First folio
| Modern text
| Definitions
| Key line
| |
Enter Laertes and Ophelia. | Enter Laertes and Ophelia | | Ham I.iii.1.1 | |
Laer. | LAERTES | | | |
My necessaries are imbark't; Farewell: | My necessaries are embarked. Farewell. | necessaries (n.)travelling necessities, personal luggage | Ham I.iii.1 | |
And Sister, as the Winds giue Benefit, | And, sister, as the winds give benefit | | Ham I.iii.2 | |
And Conuoy is assistant; doe not sleepe, | And convoy is assistant, do not sleep | convoy (n.)means of transport, method of conveyance | Ham I.iii.3 | |
| | assistant (adj.)in attendance, standing by, available | | |
But let me heare from you. | But let me hear from you. | | Ham I.iii.4.1 | |
Ophel. | OPHELIA | | | |
Doe you doubt that? | Do you doubt that? | | Ham I.iii.4.2 | |
Laer. | LAERTES | | | |
For Hamlet, and the trifling of his fauours, | For Hamlet, and the trifling of his favour, | trifling (n.)frivolity, foolish conduct | Ham I.iii.5 | |
Hold it a fashion and a toy in Bloud; | Hold it a fashion and a toy in blood, | toy (n.)whim, caprice, trifling matter | Ham I.iii.6 | |
| | fashion (n.)fad, modish behaviour, whim | | |
| | blood (n.)passion, feeling, strong emotion [especially sexual] | | |
A Violet in the youth of Primy Nature; | A violet in the youth of primy nature, | primy (adj.)in its prime, at its most active | Ham I.iii.7 | |
Froward, not permanent; sweet not lasting | Forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting, | forward (adj.)early, premature | Ham I.iii.8 | |
The suppliance of a minute? No more. | The perfume and suppliance of a minute, | suppliance (n.)pastime, diversion | Ham I.iii.9 | |
| No more. | | Ham I.iii.10.1 | |
Ophel. | OPHELIA | | | |
No more but so. | No more but so? | | Ham I.iii.10.2 | |
Laer. | LAERTES | | | |
Thinke it no more: | Think it no more. | | Ham I.iii.10.3 | |
For nature cressant does not grow alone, | For nature crescent does not grow alone | crescent (adj.)growing, increasing, developing | Ham I.iii.11 | |
| | alone (adv.)only, solely, uniquely | | |
In thewes and Bulke: but as his Temple waxes, | In thews and bulk, but as this temple waxes | temple (n.)human body [i.e. temple in which the Holy Spirit lives] | Ham I.iii.12 | |
| | thews (n.)muscles, sinews, bodily strength | | |
| | wax (v.)grow, increase, enlarge | | |
The inward seruice of the Minde and Soule | The inward service of the mind and soul | service (n.)action, performance | Ham I.iii.13 | |
Growes wide withall. Perhaps he loues you now, | Grows wide withal. Perhaps he loves you now, | wide (adv.)astray, into a lax state | Ham I.iii.14 | |
And now no soyle nor cautell doth besmerch | And now no soil nor cautel doth besmirch | soil (n.)blemish, stain, tarnish | Ham I.iii.15 | |
| | besmirch (v.)discolour, sully, stain | | |
| | cautel (n.)deceit, trickery, cunning | | |
The vertue of his feare: but you must feare | The virtue of his will. But you must fear, | | Ham I.iii.16 | |
His greatnesse weigh'd, his will is not his owne; | His greatness weighed, his will is not his own. | weigh (v.)consider, take into account | Ham I.iii.17 | |
For hee himselfe is subiect to his Birth: | For he himself is subject to his birth. | | Ham I.iii.18 | |
Hee may not, as vnuallued persons doe, | He may not, as unvalued persons do, | unvalued (adj.)unimportant, of no position, insignificant | Ham I.iii.19 | |
Carue for himselfe; for, on his choyce depends | Carve for himself. For on his choice depends | carve (v.)choose, select [as of a slice of meat] | Ham I.iii.20 | |
