1021King. Welcome deere Rosincrance and Guildensterne.

1022Moreouer, that we much did long to see you,

1023The neede we haue to vse you, did prouoke

1024Our hastie sending. Something haue you heard

1025Of Hamlets transformation: so I call it,

1026Since not th'exterior, nor the inward man

1027Resembles that it was. What it should bee

1028More then his Fathers death, that thus hath put him

1029So much from th'vnderstanding of himselfe,

1030I cannot deeme of. I intreat you both,

1031That being of so young dayes brought vp with him:

1032And since so Neighbour'd to his youth, and humour,

1033That you vouchsafe your rest heere in our Court

1034Some little time: so by your Companies

1035To draw him on to pleasures, and to gather

1036So much as from Occasions you may gleane,

1037That open'd lies within our remedie.

1038Qu. Good Gentlemen, he hath much talk'd of you,

1039And sure I am, two men there are not liuing,

1040To whom he more adheres. If it will please you

1041To shew vs so much Gentrie, and good will,

1042As to expend your time with vs a-while,

1043For the supply and profit of our Hope,

1044Your Visitation shall receiue such thankes

1045As fits a Kings remembrance.

1046Rosin. Both your Maiesties

1047Might by the Soueraigne power you haue of vs,

1048Put your dread pleasures, more into Command

1049Then to Entreatie.

1050Guil. We both obey,

1051And here giue vp our selues, in the full bent,

1052To lay our Seruices freely at your feete,

1053To be commanded.

1054King. Thankes Rosincrance, and gentle Guildensterne.

1055Qu. Thankes Guildensterne and gentle Rosincrance.

1056And I beseech you instantly to visit

1057My too much changed Sonne.

1058Go some of ye,

1059And bring the Gentlemen where Hamlet is.

1060Guil. Heauens make our presence and our practises

1061Pleasant and helpfull to him. Exit.

1062Queene. Amen.

1064Pol. Th'Ambassadors from Norwey, my good Lord,

1065Are ioyfully return'd.

1066King. Thou still hast bin the Father of good Newes.

1067Pol. Haue I, my Lord? Assure you, my good Liege,

1068I hold my dutie, as I hold my Soule,

1069Both to my God, one to my gracious King:

1070And I do thinke, or else this braine of mine

1071Hunts not the traile of Policie, so sure

1072As I haue vs'd to do: that I haue found

1073The very cause of Hamlets Lunacie.

1074King. Oh speake of that, that I do long to heare.

1075Pol. Giue first admittance to th'Ambassadors,

1076My Newes shall be the Newes to that great Feast.

1077King. Thy selfe do grace to them, and bring them in.

1078He tels me my sweet Queene, that he hath found

1079The head and sourse of all your Sonnes distemper.

1080Qu. I doubt it is no other, but the maine,

1081His Fathers death, and our o're-hasty Marriage.

1083King. Well, we shall sift him. Welcome good Frends:

1084Say Voltumand, what from our Brother Norwey?

1085Volt. Most faire returne of Greetings, and Desires.

1086Vpon our first, he sent out to suppresse

1087His Nephewes Leuies, which to him appear'd

1088To be a preparation 'gainst the Poleak:

1089But better look'd into, he truly found

1090It was against your Highnesse, whereat greeued,

1091That so his Sicknesse, Age, and Impotence

1092Was falsely borne in hand, sends out Arrests

1093On Fortinbras, which he (in breefe) obeyes,

1094Receiues rebuke from Norwey: and in fine,

1095Makes Vow before his Vnkle, neuer more

1096To giue th'assay of Armes against your Maiestie.

1097Whereon old Norwey, ouercome with ioy,

1098Giues him three thousand Crownes in Annuall Fee,

1099And his Commission to imploy those Soldiers

1100So leuied as before, against the Poleak:

1101With an intreaty heerein further shewne,

1102That it might please you to giue quiet passe

1103Through your Dominions, for his Enterprize,

1104On such regards of safety and allowance,

1105As therein are set downe.

1106King. It likes vs well:

1107And at our more consider'd time wee'l read,

1108Answer, and thinke vpon this Businesse.

1109Meane time we thanke you, for your well-tooke Labour.

1110Go to your rest, at night wee'l Feast together.

1111Most welcome home. Exit Ambass.

1112Pol. This businesse is very well ended.

1113My Liege, and Madam, to expostulate

1114What Maiestie should be, what Dutie is,

1115Why day is day; night, night; and time is time,

1116Were nothing but to waste Night, Day, and Time.

