第二幕
第一景
[波隆尼尔家中。 波隆尼尔与仆人瑞挪都入。 他们正在谈关於
雷尔提之事。 雷尔提已返回巴黎。]
波: 把这些钱及信件带去给他, 瑞挪都。
瑞: 我会的, 老爷。
波: 你最好能在见他之前打听打听他最近之品行, 瑞挪都。
瑞: 老爷, 我正打算如此。
波: 嗯, 很好, 很好。 这样,
你可先打听在巴黎住的有那些丹麦人,
他们是为何在那里, 是些什么人, 经济情况如何,
住处在那里, 朋友是谁, 及为其花费多少。
如此转弯末角的, 你就可以知道他们是否认得他,
这比直接了当的询问还容易得到真相。
你可以假装你与他不熟,
可说「我认得他的父亲以及他的朋友,
所以, 我也略认得他一些。」 记住了吗?
瑞: 是的, 我记住了, 老爷。
波:「认得他一些, 但是,」你可说, 「并不熟悉。 不过,
若确是此人的话, 那他可是个品性狂野之人,
并且有某某之痞好。」 在此你可捏造些事情,
例如纨裤子弟们常会去干的轻浮、放纵之勾当。
但是记住, 别坏了他的名誉。
瑞: 例如赌博, 老爷?
波: 对, 或酗酒, 或斗剑, 或骂人, 或吵架, 或嫖妓。
你可提起这些。
瑞: 但是, 老爷, 这些可会败坏他的名誉啊。
波: 那也未必, 只要你在说此话时, 语言上稍带含蓄。
你勿毁谤他是个放荡不羁的浪子, 我无此意。
你仅需轻描淡写的说出他的缺点,
有技巧的把它们形容为因太自由而造成之小瑕疵,
血气兴旺促使之妄为, 或无纪律导致之野行,
此乃常人之过也。
瑞: 但是, 我的好老爷...
波: 为何你要如此的去做?
瑞: 是的, 老爷, 我想要知道。
波: 好, 先生, 这就是我所设的良计:
当你把这些过错--这只不过是些小污点而已--讲给某某人听时,
假如此人心中明白我的儿子的确是犯有这些毛病,
那他一定会同意你之说法, 并且也会按其国之礼节和你称朋道友,
称呼你为「亲爱的先生」, 或「朋友」, 或「绅士。」
瑞: 是的, 老爷。
波: 那时他若如此, 如此...{讲得自己也糊涂了}
我想说些什么? 我忘了, 我到底讲到哪里去了?
瑞: 讲到「同意你之说法。」
波: 讲到「同意你之说法?」 对, 没错。
那时他也就会信赖於你, 并且会告诉你:
「我也认得他, 昨天我才碰到他,」或
「前几天他才如此如此,」 就如你所说的: 赌博、酗酒、
打网球时与人争吵、 或「我见到他进入一妓院」等等。
你了解了吗? 用你的一小小谎言来做饵钓一大鱼, 即能知道事情真相。
咱们聪明、有脑筋之士就可用此拐弯末角之计获得我们所需知的。
你若采纳我所教的这些, 你也可同样的偿愿於我儿。
你懂了吗?
瑞: 我懂了, 老爷。
波: 上帝与你同在, 再会。
瑞: 谢老爷。
波: {叫回瑞挪都} 你得把他给看紧。
瑞: 我会的, 老爷。
波: 但也让他能自奏其乐。
瑞: 是的, 老爷。
[出]
[欧菲利亚入]
波: 再会。
{对女儿}
怎么啦, 欧菲利亚, 什么事?
欧: 啊, 父亲, 父亲, 吓死我了!
波: 老天, 什么事?
欧: 刚才我在房间里缝纫时, 哈姆雷特殿下进了来 。
他敞开著他的外套, 头上也没戴帽子,
没袜带的袜子也脏兮兮的拖落於踝,
脸色白晰的就如其衬衫,
他就这样双膝并拢的一付可怜样面对著我,
好像才从地狱里被释放出来, 叙述其恐怖一样。
波: 他因爱你而疯啦?
欧: 父亲, 我不知道, 不过, 我真的害怕。
波: 他和你说了些什么?
欧: 他用力的扭住了我的手腕,
排我於一臂之距,
然後把另一支手这般的放在他的额头上,
目不转睛的端详著我的脸, 好像想画它一般。
良久之後, 他才把我的手轻轻的抖了抖, 也这般的点了三次头,
{学著慢慢点头}
然後 惨的深叹了一口气,
就好像想在一口气中叹出他的胴体及生命一般。
此事完後, 他才放松我;
他走时还掉过头来; 出门时也不看路,
因为他的双眼一直不停的在瞅著我呢。
波: 跟我来, 我们找国王去, 此乃痴情病狂也!
它来之凶猛时能令患者寻短见,
就如其他令人类痛楚之心病一样。
对不起...你最近有无与他争执了?
欧: 没有, 父亲, 但依照您的旨示,
我回绝了他的情书, 也避他不见。
波: 他这样就疯了!
对不起, 我没把他给看准, 我还以为他对你只是玩玩,
只想把你给糟蹋了而以。 我这多疑之心真该惭愧,
天哪, 咱们老一辈的会疑心, 就像年青人会天真无忌一样。
走吧, 我们找国王去, 他应该知道这些,
隐藏此事可能造出之悲剧,
将比揭发此事可能造出之悲剧来得更甚,
来!
[二人出]
第二景: 宫中
[号声响起, 国王、皇后、罗生克兰、盖登思邓等与众侍从入。]
王: 欢迎, 爱臣罗生克兰与盖登思邓,
朕急召二位来此, 除朕想念你们之外, 还有一重差须要嘱托。
你们可闻近来哈姆雷特有变--
吾称之为变, 乃因其仪态已与昔日回然不同。
除了其父之死外, 寡人实不悟其扰。
朕念你们与他自幼为友, 年纪相同并深悉其性,
望二位能留宫一时, 与他为伴, 使他重获欢欣,
并当时机容允时, 察明其困扰之由, 有无寡人不晓之处,
而可对症疗之也。
后: 好先生们, 他经常提及你们, 而我料世上无别人能与他更熟,
二位若能依我们之意而留此一时, 为王的将感激不尽。
罗: 陛下与皇后乃一国之主, 有何旨示, 可尽管吩附, 不需托求。
盖: 而臣等必听从旨意, 将全力以赴。
王: 多谢, 罗生克兰与善良的盖登思邓。
后: 多谢, 盖登思邓与善良的罗生克兰。
我恳求你们立刻就去见我那已改变许多的儿子。
[对侍从们]
去, 你们中之一位, 快带这二位先生去哈姆雷特那儿。
盖: 祈求老天能使我们令他愉快, 并对他有助。
后: 对啊, 阿们。
[罗生克兰与盖登思邓出]
[波隆尼尔入]
波: 我很高兴的宣布我国驻挪威大使们现已归国, 陛下。
王: 卿实不愧为「捷报之父。」
波: 是吗, 主公? 您可放心,
臣视吾职, 如视吾魂--同心一致的效忠陛下与上帝。
我认为, 除非我这脑筋已无昔日之精明,
我已发现哈姆雷特丧失心神之缘由。
王: 啊, 请卿速言, 吾欲听之。
波: 不妨先召见大使们, 此消息可置之於後, 当作宴席之甜点。
王: 那你就召他们晋见罢。
[波隆尼尔出]
{对皇后} 亲爱的葛簇特, 他告诉我他已发现你儿心病之原因。
后: 无疑那主要原因决不出於其父之死, 与我们之仓促婚事。
王: 嗯, 待寡人好好的问问他。
[波隆尼尔, 傅特曼, 及孔里尼入]
欢迎, 朋友们。
喂, 傅特曼, 挪威王那儿有何消息?
傅: 对陛下之问候及要求有极有利之答覆。
经我们初步谈判後, 他就立刻派人去抑制其侄所招幕之队伍。
当初他只道那支军队是准备抵抗波兰用的,
但经他细察後, 发现它果真是针对著陛下。
对其因病、老、与无能而被欺, 他深感不安,
因此他下令遏制福丁布拉;
简而说之, 其侄也听话,
他在挪威王面前被责, 并且最後也与其叔发誓永不与陛下为敌。
听此之後, 挪威老王龙心大悦, 赏他年禄三千金圆,
并特派他率此军征讨波兰。
在此有函 [递出信件] 乞求陛下让征军平安渡境本国,
一切条件及所应注意事项如下...
王: 朕甚慰。 有暇时朕必阅此函, 细虑此事, 并为它作个答覆;
不过, 此际朕可要先谢你们之功劳。 请稍歇会儿,
今夜我们可共宴, 欢迎你们归国。
[傅特曼与孔里尼出]
波: 此事就圆满结束。
吾王与夫人, 与其讨论为君者应如何, 他之职责何在,
或为何日即日、 夜即夜、或时即时,
实是在浪费夜、日、与时也!
既然「简扼乃机智之魂, 而冗言即无用之外饰,」
我将简略的说此:
您们的贵子疯了。
我言之为『疯,』 难道仅有疯人才能真正的了解疯者是如何?
好了, 不谈它了。
后: 请多说些事实, 少说些矫饰废话。
波: 夫人, 我发誓, 我没在矫饰。
他疯了, 这是个事实; 它事实是很可悲, 也很可悲它是个事实。
此话听起来很傻, 所以可不去提它了; 但是, 我的确是无在虚饰此言。
就当他是真正的疯了好了, 那么我们现在就应找出致使他发疯的原因,
或令其发疯之某缺陷,
因为疯症是个结果, 而此结果必是某缺陷所造成的,
所以我们现在...现在我们...得仔细考虑考虑...{自己也搞糊涂了}
我有一女, 她尚未婚。 她因孝顺、听话--您们请听--所以她给了我这个
{掏出哈姆雷特给其女之情书}。 请聆听并请自作结论:
[念信]
「给我心灵之偶像, 美化成仙之欧菲利亚--」,
这是个坏字, 坏透的字。 「美化」是个坏透的字(注1)。 以下还有:
「在她美极之雪白胸怀里...」, 等等, 等等。
后: 这封信是哈姆雷特写给她的?
波: 好夫人, 请稍忍耐会儿, 让我把它全部念完:
「可不信星星是火,
也不信太阳能走,
更不信事实是谎,
但信我予你之爱。
啊, 亲爱的欧菲利亚, 我不善诗词,
也无法用它来表达我内心之苦楚,
但我爱你之甚, 最甚, 你可相信。
再会。
我永远是你的, 亲爱的女子啊,
只要在我有生之年。
哈姆雷特」
这就是我那乖女儿给我看的。
还有, 她也告诉了我他怎样的追求她, 在何时、何法、与何处。
王: 那么, 她有无接受他的爱?
波: 您觉得我是怎样的一个人?
王: 一位有信用及正直的人。
波: 我也想做这样的一个人。
但是, 当这火辣辣的恋情发生时, 您们会怎样的想
--您们可要知道, 我是在我女儿告诉我之前发现它的--
陛下会怎样的想, 或皇后会怎样的想,
倘若我是此事的撮合人,
或倘若我不顾良心的指使, 或倘若我对此事只睁一眼闭一眼,
那您们会怎样的想?
所以, 我就马上采取行动, 告诉我那年轻的女儿:
「与哈姆雷特王子在一起是高攀, 万万不可。」
然後我也命令她远离他, 切勿接见他遣来的信差,
也不可接受他的礼物。 她也听话的采纳了我的交代於心。
从此以後, 他就变了。 长话短说, 他就坠入忧郁乡中,
既不能食, 也不能寝, 日渐衰弱, 精神恍惚。
这个程序最後就造出现在令大家痛心之疯狂症状。
王: 你觉得这就是了吗?
后: 也许, 很可能。
波: 凡我说过「就是如此」之事, 有无在事後被证明是错误过?
我想要知道。
王: 据我所知, 你不曾有过。
波: [指著自己的头与肩膀]
要是我是不对的话, 那您可把这个从此处摘下来。
即使事情被埋藏於地中心, 只要我有线索指引, 我一定能发现真相。
王: 我们有何法可证实它?
波: 您可晓得, 他有时在此厅内徘回长达四小时久?
后: 他的确是有时这样。
波: 等到那时, 我可纵我女儿来此会见他(注2),
而你我可躲在帘後偷听。
假如他不爱她, 或他并未因此而丧失理智,
那我不配当一国之相, 而仅配当一乡俗、车 而已。
王: 咱们可试之。
[哈姆雷特入, 正念著一本书]
后: 看他埋头苦读的那付可怜样。
波: 请您们赶快回避, 让我一人来对付他。 请之, 请。
[国王、皇后、与侍从们出]
我的哈姆雷特殿下, 您可好?
哈: 好, 托老天慈悲。
波: 您认得我吗, 殿下?
哈: 当然认得, 你是个鱼贩。 (注3)
波: 我不是, 殿下。
哈: 既然如此, 那我希望你也是个老实人。
波: 老实, 殿下?
哈: 对, 先生, 在此世界, 老实人仅是万中有一而已呢。
波: 那也的确是, 殿下。
哈: [从书中念] 太阳之吻能使死狗尸上生蛆 (注4),
它是个可亲可吻的好腐肉--
你有无一位女儿?
波: 我有, 殿下。
哈: 别让她去太阳下。 腹中怀智是个佳事,
但你的女儿因能腹中怀孕,
朋友, 你得留意。
波: [私下] 你看, 又在罗嗦关於我女儿之事。 刚才他还不认得我,
只道我是个鱼贩, 可见他已全疯了, 全疯了。
老实说, 我年轻时也曾为爱情痛苦, 也几乎到同样地步。
让我再与他谈谈。
[对哈姆雷特]
您在读什么, 殿下?
哈: 空字, 空字, 空字。
波: 什么事, 殿下? {波隆尼尔是在问此书是关於何事}
哈: 谁有事? {把此「事」当为人们间之争吵}
波: 我的意思是「此书是关於何事。」
哈: 诽谤也, 先生。 这专爱讽刺的无赖在此说{敲著书本}老年人有灰胡子,
脸上有斑斑皱纹, 眼框里有厚厚的一层芝麻糊, 头颅里没脑筋, 腿也无力。
先生, 这些我完全相信, 但是我觉得这样写恐怕不太妥当, 因为, 先生,
总有一天你也会和我一样的老--如果你能像螃蟹般倒行的话。
波: [私下] 他虽疯, 但却有他的一套理论。
[对哈姆雷特] 你要不要从外边进来了, 殿下?
哈: 进我的坟墓?
波: 真的, 那才真正的是「进去了。」
[私下] 他这些答覆有时倒还蛮有含义的; 有些疯人能乐而如此,
但有理智之常人却反而不能。 现在我要离他而去,
好设法让他能与我女儿会面。
[对哈姆雷特] 殿下, 我提先告别了。
哈: 先生, 你提不出另一样使我更乐意告别之物, 除了我的性命,
除了我的性命, 除了我的性命。
波: 再会, 殿下。
哈: {私下} 这些罗哩罗嗦的老笨蛋们。
[罗生克兰与盖登思邓入]
波: 你们找哈姆雷特殿下, 他就在此。
罗: 上帝保佑你, 先生。
[波隆尼尔出]
盖: {行礼} 我的尊贵殿下。
罗: {行礼} 我的最亲爱殿下。
哈: 我的好朋友们! 你们好吗? 盖登思邓, 啊, 罗生克兰,
好伙子们, 你们可好?
罗: 普普通通。
盖: 也很高兴我们没过份的高兴: 在命运之神身上,
我们可不是她帽顶上的那扣扣儿。
哈: 也不是她的鞋跟底?
罗: 也不是。
哈: 那么, 我看你们差不多是在她半腰, 在她的好处那儿?
盖: 就在她的私隐之处。
哈: 在命运女神之私处? 那可真对啊--她是个娼妓。
你们还有什么消息?
罗: 没什么, 殿下, 只是这个世界可是愈来愈善良了。
哈: 那么世界末日就快来临了; 但是, 你们的消息并不灵通。
让我再问, 朋友们, 你们为何被命运之神押送来此牢狱?
盖: 牢狱, 殿下?