The sanctity and health of the weole State. | The safety and health of this whole state. | | Ham I.iii.21 | |
And therefore must his choyce be circumscrib'd | And therefore must his choice be circumscribed | circumscribe (v.)restrict, reduce, limit | Ham I.iii.22 | |
Vnto the voyce and yeelding of that Body, | Unto the voice and yielding of that body | voice (n.)vote, official support | Ham I.iii.23 | |
| | yielding (n.)consent, compliance, agreement | | |
Whereof he is the Head. Then if he sayes he loues you, | Whereof he is the head. Then, if he says he loves you, | | Ham I.iii.24 | |
It fits your wisedome so farre to beleeue it; | It fits your wisdom so far to believe it | fit (v.)suit, befit, be suitable [for] | Ham I.iii.25 | |
As he in his peculiar Sect and force | As he in his particular act and place | act (n.)activity, action, performance | Ham I.iii.26 | |
May giue his saying deed: which is no further, | May give his saying deed; which is no further | deed (n.)performance, action | Ham I.iii.27 | |
Then the maine voyce of Denmarke goes withall. | Than the main voice of Denmark goes withal. | voice (n.)vote, official support | Ham I.iii.28 | |
Then weigh what losse your Honour may sustaine, | Then weigh what loss your honour may sustain | | Ham I.iii.29 | |
If with too credent eare you list his Songs; | If with too credent ear you list his songs, | list (v.)listen to, pay attention to | Ham I.iii.30 | |
| | credent (adj.)trustful, believing, credulous | | |
Or lose your Heart; or your chast Treasure open | Or lose your heart, or your chaste treasure open | | Ham I.iii.31 | |
To his vnmastred importunity. | To his unmastered importunity. | importunity (n.)persistent solicitation, troublesome persistence | Ham I.iii.32 | |
| | unmastered (adj.)uncontrolled, unrestrained | | |
Feare it Ophelia, feare it my deare Sister, | Fear it, Ophelia, fear it, my dear sister. | | Ham I.iii.33 | |
And keepe within the reare of your Affection; | And keep you in the rear of your affection, | | Ham I.iii.34 | |
Out of the shot and danger of Desire. | Out of the shot and danger of desire. | | Ham I.iii.35 | |
The chariest Maid is Prodigall enough, | The chariest maid is prodigal enough | chariest (adj.)most cautious, shyest, most careful | Ham I.iii.36 | |
| | prodigal (adj.)wastefully lavish, foolishly extravagant | | |
If she vnmaske her beauty to the Moone: | If she unmask her beauty to the moon. | | Ham I.iii.37 | |
Vertue it selfe scapes not calumnious stroakes, | Virtue itself 'scapes not calumnious strokes. | scape, 'scape (v.)escape, avoid | Ham I.iii.38 | |
| | calumnious (adj.)slanderous, defamatory, disparaging | | |
The Canker Galls, the Infants of the Spring | The canker galls the infants of the spring | infant (n.)young plant [figurative use] | Ham I.iii.39 | |
| | gall (v.)injure, harm, wound | | |
| | canker (n./adj.)grub that destroys plant buds and leaves, cankerworm, parasite | | |
Too oft before the buttons be disclos'd, | Too oft before their buttons be disclosed; | disclose (v.)open up, unfold, unclose | Ham I.iii.40 | |
| | oft (adv.)often | | |
| | button (n.)bud | | |
And in the Morne and liquid dew of Youth, | And in the morn and liquid dew of youth | morn (n.)morning, dawn | Ham I.iii.41 | |
Contagious blastments are most imminent. | Contagious blastments are most imminent. | blastment (n.)blight, withering | Ham I.iii.42 | |
Be wary then, best safety lies in feare; | Be wary then. Best safety lies in fear. | | Ham I.iii.43 | |
