Hamlet, Prince of Denmark



Complete Text With Definitions of Difficult Words and Explanations of Difficult Passages



Annotated by Michael J. Cummings



Home Page: Shakespeare Index The Hamlet Study Guide







Introduction





Hamlet

[A floor surrounded by battlements]

[cemetery]

Act 1, Scene 1



[Friends to Elsinore]

[loyal subjects of the king]

[Hello!]

[piece of him: Horatio is only half-awake.]

[assail . . . ears: Tell you; fill your ears]

[yond: Yonder; star: North Star, on the outer edge of the Little Dipper.]

[the king: Old King Hamlet, who was murdered]

[buried Denmark: The buried king]

[testimony]

[king of Norway]

[parley]

[smote . . . ice: Struck his poleax (long-handled battle-axe) on the ice]

[jump . . . hour: At this very same hour]

[martial stalk: The walk of a warrior]

[in . . . opinion: Overall I think]

[Why this . . . inform me: Why are we keeping this nightly watch up here on the castle? Why are our artisans hard at work every day making cannons, why is our country so busy buying weapons of war, and why are we hiring so many men to build ships? Why is everyone working in such a sweat, day and night. Who can tell me?]

[King Hamlet]

[prick'd . . . pride: Goaded on by a most ambitious pride]

[reasonable portion]

[pledged]

[Shark'd . . . resolutes: Recruited hoodlums]

[terms compulsative: Terms forced on Elsinore]

[heightened activity]

[the ghost]

[speck]

[before]

[Julius Caesar]

[moon]

[Upon . . . stands: The seas make up the empire of Neptune, the god of the sea in Roman mythology. The ebb and flow of the tides depend on the gravitational pull of the moon.]

[And even . . . countrymen: Denmark is experiencing the same kind of ill omens that preceded Caesar's assassination.]

[soft: Pay attention; stand at attention; take note]

[hoarded, stored up]

[long-shafted weapon mounted with a blade]

[crowed]

[runs off]

[proof]

[rooster]

Act 1, Scene 2

[supposition; assumption]

[coupled; joined]

[outlined]

[Dread my lord: Dreaded lord; esteemed lord; great lord]

[In an aside , a character lowers his voice or whispers so that another character (or other characters) onstage cannot hear him. Sometimes, the speaker of an aside allows a friend or someone else near him to hear the aside.]

[I am . . . sun: A pun. Hamlet is subtly intimating that he does not like being the son, or stepson, of Claudius.]

[old Hamlet]

[appearance]

[But . . . show: No one can see what I am thinking or feeling.]

[mourning]

[corpse]

[contrary]

[ No jocund . . . thunder: The great cannon shall boom to the skies while I drink a toast that heaven itself shall hear resound again and again, echoing like earthly thunder.]

[Or that . . . slaughter: Or that God had not forbade suicide.]

[Hyperion: Father of Helios, the sun god in Greek mythology; satyr: In Greek mythology, a lecherous, goatlike man]

[lazy; idle]

[my good lord]

[the funeral bak'd . . . tables: The marriage took place so soon after the death of old Hamlet that food from the funeral was served at the wedding reception.]

[before]

[attentive]

[variant spelling of cap-a-pie , meaning from head to toe]

[truncheon's length: The apparition was no farther from them than the length of a truncheon, a staff symbolizing a king's authority.]

[floor surrounded by battlements]

[crowed]

[beaver: Shield on the helmet of a suit of armor. The beaver protects the face. It can be raised on hinges.]

[black beard with silver hairs]

[Let . . . still: Don't tell anyone about it.]

[happen]

[requite . . . loves: Pay you back.]

[between]

Act 1, Scene 3

[packed belongings]

[as . . . benefit: As the winds fill the sails of my ship]

[convoy . . . assistant: If letter-carriers are available]

[For . . . blood: Regard Hamlet as a passing fancy.]

[in its prime]

[appeal]

[growing]

[strength]

[temple waxes: Body grows]

[in addition; besides]

[deceit]

[believing]

[listen to]

[keep you . . . affection: Restrain yourself.]

[wariest; most cautious]

[Virtue . . . strokes: Even the virtuous are victims of gossip.]

[worm; disease]

[plants]

[buds]

[Contagious blastments: Sexual advances]

[Youth . . . rebels: Young people tend to succumb to temptation.]

[recks . . . rede: Takes not his own advice.]

[waited]

[character: Used as a verb to mean etch in your mind]

[bad; ill-suited]

[friendly]

[tested]

[hold; seize]

[do not . . . comrade: Do not greet or shake hands with every untested person.]

[opinion or criticism]

[Costly . . . buy: Thy dress should be only as costly as you can afford.]

[management of money]

[attention to Hamlet]

[behooves]

[naive]

[good behavior]

[traps]

[no longer active; no longer burning]

[unavailable in]

[larger tether: more freedom]

[a few words]

Act 1, Scene 4

[The king . . . rouse: The king stays awake tonight and takes his liquor.]

[a toast to good health]

[fast dances]

[German wine]

[humiliated]

[call]

[honor; reputation]

[characteristic or trait]

[boundaries]

[reasonable; acceptable; agreeable]

[opinion]

[saintly; given the approved burial rites]

[burial garment or garments]

[corpse]

[armor]

[message; secret]

[meager value]

[projects over]

[Nemean lion: In Greek mythology, an enormous lion strangled by Hercules]

Act 1, Scene 5

[Lethe: In Greek mythology, the river of forgetfulness in Hades]

[lewdness . . . heaven: The Ghost says Claudius was lewd but pretended to be upright.]

[soft: Pay attention; stand at attention; take note]

[leisure time]

[poisonous plant]

[curdle; coagulate]

[skin eruption]

[leprous]

[robbed]

[Unhousel'd . . . unanel'd: Unhousel'd: not given the Holy Eucharist. Unanel'd: not given the last rites of the Catholic Church]

[beetle that glows like a firefly]

[morning]

[thy . . . brain: My only thought will be to gain revenge.]

[notes]

[write]

[French for farewell ]

[hello; hey]

[complete]

[control it; master it]

[trustworthy person]

[below, in the cellar]

[Latin: Here and everywhere]

[Swearing on a sword was like swearing on a cross. The handle, crossguard, and blade of a sword are in the shape of a cross.]

[miner]

[As I . . . on: Hereafter I think I shall pretend to be odd, clownish, a bit crazy.]