1117Therefore, since Breuitie is the Soule of Wit,

1118And tediousnesse, the limbes and outward flourishes,

1119I will be breefe. Your Noble Sonne is mad:

1120Mad call I it; for to define true Madnesse,

1121What is't, but to be nothing else but mad.

1122But let that go.

1123Qu. More matter, with lesse Art.

1124Pol. Madam, I sweare I vse no Art at all:

1125That he is mad, 'tis true: 'Tis true 'tis pittie,

1126And pittie it is true: A foolish figure,

1127But farewell it: for I will vse no Art.

The Tragedie of Hamlet. 261

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

262 The Tragedie of Hamlet.

1258Ham. You cannot Sir take from me any thing, that I

1259will more willingly part withall, except my life, my

1260life.

1261Polon. Fare you well my Lord.

1262Ham. These tedious old fooles.

1263Polon. You goe to seeke my Lord Hamlet; there

1264hee is.

1266Rosin. God saue you Sir.

1267Guild. Mine honour'd Lord?

1268Rosin. My most deare Lord?

1269Ham. My excellent good friends? How do'st thou

1270Guildensterne? Oh, Rosincrane; good Lads: How doe ye

1271both?

1272Rosin. As the indifferent Children of the earth.

1273Guild. Happy, in that we are not ouer-happy: on For-

1274tunes Cap, we are not the very Button.

1275Ham. Nor the Soales of her Shoo?

1276Rosin. Neither my Lord.

1277Ham. Then you liue about her waste, or in the mid-

1278dle of her fauour?

1279Guil. Faith, her priuates, we.

1280Ham. In the secret parts of Fortune? Oh, most true:

1281she is a Strumpet. What's the newes?

1282Rosin. None my Lord; but that the World's growne

1283honest.

1284Ham. Then is Doomesday neere: But your newes is

1285not true. Let me question more in particular: what haue

1286you my good friends, deserued at the hands of Fortune,

1287that she sends you to Prison hither?

1288Guil. Prison, my Lord?

1289Ham. Denmark's a Prison.

1290Rosin. Then is the World one.

1291Ham. A goodly one, in which there are many Con-

1292fines, Wards, and Dungeons; Denmarke being one o'th'

1293worst.

1294Rosin. We thinke not so my Lord.

1295Ham. Why then 'tis none to you; for there is nothing

1296either good or bad, but thinking makes it so: to me it is

1297a prison.

1298Rosin. Why then your Ambition makes it one: 'tis

1299too narrow for your minde.

1300Ham. O God, I could be bounded in a nutshell, and

1301count my selfe a King of infinite space; were it not that

1302I haue bad dreames.

1303Guil. Which dreames indeed are Ambition: for the

1304very substance of the Ambitious, is meerely the shadow

1305of a Dreame.

1306Ham. A dreame it selfe is but a shadow.

1307Rosin. Truely, and I hold Ambition of so ayry and

1308light a quality, that it is but a shadowes shadow.

1309Ham. Then are our Beggers bodies; and our Mo-

1310narchs and out-stretcht Heroes the Beggers Shadowes:

1311shall wee to th' Court: for, by my fey I cannot rea-

1312son?

1313Both. Wee'l wait vpon you.

1314Ham. No such matter. I will not sort you with the

1315rest of my seruants: for to speake to you like an honest

1316man: I am most dreadfully attended; but in the beaten

1317way of friendship, What make you at Elsonower?

1318Rosin. To visit you my Lord, no other occasion.

1319Ham. Begger that I am, I am euen poore in thankes;

1320but I thanke you: and sure deare friends my thanks

1321are too deare a halfepeny; were you not sent for? Is it

1322your owne inclining? Is it a free visitation? Come,

1323deale iustly with me: come, come; nay speake.

1324Guil. What should we say my Lord?

1325Ham. Why any thing. But to the purpose; you were

1326sent for; and there is a kinde confession in your lookes;

1327which your modesties haue not craft enough to co-

1328lor, I know the good King & Queene haue sent for you.

1329Rosin. To what end my Lord?

1330Ham. That you must teach me: but let mee coniure

1331you by the rights of our fellowship, by the consonancy of

1332our youth, by the Obligation of our euer-preserued loue,

1333and by what more deare, a better proposer could charge

1334you withall; be euen and direct with me, whether you

1335were sent for or no.

1336Rosin. What say you?

1337Ham. Nay then I haue an eye of you: if you loue me

1338hold not off.

