Act II, Scene 2
Starting from line 493 of Folger Library edition
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
‘The 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! This sword,
‘Which was declining on the milky head
‘Of reverend Priam, seem’d i’ the air to stick.
‘So as a painted tyrant, Pyrrhus stood,
‘And like a neutral to his will and matter,
‘Did nothing.`
Skip to line 508
First Player
‘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 forged 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!’
LORD 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, ah woe, had seen the mobléd queen…’
HAMLET
‘The mobléd queen’…?
LORD POLONIUS
That’s good. ‘The mobléd queen’ is good!
FIRST PLAYER
‘Run barefoot up and down, threatening the flames
‘With bisson rheium, a clout upon that head
‘Where late the diadem stood, and for a robe,
‘About her lank and all o’erteeméd loins
‘A blanket, in the alarm of fear caught up—
‘Who this has seen, with tongue in venum steeped,
‘Gainst Fortune’s state would treason have pronounced.
‘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 clamor 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.’
LORD POLONIUS
Look whe’er he has not turned his color and
has tears in ‘s eyes. Prithee, no more.
HAMLET
‘Tis well. I’ll have thee speak out the rest of
this soon…