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

270 The Tragedie of Hamlet.

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.