Original
Modern English
There’s matter in these sighs. These profound heaves You must translate.’tis fit we understand them. Where is your son?
There’s something to these sighs. These deep breaths You need to explain them. It’s important we understand. Where is your son?
Bestow this place on us a little while.
Please give us some time alone.
Ah, my good lord, what have I seen tonight!
Ah, my good lord, what have I just witnessed tonight!
What, Gertrude? How does Hamlet?
What’s wrong, Gertrude? How is Hamlet?
Mad as the sea and wind, when both contend Which is the mightier. In his lawless fit Behind the arras hearing something stir, Whips out his rapier, cries‘A rat, a rat!’ And in this brainish apprehension kills The unseen good old man.
He’s as crazy as the sea and the wind when they fight Over which is stronger. In his mad state He heard something behind the curtain, so He pulled out his sword, shouting ‘A rat, a rat!’ And in his confused mind, he killed The poor old man who wasn’t even seen.
O heavy deed! It had been so with us, had we been there. His liberty is full of threats to all; To you yourself, to us, to everyone. Alas, how shall this bloody deed be answer’d? It will be laid to us, whose providence Should have kept short, restrain’d, and out of haunt This mad young man. But so much was our love We would not understand what was most fit, But like the owner of a foul disease, To keep it from divulging, let it feed Even on the pith of life. Where is he gone?
Oh, what a terrible thing to do! It could have been us if we had been there. His freedom is dangerous to everyone; To you, to us, to all of us. Oh no, how will we justify this bloody action? People will blame us, because we should have kept This mad young man under control, kept him away From people. But we loved him so much That we didn’t see what needed to be done, Just like someone who has a terrible disease But tries to hide it instead of treating it, Letting it spread even to the heart of life. Where has he gone?
To draw apart the body he hath kill’d, O’er whom his very madness, like some ore Among a mineral of metals base, Shows itself pure. He weeps for what is done.
He went to move the body he killed, And now his madness, like a metal mixed with others, Shows that it’s the only pure thing left in him. He’s crying over what he’s done.
O Gertrude, come away! The sun no sooner shall the mountains touch But we will ship him hence, and this vile deed We must with all our majesty and skill Both countenance and excuse.—Ho, Guildenstern!
Oh Gertrude, come on! No sooner shall the sun touch the mountains Than we’ll send him away, and we must cover up this terrible deed Using all our power and skills to explain it away.—Hey, Guildenstern!
Friends both, go join you with some further aid: Hamlet in madness hath Polonius slain, And from his mother’s closet hath he dragg’d him. Go seek him out, speak fair, and bring the body Into the chapel. I pray you haste in this.
Friends, go get more help: Hamlet in his madness has killed Polonius, And dragged him out of his mother’s room. Go find him, speak kindly, and bring the body To the chapel. Please hurry.
Come, Gertrude, we’ll call up our wisest friends, And let them know both what we mean to do And what’s untimely done, so haply slander, Whose whisper o’er the world’s diameter, As level as the cannon to his blank, Transports his poison’d shot, may miss our name, And hit the woundless air. O, come away! My soul is full of discord and dismay.
Come on, Gertrude, let’s bring together our smartest friends, And let them know what we plan to do And what has been done too soon, so maybe gossip, Whose whisper spreads across the world’s entire width, As straight as a cannon’s shot to its target, Might miss our names, And hit only the empty air. Oh, let’s go! My mind is full of confusion and fear.