Youth to it selfe rebels, though none else neere. | Youth to itself rebels, though none else near. | | Ham I.iii.44 | |
Ophe. | OPHELIA | | | |
I shall th'effect of this good Lesson keepe, | I shall the effect of this good lesson keep | effect (n.)drift, tenor, import | Ham I.iii.45 | |
As watchmen to my heart: but good my Brother | As watchman to my heart. But, good my brother, | | Ham I.iii.46 | |
Doe not as some vngracious Pastors doe, | Do not, as some ungracious pastors do, | ungracious (adj.)wicked, without grace, profane | Ham I.iii.47 | |
Shew me the steepe and thorny way to Heauen; | Show me the steep and thorny way to heaven | | Ham I.iii.48 | |
Whilst like a puft and recklesse Libertine | Whiles like a puffed and reckless libertine | puffed (adj.)puffed up, swollen (with vanity) | Ham I.iii.49 | |
Himselfe, the Primrose path of dalliance treads, | Himself the primrose path of dalliance treads | dalliance (n.)frivolity, idleness, wasteful activity | Ham I.iii.50 | |
And reaks not his owne reade. | And recks not his own rede. | reck (v.)regard, heed, care [for] | Ham I.iii.51.1 | |
| | rede (n.)advice, counsel, guidance | | |
Laer. | LAERTES | | | |
Oh, feare me not. | O, fear me not. | | Ham I.iii.51.2 | |
I stay too long; | I stay too long. | | Ham I.iii.52.1 | |
Enter Polonius. | Enter Polonius | | Ham I.iii.52 | |
but here my Father comes: | But here my father comes. | | Ham I.iii.52.2 | |
A double blessing is a double grace; | A double blessing is a double grace. | | Ham I.iii.53 | |
Occasion smiles vpon a second leaue. | Occasion smiles upon a second leave. | occasion (n.)circumstance, opportunity | Ham I.iii.54 | |
Polon. | POLONIUS | | | |
Yet heere Laertes? Aboord, aboord for shame, | Yet here, Laertes? Aboard, aboard, for shame! | yet, as yet (adv.)still | Ham I.iii.55 | |
The winde sits in the shoulder of your saile, | The wind sits in the shoulder of your sail, | | Ham I.iii.56 | |
And you are staid for there: my blessing with you; | And you are stayed for. There – my blessing with thee. | | Ham I.iii.57 | |
And these few Precepts in thy memory, | And these few precepts in thy memory | | Ham I.iii.58 | |
See thou Character. Giue thy thoughts no tongue, | Look thou character. Give thy thoughts no tongue, | look (v.)take care, see, be sure | Ham I.iii.59 | |
| | character (v.)inscribe, engrave, write | | |
Nor any vnproportion'd thought his Act: | Nor any unproportioned thought his act. | unproportioned (adj.)immoderate, inordinate, inappropriate | Ham I.iii.60 | |
Be thou familiar; but by no meanes vulgar: | Be thou familiar, but by no means vulgar. | vulgar (adj.)cheap, common to all, plebeian | Ham I.iii.61 | |
The friends thou hast, and their adoption tride, | Those friends thou hast, and their adoption tried, | try (v.)put to the test, test the goodness [of] | Ham I.iii.62 | |
| | adoption (n.)association, relationship | | |
Grapple them to thy Soule, with hoopes of Steele: | Grapple them unto thy soul with hoops of steel. | | Ham I.iii.63 | |
But doe not dull thy palme, with entertainment | But do not dull thy palm with entertainment | entertainment (n.)pleasant reception, favourable welcome | Ham I.iii.64 | |
| | dull (v.)make undiscerning, make insensitive | | |
Of each vnhatch't, vnfledg'd Comrade. Beware | Of each new-hatched, unfledged courage. Beware | courage (n.)young man of bravado, man of spirit | Ham I.iii.65 | |
Of entrance to a quarrell: but being in | Of entrance to a quarrel. But being in, | | Ham I.iii.66 | |
