Hamlet • Act 5, Scene 1
Hamlet Act 5, Scene 1: Line-by-Line Modern English Translation
Enter two Clowns, with spades, & c
Complete Original Text and Plain English, Line by Line
This complete scene pairs every Shakespeare line with its matching modern-English paraphrase. Search for a phrase below to see its exact wording and meaning in context.
Is she to be buried in Christian burial that
Modern English: Is she supposed to be given a Christian burial when she
wilfully seeks her own salvation?
Modern English: intentionally sought her own death?
I tell thee she is: and therefore make her grave
Modern English: I'm telling you she is; so dig her grave
straight: the crowner hath sat on her, and finds it
Modern English: immediately. The coroner has examined her case and ruled it
Christian burial.
Modern English: a Christian burial.
How can that be, unless she drowned herself in her
Modern English: How can that be, unless she drowned herself in
own defence?
Modern English: self-defense?
Why, 'tis found so.
Modern English: Well, that's what the official verdict says.
It must be 'se offendendo;' it cannot be else. For
Modern English: It must be 'self-offense'; it couldn't be anything else. Because
here lies the point: if I drown myself wittingly,
Modern English: here is the point: if I drown myself on purpose,
it argues an act: and an act hath three branches: it
Modern English: it proves an action: and an action has three parts: it
is, to act, to do, to perform: argal, she drowned
Modern English: is to act, to do, and to perform: therefore, she drowned
herself wittingly.
Modern English: herself on purpose.
Nay, but hear you, goodman delver,--
Modern English: Now, listen to me, Mr. Grave-digger—
Give me leave. Here lies the water; good: here
Modern English: Let me finish. Here is the water; fine. Here
stands the man; good; if the man go to this water,
Modern English: stands the man; fine. If the man goes to this water
and drown himself, it is, will he, nill he, he
Modern English: and drowns himself, then whether he wants to or not, he
goes,--mark you that; but if the water come to him
Modern English: goes—take note of that. But if the water comes to him
and drown him, he drowns not himself: argal, he
Modern English: and drowns him, he doesn't drown himself: therefore, he
that is not guilty of his own death shortens not his own life.
Modern English: who is not guilty of his own death doesn't shorten his own life.
But is this law?
Modern English: But is this the law?
Ay, marry, is't; crowner's quest law.
Modern English: Yes, it certainly is; coroner's inquest law.
Will you ha' the truth on't? If this had not been
Modern English: Do you want the truth of it? If this hadn't been
a gentlewoman, she should have been buried out o'
Modern English: a noblewoman, she would have been buried outside of
Christian burial.
Modern English: consecrated ground.
Why, there thou say'st: and the more pity that
Modern English: Well, you're right there; and it’s a greater pity that
great folk should have countenance in this world to
Modern English: important people should have permission in this world to
drown or hang themselves, more than their even
Modern English: drown or hang themselves more than their fellow
Christian. Come, my spade. There is no ancient
Modern English: Christians. Come, give me my spade. There are no ancient
gentleman but gardeners, ditchers, and grave-makers:
Modern English: gentlemen except gardeners, ditch-diggers, and grave-makers;
they hold up Adam's profession.
Modern English: they carry on Adam's profession.
Was he a gentleman?
Modern English: Was he a gentleman?
He was the first that ever bore arms.
Modern English: He was the first who ever bore arms.
Why, he had none.
Modern English: Why, he didn't have any.
What, art a heathen? How dost thou understand the
Modern English: What, are you a pagan? How do you understand the
Scripture? The Scripture says 'Adam digged:'
Modern English: Bible? The Bible says 'Adam dug';
could he dig without arms? I'll put another
Modern English: could he dig without arms? I'll ask you another
question to thee: if thou answerest me not to the
Modern English: question: if you don't give me a relevant
purpose, confess thyself--
Modern English: answer, admit you're—
Go to.
Modern English: Go on.
What is he that builds stronger than either the
Modern English: Who builds stronger than either the
mason, the shipwright, or the carpenter?
Modern English: mason, the shipbuilder, or the carpenter?