1339Guil. My Lord, we were sent for.

1340Ham. I will tell you why; so shall my anticipation

1341preuent your discouery of your secricie to the King and

1342Queene: moult no feather, I haue of late, but wherefore

1343I know not, lost all my mirth, forgone all custome of ex-

1344ercise; and indeed, it goes so heauenly with my dispositi-

1345on; that this goodly frame the Earth, seemes to me a ster-

1346rill Promontory; this most excellent Canopy the Ayre,

1347look you, this braue ore-hanging, this Maiesticall Roofe,

1348fretted with golden fire: why, it appeares no other thing

1349to mee, then a foule and pestilent congregation of va-

1350pours. What a piece of worke is a man! how Noble in

1351Reason? how infinite in faculty? in forme and mouing

1352how expresse and admirable? in Action, how like an An-

1353gel? in apprehension, how like a God? the beauty of the

1354world, the Parragon of Animals; and yet to me, what is

1355this Quintessence of Dust? Man delights not me; no,

1356nor Woman neither; though by your smiling you seeme

1357to say so.

1358Rosin. My Lord, there was no such stuffe in my

1359thoughts.

1360Ham. Why did you laugh, when I said, Man delights

1361not me?

1362Rosin. To thinke, my Lord, if you delight not in Man,

1363what Lenton entertainment the Players shall receiue

1364from you: wee coated them on the way, and hither are

1365they comming to offer you Seruice.

1366Ham. He that playes the King shall be welcome; his

1367Maiesty shall haue Tribute of mee: the aduenturous

1368Knight shal vse his Foyle and Target: the Louer shall

1369not sigh gratis, the humorous man shall end his part in

1370peace: the Clowne shall make those laugh whose lungs

1371are tickled a'th' sere: and the Lady shall say her minde

1372freely; or the blanke Verse shall halt for't: what Players

1373are they?

1374Rosin. Euen those you were wont to take delight in

1375the Tragedians of the City.

1376Ham. How chances it they trauaile? their resi-

1377dence both in reputation and profit was better both

1378wayes.

1379Rosin. I thinke their Inhibition comes by the meanes

1380of the late Innouation?

1381Ham. Doe they hold the same estimation they did

1382when I was in the City? Are they so follow'd?

1383Rosin. No indeed, they are not.

1384Ham. How comes it? doe they grow rusty?

1385Rosin. Nay, their indeauour keepes in the wonted

1386pace; But there is Sir an ayrie of Children, little

1387Yases, that crye out on the top of question; and

1388are most tyrannically clap't for't: these are now the

The Tragedie of Hamlet. 263

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:

264 The Tragedie of Hamlet.

1521So as a painted Tyrant Pyrrhus stood,

1522And like a Newtrall to his will and matter, did nothing.

1523But as we often see against some storme,

1524A silence in the Heauens, the Racke stand still,

1525The bold windes speechlesse, and the Orbe below

1526As hush as death: Anon the dreadfull Thunder

1527Doth rend the Region. So after Pyrrhus pause,

1528A rowsed Vengeance sets him new a-worke,

1529And neuer did the Cyclops hammers fall

1530On Mars his Armours, forg'd for proofe Eterne,

1531With lesse remorse then Pyrrhus bleeding sword

1532Now falles on Priam.

1533Out, out, thou Strumpet-Fortune, all you Gods,

1534In generall Synod take away her power:

1535Breake all the Spokes and Fallies from her wheele,

1536And boule the round Naue downe the hill of Heauen,

1537As low as to the Fiends.

1538Pol. This is too long.

1539Ham. It shall to'th Barbars, with your beard. Pry-

1540thee say on: He's for a Iigge, or a tale of Baudry, or hee

1541sleepes. Say on; come to Hecuba.

1542 1. Play. But who, O who, had seen the inobled Queen.

1543Ham. The inobled Queene?

1544Pol. That's good: Inobled Queene is good.

15451. Play. Run bare-foot vp and downe,

1546Threatning the flame

1547With Bisson Rheume: A clout about that head,

1548Where late the Diadem stood, and for a Robe

1549About her lanke and all ore-teamed Loines,

1550A blanket in th' Alarum of feare caught vp.

1551Who this had seene, with tongue in Venome steep'd,

1552'Gainst Fortunes State, would Treason haue pronounc'd?

1553But if the Gods themselues did see her then,

1554When she saw Pyrrhus make malicious sport

1555In mincing with his Sword her Husbands limbes,

1556The instant Burst of Clamour that she made

1557(Vnlesse things mortall moue them not at all)

1558Would haue made milche the Burning eyes of Heauen,

1559And passion in the Gods.

