哈姆雷特（中文译本）

ACT II

第二幕

SCENE I. A room in Polonius’s house.

Enter Polonius and Reynaldo.

POLONIUS.
Give him this money and these notes, Reynaldo.

REYNALDO.
I will, my lord.

POLONIUS.
You shall do marvellous wisely, good Reynaldo,
Before you visit him, to make inquiry
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;
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.
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;
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
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.

REYNALDO.
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
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—

POLONIUS.
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.
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
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.

REYNALDO.
Very good, my lord.

POLONIUS.
And then, sir, does he this,—
He 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.’

POLONIUS.
At ‘closes in the consequence’ ay, marry!
He closes with you thus: ‘I know the gentleman,
I saw him yesterday, or t’other day,
Or then, or then, with such and such; and, as you say,
There was he gaming, there o’ertook in’s rouse,
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;
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?

REYNALDO.
My lord, I have.

POLONIUS.
God b’ wi’ you, fare you well.

REYNALDO.
Good my lord.

POLONIUS.
Observe his inclination in yourself.

REYNALDO.
I shall, my lord.

POLONIUS.
And let him ply his music.

REYNALDO.
Well, my lord.

POLONIUS.
Farewell.

[Exit Reynaldo.]

Enter Ophelia.

How now, Ophelia, what’s the matter?

OPHELIA.
Alas, my lord, I have been so affrighted.

POLONIUS.
With what, in the name of God?

OPHELIA.
My lord, as I was sewing in my chamber,
Lord Hamlet, with his doublet all unbrac’d,
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
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?

OPHELIA.
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,
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,
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.
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,—
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.
I am sorry that with better heed and judgement
I had not quoted him. I fear’d he did but trifle,
And meant to wreck thee. But beshrew my jealousy!
It seems it is as proper to our age
To cast beyond ourselves in our opinions
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.

[Exeunt.]

第一场：波洛涅斯家中一室

波洛涅斯及雷纳尔多上。

波洛涅斯。
把这笔钱和这些信件交给他，雷纳尔多。

雷纳尔多。
我会的，大人。

波洛涅斯。
你要做得极其精明，好雷纳尔多，
在去见他之前，先去打听
他的行为。

雷纳尔多。
大人，我正有此意。

波洛涅斯。
好，说得好；说得很好。你听好，先生，
先替我打听清楚，巴黎有哪些丹麦人；
他们如何生活，是什么人，靠什么进项，住在何处，
与什么人交往，花销多少；这样用
迂回曲折的盘问探知
他们确实认识我儿子，你就更近一步，
比直接追问更容易触及要害。
你要装作只是对他略有所知，
比方说，“我认识他的父亲和他的朋友，
对他本人也略知一二”——你记住没有，雷纳尔多？

雷纳尔多。
是，记得很清楚，大人。

波洛涅斯。
“对他本人也略知一二，”不过你还可以说，“并不太熟；
但若他就是我说的那位，那可相当放浪；
染上了这样那样的毛病；”然后随你高兴
给他编些罪名；不过，那些罪名不可太过粗鄙，
以免玷污他的名誉；当心这一点；
但是，先生，你要拿那些放纵、野性而常见的过失，
那些人人皆知、伴随着青春和自由的
习气来说事。

雷纳尔多。
比如赌钱，大人？

波洛涅斯。
对，或者饮酒、斗剑、赌咒、
争吵、嫖妓。你可以说到这个份上。

雷纳尔多。
大人，那会玷污他的名誉。

波洛涅斯。
不，绝不会，只要你在指控时拿捏好分寸。
你不可再给他加上另一桩丑事，
说他公然耽于淫欲；
那不是我的意思：你须得把他的过错说得这般轻巧，
让它们看来不过是自由身上的斑点；
一颗暴躁心灵的火光与爆发，
未加驯服的血气中的一股野性，
谁人都会有的冲动。

雷纳尔多。
可是，好大人——

波洛涅斯。
为什么要这样做？

雷纳尔多。
是啊，大人，我很想知道。

波洛涅斯。
哎呀，先生，这就是我的打算，
我相信这是个有把握的妙计。
你把这些轻描淡写的污点加在我儿子身上，
仿佛只是做事时沾了一点脏，
你注意，
你那谈话的对象，你要试探的那个人，
要是你见过你所说的那个年轻人犯过
你提到的那些过错，你放心，
他准会用这样的话来附和你：
“好先生”也好，“朋友”也好，“绅士”也好——
全看对方那人的称呼
和他的国家习惯而定。

雷纳尔多。
很好，大人。

波洛涅斯。
然后，先生，他就会这样——
他就——我刚才想说什么来着？
凭弥撒起誓，我本来有话要说。我说到哪儿了？

雷纳尔多。
说到“用这样的话来附和”。
说到“朋友”也好，“绅士”也好。

波洛涅斯。
说到“用这样的话来附和”——对，没错！
他就会这样附和你：“我认识那位绅士，
我昨天，或是前几天，还见过他，
或是某个时候，同某某人在一起；正如你所说，
他在那儿赌钱，在那儿喝得酩酊大醉，
在那儿打网球吵了起来”：或者说不定，
“我看见他进了那么一家卖场”——
就是说，一家窑子，诸如此类。
你瞧；
你用那假话作饵，就能钓上这真话的鲤鱼；
我们这些有见识、有远虑的人，
就是这样用旁敲侧击、迂回试探的手法，
由迂回间接找出直路来。
你就照我先前教你的那番话，
去打听我儿子。你懂了吗，懂了没有？

雷纳尔多。
大人，我懂了。

波洛涅斯。
上帝保佑你，再会吧。

雷纳尔多。
告辞了，大人。

波洛涅斯。
你自己也要留心观察他的倾向。

雷纳尔多。
我会的，大人。

波洛涅斯。
叫他好好练他的音乐。

雷纳尔多。
是，大人。

波洛涅斯。
再会。

〔雷纳尔多下。〕

奥菲莉娅上。

波洛涅斯。
怎么啦，奥菲莉娅，出了什么事？

奥菲莉娅。
唉，父亲，我真是吓坏了。

波洛涅斯。
上帝在上，被什么吓坏了？

奥菲莉娅。
父亲，我正在房里做针线，
哈姆雷特殿下，他的紧身衣全敞着，
头上没戴帽子，长袜污秽不堪，
没有袜带，褪到脚踝上；
脸色苍白得像他的衬衫，两个膝盖互相碰撞，
神情那么凄惨可怜，
仿佛是刚从地狱里放出来，
要讲述那里的恐怖——他来到了我跟前。