Act 2, Scene 1

[Danes]

[Take . . . 'twere: Pretend to have, as it were]

[visiting prostitutes]

[lack of sexual restraint; lustfulness]

[cleverly; skilfully]

[they may seem . . . assault: They may seem to be only minor infractions of the freedom a young man has when he is on his own, especially if that young man has a quick and fiery mind and may act on the spur of the moment.]

[here's my drift . . . warrant: Here's my idea, which is a stroke of genius.]

[faults]

[the person with whom you are speaking]

[him you . . . crimes: Ask the person with whom you are conversing whether he has ever seen Laertes engage in unlawful or immoral activities.]

[By the mass: Mild oath. The mass is a Catholic worship rite.]

[Latin,

namely

, often written as an abbreviation: viz.]

[Your bait . . . truth: After baiting your hook with lies, you catch a fish (carp) of truth.]

[windlass: horizontal cylinder which, when turned with a crank, draws rope and raises an object]

[assays . . . bias: Roundabout or devious attempts]

[With windlasses . . . out: By asking indirect questions, we can draw out (as a windlass draws out rope) direct answers.]

[Observe his activities yourself.]

[closefitting sleeveless jacket]

[lowered to a position like that of a legiron (gyve) on a prisoner]

[studied closely]

[ruin, ravish]

Act 2, Scene 2

[put, place]

[Whe'r . . . him: Whether anything unknown to us afflicts him]

[watch, observe]

[recruitment of men into the army]

[Pole]

[To give . . . arms: To make war]

[Pole]

[More . . . art: Give specific details, but avoid being wordy.]

[be attentive; consider carefully what I say]

[letter, note]

[figure out its meaning]

[verses, lines of poetry]

[express]

[Farewell]

[machine . . . him: Body is mine]

[willingly]

[I would fain . . . round to work: I would willingly prove so. But what would you think—when I saw their relationship developing— if I had helped them by leaving love letters on a desk or placing them between the pages of a book left on a table. What would you think If stood idly by without taking action? The fact is, I did take action. I went to work against allowing this relationship to continue.]

[happily; gladly]

[center of the earth]

[curtain; tapestry]

[drivers of carts]

[confront]

[fish merchant]

[Hamlet is now pretending to be mad.]

[oozing]

[knees]

[end of aside]

[Though . . . method in 't: Though he is mad, there is an intelligent design in his actions.]

[clever, meaningful]

[end of aside]

[moderately well]

[genital organs]

[promiscuous woman]

[faith]

[count]

[English coin of small value]

[appeal to]

[agreeableness]

[shed]

[why]

[sky]

[perfection]

[passed]

[rapier and shield]

[actor who can play different parts; character actor]

[burst out laughing at the slightest provocation; a sere is a hair trigger]

[their . . . ways: They were more popular and made more money when in residence in a city.]

[I think . . . innovation: I think they were prohibited after a recent riot.]

[desired]

[nest; group]

[falcons in training]

[top of their voices]

[paid]

[if they . . . succession: If they continue to act after they become adults, they will no longer be a novelty.]

[goad]

[plot of a play]

[Hercules . . . too: The image of the mythological hero Hercules bearing the world on his shoulders was a symbol of the Globe Theatre.]

[frowns]

[small image of the king]

[by the blood of the crucified Christ]

[let me shake your hands]

[regard]

[behavior]

[heronshaw, a type of wading bird]

[I know . . . handsaw: I know what's what]

[Hamlet turns his attention to Polonius.]

[renowned actor]

[Buzz means old news. It is also the equivalent of "zzzzzzz" to suggest sleeping. In other words, Hamlet thinks he is about to be bored or put to sleep, so to speak, by what Polonius says.]

[ancient Roman writer of comedies]

[Hamlet's reference to Jephthah's daughter leads Polonius to conclude that Hamlet is thinking about Ophelia.]

[knew]

[pious poem or song]

[abridgement: This word may mean entertainment. It may also mean that the players abridge—that is, cut off or shorten—Hamlet's conversation with Polonius.]

[bearded]

[By the Blessed Virgin Mary]

[boy who plays women's parts]

[shoe with a thick sole]

[gold coin]

[more than]

[the general public did not appreciate caviar]

[salads or delicious treats]

[red]

[encrusted with the residue of the burning city of Troy]

[red gems]

[soon]

[Troy]

[clouds]

[impenetrability]

[eternal]

[parts of a rim]

[wheel hub]

[I pray you]

[dirty story]

[becomes bored]

[wrapped up, enshrouded]

[bisson rheum: Blinding (bisson) discharge (rheum) from the eyes caused by smoke]

[loins overtaxed or worn out by bearing children]

[Who . . . pronounc'd: Anyone who had seen Hecuba in this sorry state would have condemned Lady Fortune for her cruelty.]

[teary]

[whether]

[imagination]

[Could force . . . wann'd: Could force his soul to make his face appear pale]

[wild excitement]

[the way he looks]

[pierce]

[muddy . . . peak: Man of dubious courage and character who broods]

[sluggish good-for-nothing]

[not full of desire to avenge my father's death]

[head]

[gives me . . . lungs: Calls me a liar with all the force his voice can muster]

[by His wounds—that is, the wounds of Christ]

[before]

[But I . . . villain: But I lack the boldness to go after Claudius. After all, by this time, I should have fed his guts (offal) to kites (birds of prey). What a bloody, bawdy villain is he!]

[lowly kitchen servant]

[Exclamation of disgust]

[sins; misdeeds]

[probe]

[raw flesh beneath the skin]

[flinch]

Act 3, Scene 1

[clue, hint]

[eager]

[questioned]

[forcing . . . disposition: forcing himself to be polite and pleasant]

[stingy; spare]

[assay . . . to: Ask him about]

[overtook]

[gentlemen]

[confront]

[concerned observers]

[hide]

[Ophelia]

[desired; normal]

[pious appearance]

[The harlot's . . . word: The prostitute's cheek plastered with makeup is no more ugly than my devious actions and false words.]

[To be, or not . . . wish'd: To go on living or end my life: that is the question. Is it nobler to suffer the pain of misfortune or to take action against this pain. Death brings eternal sleep, which supposedly ends suffering. That is an outcome to be wished for.]

[obstacle; problem]

[To sleep . . . not of: The dreams we might have in the sleep of death—in fact, all that happens in the afterlife—is a very intimidating subject. For this reason, people generally choose to live on rather than ending their lives in spite of the severity of the troubles they face. I don't think any person would bear life's problems—scorn, oppression, insolence, love gone wrong, injustice, the arrogance of the high and mighty, rejection—if he could end his life without fear of what would happen next, in the afterlife. But the afterlife is an undiscovered country from whose boundaries no one returns. So, rather than commit suicide and confront the unknown, we choose to stay alive and bear our burdens.]

