Hamlet (Q2), Act 3, Scene 3, 73-96
Arden 3 | Ann Thompson & Neil Taylor | London: Bloomsbury, 2006 | 331-333
“Now might I do it.”
(24 lines)
Speech
Arden 3 | 2006
HAMLET
Now might I do it. But now ’a is a-praying .
And now I’ll do it [Draws sword.] – and so ’a goes to heaven,
And so am I revenged ! That would be scanned: [75]
A villain kills my father, and for that
I, his sole son, do this same villain send
To heaven.
Why , this is base and silly , not revenge.
’A took my father grossly full of bread [80]
With all his crimes broad blown, as flush as May,
And how his audit stands who knows, save heaven,
But in our circumstance and course of thought
’Tis heavy with him. And am I then revenged
To take him in the purging of his soul [85]
When he is fit and seasoned for his passage?
No. [Sheathes sword.]
Up sword, and know thou a more horrid hent
When he is drunk, asleep or in his rage,
Or in th’incestuous pleasure of his bed, [90]
At game a-swearing , or about some act
That has no relish of salvation in’t.
Then trip him that his heels may kick at heaven
And that his soul may be as damned and black
As hell whereto it goes. My mother stays; [95]
This physic but prolongs thy sickly days.
(Exit)
Words and Pronunciation +
Arden 3 | 2006
Words
‘a: o. (Weis)
a-praying .
scanned
villain
sole son
base
silly
grossly
bread
full of bread
crimes
broad blown
as flush as May
audit
save
circumstance
course of thought
heavy
purging
fit
seasoned
passage
horrid
hent
in his rage,
incestuous
pleasure
at game
a-swearing
relish
salvation
trip
heels
kick
damned
stays
physic
sickly
Pronunciation +
lookest: possibly “look’st” (Leung, also: Arden CWRE, 1998)
shamest: (line 23) Q2–3; sham’st Q4, F; not in Q1 (Weis)
Jesu: (line 29) jeez-yoo or jee-zoo; jayz-yoo or jay-zoo
you: (line 29) The more formal pronoun is used consistently by Nurse when addressing Juliet, while the 13-year-old uses the familiar thou, thee, thy to her servant, in conformity with the etiquette of the day in which social class overrides age. (Weis)
marry: (line 62) mah-ree (UK); meh-ree (US) (OED)
trow: (line 62) tr-ah-oo (UK); tr-oh (US) (OED)
hie: (line 68) hah-ee
wanton: (line 70) want-en or want-in
+prose: (lines 38-45) The nurse switches to prose for this speech.
Translation
No Fear Shakespeare
HAMLET
I could do it easily now. He’s praying now. And now I’ll do it. (he draws out his sword) And there he goes, off to heaven. And that’s my revenge. I’d better think about this more carefully. A villain kills my father, and I, my father’s only son, send this same villain to heaven. Seems like I just did him a favor. He killed my father when my father was enjoying life, with all his sins in full bloom, before my father could repent for any of them. Only God knows how many sins my father has to pay for. As for me, I don’t think his prospects look so good. So is it really revenge for me if I kill Claudius right when he is confessing his sins, in perfect condition for a trip to heaven? No. Away, sword, and wait for a better moment to kill him. (he puts his sword away) When he’s sleeping off some drunken orgy, or having incestuous sex, or swearing while he gambles, or committing some other act that has no goodness about it—that’s when I’ll trip him up and send him to hell with his heels kicking up at heaven. My mother’s waiting. The king’s trying to cure himself with prayer, but all he’s doing is keeping himself alive a little longer.
Assonance
Arden 3 | 2006
HAMLET
Now might I do it. But now ’a is a-praying .
And now I’ll do it [Draws sword.] – and so ’a goes to heaven,
And so am I revenged ! That would be scanned: [75]
A villain kills my father, and for that
I, his sole son, do this same villain send
To heaven.
Why , this is base and silly , not revenge.
’A took my father grossly full of bread [80]
With all his crimes broad blown, as flush as May,
And how his audit stands who knows, save heaven,
But in our circumstance and course of thought
’Tis heavy with him. And am I then revenged
To take him in the purging of his soul [85]
When he is fit and seasoned for his passage?
No. [Sheathes sword.]
Up sword, and know thou a more horrid hent
When he is drunk, asleep or in his rage,
Or in th’incestuous pleasure of his bed, [90]
At game a-swearing , or about some act
That has no relish of salvation in’t.
Then trip him that his heels may kick at heaven
And that his soul may be as damned and black
As hell whereto it goes. My mother stays; [95]
This physic but prolongs thy sickly days.
