2169Ham. Sir, a whole History.

2170Guild. The King, sir.

2171Ham. I sir, what of him?

2172Guild. Is in his retyrement, maruellous distemper'd.

2173Ham. With drinke Sir?

2174Guild. No my Lord, rather with choller.

2175Ham. Your wisedome should shew it selfe more ri-

2176cher, to signifie this to his Doctor: for for me to put him

2177to his Purgation, would perhaps plundge him into farre

2178more Choller.

2179Guild. Good my Lord put your discourse into some

2180frame, and start not so wildely from my affayre.

2181Ham. I am tame Sir, pronounce.

2182Guild. The Queene your Mother, in most great affli-

2183ction of spirit, hath sent me to you.

2184Ham. You are welcome.

2185Guild. Nay, good my Lord, this courtesie is not of

2186the right breed. If it shall please you to make me a whol-

2187some answer, I will doe your Mothers command'ment:

2188if not, your pardon, and my returne shall bee the end of

2189my Businesse.

2190Ham. Sir, I cannot.

2191Guild. What, my Lord?

2192Ham. Make you a wholsome answere: my wits dis-

2193eas'd. But sir, such answers as I can make, you shal com-

2194mand: or rather you say, my Mother: therfore no more

2195but to the matter. My Mother you say.

2196Rosin. Then thus she sayes: your behauior hath stroke

2197her into amazement, and admiration.

2198Ham. Oh wonderfull Sonne, that can so astonish a

2199Mother. But is there no sequell at the heeles of this Mo-

2200thers admiration?

2201Rosin. She desires to speake with you in her Closset,

2202ere you go to bed.

2203Ham. We shall obey, were she ten times our Mother.

2204Haue you any further Trade with vs?

2205Rosin. My Lord, you once did loue me.

2206Ham. So I do still, by these pickers and stealers.

2207Rosin. Good my Lord, what is your cause of distem-

2208per? You do freely barre the doore of your owne Liber-

2209tie, if you deny your greefes to your Friend.

2210Ham. Sir I lacke Aduancement.

2211Rosin. How can that be, when you haue the voyce of

2212the King himselfe, for your Succession in Denmarke?

2213Ham. I, but while the grasse growes, the Prouerbe is

2214something musty.

2216O the Recorder. Let me see, to withdraw with you, why

2217do you go about to recouer the winde of mee, as if you

2218would driue me into a toyle?

2219Guild. O my Lord, if my Dutie be too bold, my loue

2220is too vnmannerly.

2221Ham. I do not well vnderstand that. Will you play

2222vpon this Pipe?

2223Guild. My Lord, I cannot.

2224Ham. I pray you.

2225Guild. Beleeue me, I cannot.

2226Ham. I do beseech you.

2227Guild. I know no touch of it, my Lord.

2228Ham. 'Tis as easie as lying: gouerne these Ventiges

2229with your finger and thumbe, giue it breath with your

2230mouth, and it will discourse most excellent Musicke.

2231Looke you, these are the stoppes.

2232Guild. But these cannot I command to any vtterance

2233of hermony, I haue not the skill.

2234Ham. Why looke you now, how vnworthy a thing

2235you make of me: you would play vpon mee; you would

2236seeme to know my stops: you would pluck out the heart

2237of my Mysterie; you would sound mee from my lowest

2238Note, to the top of my Compasse: and there is much Mu-

2239sicke, excellent Voice, in this little Organe, yet cannot

2240you make it. Why do you thinke, that I am easier to bee

2241plaid on, then a Pipe? Call me what Instrument you will,

2242though you can fret me, you cannot play vpon me. God

2243blesse you Sir.

2245Polon. My Lord; the Queene would speak with you,

2246and presently.

2247Ham. Do you see that Clowd? that's almost in shape

2248like a Camell.

2249Polon. By'th'Misse, and it's like a Camell indeed.

2250Ham. Me thinkes it is like a Weazell.

2251Polon. It is back'd like a Weazell.

2252Ham. Or like a Whale?

2253Polon. Verie like a Whale.

2254Ham. Then will I come to my Mother, by and by:

2255They foole me to the top of my bent.

2256I will come by and by.

2257Polon. I will say so. Exit.

2258Ham. By and by, is easily said. Leaue me Friends:

2259'Tis now the verie witching time of night,

2260When Churchyards yawne, and Hell it selfe breaths out

2261Contagion to this world. Now could I drink hot blood,

2262And do such bitter businesse as the day

2263Would quake to looke on. Soft now, to my Mother:

2264Oh Heart, loose not thy Nature; let not euer

2265The Soule of Nero, enter this firme bosome:

2266Let me be cruell, not vnnaturall,

2267I will speake Daggers to her, but vse none:

2268My Tongue and Soule in this be Hypocrites.

2269How in my words someuer she be shent,

2270To giue them Seales, neuer my Soule consent.

2272King. I like him not, nor stands it safe with vs,

2273To let his madnesse range. Therefore prepare you,

2274I your Commission will forthwith dispatch,

2275And he to England shall along with you:

2276The termes of our estate, may not endure

2277Hazard so dangerous as doth hourely grow

2278Out of his Lunacies.

2279Guild. We will our selues prouide:

2280Most holie and Religious feare it is

2281To keepe those many many bodies safe

2282That liue and feede vpon your Maiestie.

2283Rosin. The single

2284And peculiar life is bound

2285With all the strength and Armour of the minde,

2286To keepe it selfe from noyance: but much more,

2287That Spirit, vpon whose spirit depends and rests

2288The liues of many, the cease of Maiestie

2289Dies not alone; but like a Gulfe doth draw

2290What's neere it, with it. It is a massie wheele

2291Fixt on the Somnet of the highest Mount,

2292To whose huge Spoakes, ten thousand lesser things

2293Are mortiz'd and adioyn'd: which when it falles,

2294Each small annexment, pettie consequence

2295Attends the boystrous Ruine. Neuer alone

2296Did the King sighe, but with a generall grone.

2297King. Arme you, I pray you to this speedie Voyage;

2298For we will Fetters put vpon this feare,

pp Which