[prayers]

[anything]

[chaste]

[chastity]

[prostitute, whore]

[for the power . . . likeness: Beautiful women tend to give in to lust rather than remain chaste.]

[virtue . . . it: We may admire virtue, but we ourselves are anything but virtuous.]

[somewhat]

[complete]

[fools; cuckolds]

[applications of makeup to her face]

[dance suggestively]

[speak affectedly; speak in a way designed to impress others]

[nickname . . . ignorance: You give lewd names to God's creatures but pretend you don't know what they mean.]

[He has been an example for courtiers, soldiers, and scholars to imitate.]

[hope]

[sweet words]

[sits on a scheme or plot, as a hen sits on eggs]

[he shall . . . tribute: I will send him to England on the pretense that he is to collect money owed to Denmark.]

[perhaps]

[sights]

[the malady that has settled in his heart]

[puts him . . . of himself: Makes him act abnormally]

[And I'll . . . conference: And I will hide, then eavesdrop on their conversation.]

Act 3, Scene 2

[do not overdo your gestures]

[noisy, overbearing, shrewish woman]

[promise]

[moderately]

[encountered; dealt with]

[flatterer]

[bend the knee]

[Where . . . fawning: Whenever a gain follows his flattery]

[chosen]

[As . . . nothing: As one who has suffered but does not complain]

[not . . . finger: Not controlled by fortune

—literally, not a musical instrument (flute) to be played by fortune]

[note]

[I'm dwelling too much on this subject.]

[eye]

[concealed]

[reveal itself]

[the smithy of Vulcan, the blacksmith god in Roman mythology]

[analysis]

[reaction; behavior]

[If . . . theft: I will watch him as I would watch a known thief. If he escapes detection, the fault is mine.]

[pretend to be deranged]

[How fares . . . capons so: Claudius asks how Hamlet is getting along. But Hamlet pretends that he interprets "fares" to mean "eats." He then says he eats what the chameleon eats: air. It was believed that chameleons fed on air. However, because the air is fat with promise but empty of actual benefit, says Hamlet, one cannot feed air to capons (castrated male chickens). Hamlet is like a chameleon in that he changes colors—that is, he becomes a different person in front of Claudius. However, in his effort to nail Claudius as the murderer of his father, Hamlet so far has come up only with air but no substance.]

[I do not understand]

[a precious metal, Ophelia]

[something indecent]

[That's . . . legs: After Ophelia says she thinks nothing, Hamlet interprets

nothing

to mean the numerical symbol

0

. Because of its shape, this symbol was sometimes used as a representation of the vulva, the external part of the female sex organ.]

[O God, who is the original merrymaker.]

[Since it is so long since my father's death, I will not wear typical black mourning clothes. Let the devil do that. Instead, I will wear a suit of sables (sumptuous black furs) suitable for other occasions.]

[by the Blessed Virgin Mary]

churches that are dedicated to his memory]

[A hobby horse is a wooden figure of a horse. In a dance called the morris, a participant wore a costume resembling a hobby horse. During the dance the hobby horse died, then later rose again and continued the dance. Like the hobby horse, old King Hamlet died but later rose to appear to Hamlet. However, because Hamlet has not yet avenged his father's death, the spirit of the dead king may feel that he "is forgot."]

[oboes]

[part of a play acted without words; pantomime. The next passage presents the dumb show]

[soon]

[sneaky mischief]

[probably]

[plot]

[brief poetry inscribed on a ring]

[the sun]

[ocean]

Tellus: earth goddess in Roman mythology]

[god of marriage in Greek mythology]

[together]

[am worried about]

[I must not discomfort you]

[I must die]

[strength]

[perhaps]

[It would be treasonous to remarry.]

[Extremely bitter herb used in making absinthe and other alcoholic drinks.]

[the reasons to marry a second time]

[financial or social gain]

[I do . . . break: I believe you are sincere about what you vow to do. But people often change their minds and break their vows.]

[Which . . . be: Unripe fruit remains on the tree; ripe fruit falls.]

[What to . . . lose: In a moment of passion, we promise to do such and such. But when the passion subsides, we forget about our promise.]

[actions]

[for aye: forever]

[whether]

[fortune lead]

[Whether love leads to good luck or good luck leads to love]

[The great . . . flies: When a great man suffers a downfall, notice that his favorite friends abandon him.]

[The poor . . . enemies: When the poor and downtrodden advance, they become friends with enemies.]

[And . . . tend: In the same way, success or failure at love may depend on whether a person's fortune is good or bad.]

[For who . . . enemy: Whoever has everything—whoever has no needs—will never lack a friend. But whoever has needs and asks a friend for help will make of that friend an enemy.]

[But, orderly . . . dead: But let me end where I began. What we say we want and what fate gives us are often at odds. You think that you will not remarry after I die, but that thought will die when I die.]

[Nor earth . . . wife: If I were to remarry, I would deserve no food, no heavenly light, no rest. All my trust and hope would dissolve into desperation. The only fit place for me would be a prison with only a hermit monk's (an anchor's) cheer to keep me company. I would want the opposite of joy. I would wish for the destruction of joy!]

[What if she breaks her promises?]

[I believe you are sincere.]

[gladly]

[is excessive in her pleas]

The Mouse-trap

[The title indicates that Hamlet wishes to use the play to trap, or ensnare, Claudius.]

Tropically

O

trope

Tropically

[mediocre]

[let the saddle-sore horse wince]

[part of a horse between the shoulders]

[not pinched; not sore]

[Hamlet is saying, in effect: "You and I, King Claudius, are free of guilt." But he knows well that the king does feel guilt and will soon wince.]

[I could . . . dallying: I could interpret a scene between you and your lover if I could see you two dallying.]

[It . . . edge: Because I am keen, like a knife, it would pain you to dull my edge.]

[Your wit gets better, but your behavior gets worse.]

[That is how you take your husbands: for better or worse.]

[The night is dark, and no one can see me]

[Thou . . . property: These poisonous midnight weeds—which the Queen of Witchcraft herself has infected with poison—will work their magic and properties to kill this healthy man].

[remains current; still told]

[soon]

[Is he afraid? It's only a play.]

[Stop the play.]

[Why . . . play: Why, let the deer wounded in a hunt go weep. But let the other deer (hart), untouched by the hunter's arrow, frolic and play.]

[feathers on the costumes of the players]

[rosettes]

[etched with designs]

[Would . . . sir?: If I get down on my luck, I could get a job as an actor. Don't you think?]