(Exit)
Pronunciation +
shamest: (line 23) Q2–3; sham’st Q4, F; not in Q1 (Weis)
Jesu: (line 29) jeez-yoo or jee-zoo; jayz-yoo or jay-zoo
you: (line 29) The more formal pronoun is used consistently by Nurse when addressing Juliet, while the 13-year-old uses the familiar thou, thee, thy to her servant, in conformity with the etiquette of the day in which social class overrides age. (Weis)
marry: (line 62) mah-ree (UK); meh-ree (US) (OED)
trow: (line 62) tr-ah-oo (UK); tr-oh (US) (OED)
hie: (line 68) hah-ee
wanton: (line 70) want-en or want-in
Alliteration
Arden 3 | 2006
HAMLET
Now might I do it. But now ’a is a-praying .
And now I’ll do it [Draws sword.] – and so ’a goes to heaven,
And so am I revenged ! That would be scanned: [75]
A villain kills my father, and for that
I, his sole son, do this same villain send
To heaven.
Why , this is base and silly , not revenge.
’A took my father grossly full of bread [80]
With all his crimes broad blown, as flush as May,
And how his audit stands who knows, save heaven,
But in our circumstance and course of thought
’Tis heavy with him. And am I then revenged
To take him in the purging of his soul [85]
When he is fit and seasoned for his passage?
No. [Sheathes sword.]
Up sword, and know thou a more horrid hent
When he is drunk, asleep or in his rage,
Or in th’incestuous pleasure of his bed, [90]
At game a-swearing , or about some act
That has no relish of salvation in’t.
Then trip him that his heels may kick at heaven
And that his soul may be as damned and black
As hell whereto it goes. My mother stays; [95]
This physic but prolongs thy sickly days.
(Exit)
Consonance
Arden 3 | 2006
HAMLET
Now might I do it. But now ’a is a-praying .
And now I’ll do it [Draws sword.] – and so ’a goes to heaven,
And so am I revenged ! That would be scanned: [75]
A villain kills my father, and for that
I, his sole son, do this same villain send
To heaven.
Why , this is base and silly , not revenge.
’A took my father grossly full of bread [80]
With all his crimes broad blown, as flush as May,
And how his audit stands who knows, save heaven,
But in our circumstance and course of thought
’Tis heavy with him. And am I then revenged
To take him in the purging of his soul [85]
When he is fit and seasoned for his passage?
No. [Sheathes sword.]
Up sword, and know thou a more horrid hent
When he is drunk, asleep or in his rage,
Or in th’incestuous pleasure of his bed, [90]
At game a-swearing , or about some act
That has no relish of salvation in’t.
Then trip him that his heels may kick at heaven
And that his soul may be as damned and black
As hell whereto it goes. My mother stays; [95]
This physic but prolongs thy sickly days.
(Exit)
Thoughts
Arden 3 | 2006
HAMLET
1. Now might I do it. 2. But now ’a is a-praying.
3. And now I’ll do it [Draws sword.] – 4. and so ’a goes to heaven,
And so am I revenged ! 5. That would be scanned: [75]
5b. A villain kills my father, and for that
I, his sole son, do this same villain send
To heaven.
6. Why, this is base and silly, not revenge.
7. ’A took my father grossly full of bread [80]
With all his crimes broad blown, as flush as May,
And how his audit stands who knows, save heaven,
But in our circumstance and course of thought
’Tis heavy with him. 8. And am I then revenged
To take him in the purging of his soul [85]
When he is fit and seasoned for his passage?
9. No. [Sheathes sword.]
10. Up sword, and know thou a more horrid hent
When he is drunk, asleep or in his rage,
Or in th’incestuous pleasure of his bed, [90]
At game a-swearing , or about some act
That has no relish of salvation in’t.
11. Then trip him that his heels may kick at heaven
And that his soul may be as damned and black
As hell whereto it goes. 12. My mother stays; [95]
This physic but prolongs thy sickly days.
(Exit)
Thought Count
Arden 3 | 2006
HAMLET
Long: 2
Medium: 3
Short: 7 | 8
Total: 12 | 13
Complex: 1 | 2
End stopped: 5 | 6
Midline: 7
Period: 9
Exclamation: 1
Question: 1
Dash: 1
Rhythm
Arden 3 | 2006
HAMLET
Now might I do it. But now ’a is a-praying.(11w | epic?)
And now I’ll do it [Draws sword.] – and so ’a goes to heaven, (12w | epic?
And so am I revenged! That would be scanned: [75](10)
A villain kills my father, and for that (10R)
I, his sole son, do this same villain send (10)
To heaven.(3)
Why , this is base and silly , not revenge.(10R)
’A took my father grossly full of bread [80](10R)
With all his crimes broad blown, as flush as May, (10R | 10)
And how his audit stands who knows, save heaven, (11W)
But in our circumstance and course of thought (10R)
’Tis heavy with him. And am I then revenged (11 | epic?)
