What's near it, with it: it is a massy wheel, Ros. Guil. We will haste us. [Exeunt ROSENCRANTZ and GUILDENSTERN. Enter POLONIUS. Pol. My lord, he's going to his mother's closet: Behind the arras I'll convey myself," To hear the process; I'll warrant, she'll tax him home : And, as you said, and wisely was it said, 'Tis meet, that some more audience, than a mother, Since nature makes them partial, should o'erhear The speech, of vantage. Fare you well, my liege: I'll call upon you ere you go to bed, And tell you what I know. King. Thanks, dear my lord. [Exit POLONIUS. O, my offence is rank, it smells to heaven; 6 Behind the arras I'll convey myself,] The arras-hangings, in Shakspeare's time, were hung at such a distance from the walls, that a person might easily stand behind them unperceived. 7 of vantage.] By some opportunity of secret observation. 8 Though inclination be as sharp as will;] What the King means to say, is, "That though he was not only willing to pray, but strongly inclined to it, yet his intention was defeated by his guilt. 1 My stronger guilt defeats my strong intent; And what's in prayer, but this two-fold force,- Or pardon'd, being down? Then I'll look up; 9 May one be pardon'd, and retain the offence?] He that does not amend what can be amended, retains his offence. The King kept the crown from the right heir. JOHNSON. Yet what can it, when one can not repent?] What can repentance do for a man that cannot be penitent, for a man who has only part of penitence, distress of conscience, without the other part, resolution of amendment? JOHNSON. O limed soul;] This alludes to bird-lime. Bow, stubborn knees! and, heart, with strings of steel, Be soft as sinews of the new-born babe ; All may be well! [Retires, and kneels. Enter HAMLET. Ham. Now might I do it, pat, now he is praying; I, his sole son, do this same villain send Why, this is hire and salary, not revenge. With all his crimes broad blown, as flush as May; Up, sword; and know thou a more horrid hent:* Then trip him, that his heels may kick at heaven: 3 estimated. That would be scann'd:] i. e. that should be considered, * Up, sword; and know thou a more horrid hent:] To hent is used by Shakspeare for to seize, to catch, to lay hold on. Hent is, therefore, hold, or seizure. Lay hold on him, sword, at a more horrid time. As hell, whereto it goes.] This speech, in which Hamlet, re The King rises, and advances. King. My words fly up, my thoughts remain be low: Words, without thoughts, never to heaven_go. [Exit. SCENE IV. Another Room in the same. 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; I'll warrant you; Fear me not-withdraw, I hear him coming. [POLONIUS hides himself. Enter HAMLET. Ham. Now, mother; what's the matter? Queen. Hamlet, thou hast thy father much offended. Ham. Mother, you have my father much offended. presented as a virtuous character, is not content with taking blood for blood, but contrives damnation for the man that he would punish, is too horrible to be read or to be uttered. JOHNSON. This speech of Hamlet's, as Johnson observes, is horrible indeed; yet some moral may be extracted from it, as all his subsequent calamities were owing to this savage refinement of revenge. M.MASON, 6 I'll silence me e'en here.] i. e. I'll use no more words. 12 Queen. Come, come, you answer with an idle tongue. Ham. Go, go, you question with a wicked tongue. Ham. What's the matter now? No, by the rood, not so: Queen. Have you forgot me? Ham. 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? [Falls, and dies. Queen. O me, what hast thou done? Ham. Is it the king? Nay, I know not: [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. 7 Queen. As kill a king!] This exclamation may be considered as some hint that the Queen had no hand in the murder of Hamlet's father. |