波洛涅斯。
是因为爱慕你而疯了吗？

奥菲莉娅。
父亲，我不知道，可是我真的怕是这样。

波洛涅斯。
他说了什么？

奥菲莉娅。
他抓住我的手腕，紧紧地抓着；
然后把整条手臂伸直；
用另一只手这样按着眉头，
他死死端详着我的脸，
好像要把它描摹下来。他这样站了很久，
最后——轻轻摇了一下我的手臂，
把头这样上上下下点了三遍，
发出一声叹息，那么可怜，那么深长，
仿佛要将他的整个身体震碎，
就此结束他的生命。做完这些，他放开了我，
把头扭过肩膀往后望着，
似乎不用眼睛也能找到路，
因为他没用眼睛就迈出了房门，
直到最后都把它们的光芒投注在我身上。

波洛涅斯。
来，跟我走。我要去找国王。
这正是爱情的痴狂，
其暴烈的本性会毁掉自身，
把意志引向不顾一切的举动，
其频繁程度不亚于天底下
任何折磨我们本性的狂热。我感到遗憾，——
怎么，你最近对他说过什么重话吗？

奥菲莉娅。
没有，我的好父亲；但按照您的吩咐，
我退还了他的书信，拒绝
他接近我。

波洛涅斯。
这就把他逼疯了。
我后悔当初没有用更周全的考虑和判断
去观察他。我担心他不过是逢场作戏，
存心要毁掉你。可是，诅咒我的猜疑！
看来，像我们这般年纪的人，
在见地上自以为是、越出本分，
乃是常有的事，
就如年轻人往往缺乏审慎一样。
来，我们去找国王。
这事必须让人知道，如果秘而不宣，可能
引发更多悲伤，远不如公开吐露爱情会招致的怨恨。

〔同下。〕

SCENE II. A room in the Castle.

Enter King, Queen, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern and Attendants.

KING.
Welcome, dear Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.
Moreover that we much did long to see you,
The need we have to use you did provoke
Our hasty sending. Something have you heard
Of Hamlet’s transformation; so I call it,
Since nor th’exterior nor the inward man
Resembles that it was. What it should be,
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 humour,
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
That, open’d, lies within our remedy.

QUEEN.
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
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
Might, by the sovereign power you have of us,
Put your dread pleasures more into command
Than to entreaty.

GUILDENSTERN.
We both obey,
And here give up ourselves, in the full bent,
To lay our service freely at your feet
To be commanded.

KING.
Thanks, Rosencrantz and gentle Guildenstern.

QUEEN.
Thanks, Guildenstern and gentle Rosencrantz.
And I beseech you instantly to visit
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.

QUEEN.
Ay, amen.

[Exeunt Rosencrantz, Guildenstern and some Attendants.]

Enter Polonius.

POLONIUS.
Th’ambassadors from Norway, my good lord,
Are joyfully return’d.

KING.
Thou still hast been the father of good news.

POLONIUS.
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
As it hath us’d to do—that I have found
The very cause of Hamlet’s lunacy.

KING.
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.

KING.
Thyself do grace to them, and bring them in.

[Exit Polonius.]

He tells me, my sweet queen, that he hath found
The head and source of all your son’s distemper.

QUEEN.
I doubt it is no other but the main,
His father’s death and our o’erhasty marriage.

KING.
Well, we shall sift him.

Enter Polonius with Voltemand and Cornelius.

Welcome, my good friends!
Say, Voltemand, what from our brother Norway?

VOLTEMAND.
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
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,
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
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,
On such regards of safety and allowance
As therein are set down.

KING.
It likes us well;
And at our more consider’d time we’ll read,
Answer, and think upon this business.
Meantime we thank you for your well-took labour.
Go to your rest, at night we’ll feast together:.
Most welcome home.

[Exeunt Voltemand and Cornelius.]

POLONIUS.
This business is well ended.
My liege and madam, to expostulate
What majesty should be, what duty is,
Why day is day, night 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,
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.

QUEEN.
More matter, with less art.

POLONIUS.
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
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,
I have a daughter—have whilst she is mine—
Who in her duty and obedience, mark,
Hath given me this. Now gather, and surmise.
[Reads.]
To the celestial, and my soul’s idol, the most beautified Ophelia—
That’s an ill phrase, a vile phrase; ‘beautified’ is a vile
phrase: but you shall hear.
[Reads.]
these; in her excellent white bosom, these, &c.

QUEEN.
Came this from Hamlet to her?

POLONIUS.
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.
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.
This in obedience hath my daughter show’d me;
And more above, hath his solicitings,
As they fell out by time, by means, and place,
All given to mine ear.

KING.
But how hath she receiv’d his love?

POLONIUS.
What do you think of me?

KING.
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,
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,
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 precepts gave her,
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,
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 wail for.

KING.
Do you think ’tis this?

QUEEN.
It may be, very likely.

POLONIUS.
Hath there been such a time, I’d fain know that,
That I have positively said ‘’Tis so,’
When it prov’d otherwise?

KING.
Not that I know.

POLONIUS.
Take this from this, if this be otherwise.
[Points to his head and shoulder.]
If circumstances lead me, I will find
Where truth is hid, though it were hid indeed
Within the centre.

KING.
How may we try it further?

POLONIUS.
You know sometimes he walks four hours together
Here in the lobby.

QUEEN.
So he does indeed.

POLONIUS.
At such a time I’ll loose my daughter to him.
Be you and I behind an arras then,
Mark the encounter. If he love her not,
And be not from his reason fall’n thereon,
Let me be no assistant for a state,
But keep a farm and carters.

KING.
We will try it.

Enter Hamlet, reading.

QUEEN.
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, Queen and Attendants.]

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.

HAMLET.
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 picked out
of ten thousand.

POLONIUS.
That’s very true, my lord.

HAMLET.
For if the sun breed maggots in a dead dog, being a good 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.

POLONIUS.
How say you by that? [Aside.] 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 suffered much extremity for love; very
near this. I’ll speak to him again.—What do you read, my lord?

HAMLET.
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 slave says here that old men 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, should be old as I am, if like a crab you could
go backward.

