Had he been vanquisher; as, by the same co-mart,1 His fell to Hamlet. Now, sir, young Fortinbras, Hath in the skirts of Norway, here and there, 4 For food and diet, to some enterprise That hath a stomach 5 in't; which is no other, The source of this our watch; and the chief head 7 6 [Ber. I think it be no other, but even so. Well may it sort, that this portentous figure Comes armed through our watch; so like the king 9 Hor. A mote it is, to trouble the mind's eye. The graves stood tenantless, and the sheeted dead 10 * As, stars with trains of fire and dews of blood, 1 Co-mart is the reading of the quarto of 1604; the folio reads covenant. Co-mart, it is presumed, means a joint bargain. No other instance of the word is known. 2 i. e. "and import of that article marked out for that purpose." 3 The first quarto reads, "Of unapproved." Dr. Johnson explains it, "full of spirit, not regulated or guided by knowledge or experience," and has been hitherto uncontradicted. 4 i. e. snapped up or taken up hastily. Scroccare is properly to do any thing at another man's cost, to shark or shift for any thing. 5 Stomach is used for determined purpose. 6 Romage, now spelt rummage, and in common use as a verb, for making a thorough search, a busy and tumultuous movement. 7 All the lines within crotchets, in this play, are omitted in the folio of 1623. The title-pages of the quartos of 1604 and 1605 declare this play to be "enlarged to almost as much againe as it was, according to the true and perfect copie." 8 i. e. suit, accord. 9 i. e. theme or subject. 10 A line or more is here supposed to be lost. Disasters in the sun; and the moist star,1 Re-enter Ghost. But, soft; behold! lo, where it comes again! Speak to me. If there be any good thing to be done, If thou art privy to thy country's fate, Or, if thou hast uphoarded in thy life For which, they say, you spirits oft walk in death, [Cock crows. Speak of it ;-stay, and speak!-Stop it, Marcellus. Mar. Shall I strike at it with my partisan? Hor. Do, if it will not stand. Ber. Hor. 'Tis here! Mar. 'Tis gone! 'Tis here! We do it wrong, being so majestical, For it is, as the air, invulnerable, And our vain blows malicious mockery. [Exit Ghost. Ber. It was about to speak when the cock crew. Hor. And then it started like a guilty thing Upon a fearful summons. 1 i. e. the moon. I have heard, 2 Omen is here put, by a figure of speech, for predicted event. The cock, that is the trumpet of the morn, Mar. It faded on the crowing of the cock.2 4 Hor. So have I heard, and do in part believe it. Mar. Let's do't, I pray; and I this morning know Where we shall find him most convenient. SCENE II. The same. [Exeunt. A Room of State in the same. Enter the King, Queen, HAMLET, POLONIUS, Laertes, VOLTIMAND, CORNELIUS, Lords, and Attendants. King. Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother's death 1 "Extra-vagans, wandering about, going beyond bounds." Erring is erraticus, straying or roving up and down. 2 This is a very ancient superstition. 3 i. e. blasts or strikes. 4 Gracious is sometimes used by Shakspeare for graced, favored. 5 First quarto, "sun." The memory be green; and that it us befitted Yet so far hath discretion fought with nature, 1 Thus the folio. The quarto reads: 2 i. e. grief. "With an auspicious and a dropping eye." 3 i. e. united to this strange fancy of, &c. 4 The folio reads bonds; but bands and bonds signified the same thing in the Poet's time. 5 Gait here signifies course, progress. Giving to you no further personal power To business with the king, more than the scope Farewell; and let your haste commend your duty. Cor. Vol. In that, and all things, will we show 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, Laertes, The head is not more native to the heart, Than is the throne of Denmark to thy father.2 My dread lord, Laer. From whence though willingly I came to Denmark, Yet now, I must confess, that duty done, My thoughts and wishes bend again toward France, And bow them to your gracious leave and pardon. King. Have you your father's leave? What says Polonius ? Pol. He hath, my lord, [wrung from me my slow leave, By laborsome petition; and, at last, Upon his will, I sealed my hard consent.] King. Take thy fair hour, Laertes; time be thine, 1 The folio reads, " More than the scope of these dilated articles allow." We have not scrupled to read related, upon the authority of the first quarto, as more intelligible. The first quarto reads: 2 The various parts of the body enumerated, are not more allied, more necessary to each other, than the throne of Denmark (i. e. the king) is bound to your father to do him service. |