moult no feather." I have of late-but wherefore I know not -lost all my mirth, forgone all custom of exercises; and inand deed it goes so heavily with my disposition that this goodly frame, the earth, seems to me a sterile promontory; this shoal of tiux beautiful, most excellent canopy, the air, look you, this brave o'erhangfraud. ing firmament, this majestical roof fretted with golden fire, lumbossing pressed out, e, ded stlaufed, why, it appears no other thing to me than a foul and pestical ex lent congregation of vapours. What a piece of work is man! out. how noble in reason! how infinite in faculty! in form and any sort. expressive moving how express and admirable! in action how like an angel! in apprehension how like a god! "the beauty of the world! the paragon of animals! And yet, to me, what is this quintessence of dust? man delights not me ; no, nor woman neither, though by your smiling you seem to say so. 304 Rosencrantz. My lord, there was no such stuff in my thoughts. " Hamlet. Why did you laugh then, when I said 'man delights not me?' Rosencrants. To think, my lord, if you delight not in man, for evergre what lenten entertainment the players shall receive from A good when you; we coted them on the way, and hither are they comabower" IN. ing to offer you service. passed by, outstreffend 312 Cust perfect inn Sere the ина Hamlet. He that plays the king shall be welcome; his majesty shall have tribute of me; the adventurous knight shall use his foil and target; the lover shall not sigh gratis; Capricious the humorous man shall end his part in peace; the clowne trigger, whe "Se uility shall make those laugh whose lungs are tickle o' the sere; and the lady shall say her mind freely, or the blank verse shall halt for 't. What players are they? Rosencrantz. Even those you were wont to take delight ther in, the tragedians of the city. Their 321 Hamlet. How chances it they travel? their residence, both in reputation and profit, was better both ways. Rosencrantz. I think their inhibition comes by the means of the late innovation. Probably there was during the hacked fact of Elgevelt's rigen very litely it refers to ys whe are blesby loved t laughter, inticbition If the players the innovatin wish then the profest! out of ently went. 8 -the tof f Hamlet. Do they hold the same estimation they did when refutaten I was in the city? are they so followed? Rosencrantz. No, indeed, are they not. Hamlet. How comes it? do they grow rusty? 329 Rosencrantz. Nay, their endeavour keeps in the wonted pace; but there is, sir, an aery of children, little eyases, that expert :. cry out on the top of question, and are most tyrannically slapped for ': these are now the fashion, and so berattle love the common stages-so they call them—that many wearing terapiers are afraid of goose-quills, and dare scarce come persibly the writers. heir voices thither. t eqel Hamlet. What, are they children? who maintains 'em? had as how are they escoted? Will they pursue the quality no professive ово рад the longer than they can sing? will they not say afterwards, if they should grow themselves to common players—as it is most like, if their means are no better-their writers do them wrong, to make them exclaim against their own succession? fully Rosencrantz. Faith, there has been much to-do on both sides, and the nation holds it no sin to tarre them to controversy; there was for a while no money bid for argument, flot. unless the poet and the player went to cuffs in the ques tion. Hamlet. Is 't possible? 349 Guildenstern. O, there has been much throwing about of brains. Hamlet. Do the boys carry it away? Rosencrantz. Ay, that they do, my lord; Hercules and his load too. Hamlet. It is not very strange; for mine uncle is king of Denmark, and those that would make mows at him while moutho my father lived give twenty, forty, fifty, an hundred ducats apiece for his picture in little. 'Sblood, there is something in this more than natural, if philosophy could find it out. 359 [Flourish of trumpets within. Guildenstern. There are the players. show you Hamlet. Gentlemen, you are welcome to Elsinore. Your hands, come; the appurtenance of welcome is fashion and ceremony: let me comply with you in this garb, lest my ex-orkest to tent to the players, which, I tell you, must show fairly out- you in thes ward, should more appear like entertainment than yours. You are welcome; but my uncle-father and aunt-mother are deceived. Guildenstern. In what, my dear lord? Hamlet. I am but mad north-north-west; when the wind ་ is southerly I know a hawk from a handsaw.fly "very show" hewn. When the bind sees that the d Enter POLONIUS.weing puroved to be when be flies to the Polonius. Well be with you, gentlemen! the grind. and you too; - at each ear a hearer: that great baby you see there is not yet out of his swaddling-clouts. Rosencrantz. Happily he's the second time come to them; hafly, for they say an old man is twice a child. Hamlet. I will prophesy he comes to tell me of the play ers; mark it. You say right, sir: o' Monday morning; Polonius. My lord, I have news to tell you. Hamlet. My lord, I have news to tell you. When Roscius was an actor in Rome,— Polonius. The actors are come hither, my lord. Hamlet. Then came each actor on his ass, Polonius. The best actors in the world, either for tragedy, 390 wit. unlerated is just the reverse. Hamlet. O Jephthah, judge of Israel, what a treasure hadst thou! Polonius. What treasure had he, my lord? Hamlet. Why, 'One fair daughter, and no more, The which he loved passing well.' Polonius. [Aside] Still on my daughter. Hamlet. Am I not i' the right, old Jephthah? Polonius. If you call me Jephthah, my lord, I have a daugh It came to pass, as most like it was,’– e stay the first row of the pious chanson will show you more; for an entertainment for passing time 408 and also You are welcome, masters; welcome, all. I am glad to see sunyede ye well. Welcome, good friends.—O, my old friend! thy face is valanced since I saw thee last; comest thou to beard me Avay ktury straight. Come, give us a taste of your quality; come, a passionate speech. I Player. What speech, my lord? 420 Hamlet. I heard thee speak me a speech once, but it was words. never acted; or, if it was, not above once, for the play, I re- & Russian member, pleased not the million; 't was caviare to the gen- the poor, 'but for the general," but it was-as I received it, and others, whose judg were bihu ments in such matters cried in the top of mine--an excellent tree play, well digested in the scenes, set down with as much why dors Sharpen modesty as cunning. I remember, one said there were no thu sallets in the lines to make the matter savoury, nor no mat- play? Siquant ter in the phrase that might indict the author of affectation; but called it an honest method, as wholesome as sweet, and Really t by very much more handsome than fine. One speech in it I chiefly loved: 't was Æneas' tale to Dido; and thereabout of it especially, where he speaks of Priam's slaughter. If it live in your memory, begin at this line; let me see, let me see The rugged Pyrrhus, like the Hyrcanian beast, 't is not so:-it begins with Pyrrhus.' Not weak but w The rugged Pyrrhus, he whose sable arms, aut Bak'd and impasted with the parching streets, made into paste To their lord's murther. Roasted in wrath and fire, And thus o'er-sized with coagulate gore, With eyes like carbuncles, the hellish Pyrrhus Old grandsire Priam seeks. in mills, So, proceed you. cent and good discretion. I Player. off. adulterate. 450 Polonius. Fore God, my lord, well spoken, with good ac Anon he finds him |