1389fashion, and so be-ratled the common Stages (so they

1390call them) that many wearing Rapiers, are affraide of

1391Goose-quils, and dare scarse come thither.

1392Ham. What are they Children? Who maintains 'em?

1393How are they escoted? Will they pursue the Quality no

1394longer then they can sing? Will they not say afterwards

1395if they should grow themselues to common Players (as

1396it is like most if their meanes are not better) their Wri-

1397ters do them wrong, to make them exclaim against their

1398owne Succession.

1399Rosin. Faith there ha's bene much to do on both sides:

1400and the Nation holds it no sinne, to tarre them to Con-

1401trouersie. There was for a while, no mony bid for argu-

1402ment, vnlesse the Poet and the Player went to Cuffes in

1403the Question.

1404Ham. Is't possible?

1405Guild. Oh there ha's beene much throwing about of

1406Braines.

1407Ham. Do the Boyes carry it away?

1408Rosin. I that they do my Lord. Hercules & his load too.

1409Ham. It is not strange: for mine Vnckle is King of

1410Denmarke, and those that would make mowes at him

1411while my Father liued; giue twenty, forty, an hundred

1412Ducates a peece, for his picture in Little. There is some-

1413thing in this more then Naturall, if Philosophie could

1414finde it out.

1416Guil. There are the Players.

1417Ham. Gentlemen, you are welcom to Elsonower: your

1418hands, come: The appurtenance of Welcome, is Fashion

1419and Ceremony. Let me comply with you in the Garbe,

1420lest my extent to the Players (which I tell you must shew

1421fairely outward) should more appeare like entertainment

1422then yours. You are welcome: but my Vnckle Father,

1423and Aunt Mother are deceiu'd.

1424Guil. In what my deere Lord?

1425Ham. I am but mad North, North-West: when the

1426Winde is Southerly, I know a Hawke from a Handsaw.

1428Pol. Well be with you Gentlemen.

1429Ham. Hearke you Guildensterne, and you too: at each

1430eare a hearer: that great Baby you see there, is not yet

1431out of his swathing clouts.

1432Rosin. Happily he's the second time come to them: for

1433they say, an old man is twice a childe.

1434Ham. I will Prophesie. Hee comes to tell me of the

1435Players. Mark it, you say right Sir: for a Monday mor-

1436ning 'twas so indeed.

1437Pol. My Lord, I haue Newes to tell you.

1438Ham. My Lord, I haue Newes to tell you.

1439When Rossius an Actor in Rome---

1440Pol. The Actors are come hither my Lord.

1441Ham. Buzze, buzze.

1442Pol. Vpon mine Honor.

1443Ham. Then can each Actor on his Asse---

1444Polon. The best Actors in the world, either for Trage-

1445die, Comedie, Historie, Pastorall: Pastoricall-Comicall-

1446Historicall-Pastorall: Tragicall-Historicall: Tragicall-

1447Comicall-Historicall-Pastorall: Scene indiuidible: or Po-

1448em vnlimited. Seneca cannot be too heauy, nor Plautus

1449too light, for the law of Writ, and the Liberty. These are

1450the onely men.

1451Ham. O Iephta Iudge of Israel, what a Treasure had'st

1452thou?

1453Pol. What a Treasure had he, my Lord?

1454Ham. Why one faire Daughter, and no more,

1455The which he loued passing well.

1456Pol. Still on my Daughter.

1457Ham. Am I not i'th'right old Iephta?

1458Polon. If you call me Iephta my Lord, I haue a daugh-

1459ter that I loue passing well.

1460Ham. Nay that followes not.

1461Polon. What followes then, my Lord?

1462Ha. Why, As by lot, God wot: and then you know, It

1463came to passe, as most like it was: The first rowe of the

1464Pons Chanson will shew you more. For looke where my

1465Abridgements come.

1467Y'are welcome Masters, welcome all. I am glad to see

1468thee well: Welcome good Friends. O my olde Friend?

1469Thy face is valiant since I saw thee last: Com'st thou to

1470beard me in Denmarke? What, my yong Lady and Mi-

1471stris? Byrlady your Ladiship is neerer Heauen then when

1472I saw you last, by the altitude of a Choppine. Pray God

1473your voice like a peece of vncurrant Gold be not crack'd

1474within the ring. Masters, you are all welcome: wee'l e'ne

1475to't like French Faulconers, flie at any thing we see: wee'l

1476haue a Speech straight. Come giue vs a tast of your qua-

1477lity: come, a passionate speech.

14781. Play. What speech, my Lord?

1479Ham. I heard thee speak me a speech once, but it was

1480neuer Acted: or if it was, not aboue once, for the Play I

1481remember pleas'd not the Million, 'twas Cauiarie to the

1482Generall: but it was (as I receiu'd it, and others, whose

1483iudgement in such matters, cried in the top of mine) an

1484excellent Play; well digested in the Scoenes, set downe

1485with as much modestie, as cunning. I remember one said,

1486there was no Sallets in the lines, to make the matter sa-

1487uouty; nor no matter in the phrase, that might indite the

1488Author of affectation, but cal'd it an honest method. One

1489cheefe Speech in it, I cheefely lou'd, 'twas Aeneas Tale

1490to Dido, and thereabout of it especially, where he speaks

1491of Priams slaughter. If it liue in your memory, begin at

1492this Line, let me see, let me see: The rugged Pyrrhus like

1493th' Hyrcanian Beast. It is not so: it begins with Pyrrhus

1494The rugged Pyrrhus, he whose Sable Armes

1495Blacke as his purpose, did the night resemble

1496When he lay couched in the Ominous Horse,

1497Hath now this dread and blacke Complexion smear'd

1498With Heraldry more dismall: Head to foote

1499Now is he to take Geulles, horridly Trick'd

1500With blood of Fathers, Mothers, Daughters, Sonnes,

1501Bak'd and impasted with the parching streets,

1502That lend a tyrannous, and damned light

1503To their vilde Murthers, roasted in wrath and fire,

1504And thus o're-sized with coagulate gore,

1505VVith eyes like Carbuncles, the hellish Pyrrhus

1506Olde Grandsire Priam seekes.

1507Pol. Fore God, my Lord, well spoken, with good ac-

1508cent, and good discretion.

15091. Player. Anon he findes him,

1510Striking too short at Greekes. His anticke Sword,

1511Rebellious to his Arme, lyes where it falles

1512Repugnant to command: vnequall match,

1513Pyrrhus at Priam driues, in Rage strikes wide:

1514But with the whiffe and winde of his fell Sword,

1515Th'vnnerued Father fals. Then senselesse Illium,

1516Seeming to feele his blow, with flaming top

1517Stoopes to his Bace, and with a hideous crash

1518Takes Prisoner Pyrrhus eare. For loe, his Sword

1519Which was declining on the Milkie head

1520Of Reuerend Priam, seem'd i'th' Ayre to sticke: