as now.

Osr. I know, you are not ignorant

your pleasure hold to play with Laertes, or that you Ham. I would, you did, sir; yet, in faith, if you will take longer time. did, it would not much approve me ;-Well, sir. Ham. I am constant to my purposes, they fol

Osr. You are not ignorant of what excellence low the king's pleasure: if his fitness speaks, mine Laertes is

is ready; now, or whensoever, provided I be so able Ham. I dare not confess that, lest I should compare with him in excellence; but, to know a man Lord. The king, and queen, and all are coming well, were to know himself.

down. Osr. I mean, sir, for his weapon; but in the im- Ham. In happy time. putation laid on him by them, in his meed' he's Lord. The queen desires you to use some genun fellowed.

tle entertainment to Laertes, before you fall to Ham. What's his weapon?

play. Osr. Rapier and dagger.

Ham. She well instructs me.

[Exit Lord. Ham. That's two of his weapons: but, well. Hor. You will lose this wager, my lord.

Osr. The king, sir, hath wagered with him six Ham. I do not think so; since he went into Barbary horses: against the which he nas im- France, I have been in continual practice; I shall pawned, as I take it, six French rapiers and win at the odds. But thou wouldst not think, how poniards, with their assigns, as girdle, hangers,' ill all's here about my heart: but it is no matter. and so; Three of the carriages, in faith, are very Hor. Nay, good my lord,dear to fancy, very responsive to the hilts, most Ham. It is but foolery; but it is such a kind of delicate carriages, and of very liberal conceit. gain-giving,' as would perhaps, trouble a woman. Ham. What call you the carriages?

Hor. If your mind dislike any thing, obey it: I Hor. I knew you must be edified by the mar- will forestall their repair hither, and say, you are gent,' ere you had done.

not fit. Osr. The carriages, sir, are the hangers.

Ham. Not a whit, we defy augury; there is a Ham. The phrase would be more german' to the special providence in the fall of a sparrow. If it matter, if we could carry a cannon by our sides ; be now, 'tis not to come; if it be not to come, it will I would, it might be hangers till then. But, on: be now; if it be not now, yet it will come: the Six Barbary horses against six French swords, readiness is all: Since no man, of aught he leaves, their assigns, and three liberal conceited carriages; knows, what is't to leave betimes? Let be. that's the French bet against the Danish: Why, is this impawned, as you call it?

Enter King, Queen, LAERTES, Lords, Osric, Ost. The king, sir, hath laid, that in a dozen

and Attendants, with Foils, &c. passes between yourself and him, he shall not ex- King. Come, Hamlet, come, and take this hand ceed you three hits; he hath laid, on twelve for

from me. nine; and it would come to immediate trial, if your [The King puts the Hand of LAERTEs into lordship would vouchsafe the answer.

that of Hamlet. Ham. How, if I answer, no?

Ham. Give me your pardon, sir: I have done Ost. I mean, my lord, the opposition of your

you wrong; person in trial.

But pardon it, as you are a gentleman. Ham. Sir, I will walk here in the hall: If it This presence knows, and you must needs have please his majesty, it is the breathing time of day heard, with me: let the foils be brought, the gentleman How I am punish'd with a sore distraction. willing, and the king hold his purpose, I will win What I have done, for him, if I can; if not, I will gain nothing but That might your nature, honor, and exception, my shame, and the odd hits.

Roughly awake, I here proclaim was madness. Osr. Shall I deliver you so?

Was't Hamlet wronged Laertes? Never Hamlet; Ham. To this effect, sir; after what flourish If Hamlet from himself be ta'en away, your nature will.

And, when he's not himself, does wrong Laertes, Ost. I commend my duty to your lordship. [Exit. Then Hamlet does it not, Hamlet denies it.

Ham. Yours, yours. He does well to com- Who does it then? His madness : If 't be so, mend it himself; there are no tongues else for's turn. Hamlet is of the faction that is wronged;

Hor. This lapwing runs away with the shell His madness is poor Hamlet's enemy. on his head.

Sir, in this audience, Ham. He did comply with his dug, before he Let my disclaiming from a purpos'd evil sucked it. Thus has he (and many more of the Free me so far in your most generous thoughts, same breed, that, I know, the drossy age dotes on) That I have shot my arrow o'er the house, only got the tune of the time, and outward habit And hurt my brother. of encounter; a kind of yesty collection, which Laer.

I am satisfied in nature, carries them through and through the most fond Whose motive, in this case, should stir me most and winnowed opinions; and do but blow them to To my revenge: but in my terms of honor, their trial, the bubbles are out.

I stand aloof; and will no reconcilement,
Enter a Lord.

Till by some elder masters of known honor,

I have a voice and precedent of peace, Lord. My lord, his majesty commended him to To keep my name ungor'd:' But till that time, you by young Osric, who brings back to him, that I do receive your offer'd love like love, you attend him in the hall: He sends to know, if And will not wrong it.

Ham.

I embrace it freely; * Praise. • That part of the belt by which the sword was suspended. And will this brother's wager frankly play. — Margin of a book which contains explanatory notes.

Give us the foils; come on.
Laer.

Come, one for me. A bird which runs about immediately it is hatched. • Compliment. • Worthless.

Misgiving & The king and queen's presence. • For fond read fann'd.

. Unwounded.

3

6

• Recommend

* Staked.

Akin.

rance

Ham. I'll be your foil, Laertes; in mine igno Hor. They bleed on both sides;—How is it, my

lord ? Your skill shall, like a star i' the darkest night, Osr. How is't, Laertes ? Stick fiery off indeed.

Laer. Why, as a woodcock to my own springe, Laer. You mock me, sir.

Osric; Hom. No, by this hand.

I am justly kill'd with mine own treachery. King. Give them the foils, young Osric.-Cou Ham. How does the queen ? sin Hamlet,

King.

She swoons to see them bleed. You know the wager?

Queen. No, no, the drink, the drink, -0 my Ham. Very well, my lord;

dear Hamlet! Your grace bath laid the odds o' the weaker side. The drink, the drink ;-I am poison'd! (Dies.

King. I do not fear it:—I have seen you both: Ham. O villany!-Ho! let the door be lock'd: But since he's better'd, we have therefore odds. Treachery! seek it out. (LAERTES falls.

Laer. This is too heavy, let me see another. Laer. It is here, Hamlet: Hamlet, thou art slain; Ham. This likes me well: These foils have all No medicine in the world can do thee good,

a length ? [They prepare to play. In thee there is not half an hour's life; Ost. Ay, my good lord.

The treacherous instrument is in thy hand, King. Set me the stoups' of wine upon that Unbated,' and envenom'd: the foul practice table :

Hath turn'd itself on me; lo, here I lie, If Hamlet give the first or second hit,

Never to rise again: Thy mother's poison'd; Or quit in answer of the third exchange,

I can no more; the king, the king's to blame.
Let all the battlements their ordnance fire,

Ham. The point
The king shall drink to Hamlet's better breath; Envenom'd too!-then, venom, to thy work.
And in the cup an union' shall he throw,

[Stabs the Kine.
Richer than that which four successive kings Ost. of Lords. Treason! treason !
In Denmark's crown have worn; Give me the cups ; King. O, yet defend me friends, I am but hurt.
And let the kettle to the trumpet speak,

Ham. Here thou incestuous, murd'rous, damned The trumpet to the cannoneer without,

Dane,
The cannons to the heavens, the heaven to earth, Drink off this potion :—Is thy union here?
Now the King drinks to Hamlet.-Come, begin;- Follow my mother.
And you, the judges, bear a wary eye.

Laer.

He is justly serv'd; Ham. Come on, sir.

It is a poison temper'd by himself.Laer.

Come, my lord. They play. Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Hamlet: Ham.

One. Mine and my father's death come not upon thee; Laer. No. Nor thine on me!

(Dies. Ham.

Judgment. Ham. Heaven make thee free of it! I follow Ost. A hit, a very palpable hit.

thee. Laer.

Well,—again. I am dead. Horatio :—Wretched queen, adieu!King. Stay, give me drink: Hamlet, this pearl You that look pale and tremble at this chance, is thine;

That are but mutes or audience to this act, Here's to thy health.-Give him the cup. Had I but time, (as this fell sergeant, death, [Trumpets sound; and Cannon shot off within. Is strict in his arrest,) O, I could tell you,

Ham. I'll play this bout first, set it by a while. But let it be:—Horatio, I am dead;
Come.-Another hit; What say you? [They play. Thou liv'st; report me and my cause aright
Laer. A touch, a touch, I do confess.

To the unsatisfied.
King. Our son shall win.

Hor.

Never believe it;
Queen. He's fat, and scant of breath.-|I am more an antique Roman than a Dane,
Here, Hamlet, take my napkin, rub thy brows: Here's yet some liquor left.
The queen carouses to thy fortune, Hamlet.

Ham.

As thou'rt a man, Ham. Good madam,

Give me the cup; let go; by heaven I'll have it.King.

Gertrude, do not drink. O God!-Horatio, what a wounded name, Queen. I will, my lord;-) pray you, pardon me. Things standing thus unknown, shall live behind King. It is the poison'd cup; it is too late. [Aside.

me ? Ham. I dare not drink yet, madam; by and by. If thou didst ever hold me in thy heart, Queen. Come, let me wipe thy face.

Absent thee from felicity awhile, Laer. My lord, I'll hit him now.

And in this harsh world draw thy breath in pain, King.

I do not think it. To tell my story:Laer. And yet it is almost against my conscience.

(March afar off, and Shot within. [Aside.

What warlike noise is this? Ham. Come, for the third, Laertes: You do but Osr. Young Fortinbras, with conquest come from dally;

Poland,
I pray you, pass with your best violence; To the ambassadors of England gives
I am afeard, you make a wanton of me. This warlike volley.
Laer. Say you so? come on. [They play. Ham.

0, I die, Horatio; Osr. Nothing neither way.

The potent poison quite o'er-crows my spirit; Laer. Have at you now.

I cannot live to hear the news from England:
[LAERTES wounds Hamlet; then, in scuf. But I do prophesy the election lights

fling, they change Rapiers, and Ham On Fortinbras; he has my dying voice;
LET wounds LAERTES.

So tell him, with the occurrents,' more or less,
King.

Part them, they are incens’d. Which have solicited,—the rest is silence. [Dies Ham. Nay, come again. [The Queen falls.

• Not blunted, without a button. Osr. Look to the queen there, ho !

& A sergeant is a sheriff's officer. Large jugs. A precious pearl. • Boy.

• Mixed.
Occurrences.

. Incited.

Hor. Now cracks a noble heart;-Good-night, | And let me speak, to the yet unknowing world, sweet prince;

How these things come about: So shall you hear And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest! Of carnal, bloody, and unnatural acts; Why does the drum come hither ? [March within. Of accidental judgments, casual slaughters ; Enter FortinBRAS, the English Ambassadors,

Of deaths put on by cunning, and forced cause; and others.

And in this upshot, purposes mistook

Fall'n on the inventors' heads: all this can I Fort. Where is this sight? Hor. What is it you would see?

Truly deliver.

Fort. Let us haste to hear it,
If aught of woe or wonder, cease your search.
Fort. This quarry' cries on havoc!'—O proud for me, with sorrow I embrace my fortune;

And call the noblest to the audience.
death!
What feast is toward in thine eternal cell,

I have some rights of memory in this kingdom, That thou so many princes, at a shot,

Which now to claim my vantage doth invite me.

Hor. Of that I shall have also cause to speak, So bloodily hast struck?

And from his mouth whose voice will draw on 1 Amb.

The sight is dismal; And our affairs from England come too late: The ears are senseless, that should give us hearing, Even while men's minds are wild; lest more mis

But let this same be presently performid, To tell him, his commandment is fulfillid,

chance, That Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead:

On plots and errors, happen.
Where should we have our thanks?

Fort.
Hor.
Not from his mouth, Bear Hamlet, like a soldier, to the stage;

Let four captains Had it the ability of life to thank you;

For he was likely, had he been put on,
He never gave commandment for their death.
But since, so jump upon this bloody question,

To have prov'd most royally: and, for his passage,
You from the Polack' wars, and you from England, The soldier's music, and the rites of war,
Are here arriv'd; give order, that these bodies

Speak loudly for him.

Take up the bodies:-Such a sight as this High on a stage be placed to the view;

Becomes the field, but here shows much amiss. • Heap of dead game,

Go, bid the soldiers shoot. [A Dead March. 1A word of censure when more game was destroyed

[Exeunt, bearing off the dead Bodies; after than was reasonable. 9 So exactly at the time.

3 Polish.

which, a Peal of Ordnance is shut off.

more:

OTHELLO,

THE MOOR OF VENICE.

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

DUKE OF VENICE.

