I cannot deem of: I entreat you both,

That, being of so young days brought up with him,

And, since, so neighbour'd to his youth and humour,

That you vouchsafe your rest here in our court
Some little time: so by your companies

To draw him on to pleasures; and to gather,
So much as from occasions you may glean,
Whether aught, to us unknown, afflicts him
thus,

That, open'd, lies within our remedy.

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
To show us so much gentry and good will,
As to expend your time with us a while,
For the supply and profit of our hope,
Your visitation shall receive such thanks
As fits a king's remembrance.

Ros.

Both your majesties Might, by the sovereign power you have of us, Put your dread pleasures more into command Than to entreaty.

Guil.

But we both obey;

And here give up ourselves, in the full bent,
To lay our services freely at your feet,

To be commanded.

King. Thanks, Rosencrantz,

Guildenstern.

and gentle

Queen. Thanks, Guildenstern, and gentle Rosencrantz :

And I beseech you instantly to visit

My too much changed son.-Go, some of you, And bring these gentlemen where Hamlet is.

Guil. Heavens make our presence, and our

practices,

Pleasant and helpful to him!

Queen.

Amen!

[Exeunt Ros., GUIL., and some Attendants.

Enter POLONIUS.

Pol. The ambassadors from Norway, my good lord,

Are joyfully return'd.

King. Thou still hast been the father of good

news.

Pol. Have I, my lord? Assure you, my good liege,

I hold my duty, as I hold my soul,

Both to my God, one to my gracious king:
And I do think (or else this brain of mine
Hunts not the trail of policy so sure
As it hath used to do) that I have found
The very cause of Hamlet's lunacy.

King. O, speak of that; that I do long to hear. Pol. Give first admittance to the ambassadors; My news shall be the fruit to that great feast. King. Thyself do grace to them, and bring [Exit POLONIUS.

them in.

He tells me, my sweet queen, that he hath found The head and source of all your son's distemper.

Queen. I doubt, it is no other but the main ; His father's death, and our o'erhasty marriage. King. Well, we shall sift him.

Re-enter POLONIUS, with VOLTIMAND and CORNELIUS. Welcome, good friends! Say, Voltimand, what from our brother Nor

way?

Volt. Most fair return of greetings and desires.

Upon our first, he sent out to suppress
His nephew's levies, which to him appear'd
To be a preparation 'gainst the Polack;
But, better look'd into, he truly found

It was against your highness: whereat grieved,-
That so his sickness, age, and impotence,
Was falsely borne in hand,—sends out arrests
'On Fortinbras, which he, in brief, obeys;
Receives rebuke from Norway; and, in fine,
Makes vow before his uncle, never more

To give the assay of arms against your majesty.
Whereon old Norway, overcome with joy,
Gives him three thousand crowns in annual fee;
And his commission, to employ those soldiers,
So levied as before, against the Polack:
With an entreaty, herein further shown,
[Gives a paper.
That it might please you to give quiet pass
Through your dominions for his enterprise;
On such regards of safety, and allowance,
As therein are set down.

King.
It likes us well;
And, at our more consider'd time, we'll read,
Answer, and think upon this business.

Mean time, we thank you for your well-took labour:

Go to your rest; at night we'll feast together: Most welcome home!

Pol.

[Exeunt VOLTIMAND and CORNELIUS.

This business is well ended.

My liege, and madam, to expostulate

What majesty should be, what duty is,
Why day is day, night night, and time is time,
Were nothing but to waste night, day, and time.
Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit,

And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes,

I will be brief: your noble son is mad:
Mad call I it: for, to define true madness,
What is't, but to be nothing else but mad;
But let that go.

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;
But farewell it, for I will use no art.

Mad let us grant him then and now remains,
That we find out the cause of this effect;
Or, rather say, the cause of this defect;
For this effect, defective, comes by cause :
Thus it remains, and the remainder thus.
Perpend.

I have a daughter; have, while she is mine;
Who, in her duty and obedience, mark,

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.

Queen. Came this from Hamlet to her? Pol. Good madam, stay awhile; I will be faithful.

[Reads.] Doubt thou, the stars are fire;

Doubt, that the sun doth move;

Doubt truth to be a liar;

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 show'd

me:

And more above, hath his solicitings,

As they fell out by time, by means, and place, All given to mine ear.

King.

Received his love?

Pol.

But how hath she

What do you think of me?

King. As of a man faithful and honourable. Pol. I would fain prove so. But what might you think,

When I had seen this hot love on the wing,
(As I perceived it, I must tell you that,

Before my daughter told me,) what might you,
Or my dear majesty your queen here, think,
If I had play'd the desk, or table-book;
Or given my heart a winking, mute and dumb;
Or look'd upon this love with idle sight;

What might you think? No, I went round to work,

And my young mistress thus I did bespeak;
Lord Hamlet is a prince out of thy star;

This must not be: and then I precepts gave her,
That she should lock herself from his resort,
Admit no messengers, receive no tokens.
Which done, she took the fruits of my advice;
And he, repulsèd, (a short tale to make,)
Fell into a sadness; then into a fast ;

Thence to a watch; thence into a weakness;
Thence to a lightness; and, by this declension,
Into the madness whereon now he raves,

And all we wail 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,)