The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark Part 46

[Footnote 1: In the _1st Q._ this speech commences with, 'I so, come forth and worke thy last,' evidently addressed to his sword; afterwards, having changed his purpose, he says, 'no, get thee vp agen.']

[Footnote 2: This indicates doubt of the Ghost still. He is unwilling to believe in him.]

[Footnote 3: _grasp_. This is the only instance I know of _hent_ as a noun. The verb _to hent, to lay hold of_, is not so rare. 'Wait till thou be aware of a grasp with a more horrid purpose in it.']

[Footnote 4: --still addressed to his sword.]

[Footnote 5: Are we to take Hamlet's own presentment of his reasons as exhaustive? Doubtless to kill him at his prayers, whereupon, after the notions of the time, he would go to heaven, would be anything but justice--the murdered man in h.e.l.l--the murderer in heaven! But it is easy to suppose Hamlet finding it impossible to slay a man on his knees--and that from behind: thus in the unseen Presence, he was in sanctuary, and the avenger might well seek reason or excuse for not _then_, not _there_ executing the decree.]

[Footnote 6: 'waits for me.']

[Footnote 7: He seems now to have made up his mind, and to await only fit time and opportunity; but he is yet to receive confirmation strong as holy writ.

This is the first chance Hamlet has had--within the play--of killing the king, and any imputation of faulty irresolution therein is simply silly.

It shows the soundness of Hamlet's reason, and the steadiness of his will, that he refuses to be carried away by pa.s.sion, or the temptation of opportunity. The sight of the man on his knees might well start fresh doubt of his guilt, or even wake the thought of sparing a repentant sinner. He knows also that in taking vengeance on her husband he could not avoid compromising his mother. Besides, a man like Hamlet could not fail to perceive how the killing of his uncle, and in such an att.i.tude, would look to others.

It may be judged, however, that the reason he gives to himself for not slaying the king, was only an excuse, that his soul revolted from the idea of a.s.sa.s.sination, and was calmed in a measure by the doubt whether a man could thus pray--in supposed privacy, we must remember--and be a murderer. Not even yet had he proof _positive_, absolute, conclusive: the king might well take offence at the play, even were he innocent; and in any case Hamlet would desire _presentable_ proof: he had positively none to show the people in justification of vengeance.

As in excitement a man's moods may be opalescent in their changes, and as the most contrary feelings may coexist in varying degrees, all might be in a mind, which I have suggested as present in that of Hamlet.

To have been capable of the kind of action most of his critics would demand of a man, Hamlet must have been the weakling they imagine him.

When at length, after a righteous delay, partly willed, partly inevitable, he holds doc.u.ments in the king's handwriting as proofs of his treachery--_proofs which can be shown_--giving him both right and power over the life of the traitor, then, and only then, is he in cool blood absolutely satisfied as to his duty--which conviction, working with opportunity, and that opportunity plainly the last, brings the end; the righteous deed is done, and done righteously, the doer blameless in the doing of it. The Poet is not careful of what is called poetic justice in his play, though therein is no failure; what he is careful of is personal rightness in the hero of it.]

[Footnote 8: _1st Q_.

_King_ My wordes fly vp, my sinnes remaine below.

No King on earth is safe, if G.o.ds his foe. _Exit King_.

So he goes to make himself safe by more crime! His repentance is mainly fear.]

[Page 166]

Tell him his prankes haue been too broad to beare with, And that your Grace hath scree'nd, and stoode betweene Much heate, and him. Ile silence me e'ene heere: [Sidenote: euen heere,]

Pray you be round[1] with him.[2] [Sidenote: _Enter Hamlet_.]

_Ham. within_. Mother, mother, mother.[3]

_Qu_. Ile warrant you, feare me not. [Sidenote: _Ger_. Ile wait you,]

Withdraw, I heare him comming.

_Enter Hamlet_.[4]

_Ham_.[5] Now Mother, what's the matter?

_Qu_. _Hamlet_, thou hast thy Father much offended. [Sidenote: _Ger_.]

_Ham_. Mother, you haue my Father much offended.

_Qu_. Come, come, you answer with an idle tongue. [Sidenote: _Ger_.]

_Ham._ Go, go, you question with an idle tongue.

[Sidenote: with a wicked tongue.]

_Qu_. Why how now _Hamlet_?[6] [Sidenote: _Ger_.]

_Ham_. Whats the matter now?

_Qu_. Haue you forgot me?[7] [Sidenote: _Ger._]

_Ham_. No by the Rood, not so: You are the Queene, your Husbands Brothers wife, But would you were not so. You are my Mother.[8]

[Sidenote: And would it were]

_Qu_. Nay, then Ile set those to you that can speake.[9]

[Sidenote: _Ger_.]

_Ham_. Come, come, and sit you downe, you shall not boudge: You go not till I set you vp a gla.s.se, Where you may see the inmost part of you? [Sidenote: the most part]

_Qu_. What wilt thou do? thou wilt not murther [Sidenote: _Ger_.]

me?[10] Helpe, helpe, hoa. [Sidenote: Helpe how.]

_Pol_. What hoa, helpe, helpe, helpe. [Sidenote: What how helpe.]

_Ham_. How now, a Rat? dead for a Ducate, dead.[11]

[Footnote 1: _The Quarto has not_ 'with him.']

[Footnote 2: _He goes behind the arras._]

[Footnote 3: _The Quarto has not this speech._]

[Footnote 4: _Not in Quarto._]

[Footnote 5: _1st Q._

_Ham_. Mother, mother, O are you here?

How i'st with you mother?

_Queene_ How i'st with you?

_Ham_, I'le tell you, but first weele make all safe.

Here, evidently, he bolts the doors.]

[Footnote 6: _1st Q._

_Queene_ How now boy?

_Ham_. How now mother! come here, sit downe, for you shall heare me speake.]