Drama
63 Hamlet: Act 4
William Shakespeare
Hamlet (Modern, Editor’s Version). Internet Shakespeare Editions. University of Victoria. Editor: David Bevington. Adapted by James Sexton.
Scene 1
Enter[1] King, with Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.
King
There’s matter[2] in these sighs, these profound heaves.[3]
You must translate;[4] ’tis fit we understand them.
2590Where is your son?
2590.1Queen
[To Rosencrantz and Guildenstern] Bestow this place on us a little while.
[Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.]
Ah, my good lord, what have I seen tonight!
King
What, Gertrude? How does Hamlet?
Queen
Mad as the sea and wind when both contend
Which is the mightier. In his lawless fit,
2595Behind the arras hearing something stir,
Whips out his rapier, cries, “A rat, a rat!”
And in this brainish apprehension[5] kills
The unseen good old man.
King
Oh, heavy[6] deed!
2600It had been so with us had we[7] been there.
It will be laid to us,[9] whose providence[10]
2605Should have kept short,[11] restrained, and out of haunt[12]
This mad young man. But so much was our love,
We would not understand what was most fit,
But like the owner[13] of a foul disease,
To keep it from divulging,[14] let[15] it feed
2610Even on the pith of life. Where is he gone?
Queen
To draw apart the body he hath killed,
O’er whom his very madness, like some ore
Among a mineral of metals base,
Shows itself pure:[16] ‘a[17] weeps for what is done.
2615King
Oh, Gertrude, come away!
The sun no sooner shall the mountains touch
But we will ship him hence, and this vile deed
We must with all our majesty and skill
Both countenance and excuse.[18]–Ho, Guildenstern!
2520Enter Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.
Friends both, go join you with some further aid.[19]
Hamlet in madness hath Polonius slain,
And from his mother’s closet[20] hath he dragged him.
Go seek him out, speak fair,[21] and bring the body
2625Into the chapel. I pray you haste in this.
Exit Gentlemen [Rosencrantz and Guildenstern].
Come, Gertrude, we’ll call up our wisest friends
To let them know both what we mean to do
And what’s untimely done. So envious slander,
2628.1Whose whisper o’er the world’s diameter,
As level as the cannon to his blank,
Transports his poisoned shot, may miss our name
And hit the woundless air.[22] Oh, come away!
My soul is full of discord and dismay.
Exeunt.
Scene 2
2630Enter[23] Hamlet.
Hamlet
Safely stowed.
Rosencrantz and Guildenstern
[within] Hamlet! Lord Hamlet!
Hamlet
But soft, what noise? Who calls on Hamlet? Oh, here they come.
Hamlet
Compounded[24] it with dust, whereto ’tis kin.
Rosencrantz
Tell us where ’tis, that we may take it thence
And bear it to the chapel.
Hamlet
Do not believe it.
2640Rosencrantz
Believe what?
Hamlet
That I can keep your counsel and not mine own.[25] Besides, to be demanded of[26]
a sponge, what replication[27] should be made by the son of a king?
But such officers do the King best service in the end: he keeps them, like an
ape in the corner of his jaw, first mouthed to be last sw