2299Which now goes too free-footed.

2300Both. We will haste vs. Exeunt Gent.

2302Pol. My Lord, he's going to his Mothers Closset:

2303Behinde the Arras Ile conuey my selfe

2304To heare the Processe. Ile warrant shee'l tax him home,

2305And as you said, and wisely was it said,

2306'Tis meete that some more audience then a Mother,

2307Since Nature makes them partiall, should o're-heare

2308The speech of vantage. Fare you well my Liege,

2309Ile call vpon you ere you go to bed,

2310And tell you what I know.

2311King. Thankes deere my Lord.

2312Oh my offence is ranke, it smels to heauen,

2313It hath the primall eldest curse vpon't,

2314A Brothers murther. Pray can I not,

2315Though inclination be as sharpe as will:

2316My stronger guilt, defeats my strong intent,

2317And like a man to double businesse bound,

2318I stand in pause where I shall first begin,

2319And both neglect; what if this cursed hand

2320Were thicker then it selfe with Brothers blood,

2321Is there not Raine enough in the sweet Heauens

2322To wash it white as Snow? Whereto serues mercy,

2323But to confront the visage of Offence?

2324And what's in Prayer, but this two-fold force,

2325To be fore-stalled ere we come to fall,

2326Or pardon'd being downe? Then Ile looke vp,

2327My fault is past. But oh, what forme of Prayer

2328Can serue my turne? Forgiue me my foule Murther:

2329That cannot be, since I am still possest

2330Of those effects for which I did the Murther.

2331My Crowne, mine owne Ambition, and my Queene:

2332May one be pardon'd, and retaine th'offence?

2333In the corrupted currants of this world,

2334Offences gilded hand may shoue by Iustice,

2335And oft 'tis seene, the wicked prize it selfe

2336Buyes out the Law; but 'tis not so aboue,

2337There is no shuffling, there the Action lyes

2338In his true Nature, and we our selues compell'd

2339Euen to the teeth and forehead of our faults,

2340To giue in euidence. What then? What rests?

2341Try what Repentance can. What can it not?

2342Yet what can it, when one cannot repent?

2343Oh wretched state! Oh bosome, blacke as death!

2344Oh limed soule, that strugling to be free,

2345Art more ingag'd: Helpe Angels, make assay:

2346Bow stubborne knees, and heart with strings of Steele,

2347Be soft as sinewes of the new-borne Babe,

2348All may be well.

2350Ham. Now might I do it pat, now he is praying,

2351And now Ile doo't, and so he goes to Heauen,

2352And so am I reueng'd: that would be scann'd,

2353A Villaine killes my Father, and for that

2354I his foule Sonne, do this same Villaine send

2355To heauen. Oh this is hyre and Sallery, not Reuenge.

2356He tooke my Father grossely, full of bread,

2357With all his Crimes broad blowne, as fresh as May,

2358And how his Audit stands, who knowes, saue Heauen:

2359But in our circumstance and course of thought

2360'Tis heauie with him: and am I then reueng'd,

2361To take him in the purging of his Soule,

2362When he is fit and season'd for his passage? No.

2363Vp Sword, and know thou a more horrid hent

2364When he is drunke asleepe: or in his Rage,

2365Or in th'incestuous pleasure of his bed,

2366At gaming, swearing, or about some acte

2367That ha's no rellish of Saluation in't,

2368Then trip him, that his heeles may kicke at Heauen,

2369And that his Soule may be as damn'd aud blacke

2370As Hell, whereto it goes. My Mother stayes,

2371This Physicke but prolongs thy sickly dayes. Exit.

2372King. My words flye vp, my thoughts remain below,

2373Words without thoughts, neuer to Heauen go. Exit.

2375Pol. He will come straight:

2376Looke you lay home to him,

2377Tell him his prankes haue been too broad to beare with,

2378And that your Grace hath scree'nd, and stoode betweene

2379Much heate, and him. Ile silence me e'ene heere:

2380Pray you be round with him.

2381Ham. within. Mother, mother, mother.

2382Qu. Ile warrant you, feare me not.

2383Withdraw, I heare him comming.

2385Ham. Now Mother, what's the matter?

2386Qu. Hamlet, thou hast thy Father much offended.

2387Ham. Mother, you haue my Father much offended.

2388Qu. Come, come, you answer with an idle tongue.

2389Ham. Go, go, you question with an idle tongue.

2390Qu. Why how now Hamlet?

2391Ham. Whats the matter now?

2392Qu. Haue you forgot me?

2393Ham. No by the Rood, not so:

2394You are the Queene, your Husbands Brothers wife,

2395But would you were not so. You are my Mother.

2396Qu. Nay, then Ile set those to you that can speake.

2397Ham. Come, come, and sit you downe, you shall not

2398boudge:

2399You go not till I set you vp a glasse,

2400Where you may see the inmost part of you?

2401Qu. What wilt thou do? thou wilt not murther me?

2402Helpe, helpe, hoa.

2403Pol. What hoa, helpe, helpe, helpe.

2404Ham. How now, a Rat? dead for a Ducate, dead.

2405Pol. Oh I am slaine. Killes Polonius.

2406Qu. Oh me, what hast thou done?

2407Ham. Nay I know not, is it the King?

2408Qu. Oh what a rash, and bloody deed is this?

2409Ham. A bloody deed, almost as bad good Mother,

2410As kill a King, and marrie with his Brother.

2411Qu. As kill a King?

2412Ham. I Lady, 'twas my word.

2413Thou wretched, rash, intruding foole farewell,

2414I tooke thee for thy Betters, take thy Fortune,

2415Thou find'st to be too busie, is some danger.

2416Leaue wringing of your hands, peace, sit you downe,

2417And let me wring your heart, for so I shall

2418If it be made of penetrable stuffe;

2419If damned Custome haue not braz'd it so,

2420That it is proofe and bulwarke against Sense.

2421Qu. What haue I done, that thou dar'st wag thy tong,

2422In noise so rude against me?

2423Ham. Such an Act

2424That blurres the grace and blush of Modestie,

2425Cals Vertue Hypocrite, takes off the Rose

2426From the faire forehead of an innocent loue,

2427And makes a blister there. Makes marriage vowes

2428As false as Dicers Oathes. Oh such a deed,