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;

At last, a little shaking of mine arm,

a

And thrice his head thus waving up and down,-
He rais'd a sigh so piteous and profound,
As it did seem to shatter all his bulk,
And end his being: That done, he lets me go:
And, with his head over his shoulder turn'd,
He seem'd to find his way without his eyes;
For out o'doors he went without their helps,
And, to the last, bended their light on me.

POL. Come, go with me; I will go seek the king. This is the very ecstasy of love;

b

Whose violent property foredoes itself,'
And leads the will to desperate undertakings,
As oft as any passion under heaven,

That does afflict our natures. I am sorry,

What, have you given him any hard words of late?

OPH. No, my good lord; but, as you did com

mand,

I did repel his letters, and denied

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 fear'd, he did but

trifle,

And meant to wreck thee; but, beshrew my jealousy!

It seems, it is as proper to our age

To cast beyond ourselves in our opinions,
As it is common for the younger sort

To lack discretion. (8) Come, go we to the king:

b

foredoes] Brings to a premature end, destroys, V. 1.

Haml.

beshrew my jealousy] A mischief on! See M. N. Dr. II. 3. Hermia.

This must be known; which, being kept close,

might move

More grief to hide, than hate to utter love. (9)

Come.

[Exeunt.

SCENE II.

A Room in the Castle.

Enter King, Queen, ROSENCRANTZ, GUILDEN-
STERN, and Attendants.

KING. Welcome, dear Rosencrantz, and Guil-
denstern!

Moreover that we much did long to see you,
The need, we have to use you, did provoke
Our hasty sending. Something have you heard
Of Hamlet's transformation; so I call it,

Since not the exterior nor the inward man Resembles that it was: What it should be, then O.C. More than his father's death, that thus hath put

• dream, 4tos.

him

So much from the understanding of himself,

I cannot deeme* of: I entreat you both,

That, being of so young days brought up with

him;

And, since, so neighbour'd to his youth and hu

mour,

That you vouchsafe your rest here in our court
Some little time: so by your companies

the understanding of himself,

I cannot deeme of] The just estimate of himself I cannot judge of, or comprehend.

b neighbour'd to] Close familiarity with.

* vouchsafe your rest] Please to reside.

To draw him on to pleasures; and to gather,
So much as from occasion you may glean,
Whether aught, to us unknown, afflicts him thus,
That, open'd, lies within our remedy.

QUEEN. Good gentlemen, he hath much talk'd of you;

a

And, sure I am, two men there are not living,
To whom he more adheres. If it will please you
To show us so much gentry, and good will,
As to expend your time with us a while,
For the supply and profit of our hope,
Your visitation shall receive such thanks
As fits a king's remembrance.

b

C

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

GUIL.

But we both obey;

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

To be commanded.

KING. Thanks, Rosencrantz, and gentle Guildenstern.

QUEEN. Thanks, Guildenstern, and gentle Ro

sencrantz :

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 practices,

Pleasant and helpful to him!

a gentry] Gentle courtesy.

For the supply and profit] In aid and furtherance.

e of us] Is over us.

in the full bent] To the full stretch and range. It is a term derived from archery. See M. ado &c. II. 3. Bened.

1

[Exeunt ROSENCRANTZ, GUILDENSTERN, and some Attendants.

news, 1623, 32.

Enter POLONIUS.

POL. The embassadors from Norway, my good lord,

Are joyfully return'd.

KING. Thou still hast been the father of good

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

liege,

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 (10) so sure
As it hath us'd to do,) that I have found
The very cause of Hamlet's lunacy.

KING. O, speak of that; that do I long to hear.
POL. Give first admittance to the embassadors
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.

(11)

the father of good news] He, from whom it sprung or was derived.

b

My news shall be the fruit] Fruit is the reading of the quartos. By news must be meant the talk or leading topic at, &c.

Re-enter POLONIUS, with VOLTIMAND and CORNELIUS.

KING. Well, we shall sift him. Welcome, my good friends!

a

Say, Voltimand, what from our brother Norway?
VOLT. Most fair return of greetings, and desires.
Upon our first, he sent out to suppress
His nephew's levies; which to him appear'd
To be a preparation 'gainst the Polack;
But, better look'd into, he truly found

It was against your highness: Whereat griev'd,
That so his sickness, age, and impotence,
Was falsely borne in hand, (12)-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,

[Gives a Paper.

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

KING.
It likes us well; (13)
And, at our more consider'd time, we'll read,
Answer, and think upon this business.

Mean time, we thank you for your well-took labour:

a

Upon our first] i. e. audience, or opening of our business. three thousand crowns in annual fee] A feud or fee (in land) of that yearly value. Ritson. See "pin's fee." I. 4. Haml.

At our considered time.] The past used for that which is in prospect: "when we have more time for considering."