The gallows-maker; for that frame outlives a
Modern English: The gallows-maker; because that structure outlasts a
thousand tenants.
Modern English: thousand tenants.
I like thy wit well, in good faith: the gallows
Modern English: I really like your wit, honestly. The gallows
does well; but how does it well? it does well to
Modern English: is a good answer; but how is it good? It's good for
those that do in: now thou dost ill to say the
Modern English: those who do wrong. Now you do wrong to say the
gallows is built stronger than the church: argal,
Modern English: gallows is built stronger than the church: therefore,
the gallows may do well to thee. To't again, come.
Modern English: the gallows might be good for you. Try again, come on.
'Who builds stronger than a mason, a shipwright, or
Modern English: 'Who builds stronger than a mason, a shipbuilder, or
a carpenter?'
Modern English: a carpenter?'
Ay, tell me that, and unyoke.
Modern English: Yes, tell me that, and you can finish for the day.
Marry, now I can tell.
Modern English: Indeed, now I can tell you.
To't.
Modern English: Go ahead.
Mass, I cannot tell.
Modern English: Actually, I can't tell.
Enter HAMLET and HORATIO, at a distance
Modern English: HAMLET and HORATIO, at a distance enter.
Cudgel thy brains no more about it, for your dull
Modern English: Don't beat your brains about it anymore, because a dull
ass will not mend his pace with beating; and, when
Modern English: donkey won't speed up just by being beaten; and when
you are asked this question next, say 'a
Modern English: you are asked this question next, say 'a
grave-maker: 'the houses that he makes last till
Modern English: grave-maker.' The houses he makes last until
doomsday. Go, get thee to Yaughan: fetch me a
Modern English: judgment day. Go, get yourself to Yaughan's; fetch me a
stoup of liquor.
Modern English: jug of liquor.
In youth, when I did love, did love,
Modern English: Back when I was young and in love, in love,
Methought it was very sweet,
Modern English: I thought it was very sweet,
To contract, O, the time, for, ah, my behove,
Modern English: To pass the time, oh, for my own benefit,
O, methought, there was nothing meet.
Modern English: Oh, I thought nothing else was as suitable.
Exit Second Clown
Modern English: Second Clown leaves.
He digs and sings
Modern English: He digs and sings
Has this fellow no feeling of his business, that he
Modern English: Does this guy have no feeling for his work, that he
sings at grave-making?
Modern English: sings while digging a grave?
Custom hath made it in him a property of easiness.
Modern English: Habit has made it a matter of indifference to him.
'Tis e'en so: the hand of little employment hath
Modern English: That's how it is: the hand that works less has
the daintier sense.
Modern English: the more sensitive touch.
[Sings]
Modern English: [Sings]
But age, with his stealing steps,
Modern English: But old age, with its creeping steps,
Hath claw'd me in his clutch,
Modern English: Has grabbed me in its grip,
And hath shipped me intil the land,
Modern English: And has shipped me into the ground,
As if I had never been such.
Modern English: As if I had never been a young man.
Throws up a skull
Modern English: Throws up a skull
That skull had a tongue in it, and could sing once:
Modern English: That skull had a tongue in it and could sing once.
how the knave jowls it to the ground, as if it were
Modern English: Look how the jerk slams it to the ground, as if it were
Cain's jaw-bone, that did the first murder! It
Modern English: Cain's jawbone, which committed the first murder! It
might be the pate of a politician, which this ass
Modern English: might be the head of a politician, which this idiot
now o'er-reaches; one that would circumvent God,
Modern English: now pushes around; someone who would outsmart God,
might it not?
Modern English: wouldn't it be?
It might, my lord.
Modern English: It might, my lord.
Or of a courtier; which could say 'Good morrow,
Modern English: Or a courtier's, who could say, 'Good morning,
sweet lord! How dost thou, good lord?' This might
Modern English: sweet lord! How are you, good lord?' This might
be my lord such-a-one, that praised my lord
Modern English: be Lord So-and-So, who praised Lord
such-a-one's horse, when he meant to beg it; might it not?
Modern English: So-and-So's horse when he intended to beg for it, right?
Ay, my lord.
Modern English: Yes, my lord.
