Why yet I live, to say, This thing's to do;
Sith I have cause, and will, and strength, and

means,

b

To do't. Examples, gross as earth, exhort me:
Witness, this army of such mass, and charge,
Led by a delicate and tender prince;
Whose spirit, with divine ambition puff'd,
Makes mouths at the invisible event;"
Exposing what is mortal, and unsure,
To all that fortune, death, and danger, dare,
Even for an egg-shell. Rightly to be great,
Is, not to stir without great argument;
But greatly to find quarrel in a straw,
When honour's at the stake. How stand I then,
That have a father kill'd, a mother stain'd,
Excitements of my reason and my blood,
And let all sleep? while, to my shame, I see
The imminent death of twenty thousand men,
That, for a fantasy, and trick of fame,"
Go to their graves like beds; fight for a plot,"
Whereon the numbers cannot try the cause,
Which is not tomb enough, and continent, (19)
To hide the slain ?-O, from this time forth,
My thoughts be bloody, or be nothing worth!]

[Exit.

• Makes mouths at the invisible event] Scoffs at unknown fate, at the unseen issue.

without great argument, but greatly, &c.] Without sufficient reason, but magnanimously, &c. Dr. Johnson says, the sentiment is partly just, and partly romantick.

Rightly to be great,

Is, not to stir without great argument ;

is exactly philosophical.

But greatly to find quarrel in a straw,

When honour's at the stake,

is the idea of a modern hero. But then, says he, honour is an argument, or subject of debate, sufficiently great, and when honour

is at stake, we must find cause of quarrel in a straw.

C

reason and blood] Judgment and passions. See III. 2. Haml.

trick of fame] Point of honour.

SCENE V.

Elsinore. A Room in the Castle.

Enter Queen and HORATIO.

QUEEN.

-I will not speak with her.

HOR. She is importunate; indeed, distract; Her mood will needs be pitied.(20)

QUEEN.

What would she have?

HOR. She speaks much of her father; says, she

hears,

There's tricks i'the world; and hems, and beats her heart;

Spurns enviously at straws; speaks things in doubt,

That carry but half sense: her speech is nothing,
Yet the unshaped use of it doth move

The hearers to collection; (2) they aim at it,
And botch the words up fit to their own thoughts;
Which, as her winks, and nods, and gestures yield

them,

Indeed would make one think, there might be

thought,

Though nothing sure, yet much unhappily.(2 QUEEN. 'Twere good, she were spoken with; for she may strew

Dangerous conjectures in ill-breeding minds:

enviously] With spleen and passion, as mad dogs snap at whatever they meet.

speaks things in doubt] Without distinct or certain aim; wanderingly and incoherently.

Let her come in.

[Exit HORATIO.

Το my sick soul, as sin's true nature is,

Each toy seems prologue to some great amiss:* So full of artless jealousy is guilt,

It spills itself in fearing to be spilt."

Re-enter HORATIO, with OPHELIA.

OPH. Where is the beauteous majesty of Denmark?

QUEEN. How now, Ophelia?

ОPH. How should I your true love know

From another one?

By his cockle hat and staff, (23)

And his sandal shoon.

[Singing.

QUEEN. Alas, sweet lady, what imports this

song?

OPH. Say you? nay, pray you, mark.

a Each toy seems prologue to some great amiss] Toy is trifle: and amiss, in common use at that time for offence or abuse, here imports" evil impending or catastrophe."

It spills itself in fearing to be spilt] Exposes and ruins itself by its over anxiety to stifle suspicion.

• sandal shoon] "Socculus, a manner of shone." Ortus Vocabulor, 1514.

White his shroud as the mountain-snow,

[Sings.

Enter King.

QUEEN. Alas, look here, my lord.

OPH. Larded all with sweet flowers;
Which bewept to the grave did not go
With true-love showers. (24)

KING. How do you, pretty lady?

OPH. Well, God'ield you." They say, the owl was a baker's daughter.(5) Lord, we know what we are, but know not what we may be. God be at your table!

KING. Conceit upon her father."

OPH. Pray, let us have no words of this; but when they ask you, what it means, say you this:

To-morrow is Saint Valentine's day,(26)
All in the morning betime,
And I a maid at your window,
To be your Valentine:

Then up he rose, and don'd his clothes,
And dupp'd the chamber door;
Let in the maid, that out a maid
Never departed more.

KING. Pretty Ophelia !

• God'ield you] Requite; yield you recompence. See As you, &c. III. 3. Touchst.

Conceit upon her father] Fancies respecting. See III. 4. Ghost. "Conceit in weakest minds."

< don'd and dupp'd] Do on and do up.

OPH. Indeed, without an oath, I'll make an end on't:

(27)

By Gis, and by Saint Charity,"

Alack, and fye for shame!

Young men will do't, if they come to’t;

(29)

By cock, they are to blame.

Quoth she, before you tumbled me,
You promis'd me to wed:
[He answers.]

So would I ha' done, by yonder sun,
An thou hadst not come to my bed.

KING. How long hath she been thus?

OPH. I hope, all will be well. We must be patient: but I cannot choose but weep, to think, they should lay him i'the cold ground: My brother shall know of it, and so I thank you for your good counsel. Come, my coach! Good night, ladies; good night, sweet ladies: good night, good night.

[Exit.

KING. Follow her close; give her good watch, I pray you. [Exit HORATIO. O! this is the poison of deep grief; it springs All from her father's death: And now behold, O, Gertrude, Gertrude,

When sorrows come, they come not single spies, But in battalions! First, her father slain;

Next, your son gone; and he most violent author Of his own just remove: The people muddied, Thick and unwholesome in their thoughts and

whispers,

For good Polonius' death; and we have done but greenly,

In hugger-mugger to inter him: (3) Poor Ophelia Divided from herself, and her fair judgment; Without the which we are pictures, or mere beasts. Last, and as much containing as all these,