Enter POLONIUS. Pol. My lord, he's going to his mother's closet. Behind the arras I'll convey myself, To hear the process: I'll warrant, she'll tax him home; And, as you said, and wisely was it said, Tis meet that some more audience than a mother, King. Thanks, dear my lord. O, my offence is rank, it smells to heaven; And what's in prayer but this two-fold force, To be forestalled ere we come to fall, Or pardon'd, being down? Then I'll look up: In the corrupted currents of this world, Art more engaged! Help, angels! make assay: steel, Be soft as sinews of the new-born babe. All may be well. [Retires and kneels. Enter HAMLET. Ham. Now might I do it, pat, now he is praying; And now I'll do't: - and so he goes to Heaven; And so am I reveng'd? That would be scann'd: A villain kills my father; and for that, I, his sole son, do this same villain send Why, this is hire and salary, not revenge. He took my father grossly, full of bread With all his crimes broad blown, as flush as May, And how his audit stands, who knows, save Heaven? But, in our circumstance and course of thought, "Tis heavy with him; and am I then reveng'd, To take him in the purging of his soul, Up, sword; and know thou a more horrid hent. When he is drunk, asleep, or in his rage; Then trip him, that his heels may kick at Heaven; As Hell, whereto it goes. My mother stays : The King rises and advances. [Exit. King. My words fly up, my thoughts remain below: Words without thoughts never to Heaven go. [Exit. SCENE IV. A Room in the Same. Enter Queen and POLONIUS. Pól. He will come straight. Look, you lay home to him; Tell him, his pranks have been too broad to bear with, And that your Grace hath screen'd and stood be tween Much heat and him. I'll silence me e'en here. Pray you, be round with him. Ham. [Within.] Mother, mother, mother! Fear me not: withdraw, I hear him coming. I'll warrant you; [POLONIUS hides himself. Enter HAMLET. Ham. Now, mother! what's the matter? Queen. Hamlet, thou hast thy father much of fended. Ham. Mother, you have my father much offended. Queen. Come, come; you answer with an idle tongue. Ham. Go, go; you question with a wicked tongue. Queen. Why, how now, Hamlet! Ham. What's the matter now? Queen. Have you forgot me? No, by the rood, not so: You are the Queen, your husband's brother's wife; And, — would it were not so!-you are my mother. Queen. Nay then, I'll set those to you that can speak. Ham. Come, come, and sit you down; you shall not budge: You go not, till I set you up a glass Where you may see the inmost part of you. Queen. What wilt thou do? thou wilt not murther me. Help, help, ho! Pol. [Behind.] What, ho! help! help! help! Is it the King A [Lifts up the arras, and sees POLONIUS. Queen. O, what a rash and bloody deed is Ham. this! A bloody deed; almost as bad, good mother, As kill a king, and marry with his brother. Ham. Ay, lady, 'twas my word. [TO POLONIUS. I took thee for thy betters; take thy fortune : [Drops the arrus. Leave wringing of your hands. Peace! sit you down, And let me wring your heart: for so I shall, If it be made of penetrable stuff; If damned custom have not braz'd it so, That it is proof and bulwark against sense. Queen. What have I done that thou dar'st wag thy tongue In noise so rude against me? Such an act Ham. A rhapsody of words: Heaven's face doth glow, With tristful visage, as against the doom, Queen. Ah me! what act, That roars so loud, and thunders in the index? Ham. Look here, upon this picture, and on this; The counterfeit presentment of two brothers. New-lighted on a heaven-kissing hill; |