POLONIUS.
[Aside.] Though this be madness, yet there is method in’t.—
Will you walk out of the air, my lord?

HAMLET.
Into my grave?

POLONIUS.
Indeed, that is out o’ the air. [Aside.] How pregnant sometimes 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.

HAMLET.
You cannot, sir, take from me anything that I will more willingly part
withal, except my life, except my life, except my life.

POLONIUS.
Fare you well, my lord.

HAMLET.
These tedious old fools.

Enter Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.

POLONIUS.
You go to seek the Lord Hamlet; there he is.

ROSENCRANTZ.
[To Polonius.] God save you, sir.

[Exit Polonius.]

GUILDENSTERN.
My honoured lord!

ROSENCRANTZ.
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;
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?

GUILDENSTERN.
Faith, her privates we.

HAMLET.
In the secret parts of Fortune? O, most true; she is a strumpet. What’s
the 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 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.

ROSENCRANTZ.
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 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.

GUILDENSTERN.
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.

HAMLET.
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 and GUILDENSTERN.
We’ll wait upon you.

HAMLET.
No such matter. I will not sort you with the rest of my 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. 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 the purpose. You were sent for; and 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 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.
[To Guildenstern.] What say you?

HAMLET.
[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 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 roof fretted with golden fire, why, it
appears no other thing to me than a foul and pestilent congregation of
vapours. What a piece of work is 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 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’?

ROSENCRANTZ.
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 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?

ROSENCRANTZ.
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 innovation.

HAMLET.
Do they hold the same estimation they did when I was in the city? Are
they so followed?

ROSENCRANTZ.
No, indeed, they are not.

HAMLET.
How comes it? Do they grow rusty?

ROSENCRANTZ.
Nay, their endeavour keeps in the wonted pace; but there is, sir, an
aerie of children, little eyases, that cry out on the top of question,
and are most tyrannically clapped for’t. These are now the fashion, and
so berattle the common stages—so they call them—that many wearing
rapiers are afraid of goose-quills and 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 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 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.

HAMLET.
It is not very strange; for my uncle is King of Denmark, and those that
would make mouths 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.

[Flourish of trumpets within.]

GUILDENSTERN.
There are the players.

HAMLET.
Gentlemen, you are welcome to Elsinore. Your hands, come. The
appurtenance of welcome is fashion and ceremony. Let me comply with you
in this garb, lest my extent to the players, which I tell you must show
fairly outward, should more appear like entertainment than yours. You
are welcome. But my uncle-father and aunt-mother are deceived.

GUILDENSTERN.
In what, my dear lord?

HAMLET.
I am but mad north-north-west. When the wind is southerly, I 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 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: for a Monday morning ’twas so indeed.

POLONIUS.
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.

HAMLET.
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 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—
’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 love passing
well.

HAMLET.
Nay, that follows not.

POLONIUS.
What follows then, my lord?

HAMLET.
Why,
As by lot, God wot,
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 abridgement comes.

Enter four or five Players.

You are welcome, masters, welcome all. I am glad to see thee well.
Welcome, good friends. O, my old friend! 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 altitude of a chopine. Pray God your voice, like a
piece of uncurrent gold, be not cracked 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.

FIRST PLAYER.
What speech, my 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, pleased not the million,
’twas caviare to the general. But it was—as I received it, and others,
whose judgements in such matters cried in 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 indite the
author of affectation, but called it an honest method, as wholesome as
sweet, and by very much more handsome than fine. One speech in it, I
chiefly loved. ’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,—
It is 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
With heraldry more dismal. Head to foot
Now is he 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
To their vile murders. 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.

POLONIUS.
’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,
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
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,
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
Doth rend the region; so after Pyrrhus’ pause,
Aroused vengeance sets him new a-work,
And never did the Cyclops’ hammers fall
On Mars’s armour, forg’d for proof eterne,
With less remorse than Pyrrhus’ bleeding sword
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,
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.

FIRST 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
Where late the diadem stood, and for a robe,
About her lank and all o’erteemed loins,
A blanket, in th’alarm of fear caught up—
Who this had seen, with tongue in venom steep’d,
’Gainst Fortune’s state would treason have pronounc’d.
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,—
Would have made milch the burning eyes of heaven,
And passion in the gods.

POLONIUS.
Look, where he has not turn’d his colour, and has tears in’s eyes. Pray
you, no more.

HAMLET.
’Tis well. I’ll have thee speak out the rest of this soon.—Good my
lord, will you see the players well bestowed? Do you hear, let them be
well used; for they are the abstracts 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.

HAMLET.
God’s bodikin, 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.

HAMLET.
Follow him, friends. We’ll hear a play tomorrow.

[Exeunt Polonius with all the Players but the First.]

Dost thou hear me, old friend? Can you play The Murder of Gonzago?

FIRST PLAYER.
Ay, my lord.

HAMLET.
We’ll ha’t tomorrow 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.

[Exit First Player.]

[To Rosencrantz and Guildenstern] My good friends, I’ll leave you
till night. You are welcome to Elsinore.

ROSENCRANTZ.
Good my lord.

[Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.]

HAMLET.
Ay, so, God b’ wi’ ye. 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,
Could force his soul so to his own conceit
That from her working all his visage wan’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!
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
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,
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?
Who calls me villain, breaks my pate across?
Plucks off my beard and blows it in my face?
Tweaks me by the 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
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!
Oh vengeance!
Why, what an ass am I! This is most brave,
That I, the son of a dear father murder’d,
Prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell,
Must, like a whore, unpack my heart with words
And fall a-cursing like a very drab,
A scullion! Fie upon’t! Foh!
About, my brain! I have heard
That guilty creatures sitting at a play,
Have by the very cunning of the scene,
Been struck so to the soul that presently
They have proclaim’d their malefactions.
For murder, though it have no tongue, will speak
With most miraculous organ. I’ll have these players
Play something like the murder of my father
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 the devil, and the devil hath power
T’assume a pleasing shape, yea, and perhaps
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.]

