HOR. So have I heard, and do in part believe it. But, look, the morn, (3) in russet mantle clad, Walks o'er the dew of yon high eastern hill: Break we our watch up; and, by my advice, Let us impart what we have seen to-night Unto young Hamlet: for, upon my life, This spirit, dumb to us, will speak to him: Do you consent we shall acquaint him with it, As needful in our loves, fitting our duty? MAR. Let's do't, I pray; and I this morning know Where we shall find him most conveniently. SCENE II. [Exeunt. The same. A Room of State in the same. Enter the King, Queen, HAMLET, POLONIuş, LAERTES, VOLTIMAND, CORNELIUS, Lords, and Attendants. KING. Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother's death The memory be green; and that it us befitted Yet so far hath discretion fought with nature, Taken to wife: nor have we herein barr'd a green] Fresh. See Rom. & Jul. IV. 3. Jul. wisest sorrow] Sober grief, passion discreetly reined. barr'd] Excluded: acted without the concurrence of. Your better wisdoms, which have freely gone (33) Now follows, that you know, young Fortinbras, Farewell; and let your haste commend your duty. our duty. KING. We doubt it nothing; heartily farewell. [Exeunt VOLTIMAND and CORNELIUS. And now, Laertes, what's the news with you? You told us of some suit; What is't, Laertes? You cannot speak of reason to the Dane, * And lose your voice: What wouldst thou beg,⚫ So 4tos. Laertes, Colleagued with this dream] United with this wild conceit. b loose. 1623, 32. C power to business] For the purpose of, to transact, business. You cannot speak of reason to the Dane, And lose your voice] Of any matter fit to be brought under discussion, and throw away your labour. That shall not be my offer, not thy asking? LAER. My dread lord, To shew my duty in your coronation; My thoughts and wishes bend again toward France, POL. He hath, my lord, [wrung from me my slow leave, By laboursome petition; and, at last, KING. Take thy fair hour, Laertes! time be thine!d And thy best graces spend it at thy will! The head is not more native, &c.] The principal parts of the body are not more natural, instrumental, or necessary to each other, than is the throne natural to, and a machine acted upon and under the guidance of, your father. Your leave and favour] The favour of your leave granted, the kind permission. Two substantives with a copulative being here, as is the frequent practise of our author, used for an adjective and substantive: an adjective sense is given to a substantive. See "Law and Heraldry," sc. 1. Horatio. c • Upon his will I seal'd my hard consent] At or upon his earnest and importunate suit, I gave my full and final, though hardly obtained and reluctant, consent. d Take thy fair hour! time be thine! And thy best graces spend it at thy will!] Catch the auspicious moment! be time thy own! and may the exercise of thy fairest virtues fill up those its hours, that are wholly at your command! HAM. A little more than kin, and less than kind. (37) [Aside. KING. How is it that the clouds still hang on you? HAM. Not so, my lord, I am too much i'the sun. (38) QUEEN. Good Hamlet, cast thy nighted coloura off, And let thine eye look like a friend on Denmark. Seek for thy noble father in the dust: Thou know'st, 'tis common; all that lives (39) must die, Passing through nature to eternity. HAM. Ay,* madam, it is common. Why seems it so particular with thee? HAM. Seems, madam! nay, it is; I know not seems. 'Tis not alone my inky cloak, good mother, Nor customary suits of solemn black, nighted colour] Black, night-like; as presently he says, "inky cloak:" and in Lear, IV. 5, Regan speaks of the “nighted life," of "the dark and blinded Gloster." bvailed lids] Cast down. See M. of V. Salar. I. 1. & L. L. L. V. 2. Boyet. C Ay, madam, it is common] Similar examples of frailty, connected with such an event, are the things or occurrences, that, he would have it inferred, were common. d trappings] Trappings are furnishings,' as in Lear III. 1. Kent. KING. 'Tis sweet and commendable in your nature, Hamlet, To give these mourning duties to your father: To do obsequious sorrow: But to perséver C Of impious stubbornness; 'tis unmanly grief: a That father lost, lost his] "That lost father (of your father, i. e. your grandfather) or father so lost, lost his." b do obsequious sorrow] Follow with becoming and ceremonious observance the memory of the deceased. See III. H. VI. Father. II. 5. & M. W. of W. IV. 2. Falst. We have "Shed obsequious tears upon his trunk." Tit. Andr. V. 3. Luc. © obstinate condolement] Ceaseless and unremitted expression of grief. d incorrect to heaven] Contumacious towards. e as common "ad As any the most vulgar thing to sense] To sense is as dressed to" sense: in every hour's occurrence offering itself to our observation and feelings. "Most sure and vulgar." Lear, IV. 6. Gent. ! unprevailing] Fruitless, unprofitable. |