I'm sorry that with better 'heed and judgment

I had not quoted him. I fear'd he trifl'd

And meant to wrack thee; but befhrew my jealousie;

It seems it is as proper to our age,

To caft beyond our felves in our opinions,

As it is common for the younger fort

To lack difcretion. Come, go we to the King.

This must be known, which being kept close, might move
More grief to hide, than hate to utter love.

SCENE III.

The Palace.

[Exeunt.

Enter King, Queen, Rofincroffe, Guildenstern, lords
and other attendants.

King. W Moreover, that we much did long to fee you,

ELCOME dear Rofincroffe and Guildenstern,

The need we have to use you did provoke
Our hafty sending. Something have you heard
Of Hamlet's transformation; fo I call it,
Since not th' exterior, nor the inward man

Refembles that it was. What it should be

More than his father's death, that thus hath put him
So much from th' understanding of himself,

I cannot dream of. I entreat you both,

That being of so young days brought up with him,
And fince so neighbour'd to his youth and humour,
That
you vouchfafe your rest here in our court
Some little time, fo by your companies
To draw him on to pleasures, and to gather
So much as from occafions you may glean,
If ought, to us unkown, afflicts him thus,

Speed.

Bbb 2

That

That open'd lies within our remedy.

Queen. Good gentlemen, he hath much talk'd of you; And fure I am, two men there are not living,

To whom he more adheres. If it will please you

To fhew us so much gentry and good will,

As to extend your time with us a while,
For the fupply and profit of our hope,
Your visitation fhall receive fuch thanks
As fits a King's remembrance.

Rof. Both your Majesties

Might by the fovereign power you have of us,
Put your dread pleasures more into command
Than to entreaty.

Guil. But we both obey,

And here give up our ves in the full bent,

To lay our fervice freely a

King. Thanks, Rafince and gentle Guildenstern. Queen. Thanks, Guildenftern and gentle Rofincroffe; And I beseech you instantly to visit

My too-much changed fon. Go fome of ye,

And bring these gentlemen where Hamlet is.

Guil. Heav'ns make our presence and our practices Pleasant and helpful to him!

Queen. Amen.

Enter Polonius.

[Exeunt Rof. and Guil.

Pol. Th' ambaffadors from Norway, my good lord,

Are joyfully return'd.

King. Thou still haft been the father of good news.
Pol. Have I, my lord? affure you, my good liege,

I hold my duty, as I hold my foul,

Both to my God, and to my gracious King;

And I do think (or elfe this brain of mine

Hunts

King. Oh speak of that, that I do long to hear.
Pol. Give first admittance to th' ambaffadors.

My news fhall be the fruit to that great feast.

King. Thy felf do grace to them, and bring them in. [Ex. Pol.. He tells me, my fweet Queen, that he hath found The head and scource of all your fon's distemper.

Queen. I doubt it is no other but the main, His father's death, and our o'er-hafty marriage..

Enter Polonius, Voltimand, and Cornelius.

King. Well, we shall fift him. Welcome, my good friends!

Say Voltimand, what from our brother Norway?

Volt. Most fair return of greetings, and defires.

Upon our first, he fent out to fupprefs
His nephew's levies, which to him appear'd
To be a preparation 'gainst the Polack:
But better lookt into, he truly found

It was against your highness. Whereat griev❜d,
That fo his fickness, age, and impotence
Was falfely born in hand, fends out arrests
On Fortinbras; which he, in brief, obeys,
Receives rebuke from Norway; and in fine,
Makes vow before his uncle, never more
To give th' affay of arms against your Majesty.
Whereon old Norway, overcome with joy,
Gives him three thousand crowns in annual fee,
And his commiffion to employ thofe foldiers,
So levied as before, against the Polack:

រ

With

With an entreaty herein further fhewn,

That it might please you to give quiet pass
Through your dominions for this enterprize
On fuch regards of fafety and allowance,
As therein are fet down.

King. It likes us well;

And at our more confider'd time we'll read,
Answer, and think upon this business.

Mean time we thank you, for your well-took labour.

Go to your reft, at night we'll feaft together.

Most welcome home.

Pol. This bufinefs is well ended.

My liege and madam, to expoftulate
What Majesty should be, what duty is,

Why day is day, night night, and time is time,
Were nothing but to waste night, day, and time.
Therefore, fince brevity's the foul of wit,
And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes,
I will be brief; your noble son is mad.
Mad call I it; for to define true madness,
What is't, but to be nothing else but mad.
But let that go.

Queen. More matter, with less art.

Pol. Madam, I fwear I ufe no art at all:
That he is mad 'tis true; 'tis true, 'tis pity;
And pity, it is true; a foolish figure,
But farewel it; for I will ufe no art.

Mad let us grant him then; and now remains
That we find out the cause of this effect,

Or rather fay, the cause of this defect;
For this effect defective, comes by cause,

[Exit Ambaf.

Thus it remains, and the remainder thus ---- Perpend ----
I have a daughter; have, whilft fhe is mine,

well-look'd.

Who

Who in her duty and obedience, mark,

Hath giv'n me this; now gather, and furmise.

[He opens a letter, and reads.]

To the celeftial, and my foul's idol, the most beautified Ophelia. That's an ill phrase, a vile phrase, beautified is a vile phrase; but fhall hear Thefe to her excellent white bofom, these -Queen. Came this from Hamlet to her?

you

Pol. Good madam ftay a while, I will be faithful.

Doubt thou, the stars are fire,

Doubt, that the fun doth move;
Doubt truth to be a liar,

But never doubt, I love.

914

[Reading.

Oh dear Ophelia, I am ill at thefe numbers; I have not art to reckon my groans; but that I love thee beft, oh most best, believe

it.

Adieu.

Thine evermore, moft dear lady, whilft this
Machine is to him, Hamlet

This in obedience hath my daughter fhewn me:
And more above, hath his follicitings,

As they fell out by time, by means, and place,

All given to mine ear.

King. But how hath fhe receiv'd his love?

Pol. 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 feen his hot love on the wing,

(As I perceiv'd it, I must tell you that

Before my daughter told me,) what might you,

Or my dear Majefty your Queen here, think?

If I had play'd the desk or table-book,

Or given my heart working, mute and dumb,
Or look'd upon this love with idle fight,

What might you think no, I went round to work,

And