That we find out the caufe of this effect,

Or rather fay, the cause of this defect;
For this effect, defective, comes by caufe;

Thus it remains, and the remainder thus --- Perpend ---
I have a daughter; have while fhe is mine,
Who in her duty and obedience --- mark ---
Hath given me this; now gather, and furmife.
[He opens a letter and reads.]

f

To the celeftial, and my foul's idol, the most

h

Ophelia ---(That's an ill phrase, a 1 vile phrase,

beautified beautified

is a vile phrafe; but you fhall hear, i thus)--- in her excel

lent white bofom; these *, &c,

Queen. Came this from Hamlet to her?

Pol. Good madam, ftay a while. I will be faithful.

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 beft, believe it, Adieu.

Thine evermore, most d'ar lady, whilft
this machine is to him,

Hamlet,

This in obedience hath my daughter fhown me,
And, more" above, ° hath his P follicitings,
As they fell out by time, by means, and place,
All given to mine ear,

King. But how hath fhe receiv'd his love?
Pol. What do you think of me?

King. As of a man faithful and honourable,

Pol I would fain prove fo. But what might you think? When I had feen this hot love on the wing, (As I perceiv'd it, I muft tell you that,

Before my daughter told me) what might you,
Or my dear majefty, your queen here, think
If I had play'd the defk, or table-book,

Or given my heart a working, mute and dumb,
Or look'd upon this love with idle fight?

What might you think? No, I went round to work,
And my young miftrefs thus I did befpeak;

Lord Hamlet is a prince out of thy " fphere,

W

This muft not be; and then I prefcripts gave her,

X

That the should lock herself from his refort,

Admit no meffengers, receive no tokens,

> Which done, she took the fruits of my advice;

And he, repelled, (a short tale to make)

a Fell into a sadness, then into a faft,

b

Thence to a watch, thence into a weakness,

Thence to a lightness, and, by this declenfion,

Into the madness,

wherein now he raves,

And all we с mourn for.

f

King. Do you think this?

Queen. It may be very like.

Pol. Hath there been fuch a time, I'd fain know that, That I have pofitively faid, 'tis fo,

When it prov'd otherwise?

King. Not that I know.

So the 1ft and 2d qu's and C. All

the reft read precepts.

x Firft q. ber for bis.

a P. alters thefe lines as follows,

Fell to a fadnefs, then into a faft,

Thence to a watching, thence into a weakness,

y Which done, she took the fruits of my and is followed by all the succeeding edi

advice;

And be repulfed,-] The fruits of advice are the effects of advice. But how could she be faid to take them? The reading is corrupt. Shakespeare wrote Which done, fee to the fruits of my advice ; For, be repulfed,W.

The fruits of advice are the behaviour confequent upon advice; fo the meaning is, she took upon her fuch a behaviour as he had advised her to. The words Which

done, fignify, which advice being given. z The qu's read repell'd; all the reft ropuljedo

tors.

P. and all after, except C, to for into.
P. and all after, watching

b Firft q. watb.

The 1ft and 2d qu's omit a.

d The fo's read tubercon.

e So the qu's. All the other editions read wail for mourn.

f The 3d q. the fo's, R. and C. read, Do you think 'tis this?

g In the 1st and 2d qu's, like. In all other editions, likely.

h Qu's, I would.

Pol.

Pol. Take this from this, if this be otherwise.

i [Pointing to his head and foot:lder.

If circumftances lead me, I will find

Where truth is hid, though it were hid indeed

Within the center.

King. How may we try it further?

Pol. You know, fometimes he walks for hours together

Here in the lobby.

Be

Queen. So he does indeed.

Pol. At fuch a time I'll loose my daughter to him;

you and I behind an arras then;

Mark the encounter; If he love her not

And be not from his reafon fall'n thereon,
Let me be no affiftant for a state,

" But keep a farm and carters.
King. We will try it.

SCENE V.

Enter Hamlet reading P.

Queen. But look where fadly the poor wretch comes reading.

Pol. Away, I do beseech

you, both

away.

I'll board him presently.

[Exeunt King and Queen.

Oh, give me leave.---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 fo honeft a man.
Pol. Honeft, my lord?

Ham. Ay, fir; to be honeft, as this world goes,

Is to be one

г

man pick'd out of ten thousand.

Pol. That's very true, my lord.

Ham. For if the fun breed maggots in a dead dog; Being a God, kiffing carrion --

Have you a daughter?

Pol. I have, my lord.

Ham. Let her not walk i'th' fun; conception is a bleffing; "But as your daughter may conceive. Friend, look to 't. Pol. How fay you by that ?---Still harping on my daughter!

W

[Afide. Yet he knew me not at firft; " he said, I was a fish-monger. w He is far gone; and truly, in my youth,

I fuffer'd 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?

q The fo's and R. Excellent, excellent well, &c.

to your daughter it may be a bleffing • otherwife according as she may conceive.

The 3d and 4th fo's, R. P. and H. The fo's, and all fucceeding editions, omit man.

The fo's and R. two thousand.

All the editions before H. read good.

So the qu's: and this is the meaning, conception is in general a bleffing, but

read, But not as your daughter may con

ceive.

w The qu's, a for be. The fo's, R. and C. read, He is far gone, far gone, &c.

Ham.