, say you this: Sings.          Tomorrow is Saint Valentine’s Day         All in the morning betime,         And I a maid at your window         To be your valentine.         Then up he rose and donned his clothes         And dupped the chamber door –         Let in […]

GERTRUDE     Nay, but Ophelia – OPHELIA        Pray you mark. [Sings.]         White his shroud as the mountain snow – Enter CLAUDIUS. GERTRUDE     Alas, look here, my lord. OPHELIA [Sings.]         Larded all with sweet flowers         Which bewept to the ground did not go With true-love showers. CLAUDIUS      How do you, pretty lady? OPHELIA        Well, good dild you. They say the owl was a baker’s daughter. Lord, […]

OPHELIA        (Sings.)          How should I your true love know         From another one?         By his cockle hat and staff         And his sandal shoon. GERTRUDE     Alas, sweet lady, what imports this song? OPHELIA        Say you? Nay, pray you, mark. (Sings.)         He is dead and gone, lady,         He is dead and gone.         At his head a grass-green turf,         At his heels a stone. […]