哈: 丹麦就是个牢狱。
罗: 那么, 这整个世界也是。
哈: 是个很大的, 它有很多囚室、 监房、地牢等,
而丹麦是其中最坏之一部份。
罗: 我们并不以为然, 殿下。
哈: 那... 它对你们来讲不是。 其实世事并无好坏, 全看你们怎样去想。
对我来说, 它是个牢狱。
罗: 那是您的野心作祟促使成的。 对您的心灵来说, 丹麦是太狭小了。
哈: 啊, 老天呀, 我可闭於一核桃壳内,
而仍自认我是个无疆限之君主--
只要我无那些噩梦。
盖: 您的那些梦也就是您的野心; 凡野心家之所成, 均先出其梦幻之影也。
哈: 梦也只不过是个幻影而已。
罗: 对, 我觉得野心才更是捉摸不到, 它真是个幻影之幻影。
哈: 若是这样, 那毫无野心的乞丐岂不是「实体」,
而帝王及其他野心家们岂不是乞丐之「影子」?
我们需上法庭来判断此论吗? 因为我已为此绞尽脑汁, 不能再想了。
二人: 我们愿意伺候您。
哈: 那可不成, 我不能把你们当仆人看待。 老实说, 我真是没被人伺候好,
还有--朋友之间不忌直问--你们来艾辛诺尔堡是为何?
罗: 来拜访您, 殿下, 无其他事。
哈: 我是个乞丐, 穷得连个「谢谢」都没有。 但我还是该谢谢你们。
不过, 亲爱的朋友们, 我这个「谢谢」, 老实说是连半文钱都不值。
你们的确不是奉派而来的吗? 此拜访纯粹是出於自愿? 是无条件的?
来, 来, 老实的告诉我, 来, 来, 快说呀!
盖: 我们该怎么讲, 殿下?
哈: 怎么讲都可以, 只要是实话。 {罗与盖面面相觑}
你们是被派来的, 这早就被你们带愧之脸色招出来了, 遮掩不住的。
我晓得你们是被国王与皇后遣派来的。
罗: {装著不知} 为了何事, 殿下?
哈: 那你们得告诉我。 不过, 让我事先恳求你们, 以我们之友谊,
以我们之忘年深交, 以我们永恒不变之友爱, 及其它珍贵之情,
请坦白、直率的说, 你们到底是不是奉派而来的?
罗: [私下与盖登思邓] 你要如何说?
哈: 我在注意你们哟。
你们如果爱我, 那就请别再犹豫。
盖: 殿下, 我们的确是奉派而来的。
哈: 让我先道破其中之原因, 这样, 你们也无须把它说出,
令你们失诺於国王与皇后。
最近--我也不知是为何--我失去了欢欣,
对一切事务也毫无兴致。 说真的,
我的心灵沉重的使我觉得这整个世界仅不过是块枯燥的顽石。
这个美好的天空, 看 {用手指天}, 好一个悬於头顶之壮丽穹苍,
好一个有金色火焰点缀之华丽屋宇, 但是,
现在它对我来说, 只不过是一团污烟瘴气而已。
人类是个多么美妙的杰作, 它拥有著崇高的理智,
也有无限的能力与优美可钦的仪表。 其举止就如天使, 灵性可媲神仙。
它是天之骄子, 也是万物之灵。 但是, 对我来讲, 它岂不是朽如粪土?
人们已无法令我欢欣--就连女人。
{罗与盖互相交换眼色并点头微笑}
你们在笑, 好像不以为然。
罗: 殿下, 我全无此意。
哈: 那你笑什么, 当我说「人们已无法令我欢欣」时?
罗: 我在想, 殿下, 如果人们已无法令您欢欣,
那么, 您将会多么的冷落了那刚到的戏班子--
我们来此时才刚超越了他们, 他们现在正要来此为殿下效劳呢。
哈: {兴高采烈的}
饰演国王者将受我欢迎, 我将乐意的纳贡於此君。
英勇的武士可挥舞其剑与盾。 痴情的恋者无须再空悲叹。
暴燥的性格演员可安心的终其剧。 小丑可令爱笑者捧腹。
女主角可畅诉其心愿, 否则对白将失其板眼。
他们是何许戏班?
罗: 就是您一向最喜爱的: 从城里来的悲剧团。
哈: 他们为何要如此的出外巡回卖艺?
有一个固定的剧院对他们的声望及利润都极有益的。
罗: 我想他们是因近来戏剧界之迁变而休演。
哈: 他们的名气是否还是像昔日我在城里时一般?
他们是否还是那么的红?
罗: 那可没有了。
哈: 那是为什么呢, 难道他们的艺技老 了?
罗: 不是的, 他们仍在努力的保持其艺如昔, 先生,
但是现在戏剧界出了一窝新派的童子戏班, 号称「雏鹰们」,
他们以尖锐的嗓门取胜, 博取观众的疯狂喝采, 成为一时之风行。
他们也攻击他们所谓之「普通」剧团, 声势咄咄逼人,
至今许多腰系佩剑的传统伶人都裹足不前,
深惧新潮派剧作家鹅毛笔下之作品。
哈: 什么, 他们是小孩吗? 是谁在管他们? 他们从哪儿来的资助?
他们变音、不能歌唱後还会继续的当演员吗? 我想是会的,
因为他们不能做其它之事。 那时, 当他们当普通演员时,
他们会不会埋怨那些剧作家们曾耽误了他们的前途,
让他们一度敌视了自己的同行?
罗: 老实说, 双方都有其理, 而国人均热中, 并且鼓励、怂恿此争论。
甚至有一段时间无人肯花钱委托剧作家们写剧本,
除非此剧本曾令编剧家与演员们大吵过一次。
哈: 真有此等事?
盖: 唉, 为此事曾发生过无数的纠纷。
哈: 而孩儿们都赢吗?
罗: 是的, 当然, 殿下。 连那有大力士扛地球招牌之剧院都不例外 (注5)。
哈: 那也不稀奇; 我的叔父现在是丹麦王, 昔日我父亲健在时,
对他曾做过不屑鬼脸的那一班人现在肯花二十、四十、五十、甚至一百大洋
来买他的一幅小小画像。 我发誓, 这实在是有点不对, 值得思索。
[号声齐响]
盖: 戏班到了。
哈: 先生们{指盖与罗}, 欢迎你们来艾辛诺尔堡, 来, 握个手。
欢迎的礼仪是非常重要的, 所以让我现在就行此礼罢。
假使你们觉得我给与戏班演员们之欢迎--让我事先声明,
它将是极热诚的--会比你们所得之还更要热诚, 那你们就该了解,
你们的确是受欢迎的。
可是, 「叔叔父亲」与「婶婶母亲」却上当了。
盖: 此话怎么讲, 殿下?
哈: 我只是在吹西北风时发疯。
吹南风时, 我是能分办锤子与锯子的。 {注6}
[波隆尼尔入]
波: 你们好, 先生们。
哈: 你听, 盖登思邓; {对罗生克兰} 你也听, 所有的耳朵都要听。
那边那个大婴儿{指波隆尼尔}尚未脱离他的尿布呢。
罗: 那么, 这是他第二次做婴儿; 俗云老年即二度为婴也。
哈: 我料他是来告诉我有关戏子之事, 你们瞧吧。
{假装正在谈话中} 你说得对, 先生, 就在星期一早上...
波: 主公, 我有消息要告诉您。
哈: 主公, 我有消息要告诉您: 当罗希斯{注7}在古罗马当演员时...
波: 戏班子到了, 殿下。
哈: 哼, 哼。 {一付不屑模样}
波: 以我名誉发誓。
哈: 「那么, 每个戏子都骑著驴来。」 {念老民谣中之一词}
波: 他们是全世界之最佳演员。 他们善演悲剧、喜剧、史剧、田园剧、
田园喜剧、田园史剧、悲史剧、悲喜田园史剧、无法分类剧、
及包罗万象剧。 对他们来说, 赛尼卡{注}笔下之剧无过悲,
浦劳塔斯{注7}笔下之剧非太喜--无论古典浪漫, 唯其举世独尊也。
哈: 「啊! 耶弗他{注8}, 以色列之判官, 你曾拥有过那些宝贝?」
{又念老民谣中之一词}
波: 他曾拥有过那些宝贝, 殿下?
哈: 「他有一美丽的独生女, 把她宠为至宝。」
波: [私下] 又提及我的女儿了。
哈: 难道我不对吗, 老耶弗他?
波: 既然您要称呼我为耶弗他, 殿下, 那么, 我是有个爱女。
哈: 不是这样的。
波: 那应怎样, 殿下?
哈: 应这样: {朗诵民谣}
「上帝先知道, 然後你知道, 而它就无法避免的发生了。」
你若去翻查此民谣的第一段, 它就会告诉你以後怎样,
不过, 看来, 我即将被打断...
[戏班演员们入]
欢迎, 众师傅们, 欢迎各位光临!
{对其中之一演员} 我很高兴能见到你无恙。
{对众艺人} 欢迎, 好朋友们。
{走入艺人群中} 哈, 老朋友, 至从我们上次见面, 你蓄了胡子,
你不是来丹麦向我挑战的吧? {注9}
{对一扮女装之男孩演员} 什么? 我的姑娘、情妇,
你比我们上次见面时高出一高跟鞋跟!
祈望你的金嗓子不会变音--像块不能共鸣之破金币。
{对大家} 师傅们, 欢迎。
就如法国的放鹰者, 咱们就随意捕捉, 随地取材罢。 来, 念一段,
让大家尝试尝试你们的技艺。 来, 念一段热情的剧白。
演员甲: 念那一段呢, 殿下。
哈: 我曾听你念过一段, 但是, 我从未见过此出戏的正式演出;
就是见过, 也决不多於一次。
依我所记, 此出戏并非家喻户晓, 因为它乃针对给行家的;
不过, 它得到了鉴赏家们的一致好评, 赞为是出一流好戏。
它的情节细腻, 构造适中。 有人评此剧无参插骚众之秽言,
剧情之流露也自然而无做作; 称此为诚实、清新、脱俗之作品也。
此剧中我最喜爱之一段,
就是当艾尼亚士{注10}告诉黛多{注11}有关普莱安{注12}遇害之事。
你们若记得, 它就如此的开始...
让我想想, 让我想想...
「残暴的皮拉斯{注13}, 猛如海肯尼亚之虎{注14}。」
不对, 这不对。 再从皮拉斯开始: {继续朗诵}
「残暴的皮拉斯,
身披黑甲,
蹲伏於木马中。
其心志之黑,
好比深夜。
他的黝黑肌肤
也被涂上了一层邪恶的色彩,
他由头至足,
被无辜父母、子女们的淋漓鲜血染成一片殷红。
血液经炎阳焙乾,
泛著可怖的光泽,
也映出了无数的凶残杀戮。
他的怒火填胸,
他混身沾满著凝血,
他圆睁著红如宝石的双目,
像似个恶魔的皮拉斯,
就在到处找寻老迈的普莱安。」
你们就由此处接下去罢。
波: 老天, 殿下, 念得好--语气与神情俱佳。
演员甲:「不久,
他就寻得了他。
这时,
那老王已无力抵抗围攻的希腊军,
他那支已挥舞不动的古老兵器
也被锵然的击落於地。
皮拉斯见此破绽,
便更疯狂的加强其猛烈攻击。
无情的剑锋耍得虎虎作响,
筋疲力尽的老者就在此一阵劈砍後被击倒。
在此关键,
那无生命的的伊霖堡 {注15},
它的屋脊冒著熊熊的烈火,
似乎懂其苦难,
就霎时轰然坍倒。
巨响震聋了皮拉斯的双耳。
看! 那正劈向普莱安白首之利剑,
就在半空中突然停止。
像幅暴君的绘像,
皮拉斯伫立不动,
对万物也漠然无衷。
恰如暴风雨前之宁静,
云收风敛的一片死寂笼罩了大地。
倾刻後,
轰轰隆的雷响又重返天际,
唤醒了皮拉斯的戴天深仇。
就像独眼巨人之铁锤打击战神之不坏甲胄,
皮拉斯之溅血宝剑更无情的砍向普莱安。
滚开! 滚开! 贱如婊子的命运女神。
诸神明啊,
削除了她的力量吧!
粉碎了她的车轮,
让那空轴子由天堂滚入地狱!」
波: 这段太长了。
哈: 它就像你的胡须, 该去理发师那儿剪一剪。
{对演员} 请继续念吧。
他只想听闹剧或秽剧, 要不然他就会打瞌睡的。
请继续念西古芭{注16}那段。
演员甲: 唉, 可怜呀, 谁见到了那「蒙面皇后?」
哈: 蒙面皇后?
波: 好哇! 「蒙面皇后」好。
演员甲:「赤脚在熊熊的烈火中奔走,
她哭瞎了双眼。
昔日戴著冠冕的头上,
现在只裹了一块破布。
在惊惶恐惧中,
仅有一条毛毡
遮盖著她因多产而瘦弱的身躯,
代替了她的皇袍。
任何人见此悲惨的景象,
必会为她打抱不平,
而咒骂那残酷的命运之神。
倘若诸神有灵,
当她目睹皮拉斯凶残的砍下其夫君手足时,
她的 厉哭号一定会惊动天地,
令众星为她落泪,
也令诸神为她悲愤,
除非神明对人间凡事均无动於衷。」
波: 看他泪水汪汪的, 脸色都变了 {指正在朗诵的演员}。 别再念下去了。
哈: 那也好, 我们改天再把它念完罢。
{对波隆尼尔} 好先生, 你可否把这班伶人安顿好?
你听著: 我们可要好好的招待他们, 因他们是历史的书记;
我们宁可死後落得个恶名墓碑, 也别在生前坏了他们的口碑。
波: 殿下, 我会依他们所应得来对待他们。
哈: 以上帝圣体之名, 人呀, 要更好!
倘若凡事都依其所应得, 那谁不该打?
你应以礼仪来款待他们。
他们所应得的愈少, 你的宽大就愈值得表扬。
带他们去罢。
波: 来, 先生们。
哈: 请随他去, 朋友们, 我们明天再来听另一出戏。
{对演员甲} 你听我说, 老朋友, 你会不会演「巩查哥遇害记」?
演员甲: 会的, 殿下。
哈: 我们明晚就听这出戏。 若有必要, 你能否参插我写的一段於此剧,
大约十二到十六行字?
演员甲: 没问题, 殿下。
哈: 好极了!
[对众演员]
你们就随那先生去罢, 可是别取笑他喔。
[波隆尼尔与众演员出]
[对罗生克兰与盖登思邓]
好朋友们, 现在我就向你们告别, 直至今晚。
欢迎你们来到艾辛诺尔。
罗: 好的, 殿下。
[罗生克兰与盖登思邓出]
哈: 是的, 再见。 现在我可单独了。
唉, 我是个恶人, 也是个无用的蠢才!
真不可思议, 这个伶人能把单单一个虚构的故事, 伪装的感情,
表演得如此淋漓尽致。
他的脸色可随意苍白, 热泪可泉涌, 神情可仓皇,
声音可抖颤, 姿态可传神。 但这全徒劳啊, 这仅是为了西古芭!
西古芭对他是何许人, 他对西古芭又是何许人, 他须如此的为她哭泣?
倘若他有了我的悲愤理由与动机, 那他又会怎样?
他一定会把此戏台用泪水淹没, 把那骇人之听闻灌入观众耳内,
令带罪者疯狂, 无罪者惊愕, 愚 者惶惑, 也使众人的耳目迷乱如痴。
而我...
却是个懒散不振的家伙, 整天仰郁不乐, 胸无成竹的没个主意。
简直像个白日梦迷, 也无能替一位被狠毒谋害的国王说半句话。
我是不是个懦夫?
有谁能指责我是个恶棍, 敲我的脑袋, 扭我的鼻子,
揪掉我的胡须然後吹它於我脸上, 斥骂我是个无耻的谎者?
谁能对我如此? 呵, 我发誓, 我会心甘情愿的承受这些,
因我无疑是个胆小鬼, 无勇气抗议恶行;
否则我早会挖出那卑鄙奴才之肺腑, 来喂饱天下之所有兀鹰!
血淋淋的猥亵恶贼! 毫无愧疚、奸诈、荒淫、无义的恶贼!
啊, 复仇呀!
唉, 我是个笨驴!
我是个被害国君之子, 天地之鬼神均怂恿我去为他复仇,
而我却还是在此, 只能用字眼来咒骂,
活像个满口秽言的下流婊子,
带著一付泼妇骂街的模样, 真是勇敢极了! 呸, 算了, 呸!
