DIALOGUES, TABLEAUX, ETC.

HAMLET.

ACT II., SCENE II.

A room in the Castle. Enter KING, QUEEN, ROSENCRANTZ, GUILDENSTERN, and Attendants.

KING-Welcome, dear Rosencrantz, and Guilden

stern!

Moreover that we much did long to see you,
The need, we have to use you, did provoke
Our hasty sending. Something have you heard
Of Hamlet's transformation; so I call it,
Since not the 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 the understanding of himself,

I cannot dream of: I entreat you both,

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,
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

So to expend your time with us a while,

Your visitation shall receive such thanks
As fits a king's remembrance.

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 lay our service freely at your feet,
To be commanded.

King-Thanks, Rosencrantz, and gentle Guildenstern Queen And I beseech you instantly to visit My too much changed son.-Go, some of you, And bring these gentlemen where Hamlet is.

[Exeunt ROSENCRANTZ, GUILDENSTERN, and some Attendants.]

Enter POLONIUS.

Pol.-I now 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.-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, 't is true, 't is pity;

And pity 't is, 't is true: a foolish figure;
But farewell it, for I will 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;
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; beautified is a vile phrase; but you shall hear. Thus :

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 honorable.

Pol.-I would fain prove so.

think,

But what might you

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,
Or my dear majesty, your queen here, think,
If I had play'd the desk, or table-book;
Or given my heart a working, mute and dumb,
Or look'd upon this love with idle sight;

What might you think? no, I went round to work,
And my young mistress thus did I bespeak;
Lord Hamlet is a prince out of thy sphere;
This must not be: and then I precepts gave her,
That she should lock herself from his resort,
Admit no messengers, receive no tokens.
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,
Into the madness wherein now he raves,
And all we mourn for.

King-Do you think 't is this?

Queen-It may be, very likely.

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.

Be

Queen-So he does, indeed.

Pol.-At such 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 reason fallen thereon,
Let me be no assistant for a state,

But keep a farm and carters.

King-We will try it.

Enter HAMLET, reading.

Queen-But, look, where sadly the poor wretch come 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.-Excellent well.

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.-[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?