[strutting peacock]

[Damon: In ancient Greek legend, a devoted friend of Pythias—in this case, Hamlet.]

[Dismantled . . . himself: Brought to ruin by Jupiter himself, the king of the gods in ancient Roman mythology.]

[flutes with eight finger holes]

[surely; certainly]

[in a bad mood]

[Choler: Anger. In the next line (below), Hamlet pretends that Guildenstern means that the king is drunk.]

[Please, sir, you're not making sense.]

[to make sense in your replies]

[wonder]

[private chamber]

[before]

[Pickers and stealers: Hands. Moral guidebooks admonished against using the hands to pick pockets or steal valuables.]

[Hamlet holds a recorder, a flute with eight finger holes, then turns to Guildenstern and Rosencrantz.]

Hamlet is annoyed because Guildenstern and Rosencrantz are sticking so close to him.]

[I have been staying by your side because I am concerned about you. Forgive me if I seem unmannerly.]

[finger holes; stops]

[range]

[by the blood of the crucified Christ]

[fret me: Double meaning: (1) manipulate me, as a guitarist manipulates the strings of his instrument; (2) vex or annoy me.]

[By the mass: Mild oath. The mass is a Catholic worship rite.]

[Obviously, the "mad" Hamlet is playing games with Polonius. Polonius goes along with the game, pretending to agree with him.]

[soft: Pay attention; stand at attention; take note]

[notorious Roman emperor, AD 37-68, who murdered his mother]

[called to task; rebuked]

[to back up my words with action]

Act 3, Scene 3

[I don't like his behavior]

[my kingship]

[We . . . majesty: We stand ready. We believe we have a moral duty to protect everyone who depends on you.]

[The single . . . ruin: A person fiercely protects himself from danger. But he is even more fierce when it comes to protecting a ruler such as you, upon whom so many lives depend. When a monarch falls to ruin, he draws down with him, like a whirlpool, all that is around him. Another way of putting it is to say that he is like a giant wheel to which is attached his entire kingdom and its people. When it rolls down a hill, the whole kingdom rolls with it.]

[tapestry; curtain]

[the curse on the biblical Cain for killing Abel]

[Whereto . . . offence: Isn't mercy supposed to bestow itself on the face of the offender?]

[And what's . . . down: Prayer has a twofold purpose: (1) to prevent us from sinning and (2) to pardon us when we do sin.]

[In the . . . above: In this corrupt world, a criminal can buy a pardon with his wicked prize of gold. But he can't buy off heaven.]

[There . . . rests: You cannot bargain with heaven. You must face the true nature of your wicked deeds. The evidence cannot be altered.]

[Try . . . repent: I could repent. But I cannot repent if I am to remain king and keep my gains.]

[limed . . . engaged: Limed apparently refers to birdlime, a sticky preparation spread on tree branches to catch birds. In Claudius's case, his "limed soul" is stuck to his grave sin. The more his soul struggles to free itself, the more it adheres to the sin.]

[kill him]

[closely examined]

[In lines 80-89, Hamlet speaks of a new dilemma: if he kills Claudius, Claudius could go to heaven. What kind of revenge would that be? Claudius, on the other hand, killed King Hamlet when the latter had sin on his soul. The old king ended up in purgatory. But why does Hamlet think Claudius could merit heaven? Like all good Catholic boys, Hamlet believed only God could judge the goodness or badness of a person, as line 89 suggests.]

[act of grasping or holding]

[In lines 95-103, Hamlet says he will wait until he is sure Claudius has sin on his soul before killing him.]

Act 3, Scene 4

[be firm with]

[unbridled; unrestrained]

[strict]

[I'll do as you say]

[cross of Christ]

[Then I'll summon others to speak to you.]

[mirror, used figuratively]

[for the king]

[take what you deserve]

[Thou . . . danger: You found out that being a snoop can be dangerous.]

[metal]

[marriage contract]

[insincere words]

[this . . . mass: The earth]

[sad face]

[index: Table of contents. The queen may be comparing herself to a stage drama. The horrible "act" that she committed is one of the acts of the play. It is so egregious that it stands out even in the table of contents. She asks Hamlet to explain what is in the act.]

[that of old King Hamlet]

[Hyperion: In Greek mythology, the father of the son god Helios. Jove: One of the Roman names for Zeus, king of the Olympian gods in Greek mythology.]

[Roman name for Ares, the god of war in Greek mythology]

[stature]

[Roman name for Hermes, the messenger god in Greek mythology]

[alighted]

[combination . . . indeed: Impressive physical specimen]

[Claudius]

[old Hamlet]

[get fat; gorge yourself]

[romantic passion]

[old Hamlet]

[Claudius]

[paralyzed]

[for madness . . . difference: Even an insane person would not make your mistake. His common sense, though overtaken by a mad ecstasy, would still be able to make better choices than you.]

[tricked]

[blind man's bluff]

[smelling without the aid of the other senses]

[Or . . sense: Or even a sickly, partly malfunctioning sense]

[could not make such a terrible mistake as you]

[corrupt]

[passion; lust]

[Rebellious . . . will: If hell can so easily corrupt a woman of your age, passionate youth can follow your example without shame. After all, aren't young people supposed to follow the example of elders? Reason and good judgment thus can become servants of a lustful will.]

[As . . . tinct: As will not disappear]

[polluted; greasy]

[a tenth]

[thief; pickpocket]

[anxious thought]

[nothingness]

[from]

[thoughts]

[awakened by a call to war]

[growth]

[the ghost's bearing matches his grim purpose]

[Do not . . . blood: Do not stare at me lest the pitiful sight of you changes me from a bloodthirsty avenger to a tearful mourner.]

[This is . . . cunning in: What you think you see is the product of your vivid imagination. Madness (ecstasy) can make you see things that don't exist.]

[bring me. . . gambol from: Test me. I will repeat what I said word for word, a task that a madman would run away from.]

[healing salve]

[Lay . . . speaks: Don't flatter yourself that you are innocent of wrongdoing because my so-called madness is to blame. That fact is, you are the trespasser; you committed sin.]

[it will . . . heaven: The healing unction will only cover over your wound (sin) while infection runs wild beneath your skin.]

[do not . . . ranker: Do not continue to nurture (spread compost on) your sinful relationship (weeds) with Claudius. Your sin will only worsen.]

[bow]

[for permission to do good]

[Forgive . . . good: Forgive me for preaching to you. But in the this corrupt age, fat and complacent, virtue must beg vice for permission to do good.]

