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C.D. Warner, et al., comp. The Library of the World’s Best Literature.
An Anthology in Thirty Volumes. 1917.

Songs and Their Settings: Ophelia’s Lament

By William Shakespeare (1564–1616)

From ‘Hamlet

OPHELIA[sings]—
They bore him bare-faced on their bier;

Hey, non nonny, nonny, hey nonny:

And in his grave rained many a tear;—

Fare you well, my dove!

Laertes—Hadst thou thy wits, and didst persuade revenge,

It could not move thus.

Ophelia—You must sing, Down a-down, an you call him a-down-a. Oh, how the wheel becomes it! It is the false steward, that stole his master’s daughter.

Laertes—This nothing’s more than matter.

Ophelia—There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance; pray you, love, remember: and there is pansies; that’s for thoughts.

Laertes—A document in madness; thoughts and remembrance fitted.

Ophelia—There’s fennel for you, and columbines;—there’s rue for you; and here’s some for me; we may call it herb of grace o’ Sundays: you may wear your rue with a difference.—There’s a daisy: I would give you some violets; but they withered all when my father died.—They say he made a good end.

[Sings]—For bonny sweet Robin is all my joy.

Laertes—Thought and affliction, passion, hell itself,

She turns to favor and to prettiness.

Ophelia[sings]—And will he not come again?

And will he not come again?

No, no, he is dead;

Gone to his death-bed,

He never will come again.

His beard was white as snow,

All flaxen was his poll;

He is gone, he is gone,

And we cast away moan:

God ha’ mercy on his soul!

And of all Christian souls! I pray God.—God be wi’ you![Exit Ophelia, dancing distractedly.