I hold my duty, as I hold my soul, SO sure As it hath us'd to do,) that I have found in. King. O, speak of that; that do I long to hear. Pol. Give first admittance to the embassadors; My news shall be the fruit? to that great feast. King. Thyself do grace to them, and bring em [Exit Polomes. He tells me, my dear Gertrude, he hath found The head and source of all your son's distemper. Queen. I doubt, it is no other but the main; His father's death, and our o'er-hasty marriage. Re-enter Polonius, with Voltimand and Cornelius. King. Well, we shall sift him.-Welcome, my good friends! Say, Voltimand, what from our brother Norway? His nephew's levies; which to him appear'd It was against your highness: Whereat griev'd,— (1) Scent. [Gives a paper. (2) Dessert. (4) Imposed on That it might please you to give quiet pass King. Mean time, we thank you for your well-took labour Pol. [Exeunt Voltimand and Cornelius. My liege, and madam, to expostulatel Why day is day, night, night, and time is time, Queen. More matter, with less art. Pol. Madam, I swear I use no art at all. That he is mad, 'tis true: 'tis true, 'tis pity; And pity 'tis, 'tis true: a foolish figure; But farewell it, for I will use no art. : Mad let us grant him then and now remains, I have a daughter; have, while she is mine; (1) Discuss. That's an ill phrase, a vile phrase; beautified is a vile phrase; but you shall hear.- -Thus : In her excellent white bosom, these, &c. Queen. Came this from Hamlet to her? Pol. Good madam, stay a while; I will be faith ful. Doubt thou, the stars are fire; Doubt, that the sun doth move; Doubt truth to be a liar; But never doubt, I love. [Reads. O dear Ophelia, I am ill at these numbers; 1 have not art to reckon my groans; but that I love thee best, O most best, believe it. Adiev. Thine evermore, most dear lady, whilst this machine is to him, Hamlet. This, in obedience, hath my daughter shown ne As they fell out by time, by means, and place, King. Receiv'd his love? Pol. But how hath she What do you think of me? King. As of a man faithful and honourable. Pol. I would fain prove so. But what might you think, When I had seen this hot love on the wing Before my daughter told me,) what might you, What might you think? no, I went round! to work, (1) Roundly, without reserve. This must not be: and then I precepts gave her, Thence to a watch; thence into a weakness; And all we mourn for. King. Do you think, 'tis this? Queen. It may be, very likely. Pol. Hath there been such a time (I'd fain know that,) That I have positively said, 'T'is so, When it prov'd otherwise? King. Not that I know. Pol. Take this from this, if this be otherwise: [Pointing to his head and shoulder. If circumstances lead me, I will fir.d Where truth is hid, though it were hid indeed King How may we try it further? Pol. You know, sometimes he walks four hours Be Queen. So he does, indeed. Pol. At such a time I'll loose my daughter to him: you and I behind an arras! then; Mark the encounter: if he love her not, And be not from his reason fallen thereon, Let me be no assistant for a state, But keep a farm, and carters. King. We will try it. Enter Hamlet, reading. Queen. But look, where sadly the poor wretch comes reading. (1) Tapestry. Pol. Away, I do beseech you, both away; I'll board' him presently :--O, give me leave.[Exeunt King, Queen, and Attendants How does iny good lord Hamlet? Ham. Well, god-'a-mercy. Pol. Do you know me, my lord? Ham. Excellent well; you are a fishmonger. Pol. Not I, my lord. Ham. Then I would you were so honest a man. Pol. Honest, my lord? Ham. Ay, sir; to be honest, as this world goes, is to be one man picked out of ten thousand. Pol. That's very true, my lord. Ham. For if the sun breed maggots in a dead dog, being a god, kissing carrion,-Have you a daughter? Pol. I have, my lord. Ham. Let her not walk i'the sun: conception? is a blessing; but as your daughter may conceive,3— friend, look to't. Pol. How say you by that? [Aside.] Still harping on my daughter:-yet he knew me not at first; he said, I was a fishmonger: He is far gone, far gone: and, truly, in my youth I suffered much extremity for love; very near this. I'll speak o him again.-What do you read, my lord? Ham. Words, words, words! Pol. What is the matter, my lord? Pol. I mean, the matter that you read, my lord. Ham. Slanders, sir: for the satirical rogue says here, that old men have grey beards; that their faces are wrinkled; their eyes purging thick amber, and plum-tree gum; and that they have a plentiful lack of wit, together with most weak hams: All of which, sir, though I most powerfully and potently believe, yet I hold it not honesty to have it thus se (2) Understanding. (1) Accost. |