第二场：城堡中的一室

国王、王后、罗森格兰兹、吉尔登斯吞及侍从等上。

国王。
欢迎，亲爱的罗森格兰兹和吉尔登斯吞！
我们不但非常渴望见到你们，
更因为需要倚重你们，才如此
仓促派人相请。你们必定已听说
哈姆雷特的变化；我这么称呼它，
是因为他外表也好，内心也好，
都不再是原来的模样。除了他父亲的死，
究竟还有什么能把他
如此推出自我认知之外，
我实在无从猜想。我恳求二位，
既然你们自幼和他一同长大，
对他的少年性情又是如此熟谙，
请不辞在此，在我们的宫廷中
稍作逗留，借你们的陪伴，
引他转向欢乐，并且尽可能
趁合适的机会去探知，
是否有什么我们未知之事在折磨着他，
一旦查明，就属于我们补救的范围。

乔特鲁德。
两位好先生，他常常说起你们，
我敢说，这世上再没有两个人
能让他更亲近。若你们肯赏光，
对我们表示这般殷勤与美意，
陪我们消磨片刻光阴，
为我们的期盼增些助益与收获，
你们的探望必将得到恰如
国王铭记般的谢意。

罗森格兰兹。
二位陛下
凭你们对我们拥有的至上权力，
大可将你们的旨意直接吩咐下来，
不必用请。

吉尔登斯吞。
我们二人遵命，
在此全心全意，把我们的效力
自由地奉献在你们脚下，
听凭差遣。

国王。
多谢，罗森格兰兹和温良的吉尔登斯吞。

乔特鲁德。
多谢，吉尔登斯吞和温良的罗森格兰兹。
我恳请你们立刻去看看
我那变得太厉害的儿子。你们几个，
领这两位先生到哈姆雷特那儿去。

吉尔登斯吞。
愿上天使我们此行与我们的作为，
于他愉快而有益。

乔特鲁德。
嗯，阿门。

〔罗森格兰兹、吉尔登斯吞及数侍从下。〕

波洛涅斯上。

波洛涅斯。
出使挪威的使臣，我的好主公，
欣然回来了。

国王。
你从来都是好消息的父亲。

波洛涅斯。
是吗，主公？请您相信，我的好君王，
我守着我的本分，正如我守着我的灵魂，
一并对上帝、一并对我仁慈的国王：
而且我想，——否则我这副头脑
追踪韬略的路径，便不如
它从前那般精准了——我已经找到了
哈姆雷特发疯的真正根由。

国王。
哦，快说那个，我正盼着听。

波洛涅斯。
先接见使臣吧；
我的消息将是那盛宴后的佳果。

国王。
你亲自去礼遇他们，带他们进来。

〔波洛涅斯下。〕

他告诉我，我亲爱的王后，他已经找到
你儿子一切心病的总源头。

乔特鲁德。
我疑心不是别的，就是那桩主因——
他父亲的死，和我们过于仓促的婚姻。

国王。
好，我们且细细盘问他。

波洛涅斯率伏尔提曼德与科尼律斯上。

欢迎，我的好朋友！
说吧，伏尔提曼德，我们的挪威兄长有何答复？

伏尔提曼德。
敬祝洪福与心愿圆满达成。
甫一接信，他便传令制止
他侄子所征募的兵员，因在他看来，
那些军备原是针对波兰人；
然而细加查察，他方知那确乎
是对准陛下而来；痛心于自己
病弱、老迈、无能竟遭人欺罔，
便下令将福丁布拉斯拘押；他当下遵从，
领受了挪威王的训斥；最后
在他叔父面前立誓，永不再
对陛下妄动干戈。
老挪威王大喜之下，
赐他岁俸三千克朗，
并委任他将前所征募的士卒
转用于征讨波兰人；
随信附有一纸恳请，写在此处，
〔递上一纸文书。〕
伏望陛下应允大军
借道贵国疆域，以行此举，
一切安全之规与通融之约，
俱依其中所列条款。

国王。
朕甚悦之；
待更得闲时，再细读、
答复并权衡此事。
当下有劳贤卿奔走，不胜感激。
先去歇息，今晚我们共宴相庆：
欢迎归国。

〔伏尔提曼德与科尼律斯下。〕

波洛涅斯。
此事已了结得甚好。
主上，娘娘，若去细论
威仪何为，臣职何谓，
白昼何以是白昼，黑夜何以是黑夜，光阴何以是光阴，
那便是徒耗黑夜、白昼与光阴了。
故而，既然简洁乃机智之魂，
而冗长则如四肢与浮饰，
我便简短说之。你们的贤郎是疯了。
我称其为疯；因若去说清什么是真疯，
那岂不就是除了疯，别无他物？
但此事暂且按下不表。

王后。
多些实在，少些铺排。

波洛涅斯。
娘娘，我发誓我全无铺排。
他疯了，这是实话：实话便是可惜；
而可惜之处在于它是实话。一句蠢话，
随它去吧，我决不再铺排一字。
且认他疯了便是。如此，所剩之事，
便是找出此果之因，
或更当说，此失之因，
因此番缺损之果，必有起因。
这便是所剩之事，而所剩之事如此。细听，
我有一女——是说女儿尚在我所管之时，就在此刻——
她谨守孝道与顺从，听好，
给了我这个。如今请揣摩，请猜度。
〔展信念诵。〕
致天仙，我灵魂的偶像，最是清丽无双的奥菲莉娅——
那是句坏话，一句粗鄙话；“清丽无双”是句粗鄙
话：但你们且听下去。
〔续诵。〕
这些；在她洁白佳美的酥胸前，这些，等等。

乔特鲁德。
这是哈姆雷特写给她的？

波洛涅斯。
好娘娘，请稍待片刻，我定如实禀告。
〔读信。〕
纵然你怀疑星辰是火，
怀疑太阳不曾移挪，
怀疑真理惯会说谎，
切莫怀疑我的衷肠。
哦，亲爱的奥菲莉娅，我不擅长摆弄这些诗律，也没有才情去计算我的叹息。但我最爱你，哦，最最好的人，请相信这一点。再会。
永远属于你的，最亲爱的小姐，只要这副躯壳还属于他，
哈姆雷特。
这是小女出于恭顺呈与我看的；此外，她还将他如何追求、何时何地、用什么方法、说了哪些言语，都一一告诉了我。

