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, Are joyfully return'd. King. Thou still hast been the father of good news. Pol. Have I, my lord? Assure you, my good liege, 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 As it hath us'd to do) that I have found 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; The trail is the course of an animal pursued by the scent JOHNSON. Re-enter POLONIUS, with VOLTIMAND and CORNELIUS. King. Well, we shall sift him.-Welcome, my good friends! Say, Voltimand, what from our brother Norway? Vol. Most fair return of greetings, and desires. 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. Most welcome home! [Exeunt VOLT. and COR Pol. This business is well ended. My liege, and madam, to expostulate What majesty should be, what duty is, Why day is day, night night, and time is time, [7] 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 Ophelia, 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.- 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, [9] Moreover, besides. JOHNSON.. Or my dear majesty your queen here, think, What might you think? no, I went round to work,* And all we mourn for.^ King. Do you think, 'tis this? Queen. It may be, very likely. advice ;3 Pol. Hath there been such a time, (I'd fain know that,) That I have positively said, 'Tis so, When it prov'd otherwise? King. Not that I know. Pol. Take this from this, if this be otherwise : [Pointing to his head and shoulder. If circumstances lead me, I will find Where truth is hid, though it were hid indeed Within the centre. King. How may we try it further? Pol. You know, sometimes he walks for hours together, Here in the lobby. Queen. So he does, indeed. Pol. At such a time I'll loose my daughter to him : Be you and I behind an arras then ; Mark the encounter: if he love her not, And be not from his reason fallen thereon, Let me be no assistant for a state, But keep a farm, and carters. King. We will try it. [1] If I had locked up this secret in my own breast, as closely as it were confined in a desk or table-book. MALONE. [2] Roundly, without reserve. So Polonius, in the third act, --be round with him." STEEVENS. [S] She took the fruit of advice when she obeyed advice, the advice was then made fruitful. JOHNSON. [4] See Illustrations, Vol. X. Enter HAMLET, reading. Queen. But, look, where sadly the poor wretch comes reading.. Pol. Away, I do beseech you, both away; I'll board him presently :-O, give me leave. [Exeunt King, Queen, and Attendants. How does my good lord Hamlet? Ham. Well, God-'a-mercy. Pol. Do you know me, my lord? Ham. Excellent well; you are a fishmonger. Pol. Not I, my lord. Ham. Then I would you were so honest a man. Pol. Honest, my lord? Ham. Ay, sir; to be honest, as this world goes, is to be one man picked out of ten thousand. Pol. That's very true, my lord. Ham. For if the sun breed maggots in a dead dog, being a god, kissing carrion,- -Have you a daughter? Pol. I have, my lord. Ham. Let her not walk i'the sun conception is a blessing; but not as your daughter may conceive,—friend, look to't. Pol. How say you by that? [Aside.] Still harping on my daughter :--yet he knew me not at first; he said, I was a fishmonger: He is far gone, far gone: and, truly in my youth I suffered much extremity for love; very near this. I'll speak to him again.-What do you read, my lord? Ham. Words, words, words! Pol. What is the matter, my lord? Ham. Between who? Pol: I mean, the matter that you read, my lord. Ham. Slanders, sir: for the satirical rogue says here, that old men have grey beards; that their faces are wrinkled; their eyes purging thick amber, and plum-tree gum; and that they have a plentiful lack of wit, together with most weak hams: All of which, sir, though I most powerfully and potently believe, yet I hold it not honesty to have it thus set down; for yourself, sir, shall be as old as I am, if, like a crab, you could go backward. Pol. Though this be madness, yet there's method in it. [Aside.] Will you walk out of the air, my lord? Ham. Into my grave? Pol. Indeed, that is out o'the air.-How pregnant sometimes his replies are! a happiness that often mad |