First folio
| Modern text
| Definitions
| Key line
| |
Enter King, Rosincrance, and Guildensterne. | Enter the King, Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern | | Ham III.iii.1 | |
King. | KING | | | |
I like him not, nor stands it safe with vs, | I like him not; nor stands it safe with us | | Ham III.iii.1 | |
To let his madnesse range. Therefore prepare you, | To let his madness range. Therefore prepare you. | range (v.)wander freely, roam, rove | Ham III.iii.2 | |
I your Commission will forthwith dispatch, | I your commission will forthwith dispatch, | dispatch, despatch (v.)deal with promptly, settle, get [something] done quickly | Ham III.iii.3 | |
| | commission (n.)warrant, authority [to act] | | |
And he to England shall along with you: | And he to England shall along with you. | | Ham III.iii.4 | |
The termes of our estate, may not endure | The terms of our estate may not endure | estate (n.)high rank, standing, status | Ham III.iii.5 | |
| | term (n.)state, condition, circumstance | | |
Hazard so dangerous as doth hourely grow | Hazard so near us as doth hourly grow | | Ham III.iii.6 | |
Out of his Lunacies. | Out of his brows. | brow (n.)eyebrow | Ham III.iii.7.1 | |
Guild. | GUILDENSTERN | | | |
We will our selues prouide: | We will ourselves provide. | provide (v.)get ready, equip [oneself] | Ham III.iii.7.2 | |
Most holie and Religious feare it is | Most holy and religious fear it is | religious (adj.)sacred, solemn, inviolate | Ham III.iii.8 | |
| | fear (n.)duty, solicitude, obligation | | |
To keepe those many many bodies safe | To keep those many many bodies safe | | Ham III.iii.9 | |
That liue and feede vpon your Maiestie. | That live and feed upon your majesty. | | Ham III.iii.10 | |
Rosin. | ROSENCRANTZ | | | |
The single / And peculiar life is bound | The single and peculiar life is bound | peculiar (adj.)particular, private, personal | Ham III.iii.11 | |
| | single (adj.)individual, particular | | |
With all the strength and Armour of the minde, | With all the strength and armour of the mind | | Ham III.iii.12 | |
To keepe it selfe from noyance: but much more, | To keep itself from noyance; but much more | noyance (n.)harm, damage, injury | Ham III.iii.13 | |
That Spirit, vpon whose spirit depends and rests | That spirit upon whose weal depends and rests | weal (n.)welfare, well-being, prosperity | Ham III.iii.14 | |
The liues of many, the cease of Maiestie | The lives of many. The cess of majesty | cess (n.)cessation, ending, decease | Ham III.iii.15 | |
Dies not alone; but like a Gulfe doth draw | Dies not alone, but like a gulf doth draw | gulf (n.)whirlpool | Ham III.iii.16 | |
What's neere it, with it. It is a massie wheele | What's near it with it; or 'tis a massy wheel | massy (adj.)massive, heavy, colossal | Ham III.iii.17 | |
Fixt on the Somnet of the highest Mount, | Fixed on the summit of the highest mount, | | Ham III.iii.18 | |
To whose huge Spoakes, ten thousand lesser things | To whose huge spokes ten thousand lesser things | | Ham III.iii.19 | |
Are mortiz'd and adioyn'd: which when it falles, | Are mortised and adjoined; which when it falls, | mortise (v.)fit together, join tightly [like pieces of wood] | Ham III.iii.20 | |
Each small annexment, pettie consequence | Each small annexment, petty consequence, | annexment (n.)appendage, adjunct, attachment | Ham III.iii.21 | |
Attends the boystrous Ruine. Neuer alone | Attends the boisterous ruin. Never alone | attend (v.)accompany, follow closely, go with | Ham III.iii.22 | |
| | boisterous (adj.)tumultuous, violent, tempestuous | | |
Did the King sighe, but with a generall grone. | Did the king sigh, but with a general groan. | | Ham III.iii.23 | |
King. | KING | | | |
