To whom he more adheres. If it will please you For the supply and profit of our hope, Ros. Both your majesties. 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 be commanded. King. Thanks, Rosencrantz, and gentle Guildenstern. Queen. Thanks, Guildenstern, and gentle Rosen crantz: And I beseech you instantly to visit My too much changed son.-Go, some of you, tices, Pleasant and helpful to him! Queen. Ay, amen! [Exeunt Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, 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: As it hath us'd to do,) that I have found King. O, speak of that; that do I long to hear. Pol. Give first admittance to the embassadors; 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? On Fortinbras; which he, in brief, obeys; To give the assay of arms against your majesty. Gives him three thousand crowns in annual fee; [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, Answer, and think upon this business. Mean time, 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,- Mad call I it: for, to define true madness, 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, while 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.— Queen. Came this from Hamlet to her? Pol. Good madam, stay a-while; 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, But what might King. As of a man faithful and honourable. Pol. I would fain prove so. you think, When I had seen this hot love on the wing, Before my daughter told me,) what might you, Or given my heart a working, mute and dumb; What might you think? no, I went round to work, And my young mistress thus did I bespeak; Which done, she took the fruits of my advice; And he, repulsed, (a short tale to make,) Fell into a sadness; then into a fast; Thence to a watch; thence into a weakness; Thence to a lightness; and, by this declension, And all we mourn for. King. Do you think, 'tis this? |