1560Pol. Looke where he ha's not turn'd his colour, and

1561ha's teares in's eyes. Pray you no more.

1562Ham. 'Tis well, Ile haue thee speake out the rest,

1563soone. Good my Lord, will you see the Players wel be-

1564stow'd. Do ye heare, let them be well vs'd: for they are

1565the Abstracts and breefe Chronicles of the time. After

1566your death, you were better haue a bad Epitaph, then

1567their ill report while you liued.

1568Pol. My Lord, I will vse them according to their de-

1569sart.

1570Ham. Gods bodykins man, better. Vse euerie man

1571after his desart, and who should scape whipping: vse

1572them after your own Honor and Dignity. The lesse they

1573deserue, the more merit is in your bountie. Take them

1574in.

1575Pol. Come sirs. Exit Polon.

1576Ham. Follow him Friends: wee'l heare a play to mor-

1577row. Dost thou heare me old Friend, can you play the

1578murther of Gonzago?

1579Play. I my Lord.

1580Ham. Wee'l ha't to morrow night. You could for a

1581need study a speech of some dosen or sixteene lines, which

1582I would set downe, and insert in't? Could ye not?

1583Play. I my Lord.

1584Ham. Very well. Follow that Lord, and looke you

1585mock him not. My good Friends, Ile leaue you til night

1586you are welcome to Elsonower?

1587Rosin. Good my Lord. Exeunt.

1589Ham. I so, God buy'ye: Now I am alone.

1590Oh what a Rogue and Pesant slaue am I?

1591Is it not monstrous that this Player heere,

1592But in a Fixion, in a dreame of Passion,

1593Could force his soule so to his whole conceit,

1594That from her working, all his visage warm'd;

1595Teares in his eyes, distraction in's Aspect,

1596A broken voyce, and his whole Function suiting

1597With Formes, to his Conceit? And all for nothing?

1598For Hecuba?

1599What's Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba,

1600That he should weepe for her? What would he doe,

1601Had he the Motiue and the Cue for passion

1602That I haue? He would drowne the Stage with teares,

1603And cleaue the generall eare with horrid speech:

1604Make mad the guilty, and apale the free,

1605Confound the ignorant, and amaze indeed,

1606The very faculty of Eyes and Eares. Yet I,

1607A dull and muddy-metled Rascall, peake

1608Like Iohn a-dreames, vnpregnant of my cause,

1609And can say nothing: No, not for a King,

1610Vpon whose property, and most deere life,

1611A damn'd defeate was made. Am I a Coward?

1612Who calles me Villaine? breakes my pate a-crosse?

1613Pluckes off my Beard, and blowes it in my face?

1614Tweakes me by'th'Nose? giues me the Lye i'th'Throate,

1615As deepe as to the Lungs? Who does me this?

1616Ha? Why I should take it: for it cannot be,

1617But I am Pigeon-Liuer'd, and lacke Gall

1618To make Oppression bitter, or ere this,

1619I should haue fatted all the Region Kites

1620With this Slaues Offall, bloudy: a Bawdy villaine,

1621Remorselesse, Treacherous, Letcherous, kindles villaine!

1622Oh Vengeance!

1623Who? What an Asse am I? I sure, this is most braue,

1624That I, the Sonne of the Deere murthered,

1625Prompted to my Reuenge by Heauen, and Hell,

1626Must (like a Whore) vnpacke my heart with words,

1627And fall a Cursing like a very Drab,

1628A Scullion? Fye vpon't: Foh. About my Braine.

1629I haue heard, that guilty Creatures sitting at a Play,

1630Haue by the very cunning of the Scoene,

1631Bene strooke so to the soule, that presently

1632They haue proclaim'd their Malefactions.

1633For Murther, though it haue no tongue, will speake

1634With most myraculous Organ. Ile haue these Players,

1635Play something like the murder of my Father,

1636Before mine Vnkle. Ile obserue his lookes,

1637Ile tent him to the quicke: If he but blench

1638I know my course. The Spirit that I haue seene

1639May be the Diuell, and the Diuel hath power

1640T'assume a pleasing shape, yea and perhaps

1641Out of my Weaknesse, and my Melancholly,

1642As he is very potent with such Spirits,

1643Abuses me to damne me. Ile haue grounds

1644More Relatiue then this: The Play's the thing,

1645Wherein Ile catch the Conscience of the King. Exit