让我动脑筋想想... 我曾听说, 当犯罪者看戏时,
有时逼真的剧情能使他突然天良发现, 使他当场忏悔其过。
谋杀血案也许是无口申冤, 但它却另有其它之神奇表达方法。
我要教这班演员们在叔父面前演出父亲遇害的过程,
那时我可注意他的反应, 观察他的一举一动。
待他有变时, 我自然晓得如何去办。
我所见到的那个幽魂也许是个恶鬼, 而恶鬼有能力化为美形,
趁我忧郁脆弱时来蛊惑我, 使我沉沦堕坠。
是的, 恶鬼的确是有此本领的。
我可用此剧为陷阱来补捉国王良心内之隐秘, 获得最确凿的证据。
[出]
{第二幕完}
_______________________________________________________________________
译者注:
(1).『美化』对波隆尼尔来讲是个『坏字』因为它表示欧菲莉亚
有用 饰品。
(2). 在此译者用『纵』字, 因原文的『loose,』强调了波隆尼尔
利用女儿之心态--如『纵马』、『纵狗』等。
(3). 鱼贩即皮条客的俗称。哈姆雷特在此讽刺波隆尼尔利用女儿来
调查哈姆雷特发疯之内幕。
(4). 中古时代人们认为蛆是从太阳而生。
(5).「环球剧院」即莎士比亚本人的剧院, 而它的招牌即一力士扛地球。
(6). 没那么疯之意。
(7). 罗希斯(Roscius): 古罗马之名伶。
(8). 耶弗他(Jephthah): 在圣经 耶弗他因大意而牺牲其女,
在此哈姆雷特再度的讽刺波隆尼尔。
(9). 英文「胡须」与「挑战」可同字。
(10). 艾尼亚士(Aeneas): 威吉尔(古罗马大诗人 Publius Vergilius Maro,
70 - 19 B.C.)写的史诗 Aeneid 中之英雄, 也是罗马人之始祖。
(11). 黛多(Dido): 迦太基之后。 迦太基(Carthage)是非洲北部之古国,
在今突尼斯附近, 纪元前一四六年被罗马人所灭。
(12). 普莱安(Priam): 特罗伊(Troy)之王, 在木马屠城记里被皮拉斯所杀。
(13). 皮拉斯(Pyrrhus): 阿奇里斯(Achilles)之子,
其父被普莱安之子所杀。 皮拉斯替父报仇, 藏於木马腹内,
进城後杀死普莱安。
(14). 海肯尼亚: 地名, 海南区, 位在今伊朗。 古罗马时代产猛虎出名。
(15). 伊霖堡: 特罗伊(Troy)城中之堡, 在木马屠城记中被希腊人摧毁。
(16). 西古芭(Hecuba): 普莱安之妻, 特罗伊之后。
Elsinore. A room in the house of Polonius.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enter Polonius and Reynaldo.
Polonius. Give him this money and these notes, Reynaldo.
Reynaldo. I will, my lord.
Polonius. You shall do marvell's wisely, good Reynaldo, 950
Before You visit him, to make inquire
Of his behaviour.
Reynaldo. My lord, I did intend it.
Polonius. Marry, well said, very well said. Look you, sir,
Enquire me first what Danskers are in Paris; 955
And how, and who, what means, and where they keep,
What company, at what expense; and finding
By this encompassment and drift of question
That they do know my son, come you more nearer
Than your particular demands will touch it. 960
Take you, as 'twere, some distant knowledge of him;
As thus, 'I know his father and his friends,
And in part him.' Do you mark this, Reynaldo?
Reynaldo. Ay, very well, my lord.
Polonius. 'And in part him, but,' you may say, 'not well. 965
But if't be he I mean, he's very wild
Addicted so and so'; and there put on him
What forgeries you please; marry, none so rank
As may dishonour him- take heed of that;
But, sir, such wanton, wild, and usual slips 970
As are companions noted and most known
To youth and liberty.
Reynaldo. As gaming, my lord.
Polonius. Ay, or drinking, fencing, swearing, quarrelling,
Drabbing. You may go so far. 975Reynaldo. My lord, that would dishonour him.
Polonius. Faith, no, as you may season it in the charge.
You must not put another scandal on him,
That he is open to incontinency.
That's not my meaning. But breathe his faults so quaintly 980
That they may seem the taints of liberty,
The flash and outbreak of a fiery mind,
A savageness in unreclaimed blood,
Of general assault.
Reynaldo. But, my good lord- 985Polonius. Wherefore should you do this?
Reynaldo. Ay, my lord,
I would know that.
Polonius. Marry, sir, here's my drift,
And I believe it is a fetch of warrant. 990
You laying these slight sullies on my son
As 'twere a thing a little soil'd i' th' working,
Mark you,
Your party in converse, him you would sound,
Having ever seen in the prenominate crimes 995
The youth you breathe of guilty, be assur'd
He closes with you in this consequence:
'Good sir,' or so, or 'friend,' or 'gentleman'-
According to the phrase or the addition
Of man and country- 1000Reynaldo. Very good, my lord.
Polonius. And then, sir, does 'a this- 'a does- What was I about to say?
By the mass, I was about to say something! Where did I leave?
Reynaldo. At 'closes in the consequence,' at 'friend or so,' and
gentleman.' 1005Polonius. At 'closes in the consequence'- Ay, marry!
He closes thus: 'I know the gentleman.
I saw him yesterday, or t'other day,
Or then, or then, with such or such; and, as you say,
There was 'a gaming; there o'ertook in's rouse; 1010
There falling out at tennis'; or perchance,
'I saw him enter such a house of sale,'
Videlicet, a brothel, or so forth.
See you now-
Your bait of falsehood takes this carp of truth; 1015
And thus do we of wisdom and of reach,
With windlasses and with assays of bias,
By indirections find directions out.
So, by my former lecture and advice,
Shall you my son. You have me, have you not? 1020Reynaldo. My lord, I have.
Polonius. God b' wi' ye, fare ye well!
Reynaldo. Good my lord! [Going.]
Polonius. Observe his inclination in yourself.
Reynaldo. I shall, my lord. 1025Polonius. And let him ply his music.
Reynaldo. Well, my lord.
Polonius. Farewell!
[Exit Reynaldo.]
[Enter Ophelia.] 1030
How now, Ophelia? What's the matter?
Ophelia. O my lord, my lord, I have been so affrighted!
Polonius. With what, i' th' name of God?
Ophelia. My lord, as I was sewing in my closet,
Lord Hamlet, with his doublet all unbrac'd, 1035
No hat upon his head, his stockings foul'd,
Ungart'red, and down-gyved to his ankle;
Pale as his shirt, his knees knocking each other,
And with a look so piteous in purport
As if he had been loosed out of hell 1040
To speak of horrors- he comes before me.
Polonius. Mad for thy love?
Ophelia. My lord, I do not know,
But truly I do fear it.
Polonius. What said he? 1045Ophelia. 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 stay'd he so. 1050
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
And end his being. That done, he lets me go, 1055
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 help
And to the last bended their light on me.
Polonius. Come, go with me. I will go seek the King. 1060
This is the very ecstasy of love,
Whose violent property fordoes itself
And leads the will to desperate undertakings
As oft as any passion under heaven
That does afflict our natures. I am sorry. 1065
What, have you given him any hard words of late?
Ophelia. No, my good lord; but, as you did command,
I did repel his letters and denied
His access to me.
Polonius. That hath made him mad. 1070
I am sorry that with better heed and judgment
I had not quoted him. I fear'd he did but trifle
And meant to wrack thee; but beshrew my jealousy!
By heaven, it is as proper to our age
To cast beyond ourselves in our opinions 1075
As it is common for the younger sort
To lack discretion. 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.
Come. 1080Exeunt.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Act II, Scene 2
Elsinore. A room in the Castle.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flourish. [Enter King and Queen, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern,
cum aliis.
Claudius. Welcome, dear Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.
Moreover that we much did long to see you, 1085
The need we have to use you did provoke
Our hasty sending. Something have you heard
Of Hamlet's transformation. So I call it,
Sith nor th' exterior nor the inward man
Resembles that it was. What it should be, 1090
More than his father's death, that thus hath put him
So much from th' understanding of himself,
I cannot dream of. I entreat you both
That, being of so young days brought up with him,
And since so neighbour'd to his youth and haviour, 1095
That you vouchsafe your rest here in our court
Some little time; so by your companies
To draw him on to pleasures, and to gather
So much as from occasion you may glean,
Whether aught to us unknown afflicts him thus 1100
That, open'd, lies within our remedy.
Gertrude. Good gentlemen, he hath much talk'd of you,
And sure I am two men there are not living
To whom he more adheres. If it will please you
To show us so much gentry and good will 1105
As to expend your time with us awhile
For the supply and profit of our hope,
Your visitation shall receive such thanks
As fits a king's remembrance.
Rosencrantz. Both your Majesties 1110
Might, by the sovereign power you have of us,
Put your dread pleasures more into command
Than to entreaty.
Guildenstern. But we both obey,
And here give up ourselves, in the full bent, 1115
To lay our service freely at your feet,
To be commanded.
Claudius. Thanks, Rosencrantz and gentle Guildenstern.
Gertrude. Thanks, Guildenstern and gentle Rosencrantz.
And I beseech you instantly to visit 1120
My too much changed son.- Go, some of you,
And bring these gentlemen where Hamlet is.
Guildenstern. Heavens make our presence and our practices
Pleasant and helpful to him!
Gertrude. Ay, amen! 1125Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, [with some Attendants].
Enter Polonius.
Polonius. Th' ambassadors from Norway, my good lord,
Are joyfully return'd.
Claudius. Thou still hast been the father of good news. 1130Polonius. Have I, my lord? Assure you, my good liege,
I hold my duty as I hold my soul,
Both to my God and to my gracious king;
And I do think- or else this brain of mine
Hunts not the trail of policy so sure 1135
As it hath us'd to do- that I have found
The very cause of Hamlet's lunacy.
Claudius. O, speak of that! That do I long to hear.
Polonius. Give first admittance to th' ambassadors.
My news shall be the fruit to that great feast. 1140Claudius. Thyself do grace to them, and bring them in.
[Exit Polonius.]
He tells me, my dear Gertrude, he hath found
The head and source of all your son's distemper.
Gertrude. I doubt it is no other but the main, 1145
His father's death and our o'erhasty marriage.
Claudius. Well, we shall sift him.
[Enter Polonius, Voltemand, and Cornelius.]
Welcome, my good friends.
Say, Voltemand, what from our brother Norway? 1150Voltemand. Most fair return of greetings and desires.
Upon our first, he sent out to suppress
His nephew's levies; which to him appear'd
To be a preparation 'gainst the Polack,
But better look'd into, he truly found 1155
It was against your Highness; whereat griev'd,
That so his sickness, age, and impotence
Was falsely borne in hand, sends out arrests
On Fortinbras; which he, in brief, obeys,
Receives rebuke from Norway, and, in fine, 1160
Makes vow before his uncle never more
To give th' assay of arms against your Majesty.
Whereon old Norway, overcome with joy,
Gives him three thousand crowns in annual fee
And his commission to employ those soldiers, 1165
So levied as before, against the Polack;
With an entreaty, herein further shown,
[Gives a paper.]
That it might please you to give quiet pass
Through your dominions for this enterprise, 1170
On such regards of safety and allowance
As therein are set down.
Claudius. It likes us well;
And at our more consider'd time we'll read,
Answer, and think upon this business. 1175
Meantime we thank you for your well-took labour.
Go to your rest; at night we'll feast together.
Most welcome home! Exeunt Ambassadors.
Polonius. This business is well ended.
My liege, and madam, to expostulate 1180
What majesty should be, what duty is,
Why day is day, night is night, and time is time.
Were nothing but to waste night, day, and time.
Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit,
And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes, 1185
I will be brief. Your noble son is mad.
Mad call I it; for, to define true madness,
What is't but to be nothing else but mad?
But let that go.
Gertrude. More matter, with less art. 1190Polonius. Madam, I swear I use no art at all.
That he is mad, 'tis true: 'tis true 'tis pity;
And pity 'tis 'tis true. A foolish figure!
But farewell it, for I will use no art.
Mad let us grant him then. And now remains 1195
That we find out the cause of this effect-
Or rather say, the cause of this defect,
For this effect defective comes by cause.
Thus it remains, and the remainder thus.
Perpend. 1200
I have a daughter (have while she is mine),
Who in her duty and obedience, mark,
Hath given me this. Now gather, and surmise.
[Reads] the letter.]
'To the celestial, and my soul's idol, the most beautified Ophelia,'- 1205
That's an ill phrase, a vile phrase; 'beautified' is a vile phrase.
But you shall hear. Thus:
[Reads.]
'In her excellent white bosom, these, &c.'
Gertrude. Came this from Hamlet to her? 1210Polonius. Good madam, stay awhile. I will be faithful. [Reads.]
'Doubt thou the stars are fire;
Doubt that the sun doth move;
Doubt truth to be a liar;
But never doubt I love. 1215
'O dear Ophelia, I am ill at these numbers; I have not art to
reckon my groans; but that I love thee best, O most best, believe
it. Adieu.
'Thine evermore, most dear lady, whilst this machine is to
him, HAMLET.' 1220
This, in obedience, hath my daughter shown me;
And more above, hath his solicitings,
As they fell out by time, by means, and place,
All given to mine ear.
Claudius. But how hath she 1225
Receiv'd his love?
Polonius. What do you think of me?
Claudius. As of a man faithful and honourable.
Polonius. I would fain prove so. But what might you think,
When I had seen this hot love on the wing 1230
(As I perceiv'd it, I must tell you that,
Before my daughter told me), what might you,
Or my dear Majesty your queen here, think,
If I had play'd the desk or table book,
Or given my heart a winking, mute and dumb, 1235
Or look'd upon this love with idle sight?
What might you think? No, I went round to work
And my young mistress thus I did bespeak:
'Lord Hamlet is a prince, out of thy star.
This must not be.' And then I prescripts gave her, 1240
That she should lock herself from his resort,
Admit no messengers, receive no tokens.
Which done, she took the fruits of my advice,
And he, repulsed, a short tale to make,
Fell into a sadness, then into a fast, 1245
Thence to a watch, thence into a weakness,
Thence to a lightness, and, by this declension,
Into the madness wherein now he raves,
And all we mourn for.
Claudius. Do you think 'tis this? 1250Gertrude. it may be, very like.
Polonius. Hath there been such a time- I would fain know that-
That I have Positively said 'Tis so,'
When it prov'd otherwise.?
Claudius. Not that I know. 1255Polonius. [points to his head and shoulder] Take this from this, if this be otherwise.
If circumstances lead me, I will find
Where truth is hid, though it were hid indeed
Within the centre.
Claudius. How may we try it further? 1260Polonius. You know sometimes he walks for hours together
Here in the lobby.
Gertrude. So he does indeed.
Polonius. At such a time I'll loose my daughter to him.
Be you and I behind an arras then. 1265
Mark the encounter. If he love her not,
And he not from his reason fall'n thereon
Let me be no assistant for a state,
But keep a farm and carters.
Claudius. We will try it. 1270Enter Hamlet, reading on a book.
Gertrude. But look where sadly the poor wretch comes reading.
Polonius. Away, I do beseech you, both away
I'll board him presently. O, give me leave.
[Exeunt King and Queen, [with Attendants].] 1275
How does my good Lord Hamlet?
Hamlet. Well, God-a-mercy.
Polonius. Do you know me, my lord?
Hamlet. Excellent well. You are a fishmonger.
Polonius. Not I, my lord. 1280Hamlet. Then I would you were so honest a man.
Polonius. Honest, my lord?
Hamlet. Ay, sir. To be honest, as this world goes, is to be one man
pick'd out of ten thousand.
Polonius. That's very true, my lord. 1285Hamlet. For if the sun breed maggots in a dead dog, being a god
kissing carrion- Have you a daughter?
Polonius. I have, my lord.
Hamlet. Let her not walk i' th' sun. Conception is a blessing, but not
as your daughter may conceive. Friend, look to't. 1290Polonius. [aside] How say you by that? Still harping on my daughter. Yet
he knew me not at first. He said I was a fishmonger. He is far
gone, far gone! And truly in my youth I suff'red much extremity
for love- very near this. I'll speak to him again.- What do you
read, my lord? 1295Hamlet. Words, words, words.
Polonius. What is the matter, my lord?
Hamlet. Between who?
Polonius. I mean, the matter that you read, my lord.
Hamlet. Slanders, sir; for the satirical rogue says here that old men 1300
have grey beards; that their faces are wrinkled; their eyes
purging thick amber and plum-tree gum; and that they have a
plentiful lack of wit, together with most weak hams. All which,
sir, though I most powerfully and potently believe, yet I hold it
not honesty to have it thus set down; for you yourself, sir, 1305
should be old as I am if, like a crab, you could go backward.
Polonius. [aside] Though this be madness, yet there is a method in't.-
Will You walk out of the air, my lord?
