1128Mad let vs grant him then: and now remaines

1129That we finde out the cause of this effect,

1130Or rather say, the cause of this defect;

1131For this effect defectiue, comes by cause,

1132Thus it remaines, and the remainder thus. Perpend,

1133I haue a daughter: haue, whil'st she is mine,

1134Who in her Dutie and Obedience, marke,

1135Hath giuen me this: now gather, and surmise.

1137 To the Celestiall, and my Soules Idoll, the most beautifed O-

1138 phelia.

1139That's an ill Phrase, a vilde Phrase, beautified is a vilde

1140Phrase: but you shall heare these in her excellent white

1141bosome, these.

1142Qu. Came this from Hamlet to her.

1143Pol. Good Madam stay awhile, I will be faithfull.

1148 O deere Ophelia, I am ill at these Numbers: I haue not Art to

1149reckon my grones; but that I loue thee best, oh most Best be-

1150leeue it. Adieu.

1153This in Obedience hath my daughter shew'd me:

1154And more aboue hath his soliciting,

1155As they fell out by Time, by Meanes, and Place,

1156All giuen to mine eare.

1157King. But how hath she receiu'd his Loue?

1158Pol. What do you thinke of me?

1159King. As of a man, faithfull and Honourable.

1160Pol. I wold faine proue so. But what might you think?

1161When I had seene this hot loue on the wing,

1162As I perceiued it, I must tell you that

1163Before my Daughter told me what might you

1164Or my deere Maiestie your Queene heere, think,

1165If I had playd the Deske or Table-booke,

1166Or giuen my heart a winking, mute and dumbe,

1167Or look'd vpon this Loue, with idle sight,

1168What might you thinke? No, I went round to worke,

1169And (my yong Mistris) thus I did bespeake

1170Lord Hamlet is a Prince out of thy Starre,

1171This must not be: and then, I Precepts gaue her,

1172That she should locke her selfe from his Resort,

1173Admit no Messengers, receiue no Tokens:

1174Which done, she tooke the Fruites of my Aduice,

1175And he repulsed. A short Tale to make,

1176Fell into a Sadnesse, then into a Fast,

1177Thence to a Watch, thence into a Weaknesse,

1178Thence to a Lightnesse, and by this declension

1179Into the Madnesse whereon now he raues,

1180And all we waile for.

1181King. Do you thinke 'tis this?

1182Qu. It may be very likely.

1183Pol. Hath there bene such a time, I'de fain know that,

1184That I haue possitiuely said, 'tis so,

1185When it prou'd otherwise?

1186King. Not that I know.

1187Pol. Take this from this; if this be otherwise,

1188If Circumstances leade me, I will finde

1189Where truth is hid, though it were hid indeede

1190Within the Center.

1191King. How may we try it further?

1192Pol. You know sometimes

1193He walkes foure houres together, heere

1194In the Lobby.

1195Qu. So he ha's indeed.

1196Pol. At such a time Ile loose my Daughter to him,

1197Be you and I behinde an Arras then,

1198Marke the encounter: If he loue her not,

1199And be not from his reason falne thereon;

1200Let me be no Assistant for a State,

1201And keepe a Farme and Carters.

1202King. We will try it.

1204Qu. But looke where sadly the poore wretch

1205Comes reading.

1206Pol. Away I do beseech you, both away,

1207Ile boord him presently. Exit King & Queen.

1208Oh giue me leaue. How does my good Lord Hamlet?

1209Ham. Well, God-a-mercy.

1210Pol. Do you know me, my Lord?

1211Ham. Excellent, excellent well: y'are a Fishmonger.

1212Pol. Not I my Lord.

1213Ham. Then I would you were so honest a man.

1214Pol. Honest, my Lord?

1215Ham. I sir, to be honest as this world goes, is to bee

1216one man pick'd out of two thousand.

1217Pol. That's very true, my Lord.

1218Ham. For if the Sun breed Magots in a dead dogge,

1219being a good kissing Carrion-----

1220Haue you a daughter?

1221Pol. I haue my Lord.

1222Ham. Let her not walke i'th'Sunne: Conception is a

1223blessing, but not as your daughter may conceiue. Friend

1224looke too't.

1225Pol. How say you by that? Still harping on my daugh-

1226ter: yet he knew me not at first; he said I was a Fishmon-

1227ger: he is farre gone, farre gone: and truly in my youth,

1228I suffred much extreamity for loue: very neere this. Ile

1229speake to him againe. What do you read my Lord?

1230Ham. Words, words, words.

1231Pol. What is the matter, my Lord?

1232Ham. Betweene who?

1233Pol. I meane the matter you meane, my Lord.

1234Ham. Slanders Sir: for the Satyricall slaue saies here,

1235that old men haue gray Beards; that their faces are wrin-

1236kled; their eyes purging thicke Amber, or Plum-Tree

1237Gumme: and that they haue a plentifull locke of Wit,

1238together with weake Hammes. All which Sir, though I

1239most powerfully, and potently beleeue; yet I holde it

1240not Honestie to haue it thus set downe: For you your

1241selfe Sir, should be old as I am, if like a Crab you could

1242go backward.

1243Pol. Though this be madnesse,

1244Yet there is Method in't: will you walke

1245Out of the ayre my Lord?

1246Ham. Into my Graue?

1247Pol. Indeed that is out o'th' Ayre:

1248How pregnant (sometimes) his Replies are?

1249A happinesse,

1250That often Madnesse hits on,

1251Which Reason and Sanitie could not

1252So prosperously be deliuer'd of.

1253I will leaue him,

1254And sodainely contriue the meanes of meeting

1255Betweene him, and my daughter.

1256My Honourable Lord, I will most humbly

1257Take my leaue of you.

oo3 Ham