Arme you, I pray you to this speedie Voyage; | Arm you, I pray you, to this speedy voyage. | arm (v.)prepare, get ready | Ham III.iii.24 | |
For we will Fetters put vpon this feare, | For we will fetters put about this fear, | | Ham III.iii.25 | |
Which now goes too free-footed. | Which now goes too free-footed. | | Ham III.iii.26.1 | |
Both. | ROSENCRANTZ | | | |
We will haste vs. | We will haste us. | | Ham III.iii.26.2 | |
Exeunt Gent. | Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern | | Ham III.iii.26 | |
Enter Polonius. | Enter Polonius | | Ham III.iii.27.1 | |
Pol. | POLONIUS | | | |
My Lord, he's going to his Mothers Closset: | My lord, he's going to his mother's closet. | closet (n.)private chamber, study, own room | Ham III.iii.27 | |
Behinde the Arras Ile conuey my selfe | Behind the arras I'll convey myself | convey (v.)conceal, hide, secrete | Ham III.iii.28 | |
| | arras (n.)tapestry hanging | | |
To heare the Processe. Ile warrant shee'l tax him home, | To hear the process. I'll warrant she'll tax him home. | process (n.)proceedings, dealings | Ham III.iii.29 | |
| | home (adv.)fully, thoroughly, unsparingly | | |
| | tax (v.)censure, blame, take to task, disparage | | |
| | warrant (v.)assure, promise, guarantee, confirm | | |
And as you said, and wisely was it said, | And, as you said, and wisely was it said, | | Ham III.iii.30 | |
'Tis meete that some more audience then a Mother, | 'Tis meet that some more audience than a mother, | meet (adj.)fit, suitable, right, proper | Ham III.iii.31 | |
Since Nature makes them partiall, should o're-heare | Since nature makes them partial, should o'erhear | nature (n.)natural feelings, natural affection | Ham III.iii.32 | |
The speech of vantage. Fare you well my Liege, | The speech, of vantage. Fare you well, my liege. | fare ... well (int.)goodbye [to an individual] | Ham III.iii.33 | |
| | vantage, of / to thein addition, as well, besides | | |
| | liege (n.)lord, sovereign | | |
Ile call vpon you ere you go to bed, | I'll call upon you ere you go to bed | | Ham III.iii.34 | |
And tell you what I know. | And tell you what I know. | | Ham III.iii.35.1 | |
King. | KING | | | |
Thankes deere my Lord. | Thanks, dear my lord. | | Ham III.iii.35.2 | |
| Exit Polonius | | Ham III.iii.35 | |
Oh my offence is ranke, it smels to heauen, | O, my offence is rank. It smells to heaven. | rank (adj.)foul-smelling, stinking | Ham III.iii.36 | |
It hath the primall eldest curse vpon't, | It hath the primal eldest curse upon't, | eldest (adj.)oldest, longest | Ham III.iii.37 | |
| | primal (adj.)primaeval, original, earliest | | |
A Brothers murther. Pray can I not, | A brother's murder. Pray can I not, | | Ham III.iii.38 | |
Though inclination be as sharpe as will: | Though inclination be as sharp as will. | | Ham III.iii.39 | |
My stronger guilt, defeats my strong intent, | My stronger guilt defeats my strong intent, | intent (n.)intention, purpose, aim | Ham III.iii.40 | |
And like a man to double businesse bound, | And like a man to double business bound | | Ham III.iii.41 | |
I stand in pause where I shall first begin, | I stand in pause where I shall first begin, | pause, inhesitating, not proceeding, pausing | Ham III.iii.42 | |
And both neglect; what if this cursed hand | And both neglect. What if this cursed hand | | Ham III.iii.43 | |
Were thicker then it selfe with Brothers blood, | Were thicker than itself with brother's blood, | | Ham III.iii.44 | |
Is there not Raine enough in the sweet Heauens | Is there not rain enough in the sweet heavens | | Ham III.iii.45 | |
To wash it white as Snow? Whereto serues mercy, | To wash it white as snow? Whereto serves mercy | serve (v.)be of use, render service, be an advantage [to] | Ham III.iii.46 | |
