Work overview

Text 10 of 23

SCENE I.--A ROOM IN POLONIUS'S HOUSE.

Hamlet

William Shakespeare · 2009

Contents

Text 10 of 23

  1. 01Front matter
  2. 02ACT I.
  3. 03SCENE I.--ELSINORE. A PLATFORM BEFORE THE CASTLE. NIGHT.
  4. 04SCENE II.--A ROOM OF STATE IN THE PALACE.
  5. 05SCENE III.--A ROOM IN POLONIUS'S HOUSE.
  6. 06SCENE IV.--THE PLATFORM. NIGHT.
  7. 07SCENE V.--A MORE REMOTE PART OF THE PLATFORM. NIGHT.
  8. 08Act I
  9. 09ACT II.
  10. 10SCENE I.--A ROOM IN POLONIUS'S HOUSE.
  11. 11SCENE II.--A ROOM IN THE CASTLE.
  12. 12Act II
  13. 13ACT III.
  14. 14SCENE II.--A ROOM IN THE SAME.
  15. 15SCENE III.--THE QUEEN'S CHAMBER.
  16. 16Act III
  17. 17ACT IV.
  18. 18Act IV
  19. 19ACT V.
  20. 20SCENE I.--A CHURCH YARD.
  21. 21SCENE II.--HALL IN THE CASTLE.
  22. 22SCENE III.--ROOM IN THE CASTLE.
  23. 23Act V
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Work overview

Text 10 of 23

SCENE I.--A ROOM IN POLONIUS'S HOUSE.

William Shakespeare · about 1 minutes

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SCENE I.--A ROOM IN POLONIUS'S HOUSE.

_Enter_ POLONIUS[1] (L.H.), _meeting Ophelia._ (R.H.)

Pol. How now, Ophelia! What's the matter?

Oph. O, my lord, my lord, I have been so affrighted!

Pol. With what, in the name of Heaven?

Oph. My lord, as I was sewing in my closet, Lord Hamlet, with his doublet all unbrac'd; Pale as his shirt; his knees knocking each other, And with a look so piteous in purport, He comes before me.

Pol. Mad for thy love?

Oph. My lord, I do not know; But, truly, I do fear it.

Pol. What said he?

Oph. He took me by the wrist, and held me hard; Then goes he to the length of all his arm; And, with his other hand thus o'er his brow, He falls to such perusal of my face As he would draw it. Long staid he so; At last,--a little shaking of mine arm, And thrice his head thus waving up and down, He rais'd a sigh so piteous and profound, As it did seem to shatter all his bulk,[2] And end his being: That done, he lets me go: And, with his head over his shoulder turn'd, He seem'd to find his way without his eyes; For out o'doors he went without their helps, And, to the last, bended their light on me.

Pol. Come, go with me; I will go seek the king. This is the very ecstacy of love;[3] What, have you given him any hard words of late?

Oph. No, my good lord; but, as you did command, I did repel his letters, and denied His access to me.

Pol. That hath made him mad. Come, go we to the king: This must be known; which, being kept close, might move More grief to hide than hate to utter love.[4] Come. [Exeunt L.H.]