Hamlet. Into my grave?
Polonius. Indeed, that is out o' th' air. [Aside] How pregnant sometimes 1310
his replies are! a happiness that often madness hits on, which
reason and sanity could not so prosperously be delivered of. I
will leave him and suddenly contrive the means of meeting between
him and my daughter.- My honourable lord, I will most humbly take
my leave of you. 1315Hamlet. You cannot, sir, take from me anything that I will more
willingly part withal- except my life, except my life, except my
life,
Enter Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.
Polonius. Fare you well, my lord. 1320Hamlet. These tedious old fools!
Polonius. You go to seek the Lord Hamlet. There he is.
Rosencrantz. [to Polonius] God save you, sir!
Exit [Polonius].
Guildenstern. My honour'd lord! 1325Rosencrantz. My most dear lord!
Hamlet. My excellent good friends! How dost thou, Guildenstern? Ah,
Rosencrantz! Good lads, how do ye both?
Rosencrantz. As the indifferent children of the earth.
Guildenstern. Happy in that we are not over-happy. 1330
On Fortune's cap we are not the very button.
Hamlet. Nor the soles of her shoe?
Rosencrantz. Neither, my lord.
Hamlet. Then you live about her waist, or in the middle of her
favours? 1335Guildenstern. Faith, her privates we.
Hamlet. In the secret parts of Fortune? O! most true! she is a
strumpet. What news ?
Rosencrantz. None, my lord, but that the world's grown honest.
Hamlet. Then is doomsday near! But your news is not true. Let me 1340
question more in particular. What have you, my good friends,
deserved at the hands of Fortune that she sends you to prison
hither?
Guildenstern. Prison, my lord?
Hamlet. Denmark's a prison. 1345Rosencrantz. Then is the world one.
Hamlet. A goodly one; in which there are many confines, wards, and
dungeons, Denmark being one o' th' worst.
Rosencrantz. We think not so, my lord.
Hamlet. Why, then 'tis none to you; for there is nothing either good 1350
or bad but thinking makes it so. To me it is a prison.
Rosencrantz. Why, then your ambition makes it one. 'Tis too narrow for your
mind.
Hamlet. O God, I could be bounded in a nutshell and count myself a
king of infinite space, were it not that I have bad dreams. 1355Guildenstern. Which dreams indeed are ambition; for the very substance of
the ambitious is merely the shadow of a dream.
Hamlet. A dream itself is but a shadow.
Rosencrantz. Truly, and I hold ambition of so airy and light a quality that
it is but a shadow's shadow. 1360Hamlet. Then are our beggars bodies, and our monarchs and outstretch'd
heroes the beggars' shadows. Shall we to th' court? for, by my
fay, I cannot reason.
Rosencrantz. [with Guildenstern] We'll wait upon you.
Hamlet. No such matter! I will not sort you with the rest of my 1365
servants; for, to speak to you like an honest man, I am most
dreadfully attended. But in the beaten way of friendship, what
make you at Elsinore?
Rosencrantz. To visit you, my lord; no other occasion.
Hamlet. Beggar that I am, I am even poor in thanks; but I thank you; 1370
and sure, dear friends, my thanks are too dear a halfpenny. Were
you not sent for? Is it your own inclining? Is it a free
visitation? Come, deal justly with me. Come, come! Nay, speak.
Guildenstern. What should we say, my lord?
Hamlet. Why, anything- but to th' purpose. You were sent for; and 1375
there is a kind of confession in your looks, which your modesties
have not craft enough to colour. I know the good King and Queen
have sent for you.
Rosencrantz. To what end, my lord?
Hamlet. That you must teach me. But let me conjure you by the rights 1380
of our fellowship, by the consonancy of our youth, by the
obligation of our ever-preserved love, and by what more dear a
better proposer could charge you withal, be even and direct with
me, whether you were sent for or no.
Rosencrantz. [aside to Guildenstern] What say you? 1385Hamlet. [aside] Nay then, I have an eye of you.- If you love me, hold
not off.
Guildenstern. My lord, we were sent for.
Hamlet. I will tell you why. So shall my anticipation prevent your
discovery, and your secrecy to the King and Queen moult no 1390
feather. I have of late- but wherefore I know not- lost all my
mirth, forgone all custom of exercises; and indeed, it goes so
heavily with my disposition that this goodly frame, the earth,
seems to me a sterile promontory; this most excellent canopy, the
air, look you, this brave o'erhanging firmament, this majestical 1395
roof fretted with golden fire- why, it appeareth no other thing
to me than a foul and pestilent congregation of vapours. What a
piece of work is a man! how noble in reason! how infinite in
faculties! in form and moving how express and admirable! in
action how like an angel! in apprehension how like a god! the 1400
beauty of the world, the paragon of animals! And yet to me what
is this quintessence of dust? Man delights not me- no, nor woman
neither, though by your smiling you seem to say so.
Rosencrantz. My lord, there was no such stuff in my thoughts.
Hamlet. Why did you laugh then, when I said 'Man delights not me'? 1405Rosencrantz. To think, my lord, if you delight not in man, what lenten
entertainment the players shall receive from you. We coted them
on the way, and hither are they coming to offer you service.
Hamlet. He that plays the king shall be welcome- his Majesty shall
have tribute of me; the adventurous knight shall use his foil and 1410
target; the lover shall not sigh gratis; the humorous man shall
end his part in peace; the clown shall make those laugh whose
lungs are tickle o' th' sere; and the lady shall say her mind
freely, or the blank verse shall halt for't. What players are
they? 1415Rosencrantz. Even those you were wont to take such delight in, the
tragedians of the city.
Hamlet. How chances it they travel? Their residence, both in
reputation and profit, was better both ways.
Rosencrantz. I think their inhibition comes by the means of the late 1420
innovation.
Hamlet. Do they hold the same estimation they did when I was in the
city? Are they so follow'd?
Rosencrantz. No indeed are they not.
Hamlet. How comes it? Do they grow rusty? 1425Rosencrantz. Nay, their endeavour keeps in the wonted pace; but there is,
sir, an eyrie of children, little eyases, that cry out on the top
of question and are most tyrannically clapp'd for't. These are now
the fashion, and so berattle the common stages (so they call
them) that many wearing rapiers are afraid of goosequills and 1430
dare scarce come thither.
Hamlet. What, are they children? Who maintains 'em? How are they
escoted? Will they pursue the quality no longer than they can
sing? Will they not say afterwards, if they should grow
themselves to common players (as it is most like, if their means 1435
are no better), their writers do them wrong to make them exclaim
against their own succession.
Rosencrantz. Faith, there has been much to do on both sides; and the nation
holds it no sin to tarre them to controversy. There was, for a
while, no money bid for argument unless the poet and the player 1440
went to cuffs in the question.
Hamlet. Is't possible?
Guildenstern. O, there has been much throwing about of brains.
Hamlet. Do the boys carry it away?
Rosencrantz. Ay, that they do, my lord- Hercules and his load too. 1445Hamlet. It is not very strange; for my uncle is King of Denmark, and
those that would make mows at him while my father lived give
twenty, forty, fifty, a hundred ducats apiece for his picture in
little. 'Sblood, there is something in this more than natural, if
philosophy could find it out. 1450Flourish for the Players.
Guildenstern. There are the players.
Hamlet. Gentlemen, you are welcome to Elsinore. Your hands, come! Th'
appurtenance of welcome is fashion and ceremony. Let me comply
with you in this garb, lest my extent to the players (which I 1455
tell you must show fairly outwards) should more appear like
entertainment than yours. You are welcome. But my uncle-father
and aunt-mother are deceiv'd.
Guildenstern. In what, my dear lord?
Hamlet. I am but mad north-north-west. When the wind is southerly I 1460
know a hawk from a handsaw.
Enter Polonius.
Polonius. Well be with you, gentlemen!
Hamlet. Hark you, Guildenstern- and you too- at each ear a hearer!
That great baby you see there is not yet out of his swaddling 1465
clouts.
Rosencrantz. Happily he's the second time come to them; for they say an old
man is twice a child.
Hamlet. I will prophesy he comes to tell me of the players. Mark it.-
You say right, sir; a Monday morning; twas so indeed. 1470Polonius. My lord, I have news to tell you.
Hamlet. My lord, I have news to tell you. When Roscius was an actor in Rome-
Polonius. The actors are come hither, my lord.
Hamlet. Buzz, buzz!
Polonius. Upon my honour- 1475Hamlet. Then came each actor on his ass-
Polonius. The best actors in the world, either for tragedy, comedy,
history, pastoral, pastoral-comical, historical-pastoral,
tragical-historical, tragical-comical-historical-pastoral; scene
individable, or poem unlimited. Seneca cannot be too heavy, nor 1480
Plautus too light. For the law of writ and the liberty, these are
the only men.
Hamlet. O Jephthah, judge of Israel, what a treasure hadst thou!
Polonius. What treasure had he, my lord?
Hamlet. Why, 1485
'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 1490
love passing well.
Hamlet. Nay, that follows not.
Polonius. What follows then, my lord?
Hamlet. Why,
'As by lot, God wot,' 1495
and then, you know,
'It came to pass, as most like it was.'
The first row of the pious chanson will show you more; for look
where my abridgment comes.
[Enter four or five Players.] 1500
You are welcome, masters; welcome, all.- I am glad to see thee
well.- Welcome, good friends.- O, my old friend? Why, thy face is
valanc'd since I saw thee last. Com'st' thou to' beard me in
Denmark?- What, my young lady and mistress? By'r Lady, your
ladyship is nearer to heaven than when I saw you last by the 1505
altitude of a chopine. Pray God your voice, like a piece of
uncurrent gold, be not crack'd within the ring.- 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. 1510First Player. What speech, my good lord?
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, pleas'd
not the million, 'twas caviary to the general; but it was (as I
receiv'd it, and others, whose judgments in such matters cried in 1515
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 were no sallets in the lines to make the matter savoury,
nor no matter in the phrase that might indict the author of
affectation; but call'd it an honest method, as wholesome as 1520
sweet, and by very much more handsome than fine. One speech in't
I chiefly lov'd. '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-' 1525
'Tis 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,
Hath now this dread and black complexion smear'd 1530
With heraldry more dismal. Head to foot
Now is be total gules, horridly trick'd
With blood of fathers, mothers, daughters, sons,
Bak'd and impasted with the parching streets,
That lend a tyrannous and a damned light 1535
To their lord's murther. Roasted in wrath and fire,
And thus o'ersized with coagulate gore,
With eyes like carbuncles, the hellish Pyrrhus
Old grandsire Priam seeks.'
So, proceed you. 1540Polonius. Fore God, my lord, well spoken, with good accent and good discretion.
First Player. 'Anon he finds him,
Striking too short at Greeks. His antique sword,
Rebellious to his arm, lies where it falls,
Repugnant to command. Unequal match'd, 1545
Pyrrhus at Priam drives, in rage strikes wide;
But with the whiff and wind of his fell sword
Th' unnerved father falls. Then senseless Ilium,
Seeming to feel this blow, with flaming top
Stoops to his base, and with a hideous crash 1550
Takes prisoner Pyrrhus' ear. For lo! his sword,
Which was declining on the milky head
Of reverend Priam, seem'd i' th' air to stick.
So, as a painted tyrant, Pyrrhus stood,
And, like a neutral to his will and matter, 1555
Did nothing.
But, as we often see, against some storm,
A silence in the heavens, the rack stand still,
The bold winds speechless, and the orb below
As hush as death- anon the dreadful thunder 1560
Doth rend the region; so, after Pyrrhus' pause,
Aroused vengeance sets him new awork;
And never did the Cyclops' hammers fall
On Mars's armour, forg'd for proof eterne,
With less remorse than Pyrrhus' bleeding sword 1565
Now falls on Priam.
Out, out, thou strumpet Fortune! All you gods,
In general synod take away her power;
Break all the spokes and fellies from her wheel,
And bowl the round nave down the hill of heaven, 1570
As low as to the fiends!
Polonius. This is too long.
Hamlet. It shall to the barber's, with your beard.- Prithee say on.
He's for a jig or a tale of bawdry, or he sleeps. Say on; come to
Hecuba. 1575First Player. 'But who, O who, had seen the mobled queen-'
Hamlet. 'The mobled queen'?
Polonius. That's good! 'Mobled queen' is good.
First Player. 'Run barefoot up and down, threat'ning the flames
With bisson rheum; a clout upon that head 1580
Where late the diadem stood, and for a robe,
About her lank and all o'erteemed loins,
A blanket, in the alarm of fear caught up-
Who this had seen, with tongue in venom steep'd
'Gainst Fortune's state would treason have pronounc'd. 1585
But if the gods themselves did see her then,
When she saw Pyrrhus make malicious sport
In Mincing with his sword her husband's limbs,
The instant burst of clamour that she made
(Unless things mortal move them not at all) 1590
Would have made milch the burning eyes of heaven
And passion in the gods.'
Polonius. Look, whe'r he has not turn'd his colour, and has tears in's
eyes. Prithee no more!
Hamlet. 'Tis well. I'll have thee speak out the rest of this soon.- 1595
Good my lord, will you see the players well bestow'd? Do you
hear? Let them be well us'd; for they are the abstract and brief
chronicles of the time. After your death you were better have a
bad epitaph than their ill report while you live.
Polonius. My lord, I will use them according to their desert. 1600Hamlet. God's bodykins, man, much better! Use every man after his
desert, and who should scape whipping? Use them after your own
honour and dignity. The less they deserve, the more merit is in
your bounty. Take them in.
Polonius. Come, sirs. 1605Hamlet. Follow him, friends. We'll hear a play to-morrow.
[Exeunt Polonius and Players [except the First].]
Dost thou hear me, old friend? Can you play 'The Murther of
Gonzago'?
First Player. Ay, my lord. 1610Hamlet. We'll ha't to-morrow night. You could, for a need, study a
speech of some dozen or sixteen lines which I would set down and
_insert_ in't, could you not?
First Player. Ay, my lord.
Hamlet. Very well. Follow that lord- and look you mock him not. 1615
[Exit First Player.]
My good friends, I'll leave you till night. You are welcome to
Elsinore.
Rosencrantz. Good my lord!
Hamlet. Ay, so, God b' wi' ye! 1620
[Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern]
Now I am alone.
O what a rogue and peasant slave am I!
Is it not monstrous that this player here,
But in a fiction, in a dream of passion, 1625
Could force his soul so to his own conceit
That, from her working, all his visage wann'd,
Tears in his eyes, distraction in's aspect,
A broken voice, and his whole function suiting
With forms to his conceit? And all for nothing! 1630
For Hecuba!
What's Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba,
That he should weep for her? What would he do,
Had he the motive and the cue for passion
That I have? He would drown the stage with tears 1635
And cleave the general ear with horrid speech;
Make mad the guilty and appal the free,
Confound the ignorant, and amaze indeed
The very faculties of eyes and ears.
Yet I, 1640
A dull and muddy-mettled rascal, peak
Like John-a-dreams, unpregnant of my cause,
And can say nothing! No, not for a king,
Upon whose property and most dear life
A damn'd defeat was made. Am I a coward? 1645
Who calls me villain? breaks my pate across?
Plucks off my beard and blows it in my face?
Tweaks me by th' nose? gives me the lie i' th' throat
As deep as to the lungs? Who does me this, ha?
'Swounds, I should take it! for it cannot be 1650
But I am pigeon-liver'd and lack gall
To make oppression bitter, or ere this
I should have fatted all the region kites
With this slave's offal. Bloody bawdy villain!
Remorseless, treacherous, lecherous, kindless villain! 1655
O, vengeance!
Why, what an ass am I! This is most brave,
That I, the son of a dear father murther'd,
Prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell,
Must (like a whore) unpack my heart with words 1660
And fall a-cursing like a very drab,
A scullion!