Clown, Servant to Othello.
BRABANTIO, a Senator.

Herald.
Two other Senators.
GRATIANO, Brother to Brabantio.

DESDEMONA, Daughter to Brabantio, and Wife to Lonovico, Kinsman to Brabantio.

Othello. OTHELLO, the Moor.

Emilia, Wife to Iago.
Cassio, his Lieutenant.

Bianca, a Courtezan, Mistress to Cassio.
Lago, his Ancient.
RODERIGO, a Venetian Gentleman.

Officers, Gentlemen, Messengers, Musicians, Montano, Othello's Predecessor in the Govern

Sailors, Attendants, $c. ment of Cyprus. SCENE, for the first Act, in Venice; during the rest of the Play, at a Sea-port in Cyprus.

ACT I.

SCENE I.–Venice. A Street.

Christian and heathen,-must be be-lee'd and calm'd

By debitor and creditor, this counter-caster;"
Enter RODERIGO and Iago.

He, in good time, must his lieutenant be, Rod. Tush, never tell me, I take it much un- And I, (God bless the mark !) bis Moorship’s ankindly,

cient. That thou, lago,—who hast had my purse,

Rod. By heaven, I rather would have been his As if the strings were thine,-shouldst know of

hangman. this.

lago. But there's no remedy, 'tis the curse of Iago. 'Sblood, but you will not hear me:

service; If ever I did dream of such a matter,

Preferment goes by letter, and affection, Abhor me.

Not by the old gradation, where each second Rod. Thou told’st me, thou didst hold him in thy Stood heir to the first. Now, sir, be judge yourself, hate.

Whether I in any just term am affinids lago. Despise me, if I do not. Three great ones To love the Moor. of the city,

Rod.

I would not follow him then. In personal suit to make me his lieutenant,

lago. O, sir, content you;
Oft capp'd' to him ;-and, by the faith of man, I follow him to serve my turn upon him:
I know my price, I am worth no worse a place : We cannot all be masters, nor all masters
But he, as loving his own pride and purposes, Cannot be truly follow'd. You shall mark
Evades them, with a bombast circumstance,' Many a duteous and knee-crooking knave,
Horribly stuff'd with epithets of war;

That, doting on his own obse bondage,
And, in conclusion, nonsuits

Wears out his time, much like his master's ass, My mediators; for certes,' says he,

For nought but provender; and, when he's old, I have already chose my officer.

cashier'd; And what was he?

Whip me such honest knaves : Others there are, Forsooth, a great arithmetician,

Who, trimm'd in forms and visages of duty, One Michael Cassio, a Florentine,

Keep yet their hearts attending on themselves; A fellow almost damn'd in a fair wife;

And, throwing but shows of service on their lords, That never set a squadron in the field,

Do well thrive by them, and when they have lined Nor the division of a battle knows

their coats, More than a spinster; unless the bookish theoric, Do themselves homage: these fellows have some Wherein the toged consuls can propose

soul;
As masterly as he: mere prattle, without practice, And such a one do I profess myself.
Is all his soldiership. But he, sir, had the election : For, sir,
And I,—of whom his eyes had seen the proof, It is as sure as you are Roderigo,
At Rhodes, at Cyprus; and on other grounds

• It was anciently the practice to reckon up sums with 1 Saluted. 9 Circumlocution. • Certainly. counters.

• Related

seech you,

Were I the Moor, I would not be Iago :

daughter and the Moor are now making the beast In following him, I follow but myself;

with two backs. Heaven is my judge, not I for love and duty, Bra. Thou art a villain. But seeming so, for my peculiar end :

Iago.

You are-a senator. For when my outward action doth demonstrate Bra. This thou shalt answer: I know thee, RoThe native act and figure of my heart

derigo. In compliment extern, 'tis not long after

Rod. Sir, I will answer any thing. But I be-
But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve
For daws to peck at: I am not what I am. If't be your pleasure, and most wise consent,

Rod. What a full fortune does the thick lips owe, (As partly, I find, it is,) that your fair daughter,
If he can carry't thus!

At this odd-even and dull watch o' the night, lago.

Call up her father, Transported—with no worse nor better guard,
Rouse him: make after him, poison his delight, But with a knave of common hire, a gondolier-
Proclaim him in the streets; incense her kinsmen, To the gross clasps of a lascivious Moor,-
And, though he in a fertile climate dwell,

If this be known to you, and your allowance,'
Plague him with flies: though that his joy be joy, We then have done you bold and saucy wrongs;
Yet throw such changes of vexation on't,

But, if you know not this, my manners tell me, As it may lose some color.

