And how, and who, what means, and where they keep, Take you, as 'twere, some distant knowledge of him; And, in part, him.-Do you mark this, Reynaldo? Pol. And, in part, him;—but, you may say, not well; But, if't be he I mean, he's very wild ; Addicted so and so;-and there put on him Rey. As gaming, my lord. Pol. Ay, or drinking, fencing,' swearing, quarrelling, Drabbing-you may go so far. Rey. My lord, that would dishonor him. Pol. 'Faith, no; as you may season it in the charge. You must not put another scandal on him, That he is open to incontinency; That's not my meaning. But breathe his faults so quaintly, That they may seem the taints of liberty; The flash and outbreak of a fiery mind; A savageness in unreclaimed blood, Of general assault. 1 "The cunning of fencers is now applied to quarrelling; they thinke themselves no men, if for stirring of a straw, they prove not their valure uppon some bodies fleshe."-Gosson's Schole of Abuse, 1579. 2 "A wildness of untamed blood, such as youth is generally assailed by." Pol. Marry, sir, here's my drift; And, I believe, it is a fetch of warrant. Your party in converse, him you would sound, Rey. Very good, my lord. Pol. And then, sir, does he this,-He doesWhat was I about to say?-By the mass, I was about to say something.-Where did I leave? Rey. At, closes in the consequence. Pol. At, closes in the consequence,-Ay, marry ; Or then, or then; with such, or such; and, as you say, I saw him enter such a house of sale, (Videlicet, a brothel,) or so forth. See you now; Your bait of falsehood takes this carp of truth; And thus do we of wisdom and of reach, With windlaces, and with assays of bias,2 So, by my former lecture and advice, Shall you my son. You have me, have you not? Rey. My lord, I have. God be wi' you; fare you well. Rey. Good my lord, Pol. Observe his inclination in yourself.3 1 So, for so forth, as in the last act :-"Six French rapiers and poniards, with their assigns, as girdle, hanger, and so." 2 i. e. by tortuous devices and side essays. 3 i. e. in your own person; personally add your own observations of his conduct to these inquiries respecting him. Pol. Farewell!-How now, Ophelia? what's the matter? Oph. O my lord, my lord, I have been so affrighted! Pol. With what, in the name of Heaven? As if he had been loosed out of hell, To speak of horrors, he comes before me. Oph. But, truly, I do fear it. Pol. My lord, I do not know; What said he ? Oph. He took me by the wrist, and held me hard; Then goes he to the length of all his arm; And, with his other hand thus o'er his brow, He falls to such perusal of my face, As he would draw it. Long staid he so; And thrice his head thus waving up and down,— 1 Hanging down like the loose cincture which confines the fetters or gyves round the ankles. 2 i. e. his breast. "The bulke or breast of a man; thorax, la poitrine.”— Baret. Pol. Come, go with me; I will go seek the king. This is the very ecstasy of love; Whose violent property foredoes1 itself, That does afflict our natures. I am sorry,- His access to me. Pol. That hath made him mad. I am sorry, that with better heed and judgment, I had not quoted him. I feared he did but trifle, And meant to wreck thee; but, beshrew my jealousy! seems, it is as proper to our age It To cast beyond ourselves in our opinions, As it is common for the younger sort To lack discretion. Come, go we to the king. This must be known, which, being kept close, might move More grief to hide, than hate to utter love.3 Come.1 [Exeunt. SCENE II. A Room in the Castle. Enter King, Queen, ROSENCRANTZ, GUILDENSTern, and Attendants. King. Welcome, dear Rosencrantz and Guilden stern! Moreover that we much did long to see you, 1 To foredo and to undo were synonymous. 2 To quote is to note, to mark. 3 "This must be made known to the king, for (being kept secret) the hiding Hamlet's love might occasion more mischief to us from him and the queen, than the uttering or revealing it will occasion hate and resentment from Hamlet." 4 Folio omits come. Since not the exterior nor the inward man I cannot dream2 of. I entreat you both, That,-being of so young days brought up with him; Queen. Good gentlemen, he hath much talked of you; And, sure I am, two men there are not living, As to expend your time with us awhile, 6 For the supply and profit of our hope, Ros. Both your majesties Might, by the sovereign power you have of us, Guil. 8 But we both obey, And here give up ourselves, in the full bent, To be commanded. King. Thanks, Rosencrantz, and gentle Guilden stern. Queen. Thanks, Guildenstern, and gentle Rosencrantz; 1 Quarto-sith nor. 2 Folio-deem. 4 This line is omitted in the folio. 3 Quarto-havior. 5 Gentry for gentle courtesy. "Gentlemanlinesse or gentry, kindness, or natural goodness; generositas."-Baret. 6 Supply and profit is aid and advantage. 7 i. e. over us. 9 i. e. to the utmost of inclination or disposition. 8 Folio omits but. |