39 0, my offence is rank, it smells to heaven; But to confront the visage of offence? And what's in prayer but this twofold force, To be forestalled ere we come to fall, 49 Or pardon'd being down? Then I'll look up; My fault is past. But, O, what form of prayer Can serve my turn? "Forgive me my foul murder?" 60 That cannot be, since I am still possess'd 4 Enter HAMLET. Ham. Now might I do it pat, now he is praying; And now I'll do 't: and so he goes to heaven; 80 O, this is hire and salary, not revenge. And how his audit stands who knows save heaven? But, in our circumstance and course of thought, Up, sword, and know thou a more horrid Enter QUEEN and POLONIUS. Pol. He will come straight. Look you lay home to him: Tell him his pranks have been too broad to bear with, And that your grace hath screen'd and stood between 5 Would, i.e. requires to. 6 Flush, full of vigour. 7 Broad, unrestrained. And would it were not so!-you are my mother. Queen. Nay, then, I'll set those to you that can speak. Ham. Come, come, and sit you down; you shall not budge; 19 You go not till I set you up a glass Pol. [Behind] What, ho! help, help, help! Ham. [Drawing] How now! a rat? Dead, for a ducat, dead! [Makes a pass through the arras. Pol. [Behind] O, I am slain! [Falls and dies. Queen. O me, what hast thou done? Ham. Nay, I know not: Is it the king? Queen. O, what a rash and bloody deed is this! Ham. A bloody deed! almost as bad, good mother, As kill a king, and marry with his brother. Queen. As kill a king! Ham. 28 Ay, lady, 't was my word. [Lifts up the arras, and sees Polonius. Thou wretched, rash, intruding fool, farewell! I took thee for thy better: take thy fortune; Thou find'st to be too busy in some danger. Leave wringing of your hands: peace! sit you down, And let me wring your heart: for so I shall, If it be made of penetrable stuff; 40 If damned custom have not braz'd it so, Queen. Ay me, what act, That roars so loud, and thunders in the index? Ham. Look here, upon this picture, and on this, The counterfeit presentment of two brothers. 60 Save me, and hover o'er me with your wings, You heavenly guards! What would your gracious figure? Queen. Alas, he's mad! Ham. Do you not come your tardy son to chide, That, laps'd in time and passion, lets go by The important1 acting of your dread command? O, say! Ghost. Do not forget: this visitation Is but to whet thy almost blunted purpose. But, look, amazement on thy mother sits: O, step between her and her fighting soul: Conceit in weakest bodies strongest works: Speak to her, Hamlet. Ham. 110 How is it with you, lady? Queen. Alas, how is 't with you, That you do bend your eye on vacancy, And with the incorporal air do hold discourse? Forth at your eyes your spirits wildly peep; [And, as the sleeping soldiers in the alarm, Your bedded hair, like life in excrements, Starts up, and stands on end.] O gentle son, Upon the heat and flame of thy distemper Sprinkle cool patience. Whereon do you look? Ham. On him, on him! Look you, how pale he glares! His form and cause conjoin'd, preaching to stones, Would make them capable. Do not look 160 Ham. O, throw away the worser part of it, And that shall lend a kind of easiness night:] And when you are desirous to be bless'd, I'll blessing beg of you. For this same lo [Pointing to Poloni I do repent: but heaven hath pleas'd it so, 5 Ecstasy, madness. 6 Compost, manure. 7 Curb (Fr. courber), bow. 1 |