Why, e'en so: and now my Lady Worm's; chapless, and
Modern English: Exactly: and now it belongs to Lady Worm; jawless, and
knocked about the mazzard with a sexton's spade:
Modern English: knocked on the head with a sexton's spade.
here's fine revolution, an we had the trick to
Modern English: Here's a fine transformation, if we had the skill to
see't. Did these bones cost no more the breeding,
Modern English: see it. Did it cost no more to grow these bones
but to play at loggats with 'em? mine ache to think on't.
Modern English: than to play bowling with them? Mine ache to think about it.
[Sings]
Modern English: [Sings]
A pick-axe, and a spade, a spade,
Modern English: A pickaxe and a spade, a spade,
For and a shrouding sheet:
Modern English: And a burial sheet to go with them;
O, a pit of clay for to be made
Modern English: Oh, a pit of clay is being prepared,
For such a guest is meet.
Modern English: For such a guest is appropriate.
Throws up another skull
Modern English: Throws up another skull
There's another: why may not that be the skull of a
Modern English: There's another one. Why couldn't that be the skull of a
lawyer? Where be his quiddities now, his quillets,
Modern English: lawyer? Where are his legal subtleties now, his quibbles,
his cases, his tenures, and his tricks? why does he
Modern English: his cases, his titles, and his tricks? Why does he
suffer this rude knave now to knock him about the
Modern English: allow this rude jerk to knock him on the
sconce with a dirty shovel, and will not tell him of
Modern English: head with a dirty shovel, and not sue him for
his action of battery? Hum! This fellow might be
Modern English: assault and battery? Hmm! This guy might have been
in's time a great buyer of land, with his statutes,
Modern English: in his day a big buyer of land, with his statutes,
his recognizances, his fines, his double vouchers,
Modern English: his bonds, his fines, his double guarantees,
his recoveries: is this the fine of his fines, and
Modern English: his recoveries. Is this the end of his fines and
the recovery of his recoveries, to have his fine
Modern English: the recovery of his recoveries, to have his fine
pate full of fine dirt? will his vouchers vouch him
Modern English: head full of fine dirt? Will his guarantors guarantee him
no more of his purchases, and double ones too, than
Modern English: no more of his land purchases, and double ones at that, than
the length and breadth of a pair of indentures? The
Modern English: the length and width of a pair of legal contracts? The
very conveyances of his lands will hardly lie in
Modern English: actual deeds to his lands will barely fit into
this box; and must the inheritor himself have no more, ha?
Modern English: this grave; and must the owner himself have no more space than this, eh?
Not a jot more, my lord.
Modern English: Not a bit more, my lord.
Is not parchment made of sheepskins?
Modern English: Isn't legal parchment made of sheepskins?
Ay, my lord, and of calf-skins too.
Modern English: Yes, my lord, and of calfskins too.
They are sheep and calves which seek out assurance
Modern English: They are sheep and calves who seek security
in that. I will speak to this fellow. Whose
Modern English: in those documents. I will speak to this fellow. Whose
grave's this, sirrah?
Modern English: grave is this, man?
Mine, sir.
Modern English: Mine, sir.
O, a pit of clay for to be made
Modern English: Oh, a pit of clay is a fitting place
For such a guest is meet.
Modern English: for such a guest to stay.
Sings
Modern English: Sings
I think it be thine, indeed; for thou liest in't.
Modern English: I think it really is yours, because you're lying in it.
You lie out on't, sir, and therefore it is not
Modern English: You're lying outside of it, sir, so it isn't
yours: for my part, I do not lie in't, and yet it is mine.
Modern English: yours; for my part, I'm not lying in it, yet it's still mine.
'Thou dost lie in't, to be in't and say it is thine:
Modern English: You do lie in it—to be inside it and say it's yours;
'tis for the dead, not for the quick; therefore thou liest.
Modern English: it's for the dead, not for the living; therefore you're lying.
'Tis a quick lie, sir; 'twill away gain, from me to
Modern English: It's a lively lie, sir; it will jump back from me
you.
Modern English: to you.
What man dost thou dig it for?
Modern English: What man are you digging it for?