国王。
那么她是怎么对待他的爱的？

波洛涅斯。
您看我是什么样的人？

国王。
一个忠信可敬的人。

波洛涅斯。
我正乐于证明如此。可是，您会作何感想，要是我眼见这份火热的爱情已经展翅翱翔——我确实早已察觉——并且，我必须告诉您，那是在小女禀告我之前，您，或者我恭顺的娘娘，陛下的王后，会作何感想，要是我自甘作那书桌或记事板，或是对此闭眼锁心，哑口无言，又或者是漠不关心地坐视这段恋情，您会作何感想？不，我立刻便行动起来，这样对我家年轻的小姐开了口：’哈姆雷特殿下是一位王子，绝非你的星辰。此事断不可行。‘然后我给她定下规矩，要她深锁闺中，不可再去会他，不可接待信使，不可收受礼物。她听从了我的劝诫，领受了果实。而他遭到拒绝之后，——长话短说——便坠入了忧愁，继而食不下咽，继而彻夜不眠，继而萎靡不振，继而神魂颠倒，就这样每况愈下，陷入如今我们大家都在哀叹的癫狂之中。

国王。
你以为就是这个原因？

乔特鲁德。
很可能是的，极有可能。

波洛涅斯。
我可曾有过这样的时刻，我很想知道，就是我斩钉截铁地说’事情就是这样‘，结果却证明并非如此？

国王。
据我所知，并没有。

波洛涅斯。
把这个从这个上拿掉，如果事情并非如此。
〔指自己的头和肩膀。〕
只要抓住线索，我定会找出真相所在，即便那真相真真藏在中心。

国王。
我们怎样才能再试一试？

波洛涅斯。
您知道，他有时会一连四个小时，就在这殿廊里走来走去。

乔特鲁德。
他确实如此。

波洛涅斯。
到时候我就放我女儿来见他。
你我二人且躲在挂毡后面，
细看他们相会。他若是不爱她，
若不是因此失去了理智，
那我也别做什么辅政大臣了，
不如回乡下去种地赶车。

国王。
我们就试试看。

〔哈姆雷特上，手持书卷阅读。〕

王后。
可是瞧，那可怜的人满脸愁容，读着书来了。

波洛涅斯。
请回避，我恳请二位都请回避，
我这就去跟他攀谈。哦，请容我行事。

〔国王、王后及侍从下。〕

您好吗，我的好哈姆雷特殿下？

哈姆雷特。
好，多谢上帝。

波洛涅斯。
殿下，您认得我吗？

哈姆雷特。
认得再清楚不过。你是个卖鱼的。

波洛涅斯。
我不是，殿下。

哈姆雷特。
那我倒希望你是个那么老实的人。

波洛涅斯。
老实，殿下？

哈姆雷特。
是啊，先生，在这世上，要做个老实人，一万人里头才挑得出一个来。

波洛涅斯。
这话千真万确，殿下。

哈姆雷特。
因为要是太阳在一条死狗身上养出蛆来，那可是一块好得能让人亲嘴的臭肉——
你有个女儿吧？

波洛涅斯。
有的，殿下。

哈姆雷特。
别让她在太阳底下走路。怀胎是福气，可别让你女儿怀上。朋友，当心着点。

波洛涅斯。
您这话从何说起？〔旁白。〕还在一个劲儿地提我女儿。可他起初并没有认出我来；竟说我是个卖鱼的。他病得不轻，病得不轻。说真的，我年轻的时候也为了爱情受过不少极端的苦楚，差不多也跟他这样子。我再跟他谈谈。——殿下，您读的是什么？

哈姆雷特。
字，字，字。

波洛涅斯。
我是说内容，殿下，什么内容？

哈姆雷特。
谁跟谁交手？

波洛涅斯。
我是说您读的书里讲的是什么内容，殿下。

哈姆雷特。
全是诽谤，先生。因为这个刻薄的家伙说，老年人长着灰白胡子，脸上布满皱纹，眼睛里淌出浓浓的琥珀和梅树胶，还说他们满脑子空空，外加两条腿软得不行。这些，先生，虽然我极有力量、极有把握地深信不疑，但把这些话白纸黑字写下来，我觉得终究不够体面。因为您自己，先生，总有一天也会跟我一样老——假如您能像螃蟹一样倒着走的话。

波洛涅斯。
〔旁白。〕这虽是疯狂，却有条理。——殿下，您要不要到外边去走走，透透气？

哈姆雷特。
走进我的坟墓里去？

波洛涅斯。
确实，这话倒是不着边际。〔旁白〕他的回答有时多么意味深长！那是疯狂常能碰巧撞上的妙语，而理智和清醒反倒不能这样巧妙地表达出来。我要离开他，然后立刻设法让他和我女儿见面。尊贵的大人，我谨此极谦卑地向您告辞。