But to confront the visage of Offence? | But to confront the visage of offence? | visage (n.)outward appearance, aspect, air | Ham III.iii.47 | |
And what's in Prayer, but this two-fold force, | And what's in prayer but this twofold force, | | Ham III.iii.48 | |
To be fore-stalled ere we come to fall, | To be forestalled ere we come to fall | forestall (v.)prevent, stop, intercept, waylay | Ham III.iii.49 | |
Or pardon'd being downe? Then Ile looke vp, | Or pardoned being down? Then I'll look up. | look up (v.)be cheerful, take courage | Ham III.iii.50 | |
My fault is past. But oh, what forme of Prayer | My fault is past. But, O, what form of prayer | | Ham III.iii.51 | |
Can serue my turne? Forgiue me my foule Murther: | Can serve my turn? ‘ Forgive me my foul murder?’ | | Ham III.iii.52 | |
That cannot be, since I am still possest | That cannot be, since I am still possessed | | Ham III.iii.53 | |
Of those effects for which I did the Murther. | Of those effects for which I did the murder, | effect (n.)benefit, advantage [resulting from an action] | Ham III.iii.54 | |
My Crowne, mine owne Ambition, and my Queene: | My crown, mine own ambition, and my Queen. | | Ham III.iii.55 | |
May one be pardon'd, and retaine th'offence? | May one be pardoned and retain th' offence? | | Ham III.iii.56 | |
In the corrupted currants of this world, | In the corrupted currents of this world | current (n.)practice, course, way of behaviour | Ham III.iii.57 | |
Offences gilded hand may shoue by Iustice, | Offence's gilded hand may shove by justice; | shove by (v.)thrust aside, push aside | Ham III.iii.58 | |
| | gilded (adj.)gold-bearing, supplied with money | | |
And oft 'tis seene, the wicked prize it selfe | And oft 'tis seen the wicked prize itself | oft (adv.)often | Ham III.iii.59 | |
Buyes out the Law; but 'tis not so aboue, | Buys out the law. But 'tis not so above. | buy out (v.)get rid of, cancel by making a payment | Ham III.iii.60 | |
There is no shuffling, there the Action lyes | There is no shuffling. There the action lies | shuffling (n.)trickery, deceit, evasiveness | Ham III.iii.61 | |
In his true Nature, and we our selues compell'd | In his true nature, and we ourselves compelled, | | Ham III.iii.62 | |
Euen to the teeth and forehead of our faults, | Even to the teeth and forehead of our faults, | teeth and forehead of, to thein the very face of, confronting face-to-face | Ham III.iii.63 | |
To giue in euidence. What then? What rests? | To give in evidence. What then? What rests? | rest (v.)remain, stay, stand | Ham III.iii.64 | |
| | give in (v.)provide, supply, furnish | | |
Try what Repentance can. What can it not? | Try what repentance can. What can it not? | | Ham III.iii.65 | |
Yet what can it, when one cannot repent? | Yet what can it when one cannot repent? | | Ham III.iii.66 | |
Oh wretched state! Oh bosome, blacke as death! | O, wretched state! O, bosom black as death! | | Ham III.iii.67 | |
Oh limed soule, that strugling to be free, | O limed soul, that struggling to be free | limed (adj.)trapped, ensnared [as with birdlime] | Ham III.iii.68 | |
Art more ingag'd: Helpe Angels, make assay: | Art more engaged! Help, angels! Make assay. | engaged (adj.)entangled, involved, trapped | Ham III.iii.69 | |
| | assay (n.)effort, attempt | | |
Bow stubborne knees, and heart with strings of Steele, | Bow, stubborn knees, and, heart with strings of steel, | | Ham III.iii.70 | |
Be soft as sinewes of the new-borne Babe, | Be soft as sinews of the new-born babe! | | Ham III.iii.71 | |
All may be well. | All may be well. | | Ham III.iii.72 | |
Enter Hamlet. | The King kneels. Enter Hamlet | | Ham III.iii.73.1 | |
Ham. | HAMLET | | | |