For no man, sir.
Modern English: For no man, sir.
What woman, then?
Modern English: What woman, then?
For none, neither.
Modern English: For no woman, either.
Who is to be buried in't?
Modern English: Who is to be buried in it?
One that was a woman, sir; but, rest her soul, she's dead.
Modern English: Someone who was a woman, sir; but, God rest her soul, she's dead.
How absolute the knave is! we must speak by the
Modern English: How precise this fellow is! We must speak with
card, or equivocation will undo us. By the Lord,
Modern English: exactness, or his wordplay will ruin us. By God,
Horatio, these three years I have taken a note of
Modern English: Horatio, I have noticed this for the past three years;
it; the age is grown so picked that the toe of the
Modern English: the times have become so refined that the toe of the
peasant comes so near the heel of the courtier, he
Modern English: peasant comes so close to the heel of the courtier that he
gaffs his kibe. How long hast thou been a
Modern English: scrapes the courtier's blister. How long have you been a
grave-maker?
Modern English: grave-digger?
Of all the days i' the year, I came to't that day
Modern English: Of all the days in the year, I started that day
that our last king Hamlet overcame Fortinbras.
Modern English: that our late King Hamlet defeated Fortinbras.
How long is that since?
Modern English: How long ago was that?
Cannot you tell that? every fool can tell that: it
Modern English: Can't you tell that? Every fool can tell that: it
was the very day that young Hamlet was born; he that
Modern English: was the very day that young Hamlet was born—the one
is mad, and sent into England.
Modern English: who is crazy and was sent to England.
Ay, marry, why was he sent into England?
Modern English: Yes, indeed, why was he sent to England?
Why, because he was mad: he shall recover his wits
Modern English: Why, because he was crazy; he'll recover his sanity
there; or, if he do not, it's no great matter there.
Modern English: there; or, if he doesn't, it doesn't matter much there.
Why?
Modern English: Why?
'Twill, a not be seen in him there; there the men
Modern English: It won't be noticed in him there; the men there
are as mad as he.
Modern English: are just as crazy as he is.
How came he mad?
Modern English: How did he go crazy?
Very strangely, they say.
Modern English: Very strangely, they say.
How strangely?
Modern English: How strangely?
Faith, e'en with losing his wits.
Modern English: Well, by losing his mind.
Upon what ground?
Modern English: On what ground?
Why, here in Denmark: I have been sexton here, man
Modern English: Why, right here in Denmark; I have been the sexton here,
and boy, thirty years.
Modern English: man and boy, for thirty years.
How long will a man lie i' the earth ere he rot?
Modern English: How long will a man lie in the earth before he rots?
I' faith, if he be not rotten before he die--as we
Modern English: Well, if he isn't rotten before he dies—and we
have many pocky corses now-a-days, that will scarce
Modern English: have many diseased corpses these days that will barely
hold the laying in--he will last you some eight year
Modern English: stay together until burial—he will last you about eight
or nine year: a tanner will last you nine year.
Modern English: or nine years; a tanner will last you nine years.
Why he more than another?
Modern English: Why him more than anyone else?
Why, sir, his hide is so tanned with his trade, that
Modern English: Why, sir, his hide is so toughened by his trade that
he will keep out water a great while; and your water
Modern English: he will keep water out for a long time; and water
is a sore decayer of your whoreson dead body.
Modern English: is a terrible destroyer of a miserable dead body.
Here's a skull now; this skull has lain in the earth
Modern English: Here is a skull now; this skull has lain in the earth
three and twenty years.
Modern English: twenty-three years.
Whose was it?
Modern English: Whose was it?
A whoreson mad fellow's it was: whose do you think it was?
Modern English: A miserable mad fellow's it was; whose do you think it was?
Nay, I know not.
Modern English: No, I don't know.
A pestilence on him for a mad rogue! a' poured a
Modern English: A plague on him for a crazy rogue! He poured a
flagon of Rhenish on my head once. This same skull,
Modern English: jug of Rhine wine on my head once. This very skull,
sir, was Yorick's skull, the king's jester.
Modern English: sir, was Yorick's skull, the king's jester.