Fie upon't! foh! About, my brain! Hum, I have heard
That guilty creatures, sitting at a play,
Have by the very cunning of the scene 1665
Been struck so to the soul that presently
They have proclaim'd their malefactions;
For murther, though it have no tongue, will speak
With most miraculous organ, I'll have these Players
Play something like the murther of my father 1670
Before mine uncle. I'll observe his looks;
I'll tent him to the quick. If he but blench,
I know my course. The spirit that I have seen
May be a devil; and the devil hath power
T' assume a pleasing shape; yea, and perhaps 1675
Out of my weakness and my melancholy,
As he is very potent with such spirits,
Abuses me to damn me. I'll have grounds
More relative than this. The play's the thing
Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the King. Exit. 1680
第一景
[波隆尼尔家中。 波隆尼尔与仆人瑞挪都入。 他们正在谈关於
雷尔提之事。 雷尔提已返回巴黎。]
波: 把这些钱及信件带去给他, 瑞挪都。
瑞: 我会的, 老爷。
波: 你最好能在见他之前打听打听他最近之品行, 瑞挪都。
瑞: 老爷, 我正打算如此。
波: 嗯, 很好, 很好。 这样,
你可先打听在巴黎住的有那些丹麦人,
他们是为何在那里, 是些什么人, 经济情况如何,
住处在那里, 朋友是谁, 及为其花费多少。
如此转弯末角的, 你就可以知道他们是否认得他,
这比直接了当的询问还容易得到真相。
你可以假装你与他不熟,
可说「我认得他的父亲以及他的朋友,
所以, 我也略认得他一些。」 记住了吗?
瑞: 是的, 我记住了, 老爷。
波:「认得他一些, 但是,」你可说, 「并不熟悉。 不过,
若确是此人的话, 那他可是个品性狂野之人,
并且有某某之痞好。」 在此你可捏造些事情,
例如纨裤子弟们常会去干的轻浮、放纵之勾当。
但是记住, 别坏了他的名誉。
瑞: 例如赌博, 老爷?
波: 对, 或酗酒, 或斗剑, 或骂人, 或吵架, 或嫖妓。
你可提起这些。
瑞: 但是, 老爷, 这些可会败坏他的名誉啊。
波: 那也未必, 只要你在说此话时, 语言上稍带含蓄。
你勿毁谤他是个放荡不羁的浪子, 我无此意。
你仅需轻描淡写的说出他的缺点,
有技巧的把它们形容为因太自由而造成之小瑕疵,
血气兴旺促使之妄为, 或无纪律导致之野行,
此乃常人之过也。
瑞: 但是, 我的好老爷...
波: 为何你要如此的去做?
瑞: 是的, 老爷, 我想要知道。
波: 好, 先生, 这就是我所设的良计:
当你把这些过错--这只不过是些小污点而已--讲给某某人听时,
假如此人心中明白我的儿子的确是犯有这些毛病,
那他一定会同意你之说法, 并且也会按其国之礼节和你称朋道友,
称呼你为「亲爱的先生」, 或「朋友」, 或「绅士。」
瑞: 是的, 老爷。
波: 那时他若如此, 如此...{讲得自己也糊涂了}
我想说些什么? 我忘了, 我到底讲到哪里去了?
瑞: 讲到「同意你之说法。」
波: 讲到「同意你之说法?」 对, 没错。
那时他也就会信赖於你, 并且会告诉你:
「我也认得他, 昨天我才碰到他,」或
「前几天他才如此如此,」 就如你所说的: 赌博、酗酒、
打网球时与人争吵、 或「我见到他进入一妓院」等等。
你了解了吗? 用你的一小小谎言来做饵钓一大鱼, 即能知道事情真相。
咱们聪明、有脑筋之士就可用此拐弯末角之计获得我们所需知的。
你若采纳我所教的这些, 你也可同样的偿愿於我儿。
你懂了吗?
瑞: 我懂了, 老爷。
波: 上帝与你同在, 再会。
瑞: 谢老爷。
波: {叫回瑞挪都} 你得把他给看紧。
瑞: 我会的, 老爷。
波: 但也让他能自奏其乐。
瑞: 是的, 老爷。
[出]
[欧菲利亚入]
波: 再会。
{对女儿}
怎么啦, 欧菲利亚, 什么事?
欧: 啊, 父亲, 父亲, 吓死我了!
波: 老天, 什么事?
欧: 刚才我在房间里缝纫时, 哈姆雷特殿下进了来 。
他敞开著他的外套, 头上也没戴帽子,
没袜带的袜子也脏兮兮的拖落於踝,
脸色白晰的就如其衬衫,
他就这样双膝并拢的一付可怜样面对著我,
好像才从地狱里被释放出来, 叙述其恐怖一样。
波: 他因爱你而疯啦?
欧: 父亲, 我不知道, 不过, 我真的害怕。
波: 他和你说了些什么?
欧: 他用力的扭住了我的手腕,
排我於一臂之距,
然後把另一支手这般的放在他的额头上,
目不转睛的端详著我的脸, 好像想画它一般。
良久之後, 他才把我的手轻轻的抖了抖, 也这般的点了三次头,
{学著慢慢点头}
然後 惨的深叹了一口气,
就好像想在一口气中叹出他的胴体及生命一般。
此事完後, 他才放松我;
他走时还掉过头来; 出门时也不看路,
因为他的双眼一直不停的在瞅著我呢。
波: 跟我来, 我们找国王去, 此乃痴情病狂也!
它来之凶猛时能令患者寻短见,
就如其他令人类痛楚之心病一样。
对不起...你最近有无与他争执了?
欧: 没有, 父亲, 但依照您的旨示,
我回绝了他的情书, 也避他不见。
波: 他这样就疯了!
对不起, 我没把他给看准, 我还以为他对你只是玩玩,
只想把你给糟蹋了而以。 我这多疑之心真该惭愧,
天哪, 咱们老一辈的会疑心, 就像年青人会天真无忌一样。
走吧, 我们找国王去, 他应该知道这些,
隐藏此事可能造出之悲剧,
将比揭发此事可能造出之悲剧来得更甚,
来!
[二人出]
第二景: 宫中
[号声响起, 国王、皇后、罗生克兰、盖登思邓等与众侍从入。]
王: 欢迎, 爱臣罗生克兰与盖登思邓,
朕急召二位来此, 除朕想念你们之外, 还有一重差须要嘱托。
你们可闻近来哈姆雷特有变--
吾称之为变, 乃因其仪态已与昔日回然不同。
除了其父之死外, 寡人实不悟其扰。
朕念你们与他自幼为友, 年纪相同并深悉其性,
望二位能留宫一时, 与他为伴, 使他重获欢欣,
并当时机容允时, 察明其困扰之由, 有无寡人不晓之处,
而可对症疗之也。
后: 好先生们, 他经常提及你们, 而我料世上无别人能与他更熟,
二位若能依我们之意而留此一时, 为王的将感激不尽。
罗: 陛下与皇后乃一国之主, 有何旨示, 可尽管吩附, 不需托求。
盖: 而臣等必听从旨意, 将全力以赴。
王: 多谢, 罗生克兰与善良的盖登思邓。
后: 多谢, 盖登思邓与善良的罗生克兰。
我恳求你们立刻就去见我那已改变许多的儿子。
[对侍从们]
去, 你们中之一位, 快带这二位先生去哈姆雷特那儿。
盖: 祈求老天能使我们令他愉快, 并对他有助。
后: 对啊, 阿们。
[罗生克兰与盖登思邓出]
[波隆尼尔入]
波: 我很高兴的宣布我国驻挪威大使们现已归国, 陛下。
王: 卿实不愧为「捷报之父。」
波: 是吗, 主公? 您可放心,
臣视吾职, 如视吾魂--同心一致的效忠陛下与上帝。
我认为, 除非我这脑筋已无昔日之精明,
我已发现哈姆雷特丧失心神之缘由。
王: 啊, 请卿速言, 吾欲听之。
波: 不妨先召见大使们, 此消息可置之於後, 当作宴席之甜点。
王: 那你就召他们晋见罢。
[波隆尼尔出]
{对皇后} 亲爱的葛簇特, 他告诉我他已发现你儿心病之原因。
后: 无疑那主要原因决不出於其父之死, 与我们之仓促婚事。
王: 嗯, 待寡人好好的问问他。
[波隆尼尔, 傅特曼, 及孔里尼入]
欢迎, 朋友们。
喂, 傅特曼, 挪威王那儿有何消息?
傅: 对陛下之问候及要求有极有利之答覆。
经我们初步谈判後, 他就立刻派人去抑制其侄所招幕之队伍。
当初他只道那支军队是准备抵抗波兰用的,
但经他细察後, 发现它果真是针对著陛下。
对其因病、老、与无能而被欺, 他深感不安,
因此他下令遏制福丁布拉;
简而说之, 其侄也听话,
他在挪威王面前被责, 并且最後也与其叔发誓永不与陛下为敌。
听此之後, 挪威老王龙心大悦, 赏他年禄三千金圆,
并特派他率此军征讨波兰。
在此有函 [递出信件] 乞求陛下让征军平安渡境本国,
一切条件及所应注意事项如下...
王: 朕甚慰。 有暇时朕必阅此函, 细虑此事, 并为它作个答覆;
不过, 此际朕可要先谢你们之功劳。 请稍歇会儿,
今夜我们可共宴, 欢迎你们归国。
[傅特曼与孔里尼出]
波: 此事就圆满结束。
吾王与夫人, 与其讨论为君者应如何, 他之职责何在,
或为何日即日、 夜即夜、或时即时,
实是在浪费夜、日、与时也!
既然「简扼乃机智之魂, 而冗言即无用之外饰,」
我将简略的说此:
您们的贵子疯了。
我言之为『疯,』 难道仅有疯人才能真正的了解疯者是如何?
好了, 不谈它了。
后: 请多说些事实, 少说些矫饰废话。
波: 夫人, 我发誓, 我没在矫饰。
他疯了, 这是个事实; 它事实是很可悲, 也很可悲它是个事实。
此话听起来很傻, 所以可不去提它了; 但是, 我的确是无在虚饰此言。
就当他是真正的疯了好了, 那么我们现在就应找出致使他发疯的原因,
或令其发疯之某缺陷,
因为疯症是个结果, 而此结果必是某缺陷所造成的,
所以我们现在...现在我们...得仔细考虑考虑...{自己也搞糊涂了}
我有一女, 她尚未婚。 她因孝顺、听话--您们请听--所以她给了我这个
{掏出哈姆雷特给其女之情书}。 请聆听并请自作结论:
[念信]
「给我心灵之偶像, 美化成仙之欧菲利亚--」,
这是个坏字, 坏透的字。 「美化」是个坏透的字(注1)。 以下还有:
「在她美极之雪白胸怀里...」, 等等, 等等。
后: 这封信是哈姆雷特写给她的?
波: 好夫人, 请稍忍耐会儿, 让我把它全部念完:
「可不信星星是火,
也不信太阳能走,
更不信事实是谎,
但信我予你之爱。
啊, 亲爱的欧菲利亚, 我不善诗词,
也无法用它来表达我内心之苦楚,
但我爱你之甚, 最甚, 你可相信。
再会。
我永远是你的, 亲爱的女子啊,
只要在我有生之年。
哈姆雷特」
这就是我那乖女儿给我看的。
还有, 她也告诉了我他怎样的追求她, 在何时、何法、与何处。
王: 那么, 她有无接受他的爱?
波: 您觉得我是怎样的一个人?
王: 一位有信用及正直的人。
波: 我也想做这样的一个人。
但是, 当这火辣辣的恋情发生时, 您们会怎样的想
--您们可要知道, 我是在我女儿告诉我之前发现它的--
陛下会怎样的想, 或皇后会怎样的想,
倘若我是此事的撮合人,
或倘若我不顾良心的指使, 或倘若我对此事只睁一眼闭一眼,
那您们会怎样的想?
所以, 我就马上采取行动, 告诉我那年轻的女儿:
「与哈姆雷特王子在一起是高攀, 万万不可。」
然後我也命令她远离他, 切勿接见他遣来的信差,
也不可接受他的礼物。 她也听话的采纳了我的交代於心。
从此以後, 他就变了。 长话短说, 他就坠入忧郁乡中,
既不能食, 也不能寝, 日渐衰弱, 精神恍惚。
这个程序最後就造出现在令大家痛心之疯狂症状。
王: 你觉得这就是了吗?
后: 也许, 很可能。
波: 凡我说过「就是如此」之事, 有无在事後被证明是错误过?
我想要知道。
王: 据我所知, 你不曾有过。
波: [指著自己的头与肩膀]
要是我是不对的话, 那您可把这个从此处摘下来。
即使事情被埋藏於地中心, 只要我有线索指引, 我一定能发现真相。
王: 我们有何法可证实它?
波: 您可晓得, 他有时在此厅内徘回长达四小时久?
后: 他的确是有时这样。
波: 等到那时, 我可纵我女儿来此会见他(注2),
而你我可躲在帘後偷听。
假如他不爱她, 或他并未因此而丧失理智,
那我不配当一国之相, 而仅配当一乡俗、车 而已。
王: 咱们可试之。
[哈姆雷特入, 正念著一本书]
后: 看他埋头苦读的那付可怜样。
波: 请您们赶快回避, 让我一人来对付他。 请之, 请。
[国王、皇后、与侍从们出]
我的哈姆雷特殿下, 您可好?
哈: 好, 托老天慈悲。
波: 您认得我吗, 殿下?
哈: 当然认得, 你是个鱼贩。 (注3)
波: 我不是, 殿下。
哈: 既然如此, 那我希望你也是个老实人。
波: 老实, 殿下?
哈: 对, 先生, 在此世界, 老实人仅是万中有一而已呢。
波: 那也的确是, 殿下。
哈: [从书中念] 太阳之吻能使死狗尸上生蛆 (注4),
它是个可亲可吻的好腐肉--
你有无一位女儿?
波: 我有, 殿下。
哈: 别让她去太阳下。 腹中怀智是个佳事,
但你的女儿因能腹中怀孕,
朋友, 你得留意。
波: [私下] 你看, 又在罗嗦关於我女儿之事。 刚才他还不认得我,
只道我是个鱼贩, 可见他已全疯了, 全疯了。
老实说, 我年轻时也曾为爱情痛苦, 也几乎到同样地步。
让我再与他谈谈。
[对哈姆雷特]
您在读什么, 殿下?
哈: 空字, 空字, 空字。
波: 什么事, 殿下? {波隆尼尔是在问此书是关於何事}
哈: 谁有事? {把此「事」当为人们间之争吵}
波: 我的意思是「此书是关於何事。」
哈: 诽谤也, 先生。 这专爱讽刺的无赖在此说{敲著书本}老年人有灰胡子,
脸上有斑斑皱纹, 眼框里有厚厚的一层芝麻糊, 头颅里没脑筋, 腿也无力。
先生, 这些我完全相信, 但是我觉得这样写恐怕不太妥当, 因为, 先生,
总有一天你也会和我一样的老--如果你能像螃蟹般倒行的话。
波: [私下] 他虽疯, 但却有他的一套理论。
[对哈姆雷特] 你要不要从外边进来了, 殿下?
哈: 进我的坟墓?
波: 真的, 那才真正的是「进去了。」
[私下] 他这些答覆有时倒还蛮有含义的; 有些疯人能乐而如此,
但有理智之常人却反而不能。 现在我要离他而去,
好设法让他能与我女儿会面。
[对哈姆雷特] 殿下, 我提先告别了。
哈: 先生, 你提不出另一样使我更乐意告别之物, 除了我的性命,
除了我的性命, 除了我的性命。
波: 再会, 殿下。
哈: {私下} 这些罗哩罗嗦的老笨蛋们。
[罗生克兰与盖登思邓入]
波: 你们找哈姆雷特殿下, 他就在此。
罗: 上帝保佑你, 先生。
[波隆尼尔出]
盖: {行礼} 我的尊贵殿下。
罗: {行礼} 我的最亲爱殿下。
哈: 我的好朋友们! 你们好吗? 盖登思邓, 啊, 罗生克兰,
好伙子们, 你们可好?
罗: 普普通通。
盖: 也很高兴我们没过份的高兴: 在命运之神身上,
我们可不是她帽顶上的那扣扣儿。
哈: 也不是她的鞋跟底?
罗: 也不是。
哈: 那么, 我看你们差不多是在她半腰, 在她的好处那儿?
盖: 就在她的私隐之处。
哈: 在命运女神之私处? 那可真对啊--她是个娼妓。
你们还有什么消息?
罗: 没什么, 殿下, 只是这个世界可是愈来愈善良了。
哈: 那么世界末日就快来临了; 但是, 你们的消息并不灵通。
让我再问, 朋友们, 你们为何被命运之神押送来此牢狱?
盖: 牢狱, 殿下?