Bear't that th'opposed may beware of thee. | Bear't that th' opposed may beware of thee. | bear (v.), past forms bore, bornesustain, carry through, keep going | Ham I.iii.67 | |
Giue euery man thine eare; but few thy voyce: | Give every man thine ear, but few thy voice. | voice (n.)support, approval, good word | Ham I.iii.68 | |
Take each mans censure; but reserue thy iudgement: | Take each man's censure, but reserve thy judgement. | censure (n.)assessment, opinion, judgement, criticism | Ham I.iii.69 | |
Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy; | Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy, | purse (n.)resources, funds, available money | Ham I.iii.70 | |
| | habit (n.)dress, clothing, costume | | |
But not exprest in fancie; rich, not gawdie: | But not expressed in fancy; rich, not gaudy; | express (v.)show, reveal, display | Ham I.iii.71 | |
| | fancy (n.)fancifulness, flamboyance, showiness | | |
For the Apparell oft proclaimes the man. | For the apparel oft proclaims the man, | oft (adv.)often | Ham I.iii.72 | |
| | apparel (n.)clothes, clothing, dress | | |
And they in France of the best ranck and station, | And they in France of the best rank and station | | Ham I.iii.73 | |
Are of a most select and generous cheff in that. | Are of a most select and generous chief in that. | chief (adv.)chiefly, principally | Ham I.iii.74 | |
| | select (adj.)superior, refined, cultivated | | |
| | generous (adj.)well-bred, mannerly, noble-minded | | |
Neither a borrower, nor a lender be; | Neither a borrower nor a lender be, | | Ham I.iii.75 | |
For lone oft loses both it selfe and friend: | For loan oft loses both itself and friend, | oft (adv.)often | Ham I.iii.76 | |
And borrowing duls the edge of Husbandry. | And borrowing dulleth edge of husbandry. | husbandry (n.)thrift, good economy, careful management | Ham I.iii.77 | |
| | dull (v.)blunt, reduce the activity of | | |
This aboue all; to thine owne selfe be true: | This above all: to thine own self be true, | | Ham I.iii.78 | |
And it must follow, as the Night the Day, | And it must follow, as the night the day, | | Ham I.iii.79 | |
Thou canst not then be false to any man. | Thou canst not then be false to any man. | false (adj.)disloyal, faithless, inconstant, unfaithful | Ham I.iii.80 | |
Farewell: my Blessing season this in thee. | Farewell. My blessing season this in thee! | season (v.)bring to maturity, ripen | Ham I.iii.81 | |
Laer. | LAERTES | | | |
Most humbly doe I take my leaue, my Lord. | Most humbly do I take my leave, my lord. | | Ham I.iii.82 | |
Polon. | POLONIUS | | | |
The time inuites you, goe, your seruants tend. | The time invites you. Go. Your servants tend. | tend (v.)await, wait in expectation | Ham I.iii.83 | |
Laer. | LAERTES | | | |
Farewell Ophelia, and remember well | Farewell, Ophelia; and remember well | | Ham I.iii.84 | |
What I haue said to you. | What I have said to you. | | Ham I.iii.85.1 | |
Ophe. | OPHELIA | | | |
Tis in my memory lockt, | 'Tis in my memory locked, | | Ham I.iii.85.2 | |
And you your selfe shall keepe the key of it. | And you yourself shall keep the key of it. | | Ham I.iii.86 | |
Laer. | LAERTES | | | |
Farewell. | Farewell. | | Ham I.iii.87 | |
Exit Laer. | Exit | | Ham I.iii.87 | |
Polon. | POLONIUS | | | |
What ist Ophelia he hath said to you? | What is't, Ophelia, he hath said to you? | | Ham I.iii.88 | |
Ophe. | OPHELIA | | | |
So please you, somthing touching the L. Hamlet. | So please you, something touching the Lord Hamlet. | | Ham I.iii.89 | |
Polon. | POLONIUS | | | |
