Ros.

Guil.

As fits a king's remembrance.

Both your majesties Might, by the sovereign power you have of us, Put your dread pleasures more into command Than to entreaty.

But we both obey,

And here give up ourselves, in the full bent 30
To lay our service freely at your feet,

To be commanded.

King. Thanks, Rosencrantz and gentle Guildenstern.

Queen. Thanks, Guildenstern and gentle Rosen

crantz,

And I beseech you instantly to visit

My too much changed son.

Go, some of you, And bring these gentlemen where Hamlet is. Guil. Heavens make our presence and our

35

Pol. The ambassadors from Norway, my good 40

lord,

Are joyfully returned.

King. Thou still hast been the father of good

news.

Pol. Have I, my lord? Assure you, my good

liege,

45

I hold my duty as I hold my soul,

Both to my God and to my gracious king.
And I do think, or else this brain of mine
Hunts not the trail of policy so sure

As it hath used to do, that I have found

The very cause of Hamlet's lunacy.

50 King. O, speak of that; that do I long to hear. Pol. Give first admittance to the ambassadors.

55

My news shall be the fruit to that great feast. King. Thyself do grace to them, and bring them in. [Exit Polonius. He tells me, my dear Gertrude, he hath found The head and source of all your son's distemper.

Queen. I doubt it is no other but the main,

His father's death and our o'erhasty marriage. King. Well, we shall sift him.

Re-enter Polonius, with Voltimand and Cornelius. Welcome, my good friends! Say, Voltimand, what from our brother

Norway?

60 Volt. Most fair return of greetings and desires.
Upon our first, he sent out to suppress
His nephew's levies, which to him appeared
To be a preparation 'gainst the Polack,
But, better looked into, he truly found
It was against your highness.

65

grieved,

Whereat

That so his sickness, age, and impotence
Was falsely borne in hand, sends out arrests

On Fortinbras; which he, in brief, obeys,
Receives rebuke from Norway, and in fine
Makes vow before his uncle never more
To give the assay of arms against your majesty.
Whereon old Norway, overcome with joy,
Gives him three thousand crowns in annual
fee,

And his commission to employ those soldiers,
So levied as before, against the Polack;
With an entreaty, herein further shown,

[Giving a paper.

That it might please you to give quiet pass
Through your dominions for this enterprise,
On such regards of safety and allowance
As therein are set down.

King.

Pol.

It likes us well;

And at our more considered time we'll read,
Answer, and think upon this business.
Meantime we thank you for your well-took
labour.

Go to your rest; at night we'll feast together.
Most welcome home!

70

75

80

[Exeunt Voltimand and Cornelius.
This business is well ended. 85

My liege, and madam, to expostulate
What majesty should be, what duty is,
Why day is day, night night, and time is time,
Were nothing but to waste night, day, and
time.

Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit 90

And tediousness the limbs and outward

flourishes,

I will be brief.

Your noble son is mad.

95

100

105

110

Mad call I it; for, to define true madness,
What is't but to be nothing else but mad?
But let that go.

Queen.

More matter, with less art.

Pol. Madam, I swear I use no art at all.

That he is mad, 'tis true; 'tis true 'tis pity,

And pity 'tis 'tis true.

A foolish figure!

But farewell it, for I will use no art.

Mad let us grant him then; and now remains
That we find out the cause of this effect,
Or rather say, the cause of this defect,
For this effect defective comes by cause.
Thus it remains, and the remainder thus.
Perpend.

I have a daughter-have while she is mine-
Who, in her duty and obedience, mark,
Hath given me this. Now gather, and

surmise.

[Reads. "To the celestial and my soul's idol, the most beautified Ophelia,'

99

That's an ill phrase, a vile phrase; "beautified" is a vile phrase. But you shall hear. Thus:

"In her excellent white bosom, these, etc."

Queen. Came this from Hamlet to her? 115 Pol. Good madam, stay awhile. I will be

faithful.

[Reads.

King.

Pol.

"Doubt thou the stars are fire,

Doubt that the sun doth move,
Doubt truth to be a liar,

But never doubt I love.

"O dear Ophelia, I am ill at these numbers. I have 120
not art to reckon my groans; but that I love
thee best, O most best, believe it. Adieu.

Thine evermore, most dear lady,
Whilst this machine is to him,

HAMLET."

This in obedience hath my daughter shown

me,

And more above, hath his solicitings,

As they fell out by time, by means, and place,
All given to mine ear.

Received his love?

125

But how hath she

What do you think of me? 130

But what might you

King. As of a man faithful and honourable.

Pol. I would fain prove so.

think,

When I had seen this hot love on the wing,-
As I perceived it, I must tell you that,
Before my daughter told me-what might 185

you,

Or my dear majesty your queen here, think,
If I had played the desk or table-book,
Or given my heart a winking, mute and dumb,
Or looked upon this love with idle sight,
What might you think? No, I went round 140
to work,