哈: 丹麦就是个牢狱。
罗: 那么, 这整个世界也是。
哈: 是个很大的, 它有很多囚室、 监房、地牢等,
而丹麦是其中最坏之一部份。
罗: 我们并不以为然, 殿下。
哈: 那... 它对你们来讲不是。 其实世事并无好坏, 全看你们怎样去想。
对我来说, 它是个牢狱。
罗: 那是您的野心作祟促使成的。 对您的心灵来说, 丹麦是太狭小了。
哈: 啊, 老天呀, 我可闭於一核桃壳内,
而仍自认我是个无疆限之君主--
只要我无那些噩梦。
盖: 您的那些梦也就是您的野心; 凡野心家之所成, 均先出其梦幻之影也。
哈: 梦也只不过是个幻影而已。
罗: 对, 我觉得野心才更是捉摸不到, 它真是个幻影之幻影。
哈: 若是这样, 那毫无野心的乞丐岂不是「实体」,
而帝王及其他野心家们岂不是乞丐之「影子」?
我们需上法庭来判断此论吗? 因为我已为此绞尽脑汁, 不能再想了。
二人: 我们愿意伺候您。
哈: 那可不成, 我不能把你们当仆人看待。 老实说, 我真是没被人伺候好,
还有--朋友之间不忌直问--你们来艾辛诺尔堡是为何?
罗: 来拜访您, 殿下, 无其他事。
哈: 我是个乞丐, 穷得连个「谢谢」都没有。 但我还是该谢谢你们。
不过, 亲爱的朋友们, 我这个「谢谢」, 老实说是连半文钱都不值。
你们的确不是奉派而来的吗? 此拜访纯粹是出於自愿? 是无条件的?
来, 来, 老实的告诉我, 来, 来, 快说呀!
盖: 我们该怎么讲, 殿下?
哈: 怎么讲都可以, 只要是实话。 {罗与盖面面相觑}
你们是被派来的, 这早就被你们带愧之脸色招出来了, 遮掩不住的。
我晓得你们是被国王与皇后遣派来的。
罗: {装著不知} 为了何事, 殿下?
哈: 那你们得告诉我。 不过, 让我事先恳求你们, 以我们之友谊,
以我们之忘年深交, 以我们永恒不变之友爱, 及其它珍贵之情,
请坦白、直率的说, 你们到底是不是奉派而来的?
罗: [私下与盖登思邓] 你要如何说?
哈: 我在注意你们哟。
你们如果爱我, 那就请别再犹豫。
盖: 殿下, 我们的确是奉派而来的。
哈: 让我先道破其中之原因, 这样, 你们也无须把它说出,
令你们失诺於国王与皇后。
最近--我也不知是为何--我失去了欢欣,
对一切事务也毫无兴致。 说真的,
我的心灵沉重的使我觉得这整个世界仅不过是块枯燥的顽石。
这个美好的天空, 看 {用手指天}, 好一个悬於头顶之壮丽穹苍,
好一个有金色火焰点缀之华丽屋宇, 但是,
现在它对我来说, 只不过是一团污烟瘴气而已。
人类是个多么美妙的杰作, 它拥有著崇高的理智,
也有无限的能力与优美可钦的仪表。 其举止就如天使, 灵性可媲神仙。
它是天之骄子, 也是万物之灵。 但是, 对我来讲, 它岂不是朽如粪土?
人们已无法令我欢欣--就连女人。
{罗与盖互相交换眼色并点头微笑}
你们在笑, 好像不以为然。
罗: 殿下, 我全无此意。
哈: 那你笑什么, 当我说「人们已无法令我欢欣」时?
罗: 我在想, 殿下, 如果人们已无法令您欢欣,
那么, 您将会多么的冷落了那刚到的戏班子--
我们来此时才刚超越了他们, 他们现在正要来此为殿下效劳呢。
哈: {兴高采烈的}
饰演国王者将受我欢迎, 我将乐意的纳贡於此君。
英勇的武士可挥舞其剑与盾。 痴情的恋者无须再空悲叹。
暴燥的性格演员可安心的终其剧。 小丑可令爱笑者捧腹。
女主角可畅诉其心愿, 否则对白将失其板眼。
他们是何许戏班?
罗: 就是您一向最喜爱的: 从城里来的悲剧团。
哈: 他们为何要如此的出外巡回卖艺?
有一个固定的剧院对他们的声望及利润都极有益的。
罗: 我想他们是因近来戏剧界之迁变而休演。
哈: 他们的名气是否还是像昔日我在城里时一般?
他们是否还是那么的红?
罗: 那可没有了。
哈: 那是为什么呢, 难道他们的艺技老 了?
罗: 不是的, 他们仍在努力的保持其艺如昔, 先生,
但是现在戏剧界出了一窝新派的童子戏班, 号称「雏鹰们」,
他们以尖锐的嗓门取胜, 博取观众的疯狂喝采, 成为一时之风行。
他们也攻击他们所谓之「普通」剧团, 声势咄咄逼人,
至今许多腰系佩剑的传统伶人都裹足不前,
深惧新潮派剧作家鹅毛笔下之作品。
哈: 什么, 他们是小孩吗? 是谁在管他们? 他们从哪儿来的资助?
他们变音、不能歌唱後还会继续的当演员吗? 我想是会的,
因为他们不能做其它之事。 那时, 当他们当普通演员时,
他们会不会埋怨那些剧作家们曾耽误了他们的前途,
让他们一度敌视了自己的同行?
罗: 老实说, 双方都有其理, 而国人均热中, 并且鼓励、怂恿此争论。
甚至有一段时间无人肯花钱委托剧作家们写剧本,
除非此剧本曾令编剧家与演员们大吵过一次。
哈: 真有此等事?
盖: 唉, 为此事曾发生过无数的纠纷。
哈: 而孩儿们都赢吗?
罗: 是的, 当然, 殿下。 连那有大力士扛地球招牌之剧院都不例外 (注5)。
哈: 那也不稀奇; 我的叔父现在是丹麦王, 昔日我父亲健在时,
对他曾做过不屑鬼脸的那一班人现在肯花二十、四十、五十、甚至一百大洋
来买他的一幅小小画像。 我发誓, 这实在是有点不对, 值得思索。
[号声齐响]
盖: 戏班到了。
哈: 先生们{指盖与罗}, 欢迎你们来艾辛诺尔堡, 来, 握个手。
欢迎的礼仪是非常重要的, 所以让我现在就行此礼罢。
假使你们觉得我给与戏班演员们之欢迎--让我事先声明,
它将是极热诚的--会比你们所得之还更要热诚, 那你们就该了解,
你们的确是受欢迎的。
可是, 「叔叔父亲」与「婶婶母亲」却上当了。
盖: 此话怎么讲, 殿下?
哈: 我只是在吹西北风时发疯。
吹南风时, 我是能分办锤子与锯子的。 {注6}
[波隆尼尔入]
波: 你们好, 先生们。
哈: 你听, 盖登思邓; {对罗生克兰} 你也听, 所有的耳朵都要听。
那边那个大婴儿{指波隆尼尔}尚未脱离他的尿布呢。
罗: 那么, 这是他第二次做婴儿; 俗云老年即二度为婴也。
哈: 我料他是来告诉我有关戏子之事, 你们瞧吧。
{假装正在谈话中} 你说得对, 先生, 就在星期一早上...
波: 主公, 我有消息要告诉您。
哈: 主公, 我有消息要告诉您: 当罗希斯{注7}在古罗马当演员时...
波: 戏班子到了, 殿下。
哈: 哼, 哼。 {一付不屑模样}
波: 以我名誉发誓。
哈: 「那么, 每个戏子都骑著驴来。」 {念老民谣中之一词}
波: 他们是全世界之最佳演员。 他们善演悲剧、喜剧、史剧、田园剧、
田园喜剧、田园史剧、悲史剧、悲喜田园史剧、无法分类剧、
及包罗万象剧。 对他们来说, 赛尼卡{注}笔下之剧无过悲,
浦劳塔斯{注7}笔下之剧非太喜--无论古典浪漫, 唯其举世独尊也。
哈: 「啊! 耶弗他{注8}, 以色列之判官, 你曾拥有过那些宝贝?」
{又念老民谣中之一词}
波: 他曾拥有过那些宝贝, 殿下?
哈: 「他有一美丽的独生女, 把她宠为至宝。」
波: [私下] 又提及我的女儿了。
哈: 难道我不对吗, 老耶弗他?
波: 既然您要称呼我为耶弗他, 殿下, 那么, 我是有个爱女。
哈: 不是这样的。
波: 那应怎样, 殿下?
哈: 应这样: {朗诵民谣}
「上帝先知道, 然後你知道, 而它就无法避免的发生了。」
你若去翻查此民谣的第一段, 它就会告诉你以後怎样,
不过, 看来, 我即将被打断...
[戏班演员们入]
欢迎, 众师傅们, 欢迎各位光临!
{对其中之一演员} 我很高兴能见到你无恙。
{对众艺人} 欢迎, 好朋友们。
{走入艺人群中} 哈, 老朋友, 至从我们上次见面, 你蓄了胡子,
你不是来丹麦向我挑战的吧? {注9}
{对一扮女装之男孩演员} 什么? 我的姑娘、情妇,
你比我们上次见面时高出一高跟鞋跟!
祈望你的金嗓子不会变音--像块不能共鸣之破金币。
{对大家} 师傅们, 欢迎。
就如法国的放鹰者, 咱们就随意捕捉, 随地取材罢。 来, 念一段,
让大家尝试尝试你们的技艺。 来, 念一段热情的剧白。
演员甲: 念那一段呢, 殿下。
哈: 我曾听你念过一段, 但是, 我从未见过此出戏的正式演出;
就是见过, 也决不多於一次。
依我所记, 此出戏并非家喻户晓, 因为它乃针对给行家的;
不过, 它得到了鉴赏家们的一致好评, 赞为是出一流好戏。
它的情节细腻, 构造适中。 有人评此剧无参插骚众之秽言,
剧情之流露也自然而无做作; 称此为诚实、清新、脱俗之作品也。
此剧中我最喜爱之一段,
就是当艾尼亚士{注10}告诉黛多{注11}有关普莱安{注12}遇害之事。
你们若记得, 它就如此的开始...
让我想想, 让我想想...
「残暴的皮拉斯{注13}, 猛如海肯尼亚之虎{注14}。」
不对, 这不对。 再从皮拉斯开始: {继续朗诵}
「残暴的皮拉斯,
身披黑甲,
蹲伏於木马中。
其心志之黑,
好比深夜。
他的黝黑肌肤
也被涂上了一层邪恶的色彩,
他由头至足,
被无辜父母、子女们的淋漓鲜血染成一片殷红。
血液经炎阳焙乾,
泛著可怖的光泽,
也映出了无数的凶残杀戮。
他的怒火填胸,
他混身沾满著凝血,
他圆睁著红如宝石的双目,
像似个恶魔的皮拉斯,
就在到处找寻老迈的普莱安。」
你们就由此处接下去罢。
波: 老天, 殿下, 念得好--语气与神情俱佳。
演员甲:「不久,
他就寻得了他。
这时,
那老王已无力抵抗围攻的希腊军,
他那支已挥舞不动的古老兵器
也被锵然的击落於地。
皮拉斯见此破绽,
便更疯狂的加强其猛烈攻击。
无情的剑锋耍得虎虎作响,
筋疲力尽的老者就在此一阵劈砍後被击倒。
在此关键,
那无生命的的伊霖堡 {注15},
它的屋脊冒著熊熊的烈火,
似乎懂其苦难,
就霎时轰然坍倒。
巨响震聋了皮拉斯的双耳。
看! 那正劈向普莱安白首之利剑,
就在半空中突然停止。
像幅暴君的绘像,
皮拉斯伫立不动,
对万物也漠然无衷。
恰如暴风雨前之宁静,
云收风敛的一片死寂笼罩了大地。
倾刻後,
轰轰隆的雷响又重返天际,
唤醒了皮拉斯的戴天深仇。
就像独眼巨人之铁锤打击战神之不坏甲胄,
皮拉斯之溅血宝剑更无情的砍向普莱安。
滚开! 滚开! 贱如婊子的命运女神。
诸神明啊,
削除了她的力量吧!
粉碎了她的车轮,
让那空轴子由天堂滚入地狱!」
波: 这段太长了。
哈: 它就像你的胡须, 该去理发师那儿剪一剪。
{对演员} 请继续念吧。
他只想听闹剧或秽剧, 要不然他就会打瞌睡的。
请继续念西古芭{注16}那段。
演员甲: 唉, 可怜呀, 谁见到了那「蒙面皇后?」
哈: 蒙面皇后?
波: 好哇! 「蒙面皇后」好。
演员甲:「赤脚在熊熊的烈火中奔走,
她哭瞎了双眼。
昔日戴著冠冕的头上,
现在只裹了一块破布。
在惊惶恐惧中,
仅有一条毛毡
遮盖著她因多产而瘦弱的身躯,
代替了她的皇袍。
任何人见此悲惨的景象,
必会为她打抱不平,
而咒骂那残酷的命运之神。
倘若诸神有灵,
当她目睹皮拉斯凶残的砍下其夫君手足时,
她的 厉哭号一定会惊动天地,
令众星为她落泪,
也令诸神为她悲愤,
除非神明对人间凡事均无动於衷。」
波: 看他泪水汪汪的, 脸色都变了 {指正在朗诵的演员}。 别再念下去了。
哈: 那也好, 我们改天再把它念完罢。
{对波隆尼尔} 好先生, 你可否把这班伶人安顿好?
你听著: 我们可要好好的招待他们, 因他们是历史的书记;
我们宁可死後落得个恶名墓碑, 也别在生前坏了他们的口碑。
波: 殿下, 我会依他们所应得来对待他们。
哈: 以上帝圣体之名, 人呀, 要更好!
倘若凡事都依其所应得, 那谁不该打?
你应以礼仪来款待他们。
他们所应得的愈少, 你的宽大就愈值得表扬。
带他们去罢。
波: 来, 先生们。
哈: 请随他去, 朋友们, 我们明天再来听另一出戏。
{对演员甲} 你听我说, 老朋友, 你会不会演「巩查哥遇害记」?
演员甲: 会的, 殿下。
哈: 我们明晚就听这出戏。 若有必要, 你能否参插我写的一段於此剧,
大约十二到十六行字?
演员甲: 没问题, 殿下。
哈: 好极了!
[对众演员]
你们就随那先生去罢, 可是别取笑他喔。
[波隆尼尔与众演员出]
[对罗生克兰与盖登思邓]
好朋友们, 现在我就向你们告别, 直至今晚。
欢迎你们来到艾辛诺尔。
罗: 好的, 殿下。
[罗生克兰与盖登思邓出]
哈: 是的, 再见。 现在我可单独了。
唉, 我是个恶人, 也是个无用的蠢才!
真不可思议, 这个伶人能把单单一个虚构的故事, 伪装的感情,
表演得如此淋漓尽致。
他的脸色可随意苍白, 热泪可泉涌, 神情可仓皇,
声音可抖颤, 姿态可传神。 但这全徒劳啊, 这仅是为了西古芭!
西古芭对他是何许人, 他对西古芭又是何许人, 他须如此的为她哭泣?
倘若他有了我的悲愤理由与动机, 那他又会怎样?
他一定会把此戏台用泪水淹没, 把那骇人之听闻灌入观众耳内,
令带罪者疯狂, 无罪者惊愕, 愚 者惶惑, 也使众人的耳目迷乱如痴。
而我...
却是个懒散不振的家伙, 整天仰郁不乐, 胸无成竹的没个主意。
简直像个白日梦迷, 也无能替一位被狠毒谋害的国王说半句话。
我是不是个懦夫?
有谁能指责我是个恶棍, 敲我的脑袋, 扭我的鼻子,
揪掉我的胡须然後吹它於我脸上, 斥骂我是个无耻的谎者?
谁能对我如此? 呵, 我发誓, 我会心甘情愿的承受这些,
因我无疑是个胆小鬼, 无勇气抗议恶行;
否则我早会挖出那卑鄙奴才之肺腑, 来喂饱天下之所有兀鹰!
血淋淋的猥亵恶贼! 毫无愧疚、奸诈、荒淫、无义的恶贼!
啊, 复仇呀!
唉, 我是个笨驴!
我是个被害国君之子, 天地之鬼神均怂恿我去为他复仇,
而我却还是在此, 只能用字眼来咒骂,
活像个满口秽言的下流婊子,
带著一付泼妇骂街的模样, 真是勇敢极了! 呸, 算了, 呸!