To take him in the purging of his soul [85](10R)
When he is fit and seasoned for his passage? (11W)
No. [Sheathes sword.] (1)
Up sword, and know thou a more horrid hent (10R | 10)
When he is drunk, asleep or in his rage, (10R)
Or in th’incestuous pleasure of his bed, [90](10R)
At game a-swearing , or about some act (10R)
That has no relish of salvation in’t. (10R)
Then trip him that his heels may kick at heaven (11w)
And that his soul may be as damned and black (10R)
As hell whereto it goes. My mother stays; [95] (10R)
This physic but prolongs thy sickly days. (10R)
(Exit)
Pacing
Arden 3 | 2006
HAMLET
Now might I do it. <epic?> But now ’a is a-praying. slowly| pause?
And now I’ll do it [Draws sword.] <epic?> – and so ’a goes to heaven,
And so am I revenged ! That would be scanned: [75]
A villain kills my father, and for that |slowly?
I, his sole son, do this same villain send slowly|
To heaven. PAUSE
Why, this is base and silly, not revenge. pause?
’A took my father grossly full of bread [80]
With all his crimes broad blown, as flush as May, slowly?
And how his audit stands who knows, save heaven,
But in our circumstance and course of thought
’Tis heavy with him. <epic?> And am I then revenged
To take him in the purging of his soul [85]
When he is fit and seasoned for his passage?
No. [Sheathes sword.] PAUSE
Up sword, and know thou a more horrid hent slowly?
When he is drunk, asleep or in his rage,
Or in th’incestuous pleasure of his bed, [90]
At game a-swearing, or about some act
That has no relish of salvation in’t. pause?
Then trip him that his heels may kick at heaven slowly?
And that his soul may be as damned and black slowly?
As hell whereto it goes. My mother stays; [95]
This physic but prolongs thy sickly days.
(Exit)
Beats
Arden 3 | 2006
HAMLET
discovery
Now might I do it. But now ’a is a-praying.
decision
And now I’ll do it [Draws sword.]
discovery
——————————-– and so ’a goes to heaven,
And so am I revenged! That would be scanned: [75]
A villain kills my father, and for that
I, his sole son, do this same villain send
To heaven.
discovery
Why, this is base and silly, not revenge.
’A took my father grossly full of bread [80]
With all his crimes broad blown, as flush as May,
And how his audit stands who knows, save heaven,
But in our circumstance and course of thought
’Tis heavy with him. And am I then revenged
To take him in the purging of his soul [85]
When he is fit and seasoned for his passage?
decision
No. [Sheathes sword.]
Up sword, and know thou a more horrid hent
When he is drunk, asleep or in his rage,
Or in th’incestuous pleasure of his bed, [90]
At game a-swearing , or about some act
That has no relish of salvation in’t.
Then trip him that his heels may kick at heaven
And that his soul may be as damned and black
As hell whereto it goes.
discovery
———————–My mother stays; [95]
This physic but prolongs thy sickly days.
(Exit)
Pronunciation +
shamest: (line 23) Q2–3; sham’st Q4, F; not in Q1 (Weis)
Jesu: (line 29) jeez-yoo or jee-zoo; jayz-yoo or jay-zoo
you: (line 29) The more formal pronoun is used consistently by Nurse when addressing Juliet, while the 13-year-old uses the familiar thou, thee, thy to her servant, in conformity with the etiquette of the day in which social class overrides age. (Weis)
marry: (line 62) mah-ree (UK); meh-ree (US) (OED)
trow: (line 62) tr-ah-oo (UK); tr-oh (US) (OED)
hie: (line 68) hah-ee
wanton: (line 70) want-en or want-in
Rhetoric
Arden 3 | 2006
HAMLET
Now might I do it. But now ’a is a-praying .
And now I’ll do it [Draws sword.] – and so ’a goes to heaven,
And so am I revenged ! That would be scanned: [75]
A villain kills my father, and for that
I, his sole son, do this same villain send
To heaven.
Why , this is base and silly , not revenge.
’A took my father grossly full of bread [80]
With all his crimes broad blown, as flush as May,
And how his audit stands who knows, save heaven,
But in our circumstance and course of thought
’Tis heavy with him. And am I then revenged
To take him in the purging of his soul [85]
When he is fit and seasoned for his passage?
No. [Sheathes sword.]
Up sword, and know thou a more horrid hent
When he is drunk, asleep or in his rage,
Or in th’incestuous pleasure of his bed, [90]
At game a-swearing , or about some act
That has no relish of salvation in’t.
Then trip him that his heels may kick at heaven
And that his soul may be as damned and black
As hell whereto it goes. My mother stays; [95]
This physic but prolongs thy sickly days.
(Exit)
Scene
Arden 3 | 2006 | 326-333
[ 3.3 ]
Enter King, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.
KING
I like him not, nor stands it safe with us
To let his madness range. Therefore prepare you.
