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 service freely at your feet,
To be commanded..

King. Thanks, Rosencrantz, and gentle Guildenstern.

Queen. Thanks, Guildenstern, and gentle Ro

sencrantz:

And I beseech you instantly to visit
My too much changed son.

you,

Go, some of

And bring these gentlemen where Hamlet is. Guil. Heavens make our presence, and our practices,

Pleasant and helpful to him!

Queen. Ay, amen!

[Exeunt Ros. GUIL. and some Attendants.

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 us'd to do,) that I have found
The very cause of Hamlet's lunacy.

King. O, speak of that; that do I long to

hear.

Pol. Give first admittance to the embassa

dors;

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 dear Gertrude, he hath found The head and source of all your son's distem

per.

Qneen. I doubt, it is no other but the main His father's death, and our o'er - hasty marriage.

Re-enter POLONIUS, with VOLTIMAND, and CORNELI U S.

King. Well, we shall sift him.

my good friends!

Welcome,

Say, Voltimand, what from our brother Nor

way?

Volt. Most fair return of greetings, and de

sires.

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:
griev'd,

Whereat

That so his sicknefs, age, and impotence,
Was falsely borne in hand, sends out ar

rests

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

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 shewn,
(gives a paper.
That it might please you to give quiet pafs
Through your dominicus for this enterprize;
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!

[Exeunt VOLTIMAND, and CORNELIUS.

Pol. This businefs 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 tediousnefs the limbs and outward flou

rishes,

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

Queen. More matter, with lefs 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;

Vol. VIII.

D

But farewel 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, aud surmise.
To the celestial, and my soul's idol, the most
beautified Ophelia,

That's an ill phrase, a vile phrase; beautify'd is a vile phrase; but you' shall bear. Thus: In her excellent white bosom, these, etc, Queen. Came this from Hamlet to her? Pol. Good madam, stay a while; 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 shewn

me:

And more above, hath his solicitings,

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

King. But how hath she Receiv'd his love?

1

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 perceiv'd 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 mistrefs thus I did bespeak;
Lord Hamlet is a prince out of thy sphere;
This must not be and then I prescripts 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, repulsed, (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 madnels 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 prov'd otherwise?

King. Not that I know.

Pol. Take this from this, if this be other

wise:

[pointing to his head and shoulder.

If circumstances lead me, I will find

Where truth is hid, though it were hid indeed