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much from th' 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 haviour； 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 awhile 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 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。 Ay；
amen！Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern； ＇with some Attendants＇。
Enter Polonius。
Pol。 Th' 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 and to my gracious king； And I do think… or else this brain
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THE TRAGEDY OF HAMLET； PRINCE OF DENMARK
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 th' ambassadors。 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。 King。
Well； we shall sift him。
Enter Polonius； Voltemand； and Cornelius。
Welcome； my good friends。 Say； Voltemand； 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 griev'd； 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 th' 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 this 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。
Meantime we thank you for your well…took labour。 Go to your rest； at
night we'll feast together。 Most welcome home！ Exeunt Ambassadors。 Pol。
This business is well ended。 My liege； and madam； to expostulate What
majesty should be； what duty is； Why day is day； night is 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
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THE TRAGEDY OF HAMLET； PRINCE OF DENMARK
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＇ the letter。 '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； &c。' 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 shown 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？ 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 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 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 madness wherein now he raves；
And all we mourn for。 King。 Do you think 'tis this？ Queen。 it may be； very
like。 Pol。 Hath there been such a time… I would fain know that… That I have
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THE TRAGEDY OF HAMLET； PRINCE OF DENMARK
Positively said ''Tis so；' When it prov'd otherwise。？ King。 Not that I know。
Pol。 ＇points to his head and shoulder＇ Take this from this； if this be
otherwise。 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 he not from his reason fall'n thereon Let me be no assistant for a
state； But keep a farm and carters。 King。 We will try it。
Enter Hamlet； reading on a book。
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 and Queen； ＇with 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 pick'd out of ten thousand。