[cut my heart in two]

[pretend to have a virtue]

[That monster . . . put on: That monster custom, or habit, feeds on devilish habits. But custom can become an angel when it causes us to do good with the same ease as putting on a suit of clothes.]

[practicing good deeds]

[heaven . . . minister: Heaven has made me a judge and executioner, punishing him with death and me with the guilt of his death.]

[dispose of his body]

[bloated]

[dirty; vile]

[Lines 202-217 (Not this . . . neck down): After the king tempts you to bed, pinches your cheek, calls you his mouse, gives you filthy kisses, and strokes your neck, he will try to make you report our conversation. But DON'T tell him that I am really not mad. Oh, yes, as queen you would be expected to tell all to the king. He would say that it would be good for you to let him know what's going on. He would have you believe that you could even tell a toad, a bat, and a cat the whole story. Moreover, like the ape in a famous story, you could release the birds from their cage—that is, release the details of our conversation. Remember, though, that in the story the ape entered the cage out of curiousity, then later jumped out and broke his neck.]

[Be though . . . me: Be assured that I will not breathe a word of what you said to me.]

[Interjection expressing regret or sorrow. Same as alas .]

[engineer]

[blown up with his own land mine]

[When . . . meet: When with one scheme I defeat two enemies.]

[Polonius]

Act 4, Scene 1

[tapestry; curtain]

[join . . . aid: Get help.]

[perhaps]

Act 4, Scene 2

[It's in a dusty place. When we die, we all return to dust.]

[That . . . king: That I can accept your advice instead of my own. Besides, I don't respond to the demands of a sponge. What reply can I make to a sponge?]

[approval]

[when . . . again: When he needs the information you have learned, he just squeezes it out of you. Then you'll be dry again.]

[a knavish . . . ear: A clever speech sleeps (becomes mute) in the ear of a fool like you.]

[The body . . . thing: The citizens of Denmark (the body politic) pledge allegiance to the king. However, the king is not with his subjects. He is just a thing, an empty thing, and thinks only of himself.]

[Hide . . . after: What these words mean is open to interpretation.

Hide fox

may be an allusion to the game of hide-and-seek. Hamlet may be announcing that he will hide his sane, crafty self (fox) and all of his strange behavior up to this point.]

Act 4, Scene 3

[confused; experiencing conflicting feelings]

[Who . . . eyes: Who judge by what they see]

[punishment]

[gravity of the crime]

[To bear . . . all: To appear calm and reasonable, I must make it seem as if sending him away is a fair and thoughtfully considered action. But the desperate state of mind of Hamlet requires desperate action, or none at all.]

[experienced; shrewd]

[we fat . . . end: We raise and fatten animals that feed us. Meanwhile, we ourselves grow fat and, after we die, are eaten by maggots. A king and a beggar are equals in death: the worms dine on both of them.]

[smell]

[My . . . England: You're my mother. A man and a woman become one flesh when they are married. Therefore, you are my mother. Now I will go to England.]

[on]

[tempt . . . aboard: Get him aboard immediately.]

[gone]

[Every . . . affair: Everything you need for the journey is prepared.]

[you, king of England]

[scar]

[if my love . . . England: If you love and respect me—which my military power should make you do, considering that you still have a red scar (cicatrice) from a Danish sword and willingly acknowledge and pay homage to my might—you will not hesitate to carry out the orders conveyed in the letters of my messengers: namely, to kill Hamlet. Do it, king.]

[For . . . begun: He is a fever in my blood. You must cure me. I will not be happy until the deed is done.]

Act 4, Scene 4

[by his . . . rendezvous: With the king's permission, I will march my army through his country. You know where to go to convey my message.]

[If that . . . so: If the king wants us to do anything for him, let him know that we are ready and willing.]

[soldiers]

[how are they directed]

[Norwegian king]

[major cities]

[higher]

[Yes, they will. Troops are in place to make a stand.]

[Two . . . dies: It would take more than two thousand men and twenty thousand ducats to wage this war. This situation, the result of great wealth and a period of peace, is like an inflamed swelling inside the body that bursts and kills a man but gives no outward sign of the cause of death.]

[with]

[How . . . exhort me: Everything I encounter seems to accuse me of delaying my revenge. What good is a man if all he does is sleep and eat? Surely the God that made us into beings with great intelligence, enabling us to learn from the past and consider the future judiciously, did not intend us to allow our God-given reason to grow moldy with disuse. Now, whether I am just a dumb animal or a coward afraid to act, I do not know. Yet I cling to the thought of gaining revenge; and I have the motive, will, strength, and means to do it. The examples of others urge me on.]

[Witness . . . at the stake: The delicate prince who leads this huge army is not delaying his mission. He is ready to risk his life even over a paltry matter. True greatness in a man is not measured by whether he will fight over a major issue but by whether he will fight over a minor issue when his honor is at stake.]

[That have . . . sleep: That have a father who has been murdered, a mother who has been defiled, disturbances in my intellect and my blood, and a propensity to allow my plans for revenge to sleep.]

[illusion]

[Whereon . . . cause: In which the number of men is insufficient to gain victory]

[bury]

Act 4, Scene 5

[trickery; deceit]

[hems and haws]

strikes]

[chest]

[kicks things around]

[attempt to discover the meaning of what she says]

[interpret it to]

[unhappily does she brood]

[To . . . is: Sin so sickens my soul that]

[trifle]

[tragedy]

[So . . . spilt: My guilty thoughts reveal themselves simply because I worry that they will.]

[How . . . shoon: Ophelia sings a little song. It says that a woman can tell her true love from another suitor by his attire. The true love is dressed as a pilgrim traveling to the shrine of St. James of Compostela, Spain. Such a pilgrim wore a hat adorned with a cockleshell, a symbol of religious devotion. Apparently, he also carried a staff and wore sandals. Shoon is an archaic plural of shoe .]

[What did you say? Oh, forget it. Just listen.]

[tombstone]

[Larded . . . showers: Covered with sweet flowers, (he) went to the grave with his true love's shower of tears.]

[God yield you—that is, God yield a reward to you]

[They . . . may be: According to a legend, Christ asked a baker for bread. When the baker's wife gave Him a large portion, the baker's daughter complained that her mother was too generous. The daughter was turned into an owl. This story taught Ophelia that "we know what we are, but know not what we may be."]

[reference (conceit) to her deceased father]

[All in . . . more: In the morning, I stood before the window of his house, seeking to be his Valentine. He opened (dupp'd) the door and let me in. I was a virgin when I entered—but not when I left.]

