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Ha! Have you eyes?William ShakespeareHamlet (1601)

Act III, Scene IV

During the performance of The Murder of Gonzago in Act III, Scene II, Claudius at once rises and cries for light. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern inform Hamlet that the Queen wants to see him. Polonius brings him the same message and later hides behind a tapestry in her bedroom. When Hamlet enters, Gertrude begins to reproach him but his sharp replies scare her and she cries for help. Polonius echoes her calls for help and Hamlet kills him with his sword, thinking he might be the king.

Hamlet Look here, upon this picture, and on this, The counterfeit presentment1 of two brothers. See, what a grace was seated on this brow2; Hyperions curls3, the front of Jove4 himself, An eye like Mars, to threaten5 and command, A station like the herald Mercury6

New-lighted7 on a heaven-kissing hill A combination and a form indeed, Where every god did seem to set his seal8

To give the world assurance of a man9. This was your husband. Look you now, what follows: Here is your husband, like a mildewd ear10

Blasting his wholesome breath11. Have you eyes? Could you on this fair mountain leave to feed12, And batten on this moor13? Ha! have you eyes? You cannot call it love, for at your age The hey-day14 in the blood is tame15, its humble, And waits upon the judgment; and what judgment Would step from this to this? []Queen O Hamlet, speak no more! Thou turnst mine eyes into my very soul, And there I see such black and grained spots16

As will not leave their tinct17.Hamlet Nay, but to live In the rank sweat of an enseamed bed18,

Stewd19 in corruption, honeying and making love Over the nasty sty20.Queen O, speak to me no more; These words, like daggers21, enter in mine ears; No more, sweet Hamlet.Hamlet A murderer and a villain! A slave that is not twentieth part the tithe22

Of your precedent lord; a vice of kings; A cutpurse of the empire and the rule23, That from a shelf the precious diadem stole,

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1 The counterfeit presentment. La presentazione simulata, cio il ritratto.

2 seated on his brow. Posata sulla sua fronte.

3 Hyperions curls. I riccioli di Iperione (nella mitologia greca, Titano padre di Sole, Luna, Aurora; anche epiteto del Sole stesso).

4 Jove. Giove, il massimo dio romano.

5 Mars, to threaten. Marte (dio della guerra), per minacciare.

6 A station ... Mercury. Un portamento come il messaggero Mercurio (ambasciatore degli dei e guida delle anime).

7 New-lighted. Appena sceso.8 seal. Sigillo.9 assurance of a man. La certezza

di un uomo. 10 mildewd ear. Spiga ammuffita.11 Blasting his wholesome breath.

Che infetta laria sana.12 leave to feed. Cessare di nutrirti.13 batten on this moor. Ingozzarti

in questa landa.14 The hey-day. Lapice, la foga.15 tame. Domata.16 grained spots. Macchie color

del granito.17 As ... tinct. Che non andranno

mai via.18 In the rank ... bed. Nel fetido

sudore di un letto lercio.19 Stewd. Beandoti.20 nasty sty. Sudicio porcile.21 daggers. Pugnali.22 tithe. Decimo.23 A cutpurse... rule. Un tagliaborse

dellimpero e del governo.

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And put it in his pocket!Queen No more!

Hamlet A king of shreds and patches24 Enter Ghost. Save me, and hover25 oer me with your wings, You heavenly guards! What would26 your gracious figure?Queen Alas, hes mad!Hamlet Do you not come your tardy son to chide27, That, lapsd in time and passion28, lets go by29

Th important acting of your dread command? Oh, say! Ghost Do not forget; this visitation Is but to whet thy almost blunted purpose30. But, look, amazement on thy mother sits31. O, step between her and her fighting soul! Conceit32 in weakest bodies strongest works. Speak to her, Hamlet.Hamlet How is it with you, lady?Queen Alas, how is t with you, That you do bend your eye on vacancy33

