Queen. For love of God, forbear him. Ham. 'Zounds, show me what thou'lt do: Woul't weep ? woul't fight? woul't fast? woul't tear thyself? Woul't drink up Esil?5 eat a crocodile ? I'll rant as well as thou. Queen. Nay, an thou'lt mouth, This is mere madness: And thus a while the fit will work on him; When that her golden couplets are disclos'd," Ham. Hear you, sir; What is the reason that you use me thus ? I lov'd you ever: But it is no matter; Let Hercules himself do what he may, The cat will mew, and dog will have his day. [Exit. King. I pray thee, good Horatio, wait upon him.[Exit HORATIO. Strengthen your patience in our last night's speech; [To LAERTES. We'll put the matter to the present push.— Good Gertrude, set some watch over your son. 5 Eisel is vinegar; but Mr. Steevens conjectures the word should be Weisel, a river which falls into the Baltic ocean. 6 Hatched. This grave shall have a living monument: Till then, in patience our proceeding be. SCENE II. A Hall in the Castle. Enter HAMLET and HORATIO. [Exeunt. Hum. So much for this, sir: now shall you see the other ; You do remember all the circumstance? Hor. Remember it, my lord! Ham. Sir, in my heart there was a kind of fighting, That would not let me sleep: methought, I lay Worse than the mutines" in the bilboes. Rashly, And prais'd be rashness for it,-Let us know, Our indiscretion sometimes serves us well, When our deep plots do pall:9 and that should teach us, There's a divinity that shapes our ends, Rough-hew them how we will. Hor. Ham. Up from my cabin, That is most certain. My sea-gown scarf'd about me, in the dark Their grand commission; where I found, Horatio, 7 Mutineers. * Fetters and handcuffs brought from Bilboa in Spain. 9 Fail. A royal knavery; an exact command, Larded with many several sorts of reasons, 2. Importing Denmark's health, and England's too, No, not to stay the grinding of the axe, Hor. Is't possible? Ham. Here's the commission; read it at more leisure. But wilt thou hear now how I did proceed? Hor. Ay, 'beseech you. Ham. Being thus benetted round with villanies, Hor. As love between them like the palm might flourish; Garnished. 2 Bugbears. 5 Statesmen. 3 Looking over. 4 Before. He should the bearers put to sudden death, Not shriving-time allow'd. Hor. How was this seal'd? Ham. Why, even in that was heaven ordinant; my father's signet in my purse, I had Which was the model of that Danish seal: Folded the writ up in form of the other; Hor. So Guildenstern and Rosencrantz go to't. Ham. Why, man, they did make love to this employment; They are not near my conscience; their defeat 'Tis dangerous, when the baser nature comes Hor. Why, what a king is this! Ham. Does it not, think thee, stand me now upon? He that hath kill'd my king, and whor'd my mother; Popp'd in between the election and my hopes; Thrown out his angle for my proper life, And with such cozenage; is't not perfect conscience, To quit him with this arm? and is't not to be damn'd, To let this canker of our nature come In further evil? Hor. It must be shortly known to him from Eng land, 7 Confessing. 8 Copy. 9 Following. 1 Requite. What is the issue of the business there. Ham. It will be short: the interim is mine; For by the image of my cause, I see The portraiture of his: I'll count' his favours: Hor. Peace; who comes here? Enter OSRIC. Osr. Your lordship is right welcome back to Denmark. Ham. I humbly thank you, sir.-Dost know this water-fly?2 Hor. No, my good lord. Ham. Thy state is the more gracious; for 'tis a vice to know him: He hath much land, and fertile : let a beast be lord of beasts, and his crib shall stand at the king's mess: 'Tis a chough; but, as I say, spacious in the possession of dirt. Osr. Sweet lord, if your lordship were at leisure, I should impart a thing to you from his majesty. Ham. I will receive it, sir, with all diligence of spirit: Your bonnet to his right use; 'tis for the head. Osr. I thank your lordship, 'tis very hot. Ham. No, believe me, 'tis very cold; the wind is northerly. For count some Editors read court. VOL. X. 2 Water-flies are gnats. 3 A bird like a jackdaw. |