And let me wring your heart: for so I shall, If damned custom have not braz'd it so, That it be proof and bulwark against sense. Queen. What have I done, that thou dar'st wag thy tongue In noise so rude against me? Ham. Queen. Ah me, what act, That roars so loud, and thunders in the index ? 9 8 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 un common. 1 Look here, upon this picture, and on this ;] It is evident from the following words, "A station, like the herald Mercury," &c. 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. New-lighted on a heaven-kissing hill; Where every god did seem to set his seal, This was your husband. - Look you now, what follows: What devil was't, Nor sense to ecstasy was ne'er so thrall'd, O shame! where is thy blush? Rebellious hell, 2 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 increase. 4 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 effect produced by the impulse of nature. 5 at hoodman-blind?] Probably the same as blindman's-buff. 6 Could not so mope.] i. e. could not exhibit such marks of stupidity. 7 If thou canst mutine, &c.] To mutine, was the ancient term, signifying to rise in mutiny. To flaming youth lẹt virtue be as wax, And reason panders will. Queen. O Hamlet, speak no more: 8 Thou turn'st mine eyes into my very soul; Нат. Nay, but to live In the rank sweat of an enseamed bed; 1 Stew'd in corruption; honeying, and making love Queen. O, speak to me no more; These words, like daggers, enter in mine ears; Ham. A murderer, and a villain; A slave, that is not twentieth part the tythe Queen. 2 No more. Enter Ghost. Ham. A king Of shreds and patches: J Save me, and hover o'er me with your wings, 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. 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. 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. How is it with you, lady? Queen. Alas, how is't with you? That you do bend your eye on vacancy, 6 And with the incorporal air do hold discourse? His form and cause conjoin'd, preaching to stones, My stern effects: then what I have to do laps'd in time and passion,] That, having suffer'd time to slip, and passion to cool, let's go, &c. • Conceit in weakest bodies-] Conceit for imagination. 6— 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. 7 Would make them capable.] Capable here signifies intelligent; endued with understanding. 8 My stern effects:] Effects for actions; deeds effected. Queen. To whom do you speak this? Ham. Do you see nothing there? 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, Yea, curb' and woo, for leave to do him good. Queen. O Hamlet! thou hast cleft my heart in twain. And live the purer with the other half. 9 do not spread the compost, &c.] Do not, by any new indulgence, heighten your former offences. 1 curb-] That is, bend and truckle; Fr. courber. |