And with th incorporal air do hold discourse? Forth at your eyes your spirits wildly peep34; And, as the sleeping soldiers in th alarm, Your bedded hair, like life in excrements, Starts up, and stands on end35. O gentle son, Upon the heat and flame of thy distemper Sprinkle36 cool patience! Whereon do you look?Hamlet On him, on him! Look you, how pale he glares! His form and cause conjoind, preaching to stones, Would make them capable. Do not look upon me, Lest37 with this piteous action you convert My stern effects38; then what I have to do Will want39 true colour tears perchance for blood.Queen To whom do you speak this?Hamlet Do you see nothing there?Queen Nothing at all; yet all that is I see.Hamlet Nor did you nothing hear?Queen No, nothing but ourselves.Hamlet Why, look you there! look, how it steals away40! My father, in his habit41as he livd! Look, where he goes, even now, out at the portal! Exit Ghost.Queen This is the very coinage42 of your brain. This bodiless creation ecstasy Is very cunning in43.

24 shreds and patches. Stracci e toppe.

25 hover. Volteggia.26 would. Desidera.27 your tardy son to chide.

A rimproverare il tuo figlio lento.

28 lapsd in time and passion. Avendo perso tempo e slancio.

29 lets go by. Trascura.30 to whet... purpose. Per

stimolare la tua volont quasi smorzata.

31 amazement ... sits. Tua madre in preda allo stupore.

32 Conceit. Immaginazione.

33 you do ... vacancy. Volgi gli occhi nel vuoto.

34 Forth ... peep. I tuoi spiriti affiorano selvaggiamente fuori dagli occhi.

35 Your bedded ... end. I tuoi capelli pettinati balzano su e stanno dritti.

36 Sprinkle. Spargi.37 Lest. Affinch non.38 you convert my stern

effects. Tu trasformi le mie ferme intenzioni.

39 Will want. Mancher di.40 it steals away. Se ne va

furtivamente.41 habit. Abiti.42 coinage. Frutto.43 ecstasy ... cunning in.

La pazzia molto brava a farle.

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COMPREHENSION

1 READlines 137 and complete these sentences in your own words.1 Hamlet shows the Queen 2 He wonders how she could such a man as Claudius and accuses her of 3 Gertrude begs him because his words make her feel

2 READthe text to the end. Note down the following information:1 who enters the room;2 who can see him;3 why he has come;4 what Gertrude thinks of her son;5 what she thinks Hamlet has seen.

ANALYSIS

3 COMPAREHamlets behaviour to that of the previous scenes.

4 FOCUSon the description of Hamlets father in lines 311. What details does Hamlet insist upon?

5 ANALYSEHamlets vile description of Claudius in lines 1239. 1 Find the simile he uses to present Claudius. 2 What semantic field does this device introduce? 3 Write down the two images opposing the two brothers. 4 What semantic area do they draw upon? 5 How do they connote the two kings? 6 Circle the words referring to Claudius. 7 Briefly summarise the features of this character.

6 READlines 2427. Hamlet expresses his disgust at his mothers marriage. What metaphor does he employ to describe the bed? What does he want to underline?

7 FOCUSon the character of Gertrude. She plays an important role in this scene even though she utters few sentences. 1 What is the prevailing form she uses? 2 What mood does it convey? 3 Why do you think the Ghost describes her soul as fighting? 4 Do you think Shakespeare wanted the audience to feel sympathy for Gertrude?

8 DISCUSSthe functions of the Ghosts appearance.

9 DESCRIBEthe relationship between Hamlet and the Queen, which has been cause for much critical speculation. Describe it by choosing from among the following. obsessive superficial morbid incestuous concerned

immoral affectionate sympathetic suspicious

10 POINtout the themes of the play contained in the passage justifying your choice with reference to the text.

YOUR TURN

11 DISCUSS.Are you superstitious? Do you believe in ghosts? What are they usually associated with? Can we regard ghosts as projections of peoples fears, desires, sense of guilt? Can you think of any other examples of ghosts in literature or in films?