And how, and who, what means, and where they keep, Pol. And, in part, him; but, you may say, not well; But, if't be he I mean, he's very wild ; As are companions noted and most known To youth and liberty. Rey. As gaming, my lord. Pol. Ay, or drinking, fencing, swearing, quar relling, 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 2 in unreclaimed blood, Of general assault. But, my good lord, Pol. Wherefore should you do this? Rey. Rey. Ay, my lord, I would know that. 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. You laying these slight sullies on my son, 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; He closes with you thus :-I know the gentleman; Or then, or then; with such, or such; and, as you say, There falling out at tennis; or, perchance, 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, By indirections find directions out; So, by my former lecture and advice, 2 Shall you my son. You have me, have you not? Rey. My lord, I have. Pol. 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. Rey. I shall, my lord. Rey. Well, my lord. [Exit. Enter OPHELIA. Pol. Farewell!-How now, Ophelia? what's the matter? Oph. O my lord, my lord, I have been so af frighted! Pol. With what, in the name of Heaven ? Oph. My lord, as I was sewing in my closet, And with a look so piteous in purport, As if he had been loosed out of hell, To speak of horrors, 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; 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; That does afflict our natures. I am sorry,- 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. I am sorry, that with better heed and judgment, 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. 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 SCENE II. A Room in the Castle. [Exeunt. Enter King, Queen, ROSENCRANTZ, GUILDENSTERN, and Attendants. King. Welcome, dear Rosencrantz and Guilden stern! Moreover that we much did long to see you, Of Hamlet's transformation; so I call it, 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 not1 the exterior nor the inward man Queen. Good gentlemen, he hath much talked of you; And, sure I am, two men there are not living, As fits a king's remembrance. Ros. 6 Both your majesties Might, by the sovereign power you have of us, Than to entreaty. Guil. But 8 we both obey, And here give up ourselves, in the full bent, To be commanded. 9 7 5 Gentry for gentle courtesy. "Gentlemanlinesse or gentry, kindness, -Baret. or natural goodness; generositas." -1 6 Supply and profit is aid and advantage. 7 i. e. over us. 8 Folio omits but. |