[Jesus]

[Alack: Interjection expressing regret or sorrow (same as

alas

); fie: interjection expression disapproval.]

[Young men will take advantage of young women if they get an opportunity.]

[the Lord]

[bedded]

[have]

[If]

[coach driver]

[Next . . . inter him: Next, your son, Hamlet, is gone as a result of his own violent actions. The people are confused and thick with unwholesome thoughts and whispers about the death of Polonius. We were wrong to bury him in secret rather than in a public ceremony.]

[Divided . . . judgment: Stricken with insanity]

[Without . . . beasts: Her insanity makes her think we are just pictures or beasts.]

[as important]

[gossips]

[loaded cannon]

[Wherein . . . death: In his attempt to find out exactly what happened—an urgent necessity for him—Laertes won't find incriminating evidence but will end up blaming me for his father's death. Dear Gertrude, I feel as if I am the target of a cannon which, when it fires, will kill me in many places.]

[Swiss bodyguards]

[rising above]

[normal level]

[floods not the shore and lowlands]

[treasonous]

[That drop . . . mother: I am as calm as if someone called me a bastard, said my father was cheated on, and branded my mother a whore with a hot iron.]

[Let . . . will: Let him have his say, Gertrude. Don't worry about me. God protects kings so that treason cannot act against them.]

[That . . . negligence: I don' care whether I go to hell or heaven.]

[thoroughly]

[stop]

[My will . . . little: Only my own will can stop me. But all the world cannot stand against me. Whatever support I have, I will manage it well. I'll go far with little.]

[summarily; immediately; indiscriminately]

[draw your sword against]

[And . . . blood: And like the life-giving pelican mother, which feeds its own blood to its young, I'll give my blood to my friends.]

[Nature . . . loves: Human nature is generous in its love. Apparently, Ophelia has sent a precious part of herself, her sanity, to her dead father.]

[uncovered]

[conveyance that carries a body (with or without a coffin) before burial]

[manager of a household]

[These mad words mean more than we can perceive.]

[for you, Laertes]

[study]

[thoughts . . . fitted: Joining thoughts and remembrance.]

[King Claudius]

[Queen Gertrude]

[The plants as symbols: (1) Fennel: flattery or praiseworthiness. (2) Columbine: lovemaking and lust. It was believed that columbine had the power to arouse sexual desire. (3) Rue: repentance and sorrow. Gertrude receives rue for repentance; Ophelia gives it to herself for her grief over the death of her father and perhaps for the loss of Hamlet. Rue was also called herb of grace because priests used it in religious ceremonies. (4) Daisy: innocence, simplicity, and gentleness. (5) Violet: peace, harmony.]

[white]

[head of hair]

[sympathize]

[between]

[guilty; implicated]

[coat of arms]

[public ceremony]

Act 4, Scene 6

[perused; read]

[before]

[appearance]

[return]

[yet are . . . matter: Yet they are nothing compared to the main issue at hand. Here, Hamlet uses a metaphor, comparing his words to mere pea-sized projectiles shot from the bore of a canon.]

Act 4, Scene 7

[Now . . . seal: Now your conscience must find me innocent in the death of your father.]

[Since]

[Why . . . feats: Why you did not punish Hamlet for his actions]

[weak]

[attached]

[trial]

[citizens]

[shackles]

[Whose . . . revenge: Whose worth, if I may look back to it in better times, challenged anyone to find a woman who was as perfect as she was. But I will have my revenge.]

[Break . . . pastime: Don't lose any sleep over how to deal with Hamlet. I am not so passive that I can pass off danger as a game. You'll hear more about this later.]

[handwriting]

[You committed this terrible crime.]

[As . . . me: And why shouldn't it be so? Will you take my advice?]

[So . . . peace: As long as you don't advise me to make peace.]

[As . . . voyage: Deciding to end his voyage]

[maneuver]

[ready to execute]

[uncharge the practice: see no foul play]

[I will . . . organ: I will go along with your plan, especially if you make me the instrument of Hamlet's death.]

[You have . . . siege: You have been much talked about, within the hearing of Hamlet, for an excellent quality of yours. In Hamlet's eyes, that quality overshadows all of your other qualities. He envies it. I myself think that quality is not your best.]

[quality]

[riband: ribbon used as a decoration or displayed as a reward of achievement]

[for . . . graveness: Light and careless clothes are just as appropriate on youth as dignified sables and other dark clothes are on aged persons to reflect their health and graveness.]

[part of France]

[can do well]

[Norman]

[in his horsemanship]

[As he . . . did: As if he had become part of the brave beast. He performed on that horse far beyond my expectations for him, and I could never duplicate his feats.]

[fencers; swordsmen]

[But . . . ulcer: But, to get to the point of what's eating at you]

[No . . . sanctuarize: Indeed, a murderer such as Hamlet should be fair game even in the sanctuary of a church.]

[We'll . . . excellence: We'll have people praise your excellent swordsmanship]

[short]

[examine]

[practice swords blunted on the end]

[sharp, not blunted]

[practice lunge]

[kill]

[poison the tip of]

[remedy; poultice]

[medicines]

[our . . . performance: Our purpose—to kill Hamlet—casts suspicion on us]

[tried]

[backup plan]

[fail]

[Pay attention; stand at attention; take note]

[We'll have bets on the outcome of the fencing match.]

[When in . . . there: During the match, dance around so that Hamlet does the same. When both of you become sweaty and thirsty, I will have a chalice with a poisoned drink ready to give him. If he escapes unscathed from the fencing, the drink will kill him.]

[white]

[foul-mouthed]

[modest young women]

[branches hanging over the water]

[her coronet . . . broke: She climbed the tree to hang the crown of wildflowers she had woven. When a spiteful limb broke, she and her flowery trophies fell into the brook.]

[indu'd . . . element: indued or endued: naturally empowered to deal with danger]

[farewell]

[I forbid . . . out: Although I forbid myself to cry, I am crying just the same. It is natural for humans to cry when they confront great sorrow. I don't care if people try to shame me for crying. When my tears stop, I will no longer be a woman and will become a man again.]

[I have . . it: I have a fiery speech that I'd like to make. But my crying extinguishes (douts) the fire.]

[How . . . follow: I worked very hard to calm his rage. Now I fear that Ophelia's death will reignite his anger. Let's follow him.]

Act 5, Scene 1

[peasants or rustics]

[wilfully . . . salvation: wilfully killed herself]

[straightaway; right now]

[coroner]

[sat in judgment of]

[willingly]

[se offendendo: Corruption of se defendendo , Latin legal term for in self-defense . The feminine form is

se defendenda

, which one would use in reference to Ophelia.]

