He will come straight
Polonius
He will come straight. Look you lay home to him.
Tell him his pranks have been too broad to bear with
And that your Grace hath screened and stood between
Much heat and him. I’ll silence me even here.
Pray you, be round with him.
Hamlet, within
Mother, mother, mother!
O, what a rash and bloody deed is this!
Queen Gertrude
I’ll warrant you. Fear me not. Withdraw,
I hear him coming.
Polonius hides behind the arras.
Enter Hamlet.
Hamlet
Now, mother, what’s the matter?
Queen Gertrude
Hamlet, thou hast thy father much offended.
Hamlet
Mother, you have my father much offended.
Queen Gertrude
Come, come, you answer with an idle tongue.
Hamlet
Go, go, you question with a wicked tongue.
Queen Gertrude
Why, how now, Hamlet?
Hamlet
What’s the matter now?
Queen Gertrude
Have you forgot me?
Hamlet
No, by the rood, not so.Stichomythia
You are the Queen, your husband’s brother’s wife,
And (would it were not so) you are my mother.
Queen Gertrude
Nay, then I’ll set those to you that can speak.
Hamlet
Come, come, and sit you down; you shall not budge.
You go not till I set you up a glass
Where you may see the inmost part of you.
Queen Gertrude
What wilt thou do? Thou wilt not murder me?
Help, ho!
Polonius, behind the arras
What ho! Help!
Hamlet
How now, a rat? Dead for a ducat, dead.
He kills Polonius by thrusting a rapier through the arras.
Polonius, behind the arras
O, I am slain!
Queen Gertrude
O me, what hast thou done?
Hamlet
Nay, I know not. Is it the King?
Queen Gertrude
O, what a rash and bloody deed is this!
Hamlet
A bloody deed—almost as bad, good mother,
As kill a king and marry with his brother.
Queen Gertrude
As kill a king?
Hamlet
Ay, lady, it was my word.
He pulls Polonius’ body from behind the arras.
Thou wretched, rash, intruding fool, farewell.
I took thee for thy better. Take thy fortune.
Thou find’st to be too busy is some danger.