This?
Modern English: This one?
E'en that.
Modern English: That very one.
Let me see.
Modern English: Let me see.
Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio: a fellow
Modern English: Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio; a fellow
of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy: he hath
Modern English: of endless jokes, of most excellent imagination. He
borne me on his back a thousand times; and now, how
Modern English: carried me on his back a thousand times; and now, how
abhorred in my imagination it is! my gorge rims at
Modern English: revolting it is to my imagination! My stomach turns at
it. Here hung those lips that I have kissed I know
Modern English: it. Here hung those lips that I have kissed I don't know
not how oft. Where be your gibes now? your
Modern English: how often. Where are your insults now? Your
gambols? your songs? your flashes of merriment,
Modern English: pranks? Your songs? Your flashes of fun,
that were wont to set the table on a roar? Not one
Modern English: that used to make the whole table roar with laughter? Not one
now, to mock your own grinning? quite chap-fallen?
Modern English: left now to mock your own grinning? Quite downcast?
Now get you to my lady's chamber, and tell her, let
Modern English: Now go to my lady's bedroom and tell her, even if
her paint an inch thick, to this favour she must
Modern English: she puts on makeup an inch thick, she will end up
come; make her laugh at that. Prithee, Horatio, tell
Modern English: looking like this; make her laugh at that. Please, Horatio, tell
me one thing.
Modern English: me one thing.
Takes the skull
Modern English: Takes the skull
What's that, my lord?
Modern English: What is that, my lord?
Dost thou think Alexander looked o' this fashion i'
Modern English: Do you think Alexander the Great looked like this in
the earth?
Modern English: the ground?
E'en so.
Modern English: Just like that.
And smelt so? pah!
Modern English: And smelled like this? Yuck!
Puts down the skull
Modern English: Puts down the skull
E'en so, my lord.
Modern English: Just like that, my lord.
To what base uses we may return, Horatio! Why may
Modern English: To what lowly uses we may return, Horatio! Why shouldn't
not imagination trace the noble dust of Alexander,
Modern English: imagination follow the noble dust of Alexander
till he find it stopping a bung-hole?
Modern English: until it finds it plugging a hole in a barrel?
'Twere to consider too curiously, to consider so.
Modern English: It would be overthinking it to consider it that way.
No, faith, not a jot; but to follow him thither with
Modern English: No, truly, not at all; but to follow him there with
modesty enough, and likelihood to lead it: as
Modern English: enough modesty and logic to guide it: like
thus: Alexander died, Alexander was buried,
Modern English: this: Alexander died, Alexander was buried,
Alexander returneth into dust; the dust is earth; of
Modern English: Alexander returns to dust; the dust is earth; from
earth we make loam; and why of that loam, whereto he
Modern English: earth we make clay; and why from that clay, which he
was converted, might they not stop a beer-barrel?
Modern English: was transformed, couldn't they be used to plug a beer barrel?
Imperious Caesar, dead and turn'd to clay,
Modern English: Mighty Caesar, now dead and turned to clay,
Might stop a hole to keep the wind away:
Modern English: might fill a hole to keep the wind out:
O, that that earth, which kept the world in awe,
Modern English: Oh, that the body which once kept the world in awe
Should patch a wall to expel the winter flaw!
Modern English: should patch a wall to keep out the winter gusts!
But soft! but soft! aside: here comes the king.
Modern English: But wait! Quiet! Step aside: here comes the King.
The queen, the courtiers: who is this they follow?
Modern English: The Queen and the courtiers: who are they following?
And with such maimed rites? This doth betoken
Modern English: And with such incomplete rituals? This suggests
The corse they follow did with desperate hand
Modern English: the body they follow took its own life
Fordo its own life: 'twas of some estate.
Modern English: with desperate hands; the person was of some status.
Couch we awhile, and mark.
Modern English: Let's hide for a while and watch.
Enter Priest, & c. in procession; the Corpse of OPHELIA, LAERTES and Mourners following; KING CLAUDIUS, QUEEN GERTRUDE, their trains, & c
Modern English: Priest, & c. in procession; the Corpse of OPHELIA, LAERTES and Mourners following; KING CLAUDIUS, QUEEN GERTRUDE, their trains, & c enter.