[argal: Corruption of

ergo

, Latin for

therefore

]

[willy-nilly: whether willed or not; whether desired or not]

[therefore]

[coroner's]

[inquest]

[the right]

[fellow]

[Genesis 3:2 of the Bible says that the fallen Adam had to till the soil after leaving the Garden of Eden.]

[therefore]

[complete your work]

[By the mass: Mild oath. The mass is a Catholic worship rite.]

[probably a tavern keeper]

[pot]

[marry]

[benefit or duty]

[suitable, fitting, right]

[In youth . . . meet: The song is based on (but misquotes) a poem by Thomas Vaux (1509-1556) of Harrowden, England, published in Tottel's Miscellany in 1557.]

[habit]

[the hand . . . sense: Those without a steady job have plenty of time on their hands and thus tend to develop a greater sensitivity than others.]

[into]

[ground]

[holding the skull by the jaw (jowls), the gravedigger tosses it]

[head]

[gets the better of; outranks]

[morning]

[borrow]

[it is]

[it belongs to the worms]

[its jaw knocked off]

[struck about the head]

[gravedigger's]

[turnabout]

[if]

[my bones]

[loggats: Game in which participants stood bones in the ground and tried to knock them down by tossing other bones at them.]

[A pick-axe . . . skull: The First Clown says that all he needs to accommodate a dead guest are a pickax, a shovel, a shroud, and a grave, or "pit of clay."]

[sly questions]

[weak arguments that circumvent the truth with petty reasoning and nitpicking]

[property titles]

[deceitful tactics]

[legal term for beating or striking someone]

[binding agreements]

[pledges to pay money or to perform a certain act]

[does he get to keep no more of his land]

[agreements; deeds]

[deeds]

[coffin; grave]

[material on which legal agreements are written]

[outside of it]

[I am not telling a lie]

[You are telling a lie]

[living]

['Tis . . . you: It's a quick lie, sir, the way it jumps back and forth between me and you.]

[precise]

[exact rules]

[bold]

[inflamed or sensitive area on the heal of the foot]

[My first day just happened to be the day that our late King Hamlet defeated the late King Fortinbras of Norway.]

[in England]

[The gravedigger takes this word to mean country]

[before]

[corpses]

[one who makes leather out of hides]

[throat; gullet; esophagus]

[pranks; tricks; taunts]

[antics; frolics]

[downhearted; dejected]

[of makeup]

[she will end up looking like you]

[Alexander the Great (356-323 BC), conquerer of the Persian Empire]

[To what . . . bung-hole: Consider what humiliating and degrading uses the bodies of human beings are subjected to after death. One can imagine that the ashes of Alexander ended up as a stopper in the hole of a cask or a barrel.]

[You're being cynical.]

[without exaggerating]

[subdued; not glorious]

[indicate]

[corpse]

[destroy; kill]

[high rank; nobility]

[Let's step back and observe.]

[funeral rites]

[authority]

[she apparently killed herself]

[but . . . order: but for the fact that a royal command overruled me]

[She . . . burial: She should be buried in unsanctified ground elsewhere till the end of time; instead of praying for her, people should throw pieces of broken pottery, flint (quartz), and pebbles on her body. However, she is allowed flowers and wreaths (crants) indicating she died a virgin, as well as the tolling of a bell and burial in sanctified ground.]

[such . . . souls: Other rites normally carried out for those deserving burial in consecrated ground.]

[in hell]

[Hamlet's]

[sanity]

[living person]

[Pelion and Olympus: Mountains in Greece.]

[What is . . . hearers: Who is it that grieves with such emphasis that his words attract the attention of the stars and fill them with wonder? I am the one, Hamlet the Dane.]

[quick-tempered]

[Separate them.]

[By Christ's wounds]

[thou wilt do for Ophelia]

[Woo 't . . . crocodile: Would you weep for her? Fight? Go without food? Injure yourself? Drink vinegar? Eat a crocodile?]

[alive]

[And, if . . . as thou: And, if you speak of mountains filling the grave (lines 134-136), let them throw tons of earth on us until the top of the pile reaches the sun and makes Mount Ossa (a peak in northern Greece) look like a wart. Nay, when you mouth off, I'll mouth off too, as well as you.]

[outburst of emotion; seizure]

[soon]

[two eggs]

[hatched]

[Let . . . day: Let Laertes, ranting as if he were Hercules, do what he will. After he mews like a cat to lodge his complaints, I will bark like a dog and have my way.]

[Strengthen . . . push: Be patient. Take heart in what we talked about last night. It won't be long before we put our plan into action.]

[lasting]

Act 5, Scene 2

[mutineers]

[bilboes: A bilbo is a bar with fetters that are attached to the feet of prisoner.]

[fail]

[God shapes]

[heavy coat with a high collar]

[wrapped]

[Grop'd . . . packet: I groped around and found the packet containing the message to the king of England]

[an exact . . . struck off: An exact command, interspersed with niceties and greetings from our king to the English king, that I was to be beheaded without delay upon my arrival in England.]

[ensnared]

[villainies]

[Ere . . . brains: Before I could think over what to do next]

[statesmen]

[plural of

as

]

[An earnest . . . allow'd: I started with a statement from Claudius that England was faithful to Denmark and that love between the two countries should further flourish in a peaceful relationship, with peace joining the two countries as a comma joins clauses and phrases. Then I added many other other sentences and clauses beginning with "as" and ended with a command to put the bearers of the message to death immediately, even before they had time to confess their sins to God through a priest.]

[helpful; giving me guidance]

[ring with a seal used as a stamp to endorse or authenticate documents]

[stamp]

[substituted document]

[what . . . sequent: what followed]

[go to their death]

[they . . . employment: They relished the idea of taking me to England to die.]

[They are . . . opposites: Their fate does not bother my conscience. Their downfall resulted from their own wilfull interference in my affairs. It's dangerous for lesser mortals like them to become involved in conflicts between opponents holding high positions in the realm.]

[Claudius]

[Horatio is really saying, "Why what an evil king is this!"]

[deprived me of being elected king]

[hath given the order to kill me]

[deceit]

[is 't not . . . evil: Is it not perfectly justified to kill him with this sword? And would I not be damned for allowing this evil man to live to commit more evil?]

[It must . . . there: He will soon find out what happened in England.]

[It will . . . passion: It won't be long before he finds out. But I'll have time to act in the interim. I must say, Horatio, that I am sorry I lost my temper when I confronted Laertes at the grave site. He, too, suffered great loss. I'll try to be cordial with him. It was just that his outward display of grief rankled me.]