让我动脑筋想想... 我曾听说, 当犯罪者看戏时,
有时逼真的剧情能使他突然天良发现, 使他当场忏悔其过。
谋杀血案也许是无口申冤, 但它却另有其它之神奇表达方法。
我要教这班演员们在叔父面前演出父亲遇害的过程,
那时我可注意他的反应, 观察他的一举一动。
待他有变时, 我自然晓得如何去办。
我所见到的那个幽魂也许是个恶鬼, 而恶鬼有能力化为美形,
趁我忧郁脆弱时来蛊惑我, 使我沉沦堕坠。
是的, 恶鬼的确是有此本领的。
我可用此剧为陷阱来补捉国王良心内之隐秘, 获得最确凿的证据。
[出]
{第二幕完}
_______________________________________________________________________
译者注:
(1).『美化』对波隆尼尔来讲是个『坏字』因为它表示欧菲莉亚
有用 饰品。
(2). 在此译者用『纵』字, 因原文的『loose,』强调了波隆尼尔
利用女儿之心态--如『纵马』、『纵狗』等。
(3). 鱼贩即皮条客的俗称。哈姆雷特在此讽刺波隆尼尔利用女儿来
调查哈姆雷特发疯之内幕。
(4). 中古时代人们认为蛆是从太阳而生。
(5).「环球剧院」即莎士比亚本人的剧院, 而它的招牌即一力士扛地球。
(6). 没那么疯之意。
(7). 罗希斯(Roscius): 古罗马之名伶。
(8). 耶弗他(Jephthah): 在圣经 耶弗他因大意而牺牲其女,
在此哈姆雷特再度的讽刺波隆尼尔。
(9). 英文「胡须」与「挑战」可同字。
(10). 艾尼亚士(Aeneas): 威吉尔(古罗马大诗人 Publius Vergilius Maro,
70 - 19 B.C.)写的史诗 Aeneid 中之英雄, 也是罗马人之始祖。
(11). 黛多(Dido): 迦太基之后。 迦太基(Carthage)是非洲北部之古国,
在今突尼斯附近, 纪元前一四六年被罗马人所灭。
(12). 普莱安(Priam): 特罗伊(Troy)之王, 在木马屠城记里被皮拉斯所杀。
(13). 皮拉斯(Pyrrhus): 阿奇里斯(Achilles)之子,
其父被普莱安之子所杀。 皮拉斯替父报仇, 藏於木马腹内,
进城後杀死普莱安。
(14). 海肯尼亚: 地名, 海南区, 位在今伊朗。 古罗马时代产猛虎出名。
(15). 伊霖堡: 特罗伊(Troy)城中之堡, 在木马屠城记中被希腊人摧毁。
(16). 西古芭(Hecuba): 普莱安之妻, 特罗伊之后。
Elsinore. A room in the house of Polonius.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enter Polonius and Reynaldo.
Polonius. Give him this money and these notes, Reynaldo.
Reynaldo. I will, my lord.
Polonius. You shall do marvell's wisely, good Reynaldo, 950
Before You visit him, to make inquire
Of his behaviour.
Reynaldo. My lord, I did intend it.
Polonius. Marry, well said, very well said. Look you, sir,
Enquire me first what Danskers are in Paris; 955
And how, and who, what means, and where they keep,
What company, at what expense; and finding
By this encompassment and drift of question
That they do know my son, come you more nearer
Than your particular demands will touch it. 960
Take you, as 'twere, some distant knowledge of him;
As thus, 'I know his father and his friends,
And in part him.' Do you mark this, Reynaldo?
Reynaldo. Ay, very well, my lord.
Polonius. 'And in part him, but,' you may say, 'not well. 965
But if't be he I mean, he's very wild
Addicted so and so'; and there put on him
What forgeries you please; marry, none so rank
As may dishonour him- take heed of that;
But, sir, such wanton, wild, and usual slips 970
As are companions noted and most known
To youth and liberty.
Reynaldo. As gaming, my lord.
Polonius. Ay, or drinking, fencing, swearing, quarrelling,
Drabbing. You may go so far. 975Reynaldo. My lord, that would dishonour him.
Polonius. Faith, no, as you may season it in the charge.
You must not put another scandal on him,
That he is open to incontinency.
That's not my meaning. But breathe his faults so quaintly 980
That they may seem the taints of liberty,
The flash and outbreak of a fiery mind,
A savageness in unreclaimed blood,
Of general assault.
Reynaldo. But, my good lord- 985Polonius. Wherefore should you do this?
Reynaldo. Ay, my lord,
I would know that.
Polonius. Marry, sir, here's my drift,
And I believe it is a fetch of warrant. 990
You laying these slight sullies on my son
As 'twere a thing a little soil'd i' th' working,
Mark you,
Your party in converse, him you would sound,
Having ever seen in the prenominate crimes 995
The youth you breathe of guilty, be assur'd
He closes with you in this consequence:
'Good sir,' or so, or 'friend,' or 'gentleman'-
According to the phrase or the addition
Of man and country- 1000Reynaldo. Very good, my lord.
Polonius. And then, sir, does 'a this- 'a does- What was I about to say?
By the mass, I was about to say something! Where did I leave?
Reynaldo. At 'closes in the consequence,' at 'friend or so,' and
gentleman.' 1005Polonius. At 'closes in the consequence'- Ay, marry!
He closes thus: 'I know the gentleman.
I saw him yesterday, or t'other day,
Or then, or then, with such or such; and, as you say,
There was 'a gaming; there o'ertook in's rouse; 1010
There falling out at tennis'; or perchance,
'I saw him enter such a house of sale,'
Videlicet, a brothel, or so forth.
See you now-
Your bait of falsehood takes this carp of truth; 1015
And thus do we of wisdom and of reach,
With windlasses and with assays of bias,
By indirections find directions out.
So, by my former lecture and advice,
Shall you my son. You have me, have you not? 1020Reynaldo. My lord, I have.
Polonius. God b' wi' ye, fare ye well!
Reynaldo. Good my lord! [Going.]
Polonius. Observe his inclination in yourself.
Reynaldo. I shall, my lord. 1025Polonius. And let him ply his music.
Reynaldo. Well, my lord.
Polonius. Farewell!
[Exit Reynaldo.]
[Enter Ophelia.] 1030
How now, Ophelia? What's the matter?
Ophelia. O my lord, my lord, I have been so affrighted!
Polonius. With what, i' th' name of God?
Ophelia. My lord, as I was sewing in my closet,
Lord Hamlet, with his doublet all unbrac'd, 1035
No hat upon his head, his stockings foul'd,
Ungart'red, and down-gyved to his ankle;
Pale as his shirt, his knees knocking each other,
And with a look so piteous in purport
As if he had been loosed out of hell 1040
To speak of horrors- he comes before me.
Polonius. Mad for thy love?
Ophelia. My lord, I do not know,
But truly I do fear it.
Polonius. What said he? 1045Ophelia. 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 stay'd he so. 1050
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
And end his being. That done, he lets me go, 1055
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 help
And to the last bended their light on me.
Polonius. Come, go with me. I will go seek the King. 1060
This is the very ecstasy of love,
Whose violent property fordoes itself
And leads the will to desperate undertakings
As oft as any passion under heaven
That does afflict our natures. I am sorry. 1065
What, have you given him any hard words of late?
Ophelia. No, my good lord; but, as you did command,
I did repel his letters and denied
His access to me.
Polonius. That hath made him mad. 1070
I am sorry that with better heed and judgment
I had not quoted him. I fear'd he did but trifle
And meant to wrack thee; but beshrew my jealousy!
By heaven, it is as proper to our age
To cast beyond ourselves in our opinions 1075
As it is common for the younger sort
To lack discretion. 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.
Come. 1080Exeunt.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Act II, Scene 2
Elsinore. A room in the Castle.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Flourish. [Enter King and Queen, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern,
cum aliis.
Claudius. Welcome, dear Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.
Moreover that we much did long to see you, 1085
The need we have to use you did provoke
Our hasty sending. Something have you heard
Of Hamlet's transformation. So I call it,
Sith nor th' exterior nor the inward man
Resembles that it was. What it should be, 1090
More than his father's death, that thus hath put him
So much from th' understanding of himself,
I cannot dream of. I entreat you both
That, being of so young days brought up with him,
And since so neighbour'd to his youth and haviour, 1095
That you vouchsafe your rest here in our court
Some little time; so by your companies
To draw him on to pleasures, and to gather
So much as from occasion you may glean,
Whether aught to us unknown afflicts him thus 1100
That, open'd, lies within our remedy.
Gertrude. Good gentlemen, he hath much talk'd of you,
And sure I am two men there are not living
To whom he more adheres. If it will please you
To show us so much gentry and good will 1105
As to expend your time with us awhile
For the supply and profit of our hope,
Your visitation shall receive such thanks
As fits a king's remembrance.
Rosencrantz. Both your Majesties 1110
Might, by the sovereign power you have of us,
Put your dread pleasures more into command
Than to entreaty.
Guildenstern. But we both obey,
And here give up ourselves, in the full bent, 1115
To lay our service freely at your feet,
To be commanded.
Claudius. Thanks, Rosencrantz and gentle Guildenstern.
Gertrude. Thanks, Guildenstern and gentle Rosencrantz.
And I beseech you instantly to visit 1120
My too much changed son.- Go, some of you,
And bring these gentlemen where Hamlet is.
Guildenstern. Heavens make our presence and our practices
Pleasant and helpful to him!
Gertrude. Ay, amen! 1125Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, [with some Attendants].
Enter Polonius.
Polonius. Th' ambassadors from Norway, my good lord,
Are joyfully return'd.
Claudius. Thou still hast been the father of good news. 1130Polonius. Have I, my lord? Assure you, my good liege,
I hold my duty as I hold my soul,
Both to my God and to my gracious king;
And I do think- or else this brain of mine
Hunts not the trail of policy so sure 1135
As it hath us'd to do- that I have found
The very cause of Hamlet's lunacy.
Claudius. O, speak of that! That do I long to hear.
Polonius. Give first admittance to th' ambassadors.
My news shall be the fruit to that great feast. 1140Claudius. Thyself do grace to them, and bring them in.
[Exit Polonius.]
He tells me, my dear Gertrude, he hath found
The head and source of all your son's distemper.
Gertrude. I doubt it is no other but the main, 1145
His father's death and our o'erhasty marriage.
Claudius. Well, we shall sift him.
[Enter Polonius, Voltemand, and Cornelius.]
Welcome, my good friends.
Say, Voltemand, what from our brother Norway? 1150Voltemand. Most fair return of greetings and desires.
Upon our first, he sent out to suppress
His nephew's levies; which to him appear'd
To be a preparation 'gainst the Polack,
But better look'd into, he truly found 1155
It was against your Highness; whereat griev'd,
That so his sickness, age, and impotence
Was falsely borne in hand, sends out arrests
On Fortinbras; which he, in brief, obeys,
Receives rebuke from Norway, and, in fine, 1160
Makes vow before his uncle never more
To give th' assay of arms against your Majesty.
Whereon old Norway, overcome with joy,
Gives him three thousand crowns in annual fee
And his commission to employ those soldiers, 1165
So levied as before, against the Polack;
With an entreaty, herein further shown,
[Gives a paper.]
That it might please you to give quiet pass
Through your dominions for this enterprise, 1170
On such regards of safety and allowance
As therein are set down.
Claudius. It likes us well;
And at our more consider'd time we'll read,
Answer, and think upon this business. 1175
Meantime we thank you for your well-took labour.
Go to your rest; at night we'll feast together.
Most welcome home! Exeunt Ambassadors.
Polonius. This business is well ended.
My liege, and madam, to expostulate 1180
What majesty should be, what duty is,
Why day is day, night is night, and time is time.
Were nothing but to waste night, day, and time.
Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit,
And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes, 1185
I will be brief. Your noble son is mad.
Mad call I it; for, to define true madness,
What is't but to be nothing else but mad?
But let that go.
Gertrude. More matter, with less art. 1190Polonius. Madam, I swear I use no art at all.
That he is mad, 'tis true: 'tis true 'tis pity;
And pity 'tis 'tis true. A foolish figure!
But farewell it, for I will use no art.
Mad let us grant him then. And now remains 1195
That we find out the cause of this effect-
Or rather say, the cause of this defect,
For this effect defective comes by cause.
Thus it remains, and the remainder thus.
Perpend. 1200
I have a daughter (have while she is mine),
Who in her duty and obedience, mark,
Hath given me this. Now gather, and surmise.
[Reads] the letter.]
'To the celestial, and my soul's idol, the most beautified Ophelia,'- 1205
That's an ill phrase, a vile phrase; 'beautified' is a vile phrase.
But you shall hear. Thus:
[Reads.]
'In her excellent white bosom, these, &c.'
Gertrude. Came this from Hamlet to her? 1210Polonius. Good madam, stay awhile. I will be faithful. [Reads.]
'Doubt thou the stars are fire;
Doubt that the sun doth move;
Doubt truth to be a liar;
But never doubt I love. 1215
'O dear Ophelia, I am ill at these numbers; I have not art to
reckon my groans; but that I love thee best, O most best, believe
it. Adieu.
'Thine evermore, most dear lady, whilst this machine is to
him, HAMLET.' 1220
This, in obedience, hath my daughter shown me;
And more above, hath his solicitings,
As they fell out by time, by means, and place,
All given to mine ear.
Claudius. But how hath she 1225
Receiv'd his love?
Polonius. What do you think of me?
Claudius. As of a man faithful and honourable.
Polonius. I would fain prove so. But what might you think,
When I had seen this hot love on the wing 1230
(As I perceiv'd it, I must tell you that,
Before my daughter told me), what might you,
Or my dear Majesty your queen here, think,
If I had play'd the desk or table book,
Or given my heart a winking, mute and dumb, 1235
Or look'd upon this love with idle sight?
What might you think? No, I went round to work
And my young mistress thus I did bespeak:
'Lord Hamlet is a prince, out of thy star.
This must not be.' And then I prescripts gave her, 1240
That she should lock herself from his resort,
Admit no messengers, receive no tokens.
Which done, she took the fruits of my advice,
And he, repulsed, a short tale to make,
Fell into a sadness, then into a fast, 1245
Thence to a watch, thence into a weakness,
Thence to a lightness, and, by this declension,
Into the madness wherein now he raves,
And all we mourn for.
Claudius. Do you think 'tis this? 1250Gertrude. it may be, very like.
Polonius. Hath there been such a time- I would fain know that-
That I have Positively said 'Tis so,'
When it prov'd otherwise.?
Claudius. Not that I know. 1255Polonius. [points to his head and shoulder] Take this from this, if this be otherwise.
If circumstances lead me, I will find
Where truth is hid, though it were hid indeed
Within the centre.
Claudius. How may we try it further? 1260Polonius. You know sometimes he walks for hours together
Here in the lobby.
Gertrude. So he does indeed.
Polonius. At such a time I'll loose my daughter to him.
Be you and I behind an arras then. 1265
Mark the encounter. If he love her not,
And he not from his reason fall'n thereon
Let me be no assistant for a state,
But keep a farm and carters.
Claudius. We will try it. 1270Enter Hamlet, reading on a book.
Gertrude. But look where sadly the poor wretch comes reading.
Polonius. Away, I do beseech you, both away
I'll board him presently. O, give me leave.
[Exeunt King and Queen, [with Attendants].] 1275
How does my good Lord Hamlet?
Hamlet. Well, God-a-mercy.
Polonius. Do you know me, my lord?
Hamlet. Excellent well. You are a fishmonger.
Polonius. Not I, my lord. 1280Hamlet. Then I would you were so honest a man.
Polonius. Honest, my lord?
Hamlet. Ay, sir. To be honest, as this world goes, is to be one man
pick'd out of ten thousand.
Polonius. That's very true, my lord. 1285Hamlet. For if the sun breed maggots in a dead dog, being a god
kissing carrion- Have you a daughter?
Polonius. I have, my lord.
Hamlet. Let her not walk i' th' sun. Conception is a blessing, but not
as your daughter may conceive. Friend, look to't. 1290Polonius. [aside] How say you by that? Still harping on my daughter. Yet
he knew me not at first. He said I was a fishmonger. He is far
gone, far gone! And truly in my youth I suff'red much extremity
for love- very near this. I'll speak to him again.- What do you
read, my lord? 1295Hamlet. Words, words, words.
Polonius. What is the matter, my lord?
Hamlet. Between who?
Polonius. I mean, the matter that you read, my lord.
Hamlet. Slanders, sir; for the satirical rogue says here that old men 1300
have grey beards; that their faces are wrinkled; their eyes
purging thick amber and plum-tree gum; and that they have a
plentiful lack of wit, together with most weak hams. All which,
sir, though I most powerfully and potently believe, yet I hold it
not honesty to have it thus set down; for you yourself, sir, 1305
should be old as I am if, like a crab, you could go backward.
Polonius. [aside] Though this be madness, yet there is a method in't.-
Will You walk out of the air, my lord?