哈姆雷特。
先生，您无法从我这里拿去任何我更乐意舍弃的东西了，除了我的生命，除了我的生命，除了我的生命。

波洛涅斯。
再会，大人。

哈姆雷特。
这些缠人的老傻瓜。

〔罗森格兰兹与吉尔登斯吞上。〕

波洛涅斯。
你们去找哈姆雷特大人；他就在那边。

罗森格兰兹。
〔对波洛涅斯。〕上帝保佑您，先生。

〔波洛涅斯下。〕

吉尔登斯吞。
尊贵的大人！

罗森格兰兹。
我最亲爱的大人！

哈姆雷特。
我的好朋友们！你好吗，吉尔登斯吞？啊，罗森格兰兹。好小子们，你们俩都好吗？

罗森格兰兹。
像大地上一群寻常的凡人。

吉尔登斯吞。
我们庆幸自己不过分庆幸；
在命运女神的帽子上，我们不是最顶端的那颗纽扣。

哈姆雷特。
也不是她鞋底上的东西？

罗森格兰兹。
也不是，大人。

哈姆雷特。
那么你们住在她腰部的地方，或者在她恩宠的中央？

吉尔登斯吞。
说实话，我们是她的私处。

哈姆雷特。
在命运女神的私处？啊，完全正确；她是个婊子。有什么消息？

罗森格兰兹。
没有，大人，只是世界变得诚实了。

哈姆雷特。
那么末日审判近了。可你们的消息不真实。让我更具体地问问：我的好朋友们，你们在命运女神手里犯了什么过错，让她把你们送到这监狱里来？

吉尔登斯吞。
监狱，大人？

哈姆雷特。
丹麦是个监狱。

罗森格兰兹。
那整个世界也是一个。

哈姆雷特。
不错的一个；里面有许多间牢房、监禁室和地牢，丹麦是其中最坏的一间。

罗森格兰兹。
我们不这么想，大人。

哈姆雷特。
那么对你们来说就不是了；因为世间本无所谓善恶，全凭思想所定。对我来说它是个监狱。

罗森格兰兹。
那么，是您的野心使它成了监狱；它对于您的心胸过于狭窄了。

哈姆雷特。
上帝啊，我本可以束缚在一只胡桃壳里，自命为拥有无限空间的君王，要不是我老做噩梦的话。

吉尔登斯吞。
那些梦，其实正是野心；因为野心家自身的本质，不过是一个梦的影子。

哈姆雷特。
一个梦本身也不过是一个影子。

罗森格兰兹。
确实，我觉得野心这东西，轻飘飘的空空荡荡，充其量不过是影子的影子罢了。

哈姆雷特。
那么，我们的乞丐倒是实在的身体，而我们的君王和那些趾高气扬的英雄，反倒是乞丐的影子了。我们到宫里去好吗？因为我跟你们说实在话，我没法讲道理了。

罗森格兰兹与吉尔登斯吞。
我们愿意伺候您。

哈姆雷特。
哪来的话。我不会把你们列为我其余的仆人一类；因为，跟你们说句老实人的话，我身边那帮伺候的人，真是糟糕透顶。不过，凭着我们交情的老路，你们到埃尔西诺来做什么？

罗森格兰兹。
来拜访您，殿下，没有别的事。

哈姆雷特。
我是个叫化子，连感谢的话也穷得很；但我还是谢谢你们。当然，亲爱的朋友，我这感谢恐怕连半便士都值不上。你们不是被召来的吧？是你们自己的意思吗？是出于自愿的拜访吗？来，老老实实对待我。来，来；别这样，说吧。

吉尔登斯吞。
我们该说什么呢，殿下？

哈姆雷特。
咦，随便什么，只要说到点子上。你们是被召来的；而且你们的神情里就透着一股招认的味道，你们这几分忠厚，还没本事把它遮掩过去。我知道，好国王和王后是差人把你们召来的。

罗森格兰兹。
为了什么目的呢，殿下？

哈姆雷特。
这个得由你们来告诉我。不过，我要恳求你们，凭着我们交情的本分，凭着我们青年时代意气相投，凭着我们的友情长存这点义务，凭着一个比我会说话的人所能拿来劝你们的其他更宝贵的交情，对我直截了当，明白说出来，你们究竟是被召来的，还是不是。

罗森格兰兹。
〔向吉尔登斯吞。〕你怎么说？

哈姆雷特。
〔旁白。〕嗯，那么，我可盯着你们了。你们要是还顾念我，就别闪躲。

吉尔登斯吞。
殿下，我们是奉命被召来的。

哈姆雷特。
我就告诉你为什么吧；这样我先把话挑明，你就不用费心套我的话，你们对国王和王后的保密工夫也一根羽毛都不用掉。近来——也不知是什么缘故——我失掉了一切欢乐，搁下了所有日常的锻炼；确实，我心境沉重得厉害，以至于这大好的大地，在我看来，也不过是一块荒凉的海角；这顶最卓越的苍穹，你瞧，这壮丽高悬的晴空，这镶嵌着金色火焰的庄严屋顶，哎，在我眼里，无非是一团乌烟瘴气的、叫人恶心的蒸气罢了。人是多么了不起的一件作品啊，理性多么高贵，能力多么无穷，仪态和举止多么修整端丽、令人赞叹；行动上多么像天使，智慧上多么像神明：世间的美景，万物的典范。可是，对我来说，这尘土的精华又算什么呢？人不能使我欢喜；不，女人也不能，虽然你那么笑着，好像是在说女人能。

罗森格兰兹。
殿下，我心里可没有这种念头。

哈姆雷特。
那我说“人不能使我欢喜”的时候，你为什么笑呢？

罗森格兰兹。
我是在想，殿下，要是人不讨你喜欢，那些伶人要从你这儿得到的款待可就像斋期的饮食一样寒碜了。我们在路上赶过了他们，他们这就到这儿来，要为您献艺。

哈姆雷特。
那演国王的将受到欢迎——他的陛下会从我这儿得到贡品；冒险的骑士可以挥他的剑盾；情郎不会白白叹气；脾气古怪的角色可以平平安安把他的戏份演完；小丑可以把那些肺活量浅薄的人逗得发笑；演小姐的可以痛痛快快说她的心事，要不然素体诗的韵脚可要一瘸一拐的了。他们是哪一班伶人？

罗森格兰兹。
就是您从前那么喜欢的那一班——城里的悲剧班子。

哈姆雷特。
他们怎么跑起江湖来了？在一个固定的地方待着，论名声论收益，不是都更好吗？

罗森格兰兹。
我觉得，他们被禁演，是由于最近那桩新花样的缘故。

哈姆雷特。
他们还像我当年在城里时那样受人看重吗？还有那么多人追捧他们吗？

罗森格兰兹。
不，说真的，不行了。

哈姆雷特。
怎么回事？他们生锈了吗？

罗森格兰兹。
不，他们的演出倒还保持着一贯的水准；可是，殿下，如今有一窝孩子，一群小雏鹰，扯着嗓子尖声叫嚷，专在节骨眼儿上嚎叫，反而博得最蛮横的喝彩。眼下这些正当时兴，他们把那些普通戏台——他们就这么叫——糟蹋得不成样子，害得许多佩剑的爷们都怕了鹅毛笔，几乎不敢再往那儿去。

哈姆雷特。
怎么，他们是孩子吗？谁养着他们？他们的戏份儿是怎么算的？等他们嗓子一倒，不能再唱了，他们就不干这一行了吗？日后他们自己长大成人，也当了普通戏子——要是他们没有更好的出路，十有八九会这样——那时他们会不会说，那些写戏的害了他们，让他们当年破口大骂自己将来的营生？

罗森格兰兹。
说实话，两边闹得可厉害了；全国上下都不怕煽风点火，挑着他们斗。有一段日子，没人肯出钱买剧本，除非那诗人跟戏子在台本上先干上一架。

哈姆雷特。
这怎么可能？

吉尔登斯吞。
哦，可没少绞尽脑汁呢。

哈姆雷特。
那些孩子占了上风吗？

罗森格兰兹。
是啊，殿下，他们赢了；连赫拉克勒斯和他扛着的天球一块儿都给他们搬走了。

哈姆雷特。
这也并不算太稀奇；因为我叔父如今是丹麦国王了，那些当年我父亲在世时对着他做鬼脸的人，现在肯花二十、四十、五十、一百枚金币抢着买他一幅小小的画像。该死，这里头冥冥之中自有蹊跷，要是哲学能把它找出来就好了。