We have your wrong rebuke. Do not believe, Rod. Here is her father's house; I'll call aloud. That, from the sense of all civility,

lago. Do; with like timorous accent, and dire yell, I thus would play and trifle with your reverence: As when, by night and negligence, the fire Your daughter,-if you have not given her leave,Is spied in populous cities.

I say again, hath made a gross revolt; Rod. What ho! Brabantio! signior Brabantio, ho! Tying her duty, beauty, wit

, and fortunes, Iago. Awake! what ho! Brabantio! thieves! In an extravagant’ and wheeling stranger, thieves ! thieves !

Of here and every where : Straight satisfy yourself:
Look to your house, your daughter, and your bags! If she be in her chamber, or your house,
Thieves ! thieves !

Let loose on me the justice of the state

For thus deluding you.
BRABANTIO, above, at a Window.

Bra.

Strike on the tinder, ho!
Bra. What is the reason of this terrible summons? | Give me a taper ;-call up all my people :
What is the matter there?

This accident is not unlike my dream,
Rod. Signior, is all your family within ? Belief of it oppresses me already :-
Iago. Are your doors lock’d?

Light, I say! light!

[Exit from above. Bra. Why? wherefore ask you this? Iago.

Farewell; for I must leave you :
Iago. Zounds, sir, you are robb’d; for shame, put It seems not meet, nor wholesome to my place,
on your gown;

To be produced (as, if I stay, I shall)
Your heart is burst, you have lost half your soul; Against the Moor: For, I do know, the state,-
Even now, very now, an old black ram

However this may gall him with some check,-
Is tupping your white ewe. Arise, arise;

Cannot with safety cast him ; for he's embark'd
Awake the snorting citizens with the bell,

With such loud reason to the Cyprus' wars,
Or else the devil will make a grandsire of you: (Which even now stand in act) that, for their souls,
Arise, I say.

Another of his fathom they have not,
Bra. What, have you lost your wits? To lead their business: in which regard,
Rod. Most reverend signior,do you know myvoice? Though I do hate him as I do hell pains,
Bra. Not I: What are you?

Yet, for necessity of present life,
Rod. My name is—Roderigo.

I must show out a flag and sign of love,
Bra.

The worse welcome; Which is indeed but sign. That you shall surely
I have charged thee, not to haunt about my doors : find him,
In honest plainness thou hast heard me say, Lead to the Sagittary the rais'd search;
My daughter is not for thee; and now, in madness, And there will I be with him. So farewell. [Exit.
Being full of supper, and distempering draughts,

Enter below, BRABANTIO, and Servants with
Upon malicious bravery, dost thou come

Torches.
To start my quiet.
Rod. Sir, sir, sir, sir,-

Bra. It is too true an evil: gone she is;
Bra.

But thou must needs be sure, And what's to come of my despised time, My spirit, and my place, have in them power Is nought but bitterness. Now, Roderigo, To make this bitter to thee.

Where didst thou see her ?—0, unhappy girl! Rod.

Patience, good sir. With the Moor, say'st thou ?- Who would be a Bra. What tell’st thou me of robbing ? this is

father? Venice!

How didst thou know'twas she? O, thou deceiv'st me
My house is not a grange.'

Past thought!—What said she to you ?-Get
Rod.
Most grave Brabantio,

more tapers : In simple and pure soul I come to you.

Raise all my kindred.- Are they married, think Iago. Zounds, sir, you are one of those, that will not serve God, if the devil bid you. Because we Rod. Truly, I think, they are. come to do you service, you think we are ruffians: Bra. O heaven!-how got she out?-0 treason You'll have your daughter covered with a Barbary

of the blood !horse; you'll have your nephews neigh to you: Fathers, from hence trust not your daughters' minds you'll have coursers for cousins, and gennets for By what you see them act.- Are there not charms, germans.

By which the property of youth and maidhood Bra. What profane wretch art thou ?

May be abus'd? Have you not read, Roderigo, lago. I am one, sir, that comes to tell you, your Of some such thing? 6 Own, possess.

TA lone farm-house. & Relations. • Midnight. 1 Approbation. Wandering. Old age.

you?