Hamlet may outlive his life halfa year. But, by'r Lady, he must build churches then, or else shall he suffer not thinking on, with the hobby-horse whose epitaph is: "For oh, for oh, the hobby-horse is forgot." Read more about Act 3, Scene 2: Popup Note Index Item: "hobby-horse"
Ophelia You are merry, my lord. Hamlet Who, I? Ophelia Ay, my lord. Hamlet Oh, God, your only jig-maker. What should a man do but be merry? For look you how cheerfully my mother looks, and my father died within's two hours. Read more about Act 3, Scene 2: Popup Note Index Item: "jig-maker"
Hamlet [To Ophelia] Lady, shall I lie in your lap? Ophelia No, my lord! Hamlet I mean, my head upon your lap. Ophelia Ay, my lord. Hamlet Do you think I meant country matters? Ophelia I think nothing, my lord. Hamlet That's a fair thought to lie between maids' legs. Ophelia What is, my lord? Hamlet “Nothing.” Ophelia You are merry, my lord. Read more about Act 3, Scene 2: Popup Note Index Item: "lie in your lap..."
Hamlet No, nor mine. [To Polonius] Now, my lord, you played once i'th' university, you say? Polonius That did I, my lord, and was accounted a good actor. Hamlet And what did you enact? Polonius I did enact Julius Caesar. I was killed i'th' Capitol. Brutus killed me. Hamlet It was a brute part of him to kill so capital a calf there. Be the players ready? Read more about Act 3, Scene 2: Popup Note Index Item: "brute part," "capital," and "calf"
[Enter King, Queen, Polonius, Ophelia, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, and other Lords.] Claudius How fares our cousin Hamlet? Hamlet Excellent, i'faith, of the chameleon's dish; I eat the air, promise-crammed. You cannot feed capons so. Claudius I have nothing with this answer, Hamlet. These words are not mine. Hamlet No, nor mine. [To Polonius] Now, my lord, Read more about Act 3, Scene 2: Popup Note Index Item: "No, nor mine"
Horatio Well, my lord. If he steal aught the whilst this play is playing And 'scape detected, I will pay the theft. Hamlet They are coming to the play. I must be idle. Get you a place. Read more about Act 3, Scene 2: Popup Note Index Item: "idle"
[Enter Hamlet, and two or three of the Players (actors)] Hamlet Speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounced it to you, trippingly on the tongue. But if you mouth it, as many of your players do, I had as lief the town crier had spoke my lines. Nor do not saw the air too much with your hand, thus, but useuse gently. For in the very torrent, tempest, and as I may say, whirlwind of your passion, you acquire and beget a temperance that may give it smoothness. Oh, it offends me to the soul to hear a robustious periwig-pated fellow tear a passion to tatters, to very rags, to split the ears of the groundlings, who for the most part are capable of nothing but inexplicable dumb shows and noise. I could have such a fellow whipped for o’erdoing Termagant. It out-Herods Herod. Pray you avoid it. Read more about Act 3, Scene 2: Popup Note Index Item: Termagant and Herod
[Enter Hamlet, and two or three of the Players (actors)] Hamlet Speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounced it to you, trippingly on the tongue. But if you mouth it, as many of your players do, I had as lief the town crier had spoke my lines. Nor do not saw the air too much with your hand, thus, but useuse gently. For in the very torrent, tempest, and as I may say, whirlwind of your passion, you acquire and beget a temperance that may give it smoothness. Oh, it offends me to the soul to hear a robustious periwig-pated fellow tear a passion to tatters, to very rags, to split the ears of the groundlings, who for the most part are capable of nothing but inexplicable dumb shows and noise. I could have such a fellow whipped for o’erdoing Termagant. It out-Herods Herod. Pray you avoid it. Read more about Act 3, Scene 2: Popup Note Index Item: "groundlings"
Guildenstern The queen, your mother, in most great affliction of spirit, has sent me to you. Hamlet You are welcome. Guildenstern Nay, good my lord, this courtesy is not of the right breed. If it shall please you to make me a wholesome answer, I will do your mother's commandment. If not, your pardon and my return shall be the end of my business. Hamlet Sir, I cannot. Rosencrantz What, my lord? Hamlet Make you a wholesome answer; my wit's diseased. But, sir, such answer as I can make, you shall command — or rather, you say, my mother. Therefore no more, but to the matter. My mother, you say. Rosencrantz Then thus she says: your behavior has struck her into amazement and admiration. Read more about Act 3, Scene 2: Popup Note Index Item: "wholesome" and "command"
Ophelia You are keen, my lord, you are keen. Hamlet It would cost you a groaning to take off my edge. Ophelia Still better, and worse. Read more about Act 3, Scene 2: Popup Note Index Item: "Still better, and worse"