〔内喇叭奏花腔。〕

吉尔登斯吞。
戏子们到了。

哈姆雷特。
两位先生，欢迎你们来到艾尔西诺。来，把手伸给我。欢迎的排场总少不了礼数和客套；让我照这规矩向你们表示一番，免得我待会儿对戏子们的款待——告诉你们，我待会儿必定要对他们格外殷勤——在外人眼里显得比待你们更隆重。你们是受欢迎的。只不过我那叔父父亲和婶母母亲却上当了。

吉尔登斯吞。
在哪方面上当了，亲爱的殿下？

哈姆雷特。
我不过是西北偏北的那一点疯。风向正南的时候，我分得清笼子里的鹰跟路边的鹭。

波洛涅斯上。

波洛涅斯。
两位先生，祝你们安好。

哈姆雷特。
听着，吉尔登斯吞，还有你，——一边一只耳朵听好了。你们在那儿看见的那个大号婴儿，还没脱掉他的襁褓呢。

罗森格兰兹。
也许他是第二回裹进襁褓里去了；因为人家说，老人是第二次做孩子。

哈姆雷特。
我敢预言，他是来告诉我戏子们到了的消息。你们瞧着吧。——您说得对，先生；星期一早上，确实是那样来着。

波洛涅斯。
大人，我有消息要禀告您。

哈姆雷特。
大人，我有消息要禀告您。当年罗歇斯在罗马做伶人时——

波洛涅斯。
那些戏子已经到这儿了，大人。

哈姆雷特。
嗡嗡，嗡嗡。

波洛涅斯。
凭我的荣誉起誓。

哈姆雷特。
于是每个戏子都骑着驴子来了——

波洛涅斯。
世上最好的戏子，无论演悲剧、喜剧、历史剧、田园剧、田园喜剧、历史田园剧、悲剧历史剧、悲剧喜剧历史田园剧，还是演那不分幕的戏，或是那不受限制的诗篇。塞内加的沉重不嫌过，普劳图斯的轻巧也不嫌过，对于规矩和自由他们都拿捏自如。只有这些人。

哈姆雷特。
啊，耶弗他，以色列的士师，你曾有过何等珍宝！

波洛涅斯。
他有什么珍宝，大人？

哈姆雷特。
怎么——
“一个美丽的女儿，别无其他，
那女儿他爱得无比深切。”

波洛涅斯。
〔旁白。〕还是惦记着我的女儿。

哈姆雷特。
我不是说得对吗，老耶弗他？

波洛涅斯。
如果您叫我耶弗他，大人，那么我确实有一个女儿，我爱她无比深切。

哈姆雷特。
不，这可不合逻辑。

波洛涅斯。
那么什么合逻辑，大人？

哈姆雷特。
怎么，
天知道，全凭运数，
然后，你也知道，
事情就这么发生了，大概就是这样。
那首圣歌的头一行会告诉你更多。瞧，我的节略过来了。

〔四五个伶人上。〕

欢迎你们，各位师傅，欢迎所有人。看到你好我真高兴。欢迎，好朋友们。啊，我的老朋友！自从上次见你，你的脸已经加了胡须。你是到丹麦来要剔我的胡子吗？怎么，我的年轻小姐和情妇！圣母在上，小姐您比上次见面时离天更近了，足有一双厚底鞋的高度。祈祷上帝您的嗓门儿别像一枚不能流通的金币，在声音的圈里裂了缝。师傅们，全都欢迎。我们立刻就像法国放鹰人一样，见什么就扑什么。我们马上来一段台词。来，让我们尝尝你们的本事。来，来一段激昂的台词。

伶人甲。
哪一段台词，大人？

哈姆雷特。
我曾听你念过一段台词，可它从没上演过，就算演过，也不超过一次，因为那出戏，我记得，并不讨大众的喜欢，对一般人来说，那是鱼子酱。可是它——照我看来，以及那些在鉴赏力上比我更有权威的人看来——是一出极好的戏，场次安排妥帖，写得既质朴又巧妙。记得有人说过，台词里没有加佐料让词句变得油腻，字句之间也没有什么东西能让人指责作者矫揉造作，却称之为一种正派的手法，既健康又甜美，远胜于精雕细琢，漂亮得多。其中有一段台词，我特别喜欢。那是埃涅阿斯对狄多讲的故事，尤其是他讲到普里阿摩斯被杀的那一段。要是你还记得，就从这一行开始，让我想想，让我想想：
狰狞的皮洛斯，像希尔卡尼亚的猛兽——
不对，不是这样；是从皮洛斯开始——
狰狞的皮洛斯，他那乌黑的臂膀，
黑得像他的居心，当他蜷伏在
那不详的木马之中时，像是黑夜，
如今又把这片可怕黝黑的面目
涂上了更悲惨的纹章。从头到脚，
他浑身赤红，溅满了
父亲、母亲、女儿、儿子的鲜血，
被干裂的街道烘烤得凝结成块，
那街道还借出它们暴虐的、该死的火光
照亮那些卑鄙的杀戮。他烘烤在怒火与烈焰中，
浑身披着凝结的血块，
两眼像红宝石一般，这地狱般的皮洛斯
直寻那老祖宗普里阿摩斯。
就这样，你往下接吧。

波洛涅斯。
当着上帝的面，殿下，您念得真是好，字正腔圆，又有分寸。

伶人甲。
转眼间，剑锋只差希腊人毫厘。他那柄古剑，
不听手臂使唤，坠落在地，
抗拒号令。强弱悬殊，
皮洛斯直扑普里阿摩斯，盛怒之下，一剑劈空；
然而那致命剑刃挟带的风声，
已叫那失魂的老王仆倒。于是，无知的伊利昂，
仿佛感应了这一击，带着燃烧的冠顶
坍向基座，随着一声骇人的轰响
攫住了皮洛斯的耳朵。看啊，他那柄剑，
正朝德高望重的普里阿摩斯
皓白的头颅落下，竟似悬在半空。
于是，皮洛斯像个画里的暴君，伫立不动，
仿佛置身事外，既无意志，也无行动，
一无所为。
可正如我们常见，一场风暴来临之前，
天穹沉默，浮云停滞，
狂风喑哑，下界的大地
死一般沉寂，霎时间，骇人的雷霆
便撕裂长空；皮洛斯的停顿也是如此，
那被激醒的复仇驱他重新动作，
昔日独眼巨人的铁锤，砸向
那铸造了永恒坚韧的战神铠甲，
也不及皮洛斯那把淌血的剑刃
此刻劈在普里阿摩斯身上那般毫不留情。
滚开，滚开，你这婊子般的命运！天上众神啊，
开一场大会，剥夺她的权柄；
砸碎她的车轮，拆去所有辐条辋圈，
把那圆圆的轮毂从天堂山上滚下，
直落恶魔中间！_