Marry, well bethought: | Marry, well bethought. | marry (int.)[exclamation] by Mary | Ham I.iii.90 | |
| | bethink (v.), past form bethoughtcall to mind, think about, consider, reflect | | |
Tis told me he hath very oft of late | 'Tis told me he hath very oft of late | oft (adv.)often | Ham I.iii.91 | |
Giuen priuate time to you; and you your selfe | Given private time to you, and you yourself | | Ham I.iii.92 | |
Haue of your audience beene most free and bounteous. | Have of your audience been most free and bounteous. | free (adj.)liberal, lavish, generous | Ham I.iii.93 | |
| | bounteous (adj.)open-hearted, full of warm feeling | | |
| | audience (n.)hearing, attention, reception | | |
If it be so, as so tis put on me; | If it be so – as so 'tis put on me, | put (v.)impress, urge | Ham I.iii.94 | |
And that in way of caution: I must tell you, | And that in way of caution – I must tell you | | Ham I.iii.95 | |
You doe not vnderstand your selfe so cleerely, | You do not understand yourself so clearly | | Ham I.iii.96 | |
As it behoues my Daughter, and your Honour. | As it behoves my daughter and your honour. | behove (v.)befits, be appropriate to, be due to | Ham I.iii.97 | |
What is betweene you, giue me vp the truth? | What is between you? Give me up the truth. | | Ham I.iii.98 | |
Ophe. | OPHELIA | | | |
He hath my Lord of late, made many tenders | He hath, my lord, of late made many tenders | tender (n.)offer, offering | Ham I.iii.99 | |
Of his affection to me. | Of his affection to me. | | Ham I.iii.100 | |
Polon. | POLONIUS | | | |
Affection, puh. You speake like a greene Girle, | Affection? Pooh! You speak like a green girl, | | Ham I.iii.101 | |
Vnsifted in such perillous Circumstance. | Unsifted in such perilous circumstance. | unsifted (v.)untried, inexperienced, unskilled | Ham I.iii.102 | |
| | circumstance (n.)condition, state, situation | | |
Doe you beleeue his tenders, as you call them? | Do you believe his tenders, as you call them? | tender (n.)offer, offering | Ham I.iii.103 | |
Ophe. | OPHELIA | | | |
I do not know, my Lord, what I should thinke. | I do not know, my lord, what I should think. | | Ham I.iii.104 | |
Polon. | POLONIUS | | | |
Marry Ile teach you; thinke your selfe a Baby, | Marry, I will teach you. Think yourself a baby | | Ham I.iii.105 | |
That you haue tane his tenders for true pay, | That you have ta'en these tenders for true pay | tender (n.)offer, offering | Ham I.iii.106 | |
Which are not starling. Tender your selfe more dearly; | Which are not sterling. Tender yourself more dearly, | tender (v.)rate, esteem, regard | Ham I.iii.107 | |
| | sterling (n.)valid currency, legitimate tender | | |
Or not to crack the winde of the poore Phrase, | Or – not to crack the wind of the poor phrase, | crack the windover-use, over-exert | Ham I.iii.108 | |
Roaming it thus, you'l tender me a foole. | Running it thus – you'll tender me a fool. | | Ham I.iii.109 | |
Ophe. | OPHELIA | | | |
My Lord, he hath importun'd me with loue, | My lord, he hath importuned me with love | importune (v.)urge, press | Ham I.iii.110 | |
In honourable fashion. | In honourable fashion. | fashion (n.)manner, way, mode, appearance | Ham I.iii.111 | |
Polon. | POLONIUS | | | |
I, fashion you may call it, go too, go too. | Ay, ‘ fashion ’ you may call it. Go to, go to. | fashion (n.)fad, modish behaviour, whim | Ham I.iii.112 | |
Ophe. | OPHELIA | | | |
And hath giuen countenance to his speech, / My Lord, | And hath given countenance to his speech, my lord, | countenance (n.)favourable appearance, support | Ham I.iii.113 | |
