Hamlet but called it an honest method. One speech in it I chiefly loved: 'twas Aeneas' tale to Dido, and thereabout of it especially where he speaks of Priam's slaughter. If it live in your memory, begin at this line — ‘let me see, let me see.’ The rugged Pyrrhus, like th' Hyrcanian beast — ‘It is not so; it begins with Pyrrhus — The rugged Pyrrhus, he whose sable arms, Black as his purpose, did the night resemble When he lay couched in the ominous horse, Has now this dread and black complexion smeared With heraldry more dismal. Head to foot, Now is he total gules, horridly tricked With blood of fathers, mothers, daughters, sons, Baked and empasted with the parching streets That lend a tyrannous and damnèd light To their vile murders. Roasted in wrath and fire, And thus o'ersizèd with coagulate gore, With eyes like carbuncles, the hellish Phyrrhus Old grandsire Priam seeks.’ So, proceed you. Read more about Act 2, Scene 2: Popup Note Index Item: "Aeneas' tale to Dido"
Hamlet but called it an honest method. One speech in it I chiefly loved: 'twas Aeneas' tale to Dido, and thereabout of it especially where he speaks of Priam's slaughter. If it live in your memory, begin at this line — ‘let me see, let me see.’ The rugged Pyrrhus, like th' Hyrcanian beast — ‘It is not so; it begins with Pyrrhus — The rugged Pyrrhus, he whose sable arms, Black as his purpose, did the night resemble When he lay couched in the ominous horse, Has now this dread and black complexion smeared With heraldry more dismal. Head to foot, Now is he total gules, horridly tricked With blood of fathers, mothers, daughters, sons, Baked and empasted with the parching streets That lend a tyrannous and damnèd light To their vile murders. Roasted in wrath and fire, And thus o'ersizèd with coagulate gore, With eyes like carbuncles, the hellish Phyrrhus Old grandsire Priam seeks.’ So, proceed you. Read more about Act 2, Scene 2: Popup Note Index Item: "Hyrcanian beast"
Hamlet 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, pleased not the million; 'twas caviar to the general. But it was, as I received it (and others whose judgment 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 was no sallets in the lines to make the matter savory, nor no matter in the phrase that might indict the author of affectation, Read more about Act 2, Scene 2: Popup Note Index Item: "digested," "sallets," and "savory"
[Enter four or five Players.] Hamlet You are welcome, masters, welcome all. I am glad to see thee well. Welcome, good friends. [To a young actor] Oh, my old friend! Thy face is valanced since I saw thee last. Com'st thou to beard me in Denmark? [To a young boy actor] What, my young lady and mistress! By'r lady, your ladyship is nearer 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 cracked within the ring. [To all] 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. Read more about Act 2, Scene 2: Popup Note Index Item: "French falconers"
[Enter four or five Players.] Hamlet You are welcome, masters, welcome all. I am glad to see thee well. Welcome, good friends. [To a young actor] Oh, my old friend! Thy face is valanced since I saw thee last. Com'st thou to beard me in Denmark? [To a young boy actor] What, my young lady and mistress! By'r lady, your ladyship is nearer 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 cracked within the ring. [To all] 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. Read more about Act 2, Scene 2: Popup Note Index Item: "cracked"
Polonius If you call me Jephthah, my lord, I have a daughter that I love passing well. Hamlet Nay, that follows not. Polonius What follows then, my lord? Hamlet 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; [Several actors approach] for look where my abridgments come. Read more about Act 2, Scene 2: Popup Note Index Item: "Nay, that follows not"
Hamlet Oh Jephthah, Judge of Israel, what a treasure hadst thou? Polonius What a treasure had he, my lord? Hamlet Why, [Singing] "One fair daughter and no more, The which he loved passing well." Polonius [Aside] Still on my daughter. Hamlet Am I not i'th' right, old Jephthah? Polonius If you call me Jephthah, my lord, I have a daughter that I love passing well. Hamlet Nay, that follows not. Polonius What follows then, my lord? Hamlet 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; [Several actors approach] for look where my abridgments come. Read more about Act 2, Scene 2: Popup Note Index Item: Jephthah's Daughter
Hamlet Then came each actor on his ass. Read more about Act 2, Scene 2: Popup Note Index Item: "actor on his ass"
Polonius My lord, I have news to tell you ... Hamlet [Interrupting] My lord, I have news to tell you. When Roscius was an actor in Rome ... Polonius The actors are come hither, my lord. Read more about Act 2, Scene 2: Popup Note Index Item: Roscius
Hamlet Gentlemen, you are welcome to Elsinore. Your hands, come. Th' appurtenance of welcome is fashion and ceremony. Let me comply with you in the garb, lest my extent to the players (which, I tell you, must show fairly outward) should more appear like entertainment than yours. You are welcome. – But my uncle-father and aunt-mother are deceived. Guildenstern In what, my dear lord? Hamlet I am but mad north-northwest. When the wind is southerly, I know a hawk from a hand saw. Read more about Act 2, Scene 2: Popup Note Index Item: "north-northwest," "wind is southerly," and "a hawk from a hand saw"