波洛涅斯。
这太长了。

哈姆雷特。
它会跟你的胡子一道送去理发铺的。——请说下去。
他只想听段淫曲小调，要么讲个下流故事，不然就睡觉。
说下去；讲到赫卡柏。

伶人甲。
可是，啊，谁要是看见了那位蒙着头的王后，——

哈姆雷特。
“蒙着头的王后”？

波洛涅斯。
这词妙！“蒙着头的王后”真是妙。

伶人甲。
赤着脚奔来跑去，用泛滥的泪眼
威胁着火焰。一块破布裹着头
昔日戴过王冠的头颅；当作长袍，
围着她那干瘦而多产过度的腰身的，
是一条在惊惶中胡乱抓起的毡毯——
谁见此景，都会用饱蘸毒液的舌头
对命运之神发出叛逆的诅咒。
可是，倘若天神们亲眼看见她，
当她看见皮洛斯恶意地嬉戏，
用剑把他的丈夫的肢体砍成碎块，
她发出的那一声突然迸发的哀号，——
除非凡尘俗事完全不能打动他们，——
也定会叫天上炽热的星眸流出泪水，
让众神心生悲悯。

波洛涅斯。
瞧，他脸色都变了，眼里还含着泪呢。请你们，别再演下去了。

哈姆雷特。
好了。我很快会让你把剩下的部分念出来。——好大人，请您好好安置这些伶人，听见了吗，务必好好款待他们；因为他们可是这个时代的缩影和简史。您死后落个糟糕的墓志铭，也强过生前被他们非议。

波洛涅斯。
大人，我会按他们应得的份儿来对待他们。

哈姆雷特。
老天爷，老兄，得更好才行！要是按每个人应得的份儿来对待，那谁能逃得过一顿鞭子？按您自己的荣誉和尊严来款待他们吧。他们越是不配，您的慷慨就越是显出美德。带他们进去吧。

波洛涅斯。
来吧，各位。

哈姆雷特。
跟他去吧，朋友们。我们明天要听一出戏。

〔波洛涅斯率众伶人下，仅留伶人甲。〕

你听见了吗，老朋友？你们能演《贡扎古之死》吗？

伶人甲。
能演，大人。

哈姆雷特。
我们明晚就来演这出。要是我写一段大概十二行或十六行的台词，需要时插进去，你能背得下来吗？

伶人甲。
能，大人。

哈姆雷特。
很好。跟上那位大人，注意别取笑他。

〔伶人甲下。〕

〔对罗森格兰兹及吉尔登斯吞。〕我的好朋友们，我们晚上再见。欢迎你们来到艾尔西诺。

罗森格兰兹。
好大人。

〔罗森格兰兹与吉尔登斯吞下。〕

哈姆雷特。
嗯，就这样，上帝保佑你们。现在只剩我一个人了。
哦，我真是个混账，是个乡愿的奴才！
这难道不怪异吗，单单这个伶人，
不过是在一段虚构中，在激情的梦幻里，
就能把自己的灵魂逼得跟他那幻想合而为一，
以致于他的整个面容都因这激情的运作而惨白；
眼里噙着泪，神色恍恍惚惚，
声音断断续续，整个人的举止
全都配合着他的幻想？而这一切全不为什么！
就为了赫卡柏？
赫卡柏于他何干，他又于赫卡柏何干，
他竟要为她哭泣？要是他有了
我这样的动机和激情的由头，他会怎么做？
他会叫泪水淹没舞台，用骇人的台词
撕裂听众的耳鼓，
叫有罪的人发疯，叫清白的人惊惶，
让无知的人迷惑，并且当真震骇了
那眼与耳的官能本身。可是我呢，
一个迟钝的、泥坯似的无赖，像那做梦的约翰一般
恍惚，于我复仇的大计毫无感应，
半句话也说不出；不，哪怕是为了一个
他的社稷和最宝贵的生命
都遭了万劫不复的毒手的君王，也是如此。我是个懦夫吗？
谁管我叫恶棍，把我的脑壳劈开？
扯下我的胡子，吹到我脸上？
拧我的鼻子，把谎言直呛进我的嗓子眼，
深得像灌进肺里？谁这样对我？
哈！天杀的，我该受着：多亏我
长了一副鸽子肝，里面少不了一点
叫欺辱感到苦涩的胆汁，不然，
我早该叫这奴才的腐肉去喂肥天上
所有的鸢鹰了。血腥的、淫秽的恶棍！
毫不悔改、奸诈、淫荡、全无人伦的恶棍！
哦，报仇啊！
嘿，我真是头蠢驴！这可真叫英雄了，
我，一个遇害了的好父亲的儿子，
上天和地狱都催着我去复仇，
却像个娼妓似的，只好用言语来掏空我的心，
又像个真正的贱妇那样咒骂起来，
一个洗碗的厨娘！呸！真可耻！哼！
转起来吧，我的脑筋！我听说过，
犯了罪的人正坐在看戏，
被那剧情本身的巧妙所触动，
竟至于当下就供出了自己的罪行。
因为，谋杀，虽然没长舌头，却会借着
最奇妙的器官来说话。我要叫这些伶人
在我叔父面前，演一出戏，戏文就跟
我父亲被害的情形相仿佛。我要观察他的神色；
我要把他探到最痛处。他只要有一丝变色，
我就知道该怎么办。我见过的那个鬼魂
也许是魔鬼，魔鬼本就有能耐
扮作讨人喜欢的样子；对，也许
趁着我这虚弱和忧郁的性子，
——因为对这样的性情，他极有法力——
他来骗我，好叫我遭天谴。我要有
比这更确凿的证据。这出戏，
便是我用来捕捉那国王的良心的一张网。