To cast beyond ourselves in our opinions,

It seems, it is as proper to our age

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.

Come.

SCENE II-A Room in the Castle.

[Exeunt.

Enter KING, QUEEN, ROSENCRANTZ, GUILDENSTERN, and

Attendants.

King. Welcome, dear Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern! Moreover that we much did long to see you,

The need, we have to use you, did provoke

Our hasty sending. Something have you heard
Of Hamlet's transformation; so I call it,
Since not the exterior nor the inward man
Resembles that it was: What it should be,

More than his father's death, that thus hath put him
So much from the understanding of himself,

I cannot dream 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 occasion 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,t
To lay our service freely at your feet,

To be commanded.

King. Thanks, Rosencrantz, and gentle Guildenstern.
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.

* Complaisance.

+ Utmost exertion,

Guil. Heavens make our presence, and our practices, Pleasant and helpful to him!

Queen. Ay, amen!

[Exeunt ROSENCRANTZ, GUILDENSTERN, and some attendants. Enter POLONIUS.

Pol. The embassadors 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, and 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 embassadors;
My news shall be the fruit + to that great feast.
King. Thyself do grace to them, and bring them in.
[Exit POLONIUS,

He tells me, my dear Gertrude, 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.

Re-enter POLONIUS, with VOLTIMAND and CORNELIUS. King. Well, we shall sift him.-Welcome, my good friends! Say, Voltimand, what from our brother Norway?

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, I 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,
That it might please you to give quiet pass
Through your dominions for this enterprise;
On such regards of safety, and allowance,
As therein are set down.

[Gives a paper.

+ Imposed on.

And, at our more consider'd time, we'll read,

Answer, and think upon this business.

Meantime we thank you for your well-took labour;

Go to your rest; at night we'll feast together:

Most welcome home! [Exeunt VOLTIMAND and CORNELIUS.

Pol. 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.

-To the celestial, and my soul'sidol, the most beautified Ophelia,That's an ill phrase, a vile phrase; beautified is a vile phrase; but you shall hear,-Thus:

In her excellent white bosom, these, &c.

Queen. Came this from Hamlet to her?

Pol. Good Madam, stay awhile; I will be faithful.

Doubt thou, the stars are fire;

Doubt, that the sun doth move:

Doubt truth to be a liar;

But never doubt, I love.

[reads.

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 shown me:

And more abovet hath his solicitings,

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

King. But how hath she

Received his love?

Pol. 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 working, 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 did I bespeak;
Lord Hamlet is a prince out of thy sphere;
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, repulse (a short tale to make),
Fell into a sadne s; then into a fast;
Thence to a watch; thence into a weakness;
Thence to a lightness; and, by this declension,
Into the madness wherein now he raves,

And all we mourn 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), That I have positively said, 'Tis so,

When it proved otherwise?

King. Not that I know.

Pol. Take this from this, if this be otherwise:

[Pointing to his head and shoulder.

If circumstances lead me, I will find

Where truth is hid, though it were hid indeed

Within the centre.

King. How may we try it further?

Pol. You know, sometimes he walks for hours together,

Here in the lobby.

Queen. So he does, indeed.

Pol. At such a time I'll loose my daughter to him:

Be you and I behind an arras then;

Mark the encounter: if he love her not,

And be not from his reason fallen thereon,

Let me be no assistant for a state,

But keep a farm, and carters.

King. We will try it.

Enter HAMLET, reading.

Queen. But, look, where sadly the poor wretch comes reading. Pol. Away, I do beseech you, both away;

I'll board+ him presently:-O give me leave.

Exeunt KING, QUEEN, and Attendants.

How does my good lord Hamlet?

Ham. Well, god-'a-mercy.

Pol. Do you know me, my lord?

Ham. Excellent well; you are a fishmonger.

Pol. Not I, my lord.

Ham. Then I would you were so honest a man.

Pol. Honest, my lord?

Ham. Ay, Sir; to be honest, as this world goes, is to be one man picked out of ten thousand.

Pol. That's very true, my lord.

Ham. For if the sun breed maggots in a dead dog, being a god, kissing carrion,- -Have you a daughter?

Pol. I have, my lord.

Ham. Let her not walk i' the sun: conception is a blessing; but as your daughter may conceive,†-friend, look to't.

Pol. How say you by that? [aside]. Still harping on my daughter:-yet he knew me not at first; he said, I was a fishmonger: He is far gone, far gone: and, truly in my youth I suffered much extremity for love; very near this. I'll speak to him again.-What do you read, my lord?

Ham. Words, words, words!

Pol. What is the matter, my lord?

Ham. Between who?

Pol. I mean, the matter that you read, my lord.

Ham. Slanders, Sir: for the satirical rogue says here, that old men have grey beards; that their faces are wrinkled; their eyes purging thick amber, and plum-tree gum; and that they have a plentiful lack of wit, together with most weak hams: All of which, Sir, though I most powerfully and potently believe, yet I hold it not honesty to have it thus set down; for yourself, Sir, shall be old as I am, if, like a crab, you could go backward.

Pol. Though this be madness, yet there's method in it [aside], Will you walk out of the air, my lord?

Ham. Into my grave?

Pol. Indeed, that is out 'o' the air. - How pregnant‡ sometimes his replies are! a happiness that often madness hits on, which reason and sanity § could not so prosperously be delivered of. I will leave him, and suddenly contrive the means of meeting between him and my daughter.-My honourable lord, I will most humbly take my leave of you.

Ham. You cannot, Sir, take from me anything that I will more willingly part withal; except my life, except my life, except my life.

Pol. Fare you well, my lord.

Ham. These tedious old fools!

Enter ROSENCRANTZ and GUILDENSTERN.

Pol. You go to seek the lord Hamlet; there he is.

Ross. God save you, Sir!

Guil. My honour'd lord!-
Ros. My most dear lord!-

* Understanding.
Ready, apt.

[To POLONIUS. Exit POLONIUS.

+ Be pregnant.

Soundness of mind.