No Fear Shakespeare

Hamlet

William Shakespeare

Get this No Fear to go!

Act 4, Scene 5, Page 2

Original Text

Modern Text


20
OPHELIA
Where is the beauteous majesty of Denmark?
OPHELIA
Where is the beautiful queen of Denmark?

GERTRUDE
How now, Ophelia?
GERTRUDE
What are you doing, Ophelia?





OPHELIA
(sings)
How should I your true love know
  From another one?
By his cockle hat and staff,
  And his sandal shoon.
OPHELIA
(sings)
How can you tell the difference
  Between your true lover and some other?
Your true one wears a pilgrim’s hat
  And a pilgrim’s sandals and staff.

GERTRUDE
Alas, sweet lady, what imports this song?
GERTRUDE
Oh heavens, what does that song mean, my dear?


25




OPHELIA
Say you? Nay, pray you, mark.
(sings)
He is dead and gone, lady,
  He is dead and gone,
At his head a grass-green turf,
  At his heels a stone.
Oh, ho!
OPHELIA
I’m sorry, did you say something? Please just listen.
(sings)
He is dead and gone, lady,
  He is dead and gone.
At his head is a patch of green grass,
  And at his feet there is a tomb stone.
Oh, ho!

GERTRUDE
Nay, but, Ophelia—
GERTRUDE
No, Ophelia—



OPHELIA
Pray you, mark.
(sings)
White his shroud as the mountain snow
OPHELIA
Just listen, please.
(sings)
His death shroud was as white as snow—
Enter CLAUDIUS
CLAUDIUS enters.

30
GERTRUDE
Alas, look here, my lord.
GERTRUDE
My lord, look at this poor girl.




OPHELIA
(sings)
  Larded all with sweet flowers,
Which bewept to the ground did not go
  With true-love showers.
OPHELIA
(sings)
  Covered with sweet flowers
Which did not fall to the ground
  In true-love showers.

More Help

Watch the Video SparkNote

A quick and easy plot summary of Hamlet.

Read the Hamlet SparkNote

Summary, analysis, themes, essay topics, and more

Download the iPhone app

Download the No Fear Shakespeare app for iPhone®/iPod touch™ from iTunes

Buy No Fear Hamlet at BN.com

Get the No Fear Shakespeare you can hold in your hand at BN.com

EVEN MORE HELP! ↓

Take a Study Break

Green YOUR SCHOOL!

Click here to get involved with dosomething.org!

John Krasinski's BIG MIRACLE

Click to watch the trailer and read exclusive star interviews!

Do you like Anna?

Read Dear Albert... from ANNA's perspective!

BATTLESHIP, the movie

Here's why we're super jazzed about it.