Before mine uncle: I'll observe his looks; I'll have grounds The play's the thing Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king. (Exit.) [The scene is still the same as that on which the curtain fell at the end of Act II.—a room of state in the Castle. The KING, the QUEEN, POLONIUS, OPHELIA, ROSENCRANTZ, and Guildenstern are disposed about the apartment.] KING. AND can you, by no drift of circumstance, He does confess he feels himself distracted, QUEEN. Did you assay him To any pastime ? ROSENCRANTZ. Madam, it so fell out that certain players POLONIUS. 'Tis most true: And he beseech'd me to entreat your majesties KING. With all my heart; and it doth much content me To hear him so inclined. Good gentlemen, give him a further edge, ROSENCRANTZ. We shall, my lord. (Exeunt ROSENCRANTZ and GUILDENSTERN.) KING. Sweet Gertrude, leave us too; For we have closely sent for Hamlet hither, Her father and myself, lawful espials, meaning Will so bestow ourselves that, seeing unseen, If't be the affliction of his love or no QUEEN. I shall obey you: And for your part, Ophelia, I do wish That your good beauties be the happy cause OPHELIA. Madam, I wish it may. (Exit QUEEN.) Ophelia, walk you here. Gracious, so please you, We will bestow ourselves. (To OPHELIA.) Read on this book; That show of such an exercise may colour (To KING.) I hear him coming: let's withdraw, my lord. (Exeunt KING and POLONIUS.) Enter HAMLET. HAMLET. To be, or not to be: that is the question: |