No Fear Shakespeare
Hamlet
Act 3, Scene 2, Page 4
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As Vulcan’s stithy. Give him heedful note.
For I mine eyes will rivet to his face,
And after we will both our judgments join
In censure of his seeming.
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Watch him closely. I’ll stare at him too, and afterward
we’ll compare notes on him.
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HORATIO
Well, my lord.
If he steal aught the whilst this play is playing,
And ’scape detecting, I will pay the theft.
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HORATIO
My lord, I’ll watch him as closely as I would a thief.
I won’t miss a trick.
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Danish march. Sound a flourish. Enter King
CLAUDIUS, Queen
GERTRUDE, POLONIUS,
OPHELIA, ROSENCRANTZ,
GUILDENSTERN and other lords attendant with
CLAUDIUS’s; guard carrying torches |
Trumpets play. CLAUDIUS enters with
GERTRUDE, POLONIUS,
OPHELIA, ROSENCRANTZ,
GUILDENSTERN, and other lords attendant with
CLAUDIUS ’s guard carrying
torches. |
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HAMLET
They are coming to the play. I must be idle.
Get you a place.
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HAMLET
They’re coming. I can’t talk now. Take your
seat.
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CLAUDIUS
How fares our cousin Hamlet?
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CLAUDIUS
So how’s my nephew Hamlet doing?
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HAMLET
Excellent, i' faith, of the chameleon’s
dish. I eat
the air, promise-crammed. You cannot feed capons so.
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HAMLET
Wonderful! I eat the air, like chameleons do. I’m
positively stuffed with air, I eat so much of it.
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CLAUDIUS
I have nothing with this answer, Hamlet. These words
are not mine.
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CLAUDIUS
I have no idea what you’re talking about, Hamlet.
You’re not answering my question.
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HAMLET
No, nor mine now. (to
POLONIUS) My lord, you played once
i' th' university, you say?
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HAMLET
Mine, neither. (to
POLONIUS) My lord, you performed in
amateur dramatic productions in college, right?
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POLONIUS
That did I, my lord, and was accounted a good actor.
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POLONIUS
Indeed I did, my lord. I was considered to be quite a good
actor.
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HAMLET
What did you enact?
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HAMLET
What role did you play?
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POLONIUS
I did enact Julius Caesar. I was killed i'
th' Capitol. Brutus
killed me.
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POLONIUS
I played Julius Caesar. I was killed in the Capitol. Brutus killed
me.
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