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said 'Man delights not me'？ Ros。 To think； my lord； if you delight not in
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THE TRAGEDY OF HAMLET； PRINCE OF DENMARK
man； what lenten entertainment the players shall receive from you。 We
coted them on the way； and hither are they coming to offer you service。
Ham。 He that plays the king shall be welcome… his Majesty shall have
tribute of me； the adventurous knight shall use his foil and target； the lover
shall not sigh gratis； the humorous man shall end his part in peace； the
clown shall make those laugh whose lungs are tickle o' th' sere； and the
lady shall say her mind freely； or the blank verse shall halt for't。 What
players are they？ Ros。 Even those you were wont to take such delight in；
the tragedians of the city。 Ham。 How chances it they travel？ Their
residence； both in reputation and profit； was better both ways。 Ros。 I think
their inhibition comes by the means of the late innovation。 Ham。 Do they
hold the same estimation they did when I was in the city？ Are they so
follow'd？ Ros。 No indeed are they not。 Ham。 How comes it？ Do they grow
rusty？ Ros。 Nay； their endeavour keeps in the wonted pace； but there is； sir；
an eyrie of children； little eyases； that cry out on the top of question and
are most tyrannically clapp'd for't。 These are now the fashion； and so
berattle the common stages （so they call them） that many wearing rapiers
are afraid of goosequills and dare scarce come thither。 Ham。 What； are
they children？ Who maintains 'em？ How are they escoted？ Will they
pursue the quality no longer than they can sing？ Will they not say
afterwards； if they should grow themselves to common players （as it is
most like； if their means are no better）； their writers do them wrong to
make them exclaim against their own succession。 Ros。 Faith； there has
been much to do on both sides； and the nation holds it no sin to tarre them
to controversy。 There was； for a while； no money bid for argument unless
the poet and the player went to cuffs in the question。 Ham。 Is't possible？
Guil。 O； there has been much throwing about of brains。 Ham。 Do the boys
carry it away？ Ros。 Ay； that they do； my lord… Hercules and his load too。
Ham。 It is not very strange； for my uncle is King of Denmark； and those
that would make mows at him while my father lived give twenty； forty；
fifty； a hundred ducats apiece for his picture in little。 'Sblood； there is
something in this more than natural； if philosophy could find it out。
Flourish for the Players。
Guil。 There are the players。 Ham。 Gentlemen； you are welcome to
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THE TRAGEDY OF HAMLET； PRINCE OF DENMARK
Elsinore。 Your hands； come！ Th' appurtenance of welcome is fashion and
ceremony。 Let me comply with you in this garb； lest my extent to the
players （which I tell you must show fairly outwards） should more appear
like entertainment than yours。 You are welcome。 But my uncle…father and
aunt…mother are deceiv'd。 Guil。 In what； my dear lord？ Ham。 I am but mad
north…north…west。 When the wind is southerly I know a hawk from a
handsaw。Enter Polonius。
Pol。 Well be with you； gentlemen！ Ham。 Hark you； Guildenstern… and
you too… at each ear a hearer！ That great baby you see there is not yet out
of his swaddling clouts。 Ros。 Happily he's the second time come to them；
for they say an old man is twice a child。 Ham。 I will prophesy he comes to
tell me of the players。 Mark it。…You say right； sir； a Monday morning； twas
so indeed。 Pol。 My lord； I have news to tell you。 Ham。 My lord； I have
news to tell you。 When Roscius was an actor in Rome… Pol。 The actors are
come hither； my lord。 Ham。 Buzz； buzz！ Pol。 Upon my honour… Ham。
Then came each actor on his ass… Pol。 The best actors in the world； either
for tragedy； comedy； history； pastoral； pastoral…comical； historical…pastoral；
tragical…historical； tragical…comical…historical…pastoral； scene individable；
or poem unlimited。 Seneca cannot be too heavy； nor Plautus too light。 For
the law of writ and the liberty； these are the only men。 Ham。 O Jephthah；
judge of Israel； what a treasure hadst thou！ Pol。 What treasure had he； my
lord？ Ham。 Why；
'One fair daughter； and no more；The which he loved passing well。'
Pol。 ＇aside＇ Still on my daughter。 Ham。 Am I not i' th' right； old
Jephthah？ Pol。 If you call me Jephthah； my lord； I have a daughter that I
love passing well。 Ham。 Nay； that follows not。 Pol。 What follows then； my
lord？ Ham。 Why；
'As by lot； God wot；'
and then； you know； 'It came to pass； as most like it was。'
The first row of the pious chanson will show you more； for look where
my abridgment comes。
Enter four or five Players。
You are welcome； masters； welcome； all。… I am glad to see thee well。…
Welcome； good friends。… O； my old friend？ Why； thy face is valanc'd since
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THE TRAGEDY OF HAMLET； PRINCE OF DENMARK
I saw thee last。 Com'st' thou to' beard me in Denmark？… What； my young
lady and mistress？ By'r Lady； your ladyship is nearer to heaven than when
I saw you last by the altitude of a chopine。 Pray God your voice； like a
piece of uncurrent gold； be not crack'd within the ring。… Masters； you are
all welcome。 We'll e'en to't like French falconers； fly at anything we see。
We'll have a speech straight。 Come； give us a taste of your quality。 Come；
a passionate speech。 1。 Play。 What speech； my good lord？ Ham。 I heard
thee speak me a speech once； but it was never acted； or if it was； not above
once； for the play； I remember； pleas'd not the million； 'twas caviary to the
general； but it was （as I receiv'd it； and others； whose judgments in such
matters cried in the top of mine） an excellent play； well digested in the
scenes； set down with as much modesty as cunning。 I remember one said
there were no sallets in the lines to make the matter savoury； nor no matter
in the phrase that might indict the author of affectation； but call'd it an
honest method； as wholesome as sweet； and by very much more handsome
than fine。 One speech in't I chiefly lov'd。 'Twas AEneas' tale to Dido； and
thereabout of it especially where he speaks of Priam's slaughter。 If i