Cor. Vol. In that, and all things, will we show our duty. King. We doubt it nothing; heartily farewell. [Exeunt VOLTIMAND and CORNELIUS, And now, Laertes, what's the news with you? You told us of some suit; What is't, Laertes ? You cannot speak of reason to the Dane, And lose your voice: What would'st thou beg, La ertes, That shall not be my offer, not thy asking? Laer. My thoughts and wishes bend again toward France, And bow them to your gracious leave and pardon. King. Have you your father's leave? What says Polonius ? Pol. He hath my lord, [wrung from me my slow leave, By laboursome petition; and, at last, Upon his will I seal'd my hard consent:] I do beseech you, give him leave to go. King. Take thy fair hour, Laertes; time be thine, And thy best graces: spend it at thy will.— But now, my cousin Hamlet, and my son,— Ham. A little more than kin, and less than kind." [Aside. King. How is it that the clouds still hang on you? Ham. Not so, my lord, I am too much i'the sun. Queen. Good Hamlet, cast thy nighted colour off, And let thine eye look like a friend on Denmark. Do not, for ever, with thy valid lids Seek for thy noble father in the dust: Thou know'st, 'tis common; all, that live, must die, Ham. Ay, madam, it is common. Why seems it so particular with thee? If it be, Ham. Seems madam! nay, it is; I know not seems. 'Tis not alone my inky cloak, good mother, Nor customary suits of solemn black, No, nor the fruitful river in the eye, These, but the trappings and the suits of woe. To give these mourning duties to your father: 5 Nature, a little more than a kinsman, and less than a natural one. VOL. X, 6 Lowering eyes. L In filial obligation, for some term To do obsequious sorrow: But to perséver Of impious stubbornness; 'tis unmanly grief: It shows a will most incorrect to heaven; A heart unfortified, or mind impatient; An understanding simple and unschool'd: Queen. Let not thy mother lose her prayers, Ham- I pray thee, stay with us, go not to Wittenberg. 7 Contrary. King. Why, 'tis a loving and a fair reply; Be as ourself in Denmark.-Madam, come; This gentle and unforc'd accord of Hamlet Sits smiling to my heart: in grace whereof, No jocund health, that Denmark drinks to-day, But the great cannon to the clouds shall tell; And the king's rouse the heaven shall bruit again, Re-speaking earthly thunder. Come away. [Exeunt King, Queen, Lords, &c. POLONIUS, and LAERTES. Ham. O, that this too too solid flesh would melt, Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew! Or that the Everlasting had not fix'd 2 His canon 'gainst self-slaughter! O God! O God! How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable Seem to me all the uses of this world! Fye on't! O fye! 'tis an unweeded garden, That grows to seed; things rank, and gross in nature, Hyperion to a satyr: so loving to my mother, By what it fed on: And yet, within a month,— s Draught. 9 Report. 4 Apollo. 1 Dissolve. 2 Law. 3 Entirely. 5, Suffer. A little month; or ere those shoes were old, My father's brother; but no more like my father, But break, my heart: for I must hold my tongue! Enter HORATIO, BERNARDO, and MARCELlus. Hor. Hail to your lordship? Ham. I am glad to see you well: Horatio,-or I do forget myself. Hor. The same, my lord, and your poor servant ever. Ham. Sir, my good friend; I'll change that name with you. And what make you from Wittenberg, Horatio?— Marcellus ? Mar. My good lord,—— Ham. I am very glad to see you; good even, sir.But what, in faith, make you from Wittenberg? Hor. A truant disposition, good my lord. Ham. I would not hear your enemy say so: Nor shall you do mine ear that violence, To make it truster of your own report |