The terms of our estate may not endure Out of his lunacies. Guildenstern. We will ourselves provide. Most holy and religious fear it is To keep those many many bodies safe That live and feed upon your Majesty. Rosencrantz. The single and peculiar life 1 is bound, King. Arm you, I pray you, to this speedy voyage; Which now goes too free-footed. Guildenstern. Rosencrantz. We will haste us. [Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. Enter POLONIUS. Polonius. My lord, he's going to his mother's closet. To hear the process; I'll warrant she'll tax him home: 6 1 "The single and peculiar life," i.e., the private individual. 3 Welfare. 4 Decease. 2 Harm. 5 The object of fear. 'Tis meet that some more audience than a mother, And tell you what I know. King. Thanks, dear my lord. [Exit Polonius. O, my offense is rank, it smells to heaven; And what's in prayer but this twofold force,— Or pardon'd being down ?3 Then I'll look up: Of those effects for which I did the murder, 4 Offense's gilded hand may shove by justice, 1 “Of vantage,” i.e., “from the vantage ground of concealment." 2 Face, or face down. 3" Forestalled," etc., i.e., to be delivered from the temptation of sin, or pardoned after its commission. 4 "Offense's gilded hand," i.e., the offender's gold. And oft 'tis seen the wicked prize itself What then? what rests ?3 O limed soul, that, struggling to be free, Art more engag'd! Help, angels! Make assay ! All may be well. Enter HAMLET. [Retires and kneels. Hamlet. Now might I do it pat,5 now he is praying; And now I'll do it. And so he goes to heaven; And so am I reveng'd. That would be scann'd: A villain kills my father; and for that, I, his sole son, do this same villain send O, this is hire and salary, not revenge. He took my father grossly, full of bread;® With all his crimes broad blown, as flush as May; 1 Is to be maintained; the legal sense of the word. 4 As with birdlime, a viscous substance with which fowlers smeared the twigs and branches near birds' nests. The feet of the birds becoming entangled in it, the hunter easily captured his prey. 5 This moment. 6" Full of bread," i.e., in luxurious living. 7 Account. To take him in the purging of his soul, When he is fit and season'd for his passage ? Up, sword, and know thou a more horrid hent.1 At gaming, swearing, or about some act Then trip him, that his heels may kick at heaven, And that his soul may be as damn'd and black This physic but prolongs thy sickly days. [Exit. King. [Rising] My words fly up, my thoughts remain below: Words without thoughts never to heaven go. [Exit. Polonius. He will come straight.2 Look you lay home to him Hamlet. [Within] Mother, mother, mother! Fear me not. Withdraw, I hear him coming. I'll warrant you, [Polonius hides behind the arras. Enter HAMLET. Hamlet. Now, mother, what's the matter? Queen. Hamlet, thou hast thy father much offended. Queen. Come, come, you answer with an idle tongue. Hamlet. Queen. Have you forgot me ? What's the matter now? No, by the rood,1 not so: You are the Queen, your husband's brother's wife; You go not till I set you up a glass Where you may see the inmost part of you. shall not budge: Queen. What wilt thou do? thou wilt not murder me? Help, help, ho! Polonius. [Behind] What, ho! help, help, help! Hamlet. [Drawing] How now! a rat? Dead, for a ducat, Queen. O, what a rash and bloody deed is this! Hamlet. A bloody deed! almost as bad, good mother, As kill a king, and marry with his brother. Queen. As kill a king! Hamlet. Ay, lady, 'twas my word. [Lifts up the arras, and discovers Polonius. Thou wretched, rash, intruding fool, farewell! Leave wringing of your hands. Peace! sit you down, If it be made of penetrable stuff, 1 Crucifix. merely the cross, "It would appear that in earlier times the rood signified not but the image of Christ upon it."— DYCE. |