Now might I do it pat, now he is praying, | Now might I do it pat, now 'a is a-praying. | pat (adv.)neatly, opportunely, aptly | Ham III.iii.73 | |
And now Ile doo't, and so he goes to Heauen, | And now I'll do't. And so 'a goes to heaven. | | Ham III.iii.74 | |
And so am I reueng'd: that would be scann'd, | And so am I revenged. That would be scanned. | scan (v.)examine, carefully consider | Ham III.iii.75 | |
A Villaine killes my Father, and for that | A villain kills my father, and for that | | Ham III.iii.76 | |
I his foule Sonne, do this same Villaine send | I, his sole son, do this same villain send | | Ham III.iii.77 | |
To heauen. | To heaven. | | Ham III.iii.78 | |
Oh this is hyre and Sallery, not Reuenge. | Why, this is hire and salary, not revenge. | salary (n.)reward, fee, payment | Ham III.iii.79 | |
He tooke my Father grossely, full of bread, | 'A took my father grossly, full of bread, | grossly (adv.)in a state of excess, with great sins unabsolved | Ham III.iii.80 | |
With all his Crimes broad blowne, as fresh as May, | With all his crimes broad blown, as flush as May; | flush (adj.)lusty, vigorous, full of life | Ham III.iii.81 | |
| | crime (n.)sin, offence, wrong-doing | | |
| | blown (adj.)in full flower, in its bloom | | |
| | broad (adv.)completely, fully | | |
And how his Audit stands, who knowes, saue Heauen: | And how his audit stands, who knows save heaven? | save (prep.)except | Ham III.iii.82 | |
| | audit (n.)account, reckoning [especially: in the face of God] | | |
But in our circumstance and course of thought | But in our circumstance and course of thought, | circumstance (n.)condition, state, situation | Ham III.iii.83 | |
| | course (n.)habit, custom, practise, normal procedure | | |
'Tis heauie with him: and am I then reueng'd, | 'Tis heavy with him. And am I then revenged, | heavy (adj.)grave, serious, weighty | Ham III.iii.84 | |
To take him in the purging of his Soule, | To take him in the purging of his soul, | | Ham III.iii.85 | |
When he is fit and season'd for his passage? | When he is fit and seasoned for his passage? | passage (n.)passing away, departure from life, death | Ham III.iii.86 | |
| | season (v.)prepare, make fit | | |
No. | No. | | Ham III.iii.87 | |
Vp Sword, and know thou a more horrid hent | Up, sword, and know thou a more horrid hent. | hent (n.)clutch, grasp | Ham III.iii.88 | |
When he is drunke asleepe: or in his Rage, | When he is drunk asleep, or in his rage, | drunk asleepin a drunken stupour, dead drunk | Ham III.iii.89 | |
Or in th'incestuous pleasure of his bed, | Or in th' incestuous pleasure of his bed, | | Ham III.iii.90 | |
At gaming, swearing, or about some acte | At game, a-swearing, or about some act | game (n.)gambling | Ham III.iii.91 | |
That ha's no rellish of Saluation in't, | That has no relish of salvation in't – | relish (n.)trace, suggestion, hint | Ham III.iii.92 | |
Then trip him, that his heeles may kicke at Heauen, | Then trip him, that his heels may kick at heaven, | | Ham III.iii.93 | |
And that his Soule may be as damn'd aud blacke | And that his soul may be as damned and black | | Ham III.iii.94 | |
As Hell, whereto it goes. My Mother stayes, | As hell, whereto it goes. My mother stays. | stay (v.)wait (for), await | Ham III.iii.95 | |
This Physicke but prolongs thy sickly dayes. | This physic but prolongs thy sickly days. | physic (n.)medicine, healing, treatment | Ham III.iii.96 | |
| | sickly (adj.)of sickness, invalid | | |
Exit. | Exit | | Ham III.iii.96 | |
King. | KING | | | |
| (rising) | | Ham III.iii.97 | |
My words flye vp, my thoughts remain below, | My words fly up, my thoughts remain below. | | Ham III.iii.97 | |
Words without thoughts, neuer to Heauen go. | Words without thoughts never to heaven go. | | Ham III.iii.98 | |
Exit. | Exit | | Ham III.iii.98 | |