I your commission will forthwith dispatch
And he to England shall along with you.
5The terms of our estate may not endure
Hazard so near us as doth hourly grow
Out of his brows.
GUILDENSTERN
—————–We will ourselves provide.
Most holy and religious fear it is
To keep those many many bodies safe
10That live and feed upon your majesty.
ROSENCRANTZ
The single and peculiar life is bound
With all the strength and armour of the mind
To keep itself from noyance; but much more
That spirit upon whose weal depends and rests
15The lives of many. The cess of majesty
Dies not alone, but like a gulf doth draw
What’s near it with it; or it is a massy wheel
Fixed on the summit of the highest mount
To whose huge spokes ten thousand lesser things
20Are mortised and adjoined, which when it falls
Each small annexment, petty consequence,
Attends the boisterous ruin . Never alone
Did the king sigh but with a general groan.
KING
Arm you, I pray you, to this speedy voyage
25For we will fetters put about this fear
Which now goes too free-footed.
Rosencrantz
We will haste us.
(Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.)
(Enter Polonius.)
POLONIUS
My lord, he’s going to his mother’s closet.
Behind the arras I’ll convey myself
To hear the process. I’ll warrant she’ll tax him home
30And, as you said – and wisely was it said –
’Tis meet that some more audience than a mother
(Since nature makes them partial) should o’er-hear
The speech of vantage. Fare you well, my liege,
I’ll call upon you ere you go to bed
35And tell you what I know.
KING
35—————————Thanks, dear my lord.
Exit Polonius.
O, my offence is rank: it smells to heaven;
It hath the primal eldest curse upon’t –
A brother’s murder. Pray can I not:
Though inclination be as sharp as will,
40My stronger guilt defeats my strong intent
And like a man to double business bound
I stand in pause where I shall first begin
And both neglect. What if this cursed hand
Were thicker than itself with brother’s blood?
45Is there not rain enough in the sweet heavens
To wash it white as snow? Whereto serves mercy
But to confront the visage of offence?
And what’s in prayer but this twofold force
– To be forestalled ere we come to fall
50Or pardoned , being down? Then I’ll look up:
My fault is past. But O, what form of prayer
Can serve my turn: ‘Forgive me my foul murder’?
That cannot be, since I am still possessed
Of those effects for which I did the murder,
55My crown, mine own ambition and my Queen.
May one be pardoned and retain th’offence?
In the corrupted currents of this world
Offence’s gilded hand may shove by justice,
And oft ’tis seen the wicked prize itself
60Buys out the law; but ’tis not so above:
There is no shuffling, there the action lies
In his true nature, and we ourselves compelled
Even to the teeth and forehead of our faults
To give in evidence. What then? What rests?
65Try what repentance can – what can it not? –
Yet what can it, when one cannot repent?
O wretched state, O bosom black as death,
O limed soul that struggling to be free
Art more engaged. Help, angels, make assay.
70Bow, stubborn knees, and heart with strings of steel
Be soft as sinews of the new-born babe.
All may be well.
Enter Hamlet.
HAMLET
Now might I do it. But now ’a is a-praying .
And now I’ll do it [Draws sword.] – and so ’a goes to heaven,
75And so am I revenged ! That would be scanned:
A villain kills my father, and for that
I, his sole son, do this same villain send
To heaven.
Why , this is base and silly , not revenge.
80’A took my father grossly full of bread
With all his crimes broad blown, as flush as May,
And how his audit stands who knows, save heaven,
But in our circumstance and course of thought
’Tis heavy with him. And am I then revenged
85To take him in the purging of his soul
When he is fit and seasoned for his passage?
No. [Sheathes sword.]
Up sword, and know thou a more horrid hent
When he is drunk, asleep or in his rage,
90Or in th’incestuous pleasure of his bed,
At game a-swearing , or about some act
That has no relish of salvation in’t.
Then trip him that his heels may kick at heaven
And that his soul may be as damned and black
95As hell whereto it goes. My mother stays;
This physic but prolongs thy sickly days.
(Exit.)
KING
My words fly up, my thoughts remain below.
Words without thoughts never to heaven go.
(Exit.)
Pronunciation +
shamest: (line 23) Q2–3; sham’st Q4, F; not in Q1 (Weis)
Jesu: (line 29) jeez-yoo or jee-zoo; jayz-yoo or jay-zoo
you: (line 29) The more formal pronoun is used consistently by Nurse when addressing Juliet, while the 13-year-old uses the familiar thou, thee, thy to her servant, in conformity with the etiquette of the day in which social class overrides age. (Weis)
marry: (line 62) mah-ree (UK); meh-ree (US) (OED)
trow: (line 62) tr-ah-oo (UK); tr-oh (US) (OED)
hie: (line 68) hah-ee
wanton: (line 70) want-en or want-in