Retiring with HORATIO
Modern English: Retiring with HORATIO
What ceremony else?
Modern English: What other ceremonies are there?
That is Laertes,
Modern English: That is Laertes,
A very noble youth: mark.
Modern English: a very noble young man; watch.
What ceremony else?
Modern English: What other ceremonies are there?
Her obsequies have been as far enlarged
Modern English: Her funeral rites have been expanded as much
As we have warrantise: her death was doubtful;
Modern English: as we have permission for; her death was suspicious;
And, but that great command o'ersways the order,
Modern English: and if the King's command hadn't overruled the rules,
She should in ground unsanctified have lodged
Modern English: she would have been buried in unholy ground
Till the last trumpet: for charitable prayers,
Modern English: until the final trumpet; instead of holy prayers,
Shards, flints and pebbles should be thrown on her;
Modern English: pottery shards, flints, and stones should be thrown on her;
Yet here she is allow'd her virgin crants,
Modern English: yet here she is allowed her virgin wreaths,
Her maiden strewments and the bringing home
Modern English: her maiden flowers, and the ritual of being brought home
Of bell and burial.
Modern English: with the tolling bell and a burial.
Must there no more be done?
Modern English: Must nothing more be done?
No more be done:
Modern English: Nothing more can be done:
We should profane the service of the dead
Modern English: we would disrespect the service for the dead
To sing a requiem and such rest to her
Modern English: to sing a requiem and offer the same rest to her
As to peace-parted souls.
Modern English: as we do for souls who died in peace.
Lay her i' the earth:
Modern English: Lay her in the earth:
And from her fair and unpolluted flesh
Modern English: and from her beautiful and pure flesh
May violets spring! I tell thee, churlish priest,
Modern English: may violets grow! I'm telling you, rude priest,
A ministering angel shall my sister be,
Modern English: my sister will be a ministering angel
When thou liest howling.
Modern English: when you lie howling in hell.
What, the fair Ophelia!
Modern English: What, the beautiful Ophelia!
Sweets to the sweet: farewell!
Modern English: Sweets for the sweet; goodbye!
I hoped thou shouldst have been my Hamlet's wife;
Modern English: I hoped you would have been my Hamlet's wife;
I thought thy bride-bed to have deck'd, sweet maid,
Modern English: I thought I would be decorating your wedding bed, sweet girl,
And not have strew'd thy grave.
Modern English: not scattering flowers on your grave.
Scattering flowers
Modern English: Scattering flowers
O, treble woe
Modern English: Oh, let a triple sorrow
Fall ten times treble on that cursed head,
Modern English: fall ten times tripled on that cursed head,
Whose wicked deed thy most ingenious sense
Modern English: whose evil act deprived you of
Deprived thee of! Hold off the earth awhile,
Modern English: your brilliant mind! Hold off on the dirt for a moment,
Till I have caught her once more in mine arms:
Modern English: until I have held her in my arms once more:
Now pile your dust upon the quick and dead,
Modern English: Now pile your dirt on the living and the dead,
Till of this flat a mountain you have made,
Modern English: until you have made a mountain of this flat ground
To o'ertop old Pelion, or the skyish head
Modern English: that towers over Mount Pelion or the sky-reaching peak
Of blue Olympus.
Modern English: of blue Olympus.
Leaps into the grave
Modern English: Leaps into the grave
[Advancing] What is he whose grief
Modern English: Who is the man whose grief
Bears such an emphasis? whose phrase of sorrow
Modern English: is so intense? Whose words of sorrow
Conjures the wandering stars, and makes them stand
Modern English: disturb the stars and make them stand still
Like wonder-wounded hearers? This is I,
Modern English: like listeners struck with wonder? This is I,
Hamlet the Dane.
Modern English: Hamlet the Dane.
Leaps into the grave
Modern English: Leaps into the grave
The devil take thy soul!
Modern English: May the devil take your soul!
Grappling with him
Modern English: Grappling with him
Thou pray'st not well.
Modern English: You are not praying well.
