ACT THE SECOND. SCENE I. An Apartment in POLONIUS' House. Enter POLONIUS, meeting OPHELIA. Pol. How now, Ophelia? what is the matter? Oph. O, my lord, my lord, I have been so affrighted? Pol. With what, in the name of Heaven? Oph. My lord, as I was sewing in my closet, Lord Hamlet, with his doublet all unbrac'd, No hat upon his head, his stockings foul'd, Ungarter'd, and down-gyved to his ankle, Pale as his shirt, his knees knocking each other,— He comes before me. Pol. Mad for thy love? Oph. My lord, I do not know; But, truly, I do fear it. Pol. 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,—~ As it did seem to shatter all his bulk, And end his being: That done, he lets me go; way For out o' doors he went without their helps, Pol. Come, go with me; I will go seek the King. This is the very ecstacy of love. What, have you given him any hard words of late? Oph. No, my good lord; but, as you did command, I did repel his letters, and denied His access to me. Pol. That hath made him mad. 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. [Exeunt. SCENE II. The Palace. Enter KING, QUEEN, ROSENCRANTZ, GUILDENSTERN, BERNARDO, and FRANCISCO. King. Welcome, dear Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern! Moreover that we much did long to see you, What it should be, More than his father's death, that thus hath put him So much from the understanding of himself, I cannot dream of: I entreat you both, That you vouchsafe your rest here in our court Queen. Good gentlemen, he hath much talk'd of you; And, sure I am, two men there are not living, To whom he more adheres. If it will please you Ros. Both your majesties Might, by the sovereign power you have of us, Guil. But we both obey; And here give up ourselves, in the full bent, King. Thanks, Rosencrantz, and gentle Guilden stern. Queen. I do beseech you instantly to visit My too much changed son.—Go, some of you, And bring these gentlemen where Hamlet is. [Exeunt GUILDENSTERN, ROSENCRANTZ, FRANCISCO, and BERNARDO. Enter POLONIUS. Pol. I now do think, (or else this brain of mine As it hath us'd to do,) that I have found King. O, speak of that; that I do long to hear. 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; I have a daughter; have, while she is mine; Hath given me this: Now gather, and surmise. [Reads.] To the celestial, and my soul's idol, the most beautified Ophelia, That's an ill phrase, a vile phrase; beautified is a vile phrase; but you shall hear :-Thus : [Reads.] In her excellent white bosom, these, &c.— Queen. Came this from Hamlet to her? Pol. Good madam, stay a while; I will be faithful. [Reads.] Doubt thou, the stars are fire; Doubt, that the sun doth move: But never doubt, I love. O dear Ophelia, I am ill at these numbers; I have 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: As they fell out by time, by means, and place, King. But how hath she Receiv'd his love? Pol. What do you think of me? King. As of a man faithful and honourable. Pol. I would fain prove so. think, But what might you When I had seen this hot love on the wing, Before my daughter told me,) what might you, Thence into a weakness; Thence to a lightness; and, by this declension, And all we mourn for. King. Do you think, 'tis this? Queen. It may be, very likely. Pol. Hath there been such a time, (I'd fain know that,) That I have positively said, 'Tis so, When it prov'd otherwise? King. Not that I know. Pol. Take this from this, if this be otherwise. [Pointing to his head and shoulder. If circumstances lead me, I will find Where truth is hid, though it were hid indeed Within the centre. King. How may we try it further? Pol. You know, sometimes he walks for hours together, Here in the lobby. Queen. So he does, indeed. Pol. At such a time I'll loose my daughter to him; Mark the encounter: if he love her not, |