ACT IV LAER. I'm lost in it, my Lord. But let him come : So you will not o'errule me to a peace. As checking at his voyage, and that he means No more to undertake it, I will work him To an exploit, now ripe in my device, Under the which he shall not choose but fall: And for his death no wind of blame shall breathe; But even his mother shall uncharge the practice, You have been talk'd of since your travel much, 60 70 What part is that, my Lord? LAER Yet needful too; for youth no less becomes Importing health and graveness. Two months since, I've seen, myself, and serv'd against, the French, 1 of the lowest rank. 81 LAER. I know him well: he is the brooch, indeed, And gem of all the nation. KING. He made confession of you; And gave you such a masterly report For art and exercise in your defence, And for your rapier most especially, That he cried out, 'twould be a sight indeed, If one could match you: the scrimers of their nation, He swore, had neither motion, guard, nor eye, If you oppos'd them. Sir, this report of his LAER. What out of this, my Lord? KING. Laertes, was your father dear to you? Or are you like the painting of a sorrow, A face without a heart? LAER. Why ask you this? KING. Not that I think you did not love your father; But that I know love is begun by time, There lives within the very flame of love A kind of wick or snuff that will abate it; And nothing is at a like goodness still; For goodness, growing to a plurisy, Dies in his own too much. That we would do We should do when we would; for this would changes, And hath abatements and delays as many As there are tongues, are hands, are accidents; And then this should is like a spendthrift sigh, That hurts by easing. But, to the quick o' the ulcer: 120 1 i.e. in imagining. ACT IV To shew yourself your father's son in deed LAER. And wager on your heads. He, being remiss, Most generous, and free from all contriving, I will do 't; KING. If this should blast in proof. Soft! let me see: When in your motion you are hot and dry 1 i.e. a rapier without a button. 2 a treacherous thrust. 3 galve. 130 140 151 160 ACT IV Sc. VII If he by chance escape your venom'd stuck, Enter the QUEEN. How now, sweet Queen! QUEEN. One woe doth tread upon another's heel, So fast they follow. Your sister's drown'd, Laertes. LAER. Drown'd! O, where? QUEEN. There is a willow grows aslant a brook, That shews his hoar leaves in the glassy stream: Of crow-flowers, nettles, daisies, and long purples, But our cold maids do dead men's fingers call them: 170 When down her weedy trophies and herself Fell in the weeping brook. Her clothes spread And, mermaid-like, awhile they bore her up; Or like a creature native and indued Unto that element: but long it could not be LAER. Alas, then she is drown'd! QUEEN. Drown'd, drown'd! LAER. Too much of water hast thou, poor Ophelia, And therefore I forbid my tears: but yet It is our trick; Nature her custom holds, Let Shame say what it will: when these are gone, I have a speech of fire, that fain would blaze, 180 [exit. Let's follow, Gertrude: How much I had to do to calm his rage! 191 [exeunt. ACT V ACT V SCENE I. Elsinore. A Churchyard. Enter two Clowns, with spades, etc. FIRST CLOWN. Is she to be buried in Christian burial that wilfully seeks her own salvation? SEC. CLOWN. I tell thee she is: and therefore make her grave straight: the crowner hath sat on her, and finds it Christian burial. FIRST CLOWN. How can that be, unless she drown'd herself in her own defence? 8 SEC. CLOWN. Why, 'tis found so. SEC. CLOWN. Nay, but hear you, Goodman Delver- 21 FIRST CLOWN. Ay, marry, is 't; Crowner's Quest law. FIRST CLOWN. Why, there thou say'st; and the more 31 |