Pol. And let him ply his music. Rey. Well, my lord. Enter OPHELIA. [Exit. Pol. Farewell!-How now, Ophelia? what's the matter? Oph. O, my lord, my lord, I have been so affrighted! Pol. With what, in the name of heaven? Oph. My lord, as I was sewing in my closet, Lord Hamlet, with his doublet all unbrac'd ; - No hat upon his head; his stockings foul'd, As if he had been loosed out of hell, To speak of horrors,--he comes before me. Pol. Mad for thy love? Oph. My lord, I do not know; But, truly, I do fear it. Pol. What said he ? Oph. He took me by the wrist, and held me hard: Then goes he to the length of all his arm; And, with his other hand thus o'er his brow, He falls to such perusal of my face, As he would draw it. Long staid he so ; At last, a little shaking of mine arm, And thrice his head thus waving up and down,— As it did seem to shatter all his bulk, Pol. Come, go with me; I will go seek the king. Whose violent property foredoes itself, And leads the will to desperate undertakings, I am sorry, What, have you given him any hard words of late? I did repel his letters, and denied His access to me. [1] Doum-gyved means, hanging down like the loose cincture which confines the fetters round the ancles. STEEVENS. Pol. That hath made him mad. I am sorry, that with better heed and judgment, I had not quoted him. I fear'd, he did but trifle, To cast beyond ourselves in our opinions, As it is common for the younger sort To lack discretion.3 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." Come. SCENE II. [Exeunt. A Room in the Castle. Enter King, Queen, ROSENCRANTZ. Guildenstern, and Attendants. King. Welcome, dear Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern! Moreover that we much did long to see you, The need, we have to use you, did provoke I cannot dream of: I entreat you both, That,-being of so young days brought up with him: And, since, so neighbour'd to his youth and humour,→ That you vouchsafe your rest here in our court Some little time: so by your companies To draw him on to pleasures; and to gather, So much as from occasion you may glean, Whether aught, to us unknown, afflicts him thus, That, open'd, lies within our remedy. Queen. Good gentlemen, he hath much talk'd of you, And, sure I am, two men there are not living, To whom he more adheres. If it will please you [2] To quote, is I believe, to reckon, to take an account of, to take the quotient or result of a computation. JOHNSON. [3] This is not the remark of a weak man. The vice of age is too much suspicion. Men long accustomed to the wiles of life cast commonly beyond themselves, let their cunning go farther than reason can attend it. This is always the fault of a little mind, made artful by long commerce with the world. JOHNSON. [4] This must be made known to the king, for (being kept secret, the hiding Hamlet's love might occasion more mischief to us from him and the queen, than the uttering or revealing of it will occasion hate and resentment from Hamlet JOHNSON To show us so much gentry, and good will, Ros. Both your majesties Might, by the sovereign power you have of us, Guil. But we both obey; And here give up ourselves, in the full bent, To be commanded. King. Thanks, Rosencrantz, and gentle Guildenstern. Queen. Thanks, Guildenstern, and gentle Rosencrantz : And I beseech you instantly to visit My too much changed son.-Go, some of you, And bring these gentlemen where Hamlet is. Guil. Heavens make our presence, and our practices, Pleasant and helpful to him! Queen. Ay, amen. [Exeunt Ros. GUIL. and some Attendants. Enter POLONIUS. Pol, The embassadors from Norway, my good lord, King. Thou still hast been the father of good news. I hold my duty, as I hold my soul, Both to my God, and to my gracious king: And I do think, (or else this brain of mine The very cause of Hamlet's lunacy. King. O, speak of that; that do I long to hear. He tells me, my dear Gertrude, he hath found Queen. I doubt, it is no other but the main; [5] The trail is the course of an animal pursued by the scent 6 The fruit, the desert after the meat. JOHNSON. JOHNSON, Re-enter POLONIUS, with VOLTIMAND and CORNelius. friends! Say, Voltimand, what from our brother Norway? Vol. Most fair return of greetings, and desires. Upon our first, he sent out to suppress His nephew's levies; which to him appear'd It was against your highness: Whereat griev'd,— [Gives a paper. That it might please you to give quiet pass King. It likes us well; And, at our more consider'd time, we'll read, Mean time, we thank you for your well-took labour. Go to your rest; at night we'll feast together :7 Most welcome home! [Exeunt VOLT. and COR. Pol. This business is well ended. My liege, and madam, to expostulate® The king's intemperance is never suffered to be forgotten. JOHNSON Queen. More matter, with less art. Pol. Madam, I swear, I use no art at all. : Mad let us grant him then and now remains, I have a daughter; have, whilst she is mine; Hath given me this: Now gather, and surmise. -To the celestial, and my soul's idol, the most beautified 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 awhile; I will be faithful. 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; I have not art to reckon my groans; but that I love thee best, O most best, believe it. Adieu. Thine evermore, most dear lady, whilst this machine is to him, Hamlet, This, in obedience, hath my daughter shown me : And more above," hath his solicitings, As they fell out by time, by means, and place, All given to mine ear. King. But how hath she 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 seen this hot love on the wing, (As I perceiv'd it, I must tell you that, Before my daughter told me,) what might you, |