SCENE IV The Queen's Closet Enter QUEEN and POLONIUS Pol. He will come straight. Look you lay home to him. Tell him his pranks have been too broad to bear with, Ham. [Within] Mother, mother, mother! I'll warrant you; Fear me not. Withdraw, I hear him coming. [POLONIUS hides behind the arras Enter HAMLET Ham. Now, mother, what's the matter? Queen. Hamlet, thou hast thy father much offended. tongue. Ham. Go, go, you question with a wicked tongue. Ham. What's the matter now? Queen. Have you forgot me? 10 Ham. No, by the rood, not so: You are the queen, your husband's brother's wife; And — would it were not so ! — you are my mother. Queen. Nay, then I'll set those to you that can speak. Ham. Come, come, and sit you down; you shall not budge; You go not till I set you up a glass 20 Where you may see the inmost part of you. Queen. What wilt thou do? thou wilt not murder me? Help, help, ho! Pol. [Behind] What, ho help, help, help! [Lifts up the arras, and discovers POLONIUS Queen. Oh, what a rash and bloody deed is this! Ham. A bloody deed! almost as bad, good mother, 30 As kill a king, and marry with his brother. Queen. As kill a king? Ham. Ay, lady, 'twas my word.. [TO POL.] Thou wretched, rash, intruding fool, fare well! I took thee for thy better; take thy fortune; Leave wringing of your hands. Peace, sit you down, If damned custom have not brazed it so That it is proof and bulwark against sense. Queen. What have I done, that thou dar'st wag thy tongue In noise so rude against me? Нат. Such an act That blurs the grace and blush of modesty, With tristful visage, as against the doom, Is thought-sick at the act. Queen. Ham. Look here upon this picture and on this; To give the world assurance of a man: This was your husband. Look you now, what follows: Here is your husband; like a mildewed ear, Blasting his wholesome brother. - Have you eyes? Could you on this fair mountain leave to feed, 70 The hey-day in the blood is tame, it's humble, And waits upon the judgment; and what judgment Would step from this to this? Sense sure you have, Else could you not have motion: but sure that sense Is apoplexed; for madness would not err, Nor sense to ecstasy was ne'er so thralled To serve in such a difference. What devil was't O shame! where is thy blush? Rebellious hell, And melt in her own fire; proclaim no shame And reason panders will. Queen. O Hamlet, speak no more; Thou turnest mine eyes into my very soul; As will not leave their tinct. Ham