Hamlet

Hamlet:

Nay, do not think I flatter;

For what advancement may I hope from thee

That no revenue hast but thy good spirits,

To feed and clothe thee? Why should the poor be flatter'd?

No, let the candied tongue lick absurd pomp,

And crook the pregnant hinges of the knee

Where thrift may follow fawning. Dost thou hear?

Since my dear soul was mistress of her choice

And could of men distinguish, her election

Hath seal'd thee for herself; for thou hast been

As one, in suffering all, that suffers nothing,

A man that fortune's buffets and rewards

Hast ta'en with equal thanks: and blest are those

Whose blood and judgment are so well commingled,

That they are not a pipe for fortune's finger

To sound what stop she please. Give me that man

That is not passion's slave, and I will wear him

In my heart's core, ay, in my heart of heart,

As I do thee.--Something too much of this.--

There is a play to-night before the king;

One scene of it comes near the circumstance

Which I have told thee of my father's death:

I prithee, when thou seest that act afoot,

Even with the very comment of thy soul

Observe mine uncle: if his occulted guilt

Do not itself unkennel in one speech,

It is a damned ghost that we have seen,

And my imaginations are as foul

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.

Number of Syllables	Scored text	Meaning of beat
7	Nay, do not think I flatter;	[Start of beat one] to convince
10	For what advancement may I hope from thee
10	That no revenue hast but thy good spirits,
12	To feed and clothe thee? Why should the poor be flatter'd?	[End of beat one]
10	No, let the candied tongue lick absurd pomp,	[Start of beat 2] To explain
10	And crook the pregnant hinges of the knee
10	Where thrift may follow fawning. Dost thou hear?	[End of beat 2]
10	Since my dear soul was mistress of her choice	[Start of beat three] To flatter
11	And could of men distinguish, her election
10	Hath seal'd thee for herself; for thou hast been
11	As one, in suffering all, that suffers nothing,
10	A man that fortune's buffets and rewards
10	Hast ta'en with equal thanks: and blest are those
11	Whose blood and judgment are so well commingled,
11	That they are not a pipe for fortune's finger
10	To sound what stop she please. Give me that man
11	That is not passion's slave, and I will wear him
10	In my heart's core, ay, in my heart of hearts,
10	As I do thee.--Something too much of this.--	[End of beat three]
10	There is a play to-night before the king;	[Start of beat four] To explain
10	One scene of it comes near the circumstance
10	Which I have told thee of my father's death:	[End of beat four]
10	I prithee, when thou seest that act afoot,	[Start of beat five] to beg
11	Even with the very comment of thy soul
11	Observe mine uncle: if his occulted guilt
10	Do not itself unkennel in one speech,
9	It is a damned ghost that we have seen,
10	And my imaginations are as foul
10	As Vulcan's stithy. Give him heedful note;
10	For I mine eyes will rivet to his face,
10	And after we will both our judgments join
7	In censure of his seeming.	[End of beat five]