I prithee, take thy fingers from my throat;
Modern English: I beg you, take your fingers off my throat;
For, though I am not splenitive and rash,
Modern English: for, though I am not quick-tempered or rash,
Yet have I something in me dangerous,
Modern English: yet I have something dangerous in me,
Which let thy wiseness fear: hold off thy hand.
Modern English: which you should be wise enough to fear; take away your hand.
Pluck them asunder.
Modern English: Pull them apart.
Hamlet, Hamlet!
Modern English: Hamlet, Hamlet!
Gentlemen,--
Modern English: Gentlemen—
Good my lord, be quiet.
Modern English: My good lord, be calm.
The Attendants part them, and they come out of the grave
Modern English: The Attendants part them, and they come out of the grave
Why I will fight with him upon this theme
Modern English: Why, I will fight him on this issue
Until my eyelids will no longer wag.
Modern English: until my eyelids no longer blink.
O my son, what theme?
Modern English: Oh my son, what issue?
I loved Ophelia: forty thousand brothers
Modern English: I loved Ophelia; forty thousand brothers
Could not, with all their quantity of love,
Modern English: could not, with all their combined love,
Make up my sum. What wilt thou do for her?
Modern English: reach my total. What will you do for her?
O, he is mad, Laertes.
Modern English: Oh, he is insane, Laertes.
For love of God, forbear him.
Modern English: For God's sake, leave him alone.
'Swounds, show me what thou'lt do:
Modern English: God's wounds, show me what you'll do:
Woo't weep? woo't fight? woo't fast? woo't tear thyself?
Modern English: Will you cry? Will you fight? Will you fast? Will you tear yourself?
Woo't drink up eisel? eat a crocodile?
Modern English: Will you drink vinegar? Eat a crocodile?
I'll do't. Dost thou come here to whine?
Modern English: I'll do it. Did you come here to whine?
To outface me with leaping in her grave?
Modern English: To outdo me by jumping into her grave?
Be buried quick with her, and so will I:
Modern English: Be buried alive with her, and so will I.
And, if thou prate of mountains, let them throw
Modern English: And if you talk about mountains, let them throw
Millions of acres on us, till our ground,
Modern English: millions of acres on us, until our mound,
Singeing his pate against the burning zone,
Modern English: scorching its top against the sun's orbit,
Make Ossa like a wart! Nay, an thou'lt mouth,
Modern English: makes Mount Ossa look like a wart! Yes, if you're going to brag,
I'll rant as well as thou.
Modern English: I'll rant as well as you.
This is mere madness:
Modern English: This is total madness;
And thus awhile the fit will work on him;
Modern English: the fit will work on him like this for a while;
Anon, as patient as the female dove,
Modern English: then, soon, as quiet as a female dove
When that her golden couplets are disclosed,
Modern English: when her golden-feathered chicks are hatched,
His silence will sit drooping.
Modern English: he will sit in drooping silence.
Hear you, sir;
Modern English: Listen, sir;
What is the reason that you use me thus?
Modern English: what is the reason you treat me like this?
I loved you ever: but it is no matter;
Modern English: I always loved you. But it doesn't matter;
Let Hercules himself do what he may,
Modern English: even if Hercules does his best,
The cat will mew and dog will have his day.
Modern English: the cat will meow and the dog will have his day.
Exit
Modern English: The character leaves.
I pray you, good Horatio, wait upon him.
Modern English: I beg you, good Horatio, go with him.
Strengthen your patience in our last night's speech;
Modern English: Stay patient by remembering our talk last night;
We'll put the matter to the present push.
Modern English: we will bring this matter to a head immediately.
Good Gertrude, set some watch over your son.
Modern English: Good Gertrude, put someone to watch over your son.
This grave shall have a living monument:
Modern English: This grave shall have a lasting monument.
An hour of quiet shortly shall we see;
Modern English: We shall see a time of peace shortly;
Till then, in patience our proceeding be.
Modern English: until then, let us proceed with patience.
Exit HORATIO
Modern English: HORATIO leaves.
To LAERTES
Modern English: To LAERTES
Exeunt
Modern English: They leave.