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Ros., Guil. We'll wait upon you.

Ham. No such matter; I will not sort you with the rest of my servants; for, to speak to you like an honest man, I am most dreadfully attended. But, in the beaten way of friendship, what make you at Elsinore?

Ros. To visit you, my lord: no other occasion.

Ham. Beggar that I am, I am even poor in thanks; but I thank you: and sure, dear friends, my thanks are too dear, a half-penny. Were you not sent for? Is it your own inclining? Is it a free visitation ? Come; deal justly with me: come, come; nay, speak. Guil. What should we say, my lord?

You

Ham. Why, anything, but to the purpose. were sent for; and there is a kind of confession in your looks, which your modesties have not craft enough to color: I know the good king and queen 280 have sent for you.

Ros. To what end, my lord?

But let me con

Ham. That you must teach me. jure you, by the rights of our fellowship, by the consonancy of our youth, by the obligation of our ever-preserved love, and by what more dear a better proposer could charge you withal, be even and direct with me, whether you were sent for, or no.

If

Ros. [Aside to GUILDENSTERN] What say you? Ham. [Aside] Nay, then, I have an eye of you. you love me, hold not off.

Guil. My lord, we were sent for.

290

Ham. I will tell you why; so shall my anticipation prevent your discovery, and your secrecy to the king and queen moult no feather. I have of late, but wherefore I know not,- lost all my mirth, foregone all custom of exercises: and, indeed, it goes so heavily with my disposition that this goodly frame, the earth, seems to me a sterile promontory; this most excellent canopy, the air, look you, - this brave o'erhanging firmament — this majestical roof fretted with golden 300 fire, why, it appears no other thing to me than a foul and pestilent congregation of vapors. What a piece of work is man! How noble in reason! how infinite in faculty in form and moving how express and admirable! in action how like an angel! in apprehension how like a god! the beauty of the world! the paragon of animals! And yet, to me, what is this quintessence of dust? man delights not me; no, nor woman neither, though by your smiling you seem to say so.

Ros. My lord, there was no such stuff in my thoughts. 310 Ham. Why did you laugh then, when I said man delights not me?

Ros. To think, my lord, if you delight not in man, what lenten entertainment the players shall receive from you: we coted them on the way; and hither are they coming, to offer your service.

Ham. He that plays the king shall be welcome; his majesty shall have tribute of me; the adventurous knight shall use his foil and target; the lover shall 320 not sigh gratis; the humorous man shall end his part in peace; the clown shall make those laugh whose lungs are tickle o' the sere; and the lady shall say her mind freely, or the blank verse shall halt for't.— What players are they?

Ros. Even those you were wont to take such delight in, the tragedians of the city.

Ham. How chances it they travel? their residence, both in reputation and profit, was better both ways. Ros. I think their inhibition comes by the means 330 of the late innovation.

Ham. Do they hold the same estimation they did when I was in the city? Are they so followed?

Ros. No, indeed, they are not.

Ham. How comes it? Do they grow rusty?

Ros. Nay, their endeavor keeps in the wonted pace: but there is, sir, an aery of children, little eyases, that cry out on the top of question, and are most tyranni

cally clapped for't: these are now the fashion; and so berattle the common stages-so they call them — that many, wearing rapiers, are. afraid of goose-quills, and 340 dare scarce come thither.

Ham. What, are they children? who maintains them? how are they escoted? Will they pursue the quality no longer than they can sing? will they not say afterwards, if they should grow themselves to common players—as it is most like, if their means are no better, - their writers do them wrong, to make them exclaim against their own succession?

-

Ros. 'Faith, there has been much to-do on both sides; and the nation holds it no sin to tarre them 350 to controversy: there was for a while no money bid for argument, unless the poet and the player went to cuffs in the question.

Ham. Is't possible?

Guil. Oh, there has been much throwing about of brains.

Ham. Do the boys carry it away ?

Ros. Ay, that they do, my lord: Hercules and his load too.

Ham. It is not very strange; for mine uncle is king 360 of Denmark; and those that would make mows at him while my father lived, give twenty, forty, fifty, an

hundred ducats apiece, for his picture in little. There is something in this more than natural, if philosophy could find it out. [Flourish of trumpets within

Guil. There are the players.

Ham. Gentlemen, you are welcome to Elsinore. Your hands, come: the appurtenance of welcome is fashion and ceremony: let me comply with you in 370 this garb; lest my extent to the players, which, I tell you, must show fairly outward, should more appear like entertainment than yours. You are welcome :

but my uncle-father and aunt-mother are deceived. Guil. In what, my dear lord?

Ham. I am but mad north-north-west; when the wind is southerly, I know a hawk from a handsaw.

Enter POLONIUS

Pol. Well be with you, gentlemen!

Ham. Hark you, Guildenstern; - and you too; at each ear a hearer; that great baby you see there is 380 not yet out of his swaddling-clouts.

Ros. Happily he's the second time come to them; for they say an old man is twice a child.

Ham. I will prophesy he comes to tell me of the players; mark it. — You say right, sir; o' Monday morning; 'twas so, indeed.