Ham. Ay, lady, 'twas my word.Thou wretched, rash, intruding fool, farewell! [TO POLONIUS. I took thee for thy better; take thy fortune: If damned custom have not braz'd it so, Queen. What have I done, that thou dar'st wag thy tongue In noise so rude against me? Ham. 8 With tristful visage, as against the doom, Queen. Ah me, what act, That roars so loud, and thunders in the index ?9 Ham. Look here, upon this picture, and on this ;' -from the body of contraction] Contraction for marriage contract. 9 and thunders in the index?] Bullokar in his Expositor, 8vo. 1616, defines an Index by "A table in a booke." The table was almost always prefixed to the books of our poet's age. Indexes, in the sense in which we now understand the word, were very uncommon. 'Look here, upon this picture, and on this:] It is evident from the following words, "A station, like the herald Mercury," &c. The counterfeit presentment of two brothers. This was your husband.-Look you now, what follows: 3 ? Here is your husband; like a mildew'd ear, 4 But it reserv'd some quantity of choice, To serve in such a difference. What devil was't, that these pictures which are introduced as miniatures on the stage, were meant for whole lengths, being part of the furniture of the Queen's closet. * A station like the herald Mercury, &c.] Station, in this instance, does not mean the spot where any one is placed, but the act of standing. ·batten-] i. e. to grow fat. Bat is an ancient word for Sense, sure, you have, Else could you not have motion:] Sense is sometimes used by Shakspeare for sensation or sensual appetite: as motion is the ef fect produced by the impulse of nature. at hoodman-blind?] Probably the same as blindman's Eyes without feeling, feeling without sight, Could not so mope. 6 O shame! where is thy blush? Rebellious hell, And melt in her own fire: proclaim no shame, And reason panders will. Queen. O Hamlet, speak no more: Thou turn'st mine eyes into my very soul; And there I see such black and grained spots, As will not leave their tinct.9 Ham. 8 Nay, but to live In the rank sweat of an enseamed bed;1 Stew'd in corruption; honeying, and making love Over the nasty stye ; Queen. These words, like daggers, enter in mine ears; O, speak to me no more; A murderer, and a villain : Ham. 6 Could not so mope.] i. e. could not exhibit such marks of stupidity. If thou canst mutine, &c.] To mutine, was the ancient term, signifying to rise in mutiny. 8 grained-] Died in grain, or perhaps, indented. 9 As will not leave their tinct.] To leave is to part with, give up, resign. 2 enseamed bed ;] i. e. greasy bed. -vice of kings:] A low mimick of kings. The vice is the fool of a farce; from whence the modern punch is descended. Queen. No more. Enter Ghost. A king Ham. Of shreds and patches:* Save me, and hover o'er me with your wings, You heavenly guards!-What would your gracious figure?. Queen. Alas, he's mad.. Ham. Do you not come your tardy son to chide, Ghost. Do not forget: This visitation Ham. 5 How is it with you, lady? Queen. Alas, how is't with you? That you do bend your eye on vacancy, And with the incorporal air do hold discourse? 3 A king Of shreds and patches:] This is said, pursuing the idea of the vice of kings. The vice was dressed as a fool, in a coat of partycoloured patches. laps'd in time and passion,] That, having suffered time to slip, and passion to cool, lets go, &c. 6 Conceit in weakest bodies-] Conceit for imagination. like life in excrements,] Not only the hair of animals having neither life nor sensation was called an excrement, but the feathers of birds had the same appellation. Upon the heat and flame of thy distemper Whereon do you look? Ham. On him! on him!-Look you, how pale he glares! His form and cause conjoin'd, preaching to stones, Would make them capable.'-Do not look upon me, Lest, with this piteous action, you convert My stern effects: then what I have to do Will want true colour; tears, perchance, for blood. Ham. Queen. No, nothing, but ourselves. Ham. Why, look you there! look, how it steals away! My father, in his habit as he liv'd! Look, where he goes, even now, out at the portal! [Exit Ghost. Queen. This is the very coinage of your brain: This bodiless creation ecstasy Is very cunning in. Ham. Ecstasy! My pulse, as yours, doth temperately keep time, Confess yourself to heaven; ▾ Would make them capable.] Capable here signifies intelligent; endued with understanding. 8 • My stern effects:] Effects for actions; deeds effected. |