[Osric is a courtier, one who is a fixture at the court of a monarch. A typical courtier was at the service of the ruler and often flattered him to gain favors and improve his standing at court.]

[insignificant creature]

[of not knowing Osric]

[let a beast . . . dirt: When a man—regardless of his human worth—becomes lord of something, he gains favor at court and dines with the king. He's nothing but a crow (chough). But, as I say, he has lots of dirt (land)].

[Your . . . head: Put your hat on. It's for the head. Osric had removed his hat to show his respect (probably insincere) for Prince Hamlet.]

[somewhat]

[qualities that set him apart from others]

[gentle upbringing]

[impressive appearance]

[standard]

[example]

[complete package]

[of what a gentleman should be]

[Sir . . . nothing more: Sir, your description of him is glowing. And I realize that trying to present an inventory of all of his good qualities would make you dizzy. If he were the captain of a ship, we couldn't catch him no matter how much we yawed (swerved) this way or that. Truly, in praising him, I must say he is a great soul. He is unique. When he looks into a mirror, he sees the only one who can equal him. Everyone else who would follow him walks in his shadow (umbrage).]

[The concernancy . . . breath: Why are we talking about this man?]

[Can't you talk to him in plainer language?]

[What is the purpose of bringing up this subject?]

[I would . . . me: I'm glad you know that, sir. But I'm not satisfied.]

[fencing skill]

[reputation]

[ability]

[unrivaled]

[north African]

[pledged; staked]

[daggers]

[accessories]

[belt]

[straps attached to the belt to hold up a scabbard]

[be curious about the meaning of some words]

[germane; pertinent]

[if you were talking about cannons instead of swords]

[wagered]

[Laertes]

[shall not defeat you by no more than three hits; in other words, the king supposedly is betting on Hamlet if Laertes spots the prince three hits]

[twelve hits for Laertes to nine hits for Hamlet]

[a match held right now]

[Let me be clear, my lord. I'm talking about testing yourself in a competition against Laertes.]

[Sir, I will . . . odd hits: Sir, I will walk here in the hall. It's the time of day when I like to get exercise. Meanwhile, let the preparation begin for the fencing match. I will try to fight to make the king win his bet. If I fail, I will suffer only a little shame and some hits from Laertes' sword.]

[Shall I quote you on that?]

[To . . . will: You may tell him the gist of what I said with whatever fancy words you'd like to add.]

[He does . . . turn: He does well to commend his duty. No one else will commend him for anything.]

[This . . . head: The lapwing, a small bird, can move around moments after it hatches. It may run off even when pieces of its shell are still attached to its body.]

[He used to praise the nipple of his mother (or wet nurse) before he sucked it.]

[kind]

[worthless; trivial]

[only got . . . out: His only talent is to act like everyone else and speak the same words (yesty collection) that carry his kind through their conversations and opinions, winnowed of substance.

They try to attach great meaning to their words; but the words are full of air, like bubbles.]

[fence]

[his majesty . . . time: After the king sent Osric to deliver his message to you, Osric reported back to the king and now asks you to meet him in the hall. He wishes to know whether you want to have the fencing match now or later.]

[That suits me well.]

[gentle words or treatment]

[But . . . heart: But be aware that I feel a bit uneasy in my heart.]

[It is . . . woman: It's really nothing—rather like a misgiving that would perhaps trouble a woman.]

[stop them from coming]

[Not a . . . let be: No, don't do that. I defy omens or foreboding feelings. After all, it is God who oversees our destiny. If a sparrow dies now, it was meant by heaven to die now and not later. If the sparrow does not die now, it was meant by heaven to die later. (See Matthew 10:29 in the New Testament of the Bible.) What is important is to be prepared for whatever happens to you. No man retains anything of what he leaves behind when he dies. So what does it matter if a man dies an early death? Let things stand as they are.]

[That I . . . brother: That I shot an arrow over a house, unaware that my brother was on the other side, and unintentionally hit and injured him.]

[temperament; feelings]

[I stand . . . reconcilement: I am not satisfied and will not reconcile with you.]

[old wise men]

[thin, flexible swords with blunted tips]

[I'll be . . . indeed: I'll be a poor comparison to you, Laertes. Since I lack the talents that you have acquired, your skill will shine like a fiery star in a dark sky.]

[Laertes thinks Hamlet is insincere.]

[he has the greater skill]

[pots]

[strikes back]

[cannons]

[health]

[that Hamlet drinks from]

[pearl]

[She picks up the poisoned cup, the one with the pearl, that the king intended for Hamlet.]

[you are toying with me]

[going too far]

[as a man snared by his own trap]

[faints, swoons]

[not capped or blunted]

[only wounded]

[pearl]

[the king]

[Romans were famous for committing suicide after a reversal of fortune]

[Absent . . . awhile: Absent (pronounced ab SENT) thee from sweet death awhile.]

[salute]

[overcomes]

[to choose the new Danish king]

[So tell . . . solicited: So tell him about the recent events, whether of greater or lesser importance, that influenced my actions.]

[anything]

[harvest of animals hunted down, killed, and piled in a heap]

[disorder; chaos; destruction]

[O proud . . . struck: O death! You must be planning a great banquet in your eternal abode, considering that you took the lives of so many royal persons in a single moment.]

[King Claudius]

[Where . . . thanks: Since the king is dead, he cannot thank us for delivering our message.]

[But . . . question: But since you wonder what happened here that spilled so much blood]

[And in . . . deliver: And, ironically, murderous plots that went awry and killed the very persons who hatched them. I can tell you the whole story.]

[call the noblemen hereabouts to listen]

[entitlements]

[Which . . . me: Which I now plan to claim]

[Of that . . . happen: On this matter I'd like to disclose to you Hamlet's last wishes, even at this upsetting time, so that we can avoid further plots and upheavals.]

[For he . . . royally: For he was likely, had he lived, to have been a great ruler.]

[Such a sight . . . amiss: This site is appropriate for a battlefield, but not for a hall in a king's castle.]

References to Ancient Mythology

Hamlet

Aeneas

Cyclops

Odyssey

Dido

Hecate

Hecuba

Hercules

Hymen

Hyperion

Hyrcanian beast

Jove

Lethe : In Greek mythology, the river of forgetfulness in Hades.

Mars

Nemean lion

Neptune

Niobe

Phoebus

Priam

Pyrrhus

satyr

Tellus

Trojan Horse

Vulcan