with all the vowes of Heauen. | With almost all the holy vows of heaven. | | Ham I.iii.114 | |
Polon. | POLONIUS | | | |
I, Springes to catch Woodcocks. I doe know | Ay, springes to catch woodcocks. I do know, | springe (n.)snare, trap | Ham I.iii.115 | |
When the Bloud burnes, how Prodigall the Soule | When the blood burns, how prodigal the soul | prodigal (adv.)lavishly, extravagantly | Ham I.iii.116 | |
| | blood (n.)passion, feeling, strong emotion [especially sexual] | | |
Giues the tongue vowes: these blazes, Daughter, | Lends the tongue vows. These blazes, daughter, | | Ham I.iii.117 | |
Giuing more light then heate; extinct in both, | Giving more light than heat, extinct in both | extinct (adj.)extinguished, put out, quenched | Ham I.iii.118 | |
Euen in their promise, as it is a making; | Even in their promise, as it is a-making, | | Ham I.iii.119 | |
You must not take for fire. For this time Daughter, | You must not take for fire. From this time | | Ham I.iii.120 | |
Be somewhat scanter of your Maiden presence; | Be something scanter of your maiden presence. | scant (adj.)more chary, not so lavish, more sparing | Ham I.iii.121 | |
| | something (adv.)somewhat, rather | | |
Set your entreatments at a higher rate, | Set your entreatments at a higher rate | entreatment (n.)interaction, exchange, discourse | Ham I.iii.122 | |
Then a command to parley. For Lord Hamlet, | Than a command to parle. For Lord Hamlet, | parle, parley (v.)talk, discuss, enter into conversation | Ham I.iii.123 | |
Beleeue so much in him, that he is young, | Believe so much in him that he is young, | | Ham I.iii.124 | |
And with a larger tether may he walke, | And with a larger tether may he walk | | Ham I.iii.125 | |
Then may be giuen you. In few, Ophelia, | Than may be given you. In few, Ophelia, | few, in (a)in few words, in short, in brief | Ham I.iii.126 | |
Doe not beleeue his vowes; for they are Broakers, | Do not believe his vows. For they are brokers, | broker, broker-between (n.)go-between, intermediary, agent | Ham I.iii.127 | |
Not of the eye, which their Inuestments show: | Not of that dye which their investments show, | investments (n.)(plural) garments, clothes, clothing | Ham I.iii.128 | |
But meere implorators of vnholy Sutes, | But mere implorators of unholy suits, | implorator (n.)one who implores or entreats, supplicator, solicitor | Ham I.iii.129 | |
| | suit (n.)wooing, courtship | | |
Breathing like sanctified and pious bonds, | Breathing like sanctified and pious bawds, | sanctified (adj.)sanctimonious, hypocritical, deceiving | Ham I.iii.130 | |
| | bawd (n.)pimp, procurer, pander, go-between | | |
| | breathe (v.)speak, utter, talk | | |
The better to beguile. This is for all: | The better to beguile. This is for all: | beguile (v.)cheat, deceive, trick | Ham I.iii.131 | |
I would not, in plaine tearmes, from this time forth, | I would not, in plain terms, from this time forth | | Ham I.iii.132 | |
Haue you so slander any moment leisure, | Have you so slander any moment leisure | slander (v.)misuse, disgrace, bring into ill repute | Ham I.iii.133 | |
As to giue words or talke with the Lord Hamlet: | As to give words or talk with the Lord Hamlet. | | Ham I.iii.134 | |
Looke too't, I charge you; come your wayes. | Look to't, I charge you. Come your ways. | | Ham I.iii.135 | |
Ophe. | OPHELIA | | | |
I shall obey my Lord. | I shall obey, my lord. | | Ham I.iii.136 | |
Exeunt. | Exeunt | | Ham I.iii.136 | |