Moreover that we much did long to see you,'
The need we had to use you did provoke
Our hasty sending. Something have you heard
Of Hamlet's transformation; so I call it,
Since nor th' exterior nor the inward man
Resembles that it was. What it should be,
More than his father's death, that thus hath put him
So much from th' understanding of himself,

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 hu

mour,

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

To show us so much gentry and good will,
As to expend your time with us awhile,
For the supply and profit of our hope,*
Your visitation shall receive such thanks
As fits a king's remembrance.

Ros.

Both your majesties

We do not recollect another instance of moreover that used in this way. Of course, the sense is the same as besides that, or

"over and above the fact that," &c.

H.

So the quartos; the folio, "deem of." In the next line but one, the quartos have haviour instead of humour.

Gentry for gentle courtesy.

ceding speech, is not in the folio.

H.

The last line but one, in the pre

4 Supply and profit is aid and advantage.

H.

Might, by the sovereign power you have of us,
Put your dread pleasures more into command
Than to entreaty.

Guil.

But we both obey;

And here give up ourselves, in the full bent,
To lay our service freely at your feet,

To be commanded.

King. Thanks, Rosencrantz, and gentle Guilden

stern:

Queen. Thanks, Guildenstern, and gentle Rosen

crantz :

And I beseech you instantly to visit

My too-much-changed sou. Go, some of you,
And bring these gentlemen where Hamlet is.
Guil. Heavens make our presence, and our prac-

tices,

Pleasant and helpful to him!

Queen.

Ay, amen!

[Exeunt Ros. GUIL. and some Attendants.

Enter POLONIUS.

Pol. Th' ambassadors from Norway, my good

lord,

Are joyfully return'd.

King. Thou still hast been the father of good

news.

Pol. Have I, my lord?

liege,

Assure you, my good

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
Hunts not the trail of policy so sure

As it hath us'd to do) that I have found

The very cause of Hamlet's lunacy.

King. O! speak of that; that do I long to hear

Pol. Give, first, admittance to th' ambassadors; My news shall be the fruit to that great feast. King. Thyself do grace to them, and bring them [Exit POLONIUS.

in.

-

He tells me, my dear Gertrude, he hath found The head and source of all your son's distemper.

Queen. I doubt, it is no other but the main; His father's death, and our o'erhasty marriage."

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
Upon our first, he sent out to suppress
His nephew's levies; which to him appear'd
To be a preparation 'gainst the Polack;
But, better look'd into, he truly found

It was against your highness: whereat griev'd,-
That so his sickness, age, and impotence,

Was falsely borne in hand, — sends out arrests

--

On Fortinbras; which he in brief obeys,
Receives rebuke from Norway, and, in fine,
Makes vow before his uncle never more

To give th' assay of arms against your majesty.
Whereon old Norway, overcome with joy,
Gives him three thousand crowns in annual fee;'
And his commission, to employ those soldiers,
So levied as before, against the Polack :

tions.

So the folio; the quartos have hasty instead of o'erhasty.

7

H.

To bear in hand is to lead along by assurances or expecta
See Measure for Measure, Act i. sc 5, note 6.

H.

7 That is, the king gave his nephew a feud or fee in land of that annual value.

With an intreaty, herein further shown,

[Giving a Paper That it might please you to give quiet pass Through your dominions for this enterprise; On such regards of safety and allowance, As therein are set down.

King.

It likes us well;

And, at our more consider'd time, we'll read,

Answer, and think upon this business:

Meantime, we thank you for your well-took labour.

Go to your rest; at night we'll feast together:

Most welcome home!

Pol.

[Exeunt VOLTIMAND and CORNELIUS.

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,
Were nothing but to waste night, day, and time.
Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit,

And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes,
I will be brief. Your noble son is mad:
Mad call I it; for, to define true madness,
What is't, but to be nothing else but mad:
But let that go.

Queen.

More matter, with less art.

Pol. Madam, I swear I use no art at all.
That he is mad, 'tis true: 'tis true 'tis pity,
And pity 'tis, 'tis true: a foolish figure;
But farewell it, for I wili use no art.

Mad let us grant him, then; and now remains,
That we find out the cause of this effect;
Or rather say, the cause of this defect;
For this effect defective comes by cause:

8 That is, to inquire; another Latinism.

Thus it remains, and the remainder thus.
Perpend:

I have a daughter; have, while she is mine;
Who, in her duty and obedience, mark,

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;

a vile phrase; but you shall hear.

"beautified" is

Thus :

"In her excellent white bosom, these," &c."

Queen. Came this from Hamlet to her?

Pol. Good madam, stay awhile; I will be faithful.

[Reads.] Doubt thou the stars are fire,

Doubt that the sun doth move;

Doubt truth to be a liar;

But never doubt I love.

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.

Receiv'd his love?

Pol.

But how hath she

What do you think of me?

King. As of a man faithful and honourable.

Beautified is not uncommon in dedications and encomiastic verses of the Poet's age.

10 The word these was usually added at the end of the super scription of letters. See The Two Gentlemen of Verona, Act iii sc. 1, note 10.