Hamlet. Into my grave?
Polonius. Indeed, that is out o' th' air. [Aside] How pregnant sometimes 1310
his replies are! a happiness that often madness hits on, which
reason and sanity could not so prosperously be delivered of. I
will leave him and suddenly contrive the means of meeting between
him and my daughter.- My honourable lord, I will most humbly take
my leave of you. 1315Hamlet. You cannot, sir, take from me anything that I will more
willingly part withal- except my life, except my life, except my
life,
Enter Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.
Polonius. Fare you well, my lord. 1320Hamlet. These tedious old fools!
Polonius. You go to seek the Lord Hamlet. There he is.
Rosencrantz. [to Polonius] God save you, sir!
Exit [Polonius].
Guildenstern. My honour'd lord! 1325Rosencrantz. My most dear lord!
Hamlet. My excellent good friends! How dost thou, Guildenstern? Ah,
Rosencrantz! Good lads, how do ye both?
Rosencrantz. As the indifferent children of the earth.
Guildenstern. Happy in that we are not over-happy. 1330
On Fortune's cap we are not the very button.
Hamlet. Nor the soles of her shoe?
Rosencrantz. Neither, my lord.
Hamlet. Then you live about her waist, or in the middle of her
favours? 1335Guildenstern. Faith, her privates we.
Hamlet. In the secret parts of Fortune? O! most true! she is a
strumpet. What news ?
Rosencrantz. None, my lord, but that the world's grown honest.
Hamlet. Then is doomsday near! But your news is not true. Let me 1340
question more in particular. What have you, my good friends,
deserved at the hands of Fortune that she sends you to prison
hither?
Guildenstern. Prison, my lord?
Hamlet. Denmark's a prison. 1345Rosencrantz. Then is the world one.
Hamlet. A goodly one; in which there are many confines, wards, and
dungeons, Denmark being one o' th' worst.
Rosencrantz. We think not so, my lord.
Hamlet. Why, then 'tis none to you; for there is nothing either good 1350
or bad but thinking makes it so. To me it is a prison.
Rosencrantz. Why, then your ambition makes it one. 'Tis too narrow for your
mind.
Hamlet. O God, I could be bounded in a nutshell and count myself a
king of infinite space, were it not that I have bad dreams. 1355Guildenstern. Which dreams indeed are ambition; for the very substance of
the ambitious is merely the shadow of a dream.
Hamlet. A dream itself is but a shadow.
Rosencrantz. Truly, and I hold ambition of so airy and light a quality that
it is but a shadow's shadow. 1360Hamlet. Then are our beggars bodies, and our monarchs and outstretch'd
heroes the beggars' shadows. Shall we to th' court? for, by my
fay, I cannot reason.
Rosencrantz. [with Guildenstern] We'll wait upon you.
Hamlet. No such matter! I will not sort you with the rest of my 1365
servants; for, to speak to you like an honest man, I am most
dreadfully attended. But in the beaten way of friendship, what
make you at Elsinore?
Rosencrantz. To visit you, my lord; no other occasion.
Hamlet. Beggar that I am, I am even poor in thanks; but I thank you; 1370
and sure, dear friends, my thanks are too dear a halfpenny. Were
you not sent for? Is it your own inclining? Is it a free
visitation? Come, deal justly with me. Come, come! Nay, speak.
Guildenstern. What should we say, my lord?
Hamlet. Why, anything- but to th' purpose. You were sent for; and 1375
there is a kind of confession in your looks, which your modesties
have not craft enough to colour. I know the good King and Queen
have sent for you.
Rosencrantz. To what end, my lord?
Hamlet. That you must teach me. But let me conjure you by the rights 1380
of our fellowship, by the consonancy of our youth, by the
obligation of our ever-preserved love, and by what more dear a
better proposer could charge you withal, be even and direct with
me, whether you were sent for or no.
Rosencrantz. [aside to Guildenstern] What say you? 1385Hamlet. [aside] Nay then, I have an eye of you.- If you love me, hold
not off.
Guildenstern. My lord, we were sent for.
Hamlet. I will tell you why. So shall my anticipation prevent your
discovery, and your secrecy to the King and Queen moult no 1390
feather. I have of late- but wherefore I know not- lost all my
mirth, forgone all custom of exercises; and indeed, it goes so
heavily with my disposition that this goodly frame, the earth,
seems to me a sterile promontory; this most excellent canopy, the
air, look you, this brave o'erhanging firmament, this majestical 1395
roof fretted with golden fire- why, it appeareth no other thing
to me than a foul and pestilent congregation of vapours. What a
piece of work is a man! how noble in reason! how infinite in
faculties! in form and moving how express and admirable! in
action how like an angel! in apprehension how like a god! the 1400
beauty of the world, the paragon of animals! And yet to me what
is this quintessence of dust? Man delights not me- no, nor woman
neither, though by your smiling you seem to say so.
Rosencrantz. My lord, there was no such stuff in my thoughts.
Hamlet. Why did you laugh then, when I said 'Man delights not me'? 1405Rosencrantz. To think, my lord, if you delight not in man, what lenten
entertainment the players shall receive from you. We coted them
on the way, and hither are they coming to offer you service.
Hamlet. He that plays the king shall be welcome- his Majesty shall
have tribute of me; the adventurous knight shall use his foil and 1410
target; the lover shall not sigh gratis; the humorous man shall
end his part in peace; the clown shall make those laugh whose
lungs are tickle o' th' sere; and the lady shall say her mind
freely, or the blank verse shall halt for't. What players are
they? 1415Rosencrantz. Even those you were wont to take such delight in, the
tragedians of the city.
Hamlet. How chances it they travel? Their residence, both in
reputation and profit, was better both ways.
Rosencrantz. I think their inhibition comes by the means of the late 1420
innovation.
Hamlet. Do they hold the same estimation they did when I was in the
city? Are they so follow'd?
Rosencrantz. No indeed are they not.
Hamlet. How comes it? Do they grow rusty? 1425Rosencrantz. Nay, their endeavour keeps in the wonted pace; but there is,
sir, an eyrie of children, little eyases, that cry out on the top
of question and are most tyrannically clapp'd for't. These are now
the fashion, and so berattle the common stages (so they call
them) that many wearing rapiers are afraid of goosequills and 1430
dare scarce come thither.
Hamlet. What, are they children? Who maintains 'em? How are they
escoted? Will they pursue the quality no longer than they can
sing? Will they not say afterwards, if they should grow
themselves to common players (as it is most like, if their means 1435
are no better), their writers do them wrong to make them exclaim
against their own succession.
Rosencrantz. Faith, there has been much to do on both sides; and the nation
holds it no sin to tarre them to controversy. There was, for a
while, no money bid for argument unless the poet and the player 1440
went to cuffs in the question.
Hamlet. Is't possible?
Guildenstern. O, there has been much throwing about of brains.
Hamlet. Do the boys carry it away?
Rosencrantz. Ay, that they do, my lord- Hercules and his load too. 1445Hamlet. It is not very strange; for my uncle is King of Denmark, and
those that would make mows at him while my father lived give
twenty, forty, fifty, a hundred ducats apiece for his picture in
little. 'Sblood, there is something in this more than natural, if
philosophy could find it out. 1450Flourish for the Players.
Guildenstern. There are the players.
Hamlet. Gentlemen, you are welcome to Elsinore. Your hands, come! Th'
appurtenance of welcome is fashion and ceremony. Let me comply
with you in this garb, lest my extent to the players (which I 1455
tell you must show fairly outwards) should more appear like
entertainment than yours. You are welcome. But my uncle-father
and aunt-mother are deceiv'd.
Guildenstern. In what, my dear lord?
Hamlet. I am but mad north-north-west. When the wind is southerly I 1460
know a hawk from a handsaw.
Enter Polonius.
Polonius. Well be with you, gentlemen!
Hamlet. Hark you, Guildenstern- and you too- at each ear a hearer!
That great baby you see there is not yet out of his swaddling 1465
clouts.
Rosencrantz. Happily he's the second time come to them; for they say an old
man is twice a child.
Hamlet. I will prophesy he comes to tell me of the players. Mark it.-
You say right, sir; a Monday morning; twas so indeed. 1470Polonius. My lord, I have news to tell you.
Hamlet. My lord, I have news to tell you. When Roscius was an actor in Rome-
Polonius. The actors are come hither, my lord.
Hamlet. Buzz, buzz!
Polonius. Upon my honour- 1475Hamlet. Then came each actor on his ass-
Polonius. The best actors in the world, either for tragedy, comedy,
history, pastoral, pastoral-comical, historical-pastoral,
tragical-historical, tragical-comical-historical-pastoral; scene
individable, or poem unlimited. Seneca cannot be too heavy, nor 1480
Plautus too light. For the law of writ and the liberty, these are
the only men.
Hamlet. O Jephthah, judge of Israel, what a treasure hadst thou!
Polonius. What treasure had he, my lord?
Hamlet. Why, 1485
'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 1490
love passing well.
Hamlet. Nay, that follows not.
Polonius. What follows then, my lord?
Hamlet. Why,
'As by lot, God wot,' 1495
and then, you know,
'It came to pass, as most like it was.'
The first row of the pious chanson will show you more; for look
where my abridgment comes.
[Enter four or five Players.] 1500
You are welcome, masters; welcome, all.- I am glad to see thee
well.- Welcome, good friends.- O, my old friend? Why, thy face is
valanc'd since I saw thee last. Com'st' thou to' beard me in
Denmark?- What, my young lady and mistress? By'r Lady, your
ladyship is nearer to heaven than when I saw you last by the 1505
altitude of a chopine. Pray God your voice, like a piece of
uncurrent gold, be not crack'd within the ring.- 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. 1510First Player. What speech, my good lord?
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, pleas'd
not the million, 'twas caviary to the general; but it was (as I
receiv'd it, and others, whose judgments in such matters cried in 1515
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 were no sallets in the lines to make the matter savoury,
nor no matter in the phrase that might indict the author of
affectation; but call'd it an honest method, as wholesome as 1520
sweet, and by very much more handsome than fine. One speech in't
I chiefly lov'd. '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-' 1525
'Tis 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,
Hath now this dread and black complexion smear'd 1530
With heraldry more dismal. Head to foot
Now is be total gules, horridly trick'd
With blood of fathers, mothers, daughters, sons,
Bak'd and impasted with the parching streets,
That lend a tyrannous and a damned light 1535
To their lord's murther. Roasted in wrath and fire,
And thus o'ersized with coagulate gore,
With eyes like carbuncles, the hellish Pyrrhus
Old grandsire Priam seeks.'
So, proceed you. 1540Polonius. Fore God, my lord, well spoken, with good accent and good discretion.
First Player. 'Anon he finds him,
Striking too short at Greeks. His antique sword,
Rebellious to his arm, lies where it falls,
Repugnant to command. Unequal match'd, 1545
Pyrrhus at Priam drives, in rage strikes wide;
But with the whiff and wind of his fell sword
Th' unnerved father falls. Then senseless Ilium,
Seeming to feel this blow, with flaming top
Stoops to his base, and with a hideous crash 1550
Takes prisoner Pyrrhus' ear. For lo! his sword,
Which was declining on the milky head
Of reverend Priam, seem'd i' th' air to stick.
So, as a painted tyrant, Pyrrhus stood,
And, like a neutral to his will and matter, 1555
Did nothing.
But, as we often see, against some storm,
A silence in the heavens, the rack stand still,
The bold winds speechless, and the orb below
As hush as death- anon the dreadful thunder 1560
Doth rend the region; so, after Pyrrhus' pause,
Aroused vengeance sets him new awork;
And never did the Cyclops' hammers fall
On Mars's armour, forg'd for proof eterne,
With less remorse than Pyrrhus' bleeding sword 1565
Now falls on Priam.
Out, out, thou strumpet Fortune! All you gods,
In general synod take away her power;
Break all the spokes and fellies from her wheel,
And bowl the round nave down the hill of heaven, 1570
As low as to the fiends!
Polonius. This is too long.
Hamlet. It shall to the barber's, with your beard.- Prithee say on.
He's for a jig or a tale of bawdry, or he sleeps. Say on; come to
Hecuba. 1575First Player. 'But who, O who, had seen the mobled queen-'
Hamlet. 'The mobled queen'?
Polonius. That's good! 'Mobled queen' is good.
First Player. 'Run barefoot up and down, threat'ning the flames
With bisson rheum; a clout upon that head 1580
Where late the diadem stood, and for a robe,
About her lank and all o'erteemed loins,
A blanket, in the alarm of fear caught up-
Who this had seen, with tongue in venom steep'd
'Gainst Fortune's state would treason have pronounc'd. 1585
But if the gods themselves did see her then,
When she saw Pyrrhus make malicious sport
In Mincing with his sword her husband's limbs,
The instant burst of clamour that she made
(Unless things mortal move them not at all) 1590
Would have made milch the burning eyes of heaven
And passion in the gods.'
Polonius. Look, whe'r he has not turn'd his colour, and has tears in's
eyes. Prithee no more!
Hamlet. 'Tis well. I'll have thee speak out the rest of this soon.- 1595
Good my lord, will you see the players well bestow'd? Do you
hear? Let them be well us'd; for they are the abstract and brief
chronicles of the time. After your death you were better have a
bad epitaph than their ill report while you live.
Polonius. My lord, I will use them according to their desert. 1600Hamlet. God's bodykins, man, much better! Use every man after his
desert, and who should scape whipping? Use them after your own
honour and dignity. The less they deserve, the more merit is in
your bounty. Take them in.
Polonius. Come, sirs. 1605Hamlet. Follow him, friends. We'll hear a play to-morrow.
[Exeunt Polonius and Players [except the First].]
Dost thou hear me, old friend? Can you play 'The Murther of
Gonzago'?
First Player. Ay, my lord. 1610Hamlet. We'll ha't to-morrow night. You could, for a need, study a
speech of some dozen or sixteen lines which I would set down and
_insert_ in't, could you not?
First Player. Ay, my lord.
Hamlet. Very well. Follow that lord- and look you mock him not. 1615
[Exit First Player.]
My good friends, I'll leave you till night. You are welcome to
Elsinore.
Rosencrantz. Good my lord!
Hamlet. Ay, so, God b' wi' ye! 1620
[Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern]
Now I am alone.
O what a rogue and peasant slave am I!
Is it not monstrous that this player here,
But in a fiction, in a dream of passion, 1625
Could force his soul so to his own conceit
That, from her working, all his visage wann'd,
Tears in his eyes, distraction in's aspect,
A broken voice, and his whole function suiting
With forms to his conceit? And all for nothing! 1630
For Hecuba!
What's Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba,
That he should weep for her? What would he do,
Had he the motive and the cue for passion
That I have? He would drown the stage with tears 1635
And cleave the general ear with horrid speech;
Make mad the guilty and appal the free,
Confound the ignorant, and amaze indeed
The very faculties of eyes and ears.
Yet I, 1640
A dull and muddy-mettled rascal, peak
Like John-a-dreams, unpregnant of my cause,
And can say nothing! No, not for a king,
Upon whose property and most dear life
A damn'd defeat was made. Am I a coward? 1645
Who calls me villain? breaks my pate across?
Plucks off my beard and blows it in my face?
Tweaks me by th' nose? gives me the lie i' th' throat
As deep as to the lungs? Who does me this, ha?
'Swounds, I should take it! for it cannot be 1650
But I am pigeon-liver'd and lack gall
To make oppression bitter, or ere this
I should have fatted all the region kites
With this slave's offal. Bloody bawdy villain!
Remorseless, treacherous, lecherous, kindless villain! 1655
O, vengeance!
Why, what an ass am I! This is most brave,
That I, the son of a dear father murther'd,
Prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell,
Must (like a whore) unpack my heart with words 1660
And fall a-cursing like a very drab,
A scullion!
Fie upon't! foh! About, my brain! Hum, I have heard
That guilty creatures, sitting at a play,
Have by the very cunning of the scene 1665
Been struck so to the soul that presently
They have proclaim'd their malefactions;
For murther, though it have no tongue, will speak
With most miraculous organ, I'll have these Players
Play something like the murther of my father 1670
Before mine uncle. I'll observe his looks;
I'll tent him to the quick. If he but blench,
I know my course. The spirit that I have seen
May be a devil; and the devil hath power
T' assume a pleasing shape; yea, and perhaps 1675
Out of my weakness and my melancholy,
As he is very potent with such spirits,
Abuses me to damn me. I'll have grounds
More relative than this. The play's the thing
Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the King. Exit. 1680