Hazard so near us. Arm you, I pray you, to this speedy voyage; Which now goes too free-footed. Ros. Guil. We will haste us. [Exeunt ROSENCRANTZ and GUILDENSTERN. Enter POLONIUS. Pol. My lord, he's going to his mother's closet: To hear the process; I'll warrant, she'll tax him home, 'Tis meet, that some more audience than a mother, And tell you what I know. King. Thanks, dear my lord, [Exit POLONIUS. O, my offence is rank, it smells to heaven; And what's in prayer, but this two-fold force,— Or pardon'd, being down? Then I'll look up; Yet what can it, when one cannot repent? All may be well! [Retires and kneela SCENE IV.-Another Koom in the same. Enter QUEEN and POLONIUS. Pol. He will come straight. Look, you lay home to him; Pray you, be round with him. Queen. I'll warrant you; Fear me not withdraw, I hear him coming. Enter HAMLET. [POLONIUS hides himself Ham. Now, mother; what's the matter? Queen. Hamlet, thou hast thy father much offended. Queen. Have you forgot me? What's the matter now? No, by the rood, not so; You are the queen, your husband's brother's wife; 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; You go not, till I set you up a glass Where you may see the inmost part of you. Queen. What wilt thou do? thou wilt not murder me? Help, help, ho! Is it the king? [Lifts up the arras, and draws forth POLONIUS 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. Ah, lady, 'twas my word. [TO POLONIJE Thou wretched, rash, intruding fool, farewell! I took thee for thy better; Leave wringing of your hands: Peace, sit you down, And let me wring your heart: for so I shall, If t be made of penetrable stuff; If damned custom have not braz'd it so, That it be proof and bulwark against sense. Queen. What have I done, that thou dar'st wag thy tongue In noise so rude against me? Ham. A rhapsody of words: Heaven's face doth glow; With tristful visage, as against the doom, Queen. This was your husband.-Look you now, what follows To give the world assurance of a man: Here is your husband; like a mildew'd ear, Blasting his wholesome brother. Have you eyes Could you on this fair mountain leave to feed, And batten on this moor? Ha! have you eyes ? You cannot call it love: for, at your age, The hey-day in the blood is tame, it's humble, ? And waits upon the judgment: and what judgment O shame! where is thy blush? Queen. O Hamlet, speak no more, Thou turnʼst my eyes into my very soul; And there I see such black and grained spots, Speak to me no more; These words, like daggers, enter in mine ears: Ham. A murderer, and a villain: A slave, that is not twentieth part the tithe Queen. No more. Ham. Of shreds and patches: Enter Ghost. A king Save me, and hover o'er me with your wings, You heavenly guards!-What would your gracious figure? Ham. Do you not come your tardy son to chide, Ghost. Do not forget: this visitation Ham. 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? 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 upon me; Lest, with this piteous action, you convert My stern effects: then what I have to do Will want true color; tears, perchance, for blood. Queen. To whom do you speak this? Ham. Do you see nothing there? Queen. Nothing at all; yet all, that is, I see. Ham. Nor did you nothing hear? Queen. No, nothing, but ourselves. Ham. Why, look you there! look how it steals away! My father, in his native habit as he lived! Ham. Ecstasy! My pulse, as yours, doth temperately keep time. Queen. O Hamlet! thou hast cleft my heart in twain And live the purer with the other half. Good night : : And when you are desirous to be bless'd, [Exit Ghost [Pointing to POLONIUS. The death I gave him. So, again, good night! Thus bad begins, and worse remains behind. ACT IV. The guilty King and Queen, alarmed at the consequences which may result from Hamlet's evident knowledge of their crimes, determine to send him to England under the charge of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, with private instructions to the king of England to effect" The present death of Hamlet." This is done, and the young prince sails for England. Ophelia, overcome with grief, at the death of her father, becomes distracted, and seeks an interview with the Queen. Young Laertes returns from France, and charges the King with being privy to the murder of Polonius. SCENE V.-Elsinore. A Room in the Castle Enter QUEEN and HORATIO. Queen. I will not speak with her. Queen. Let her come in. [Exit HORATIO "Twere good she were spoken with; for she may strew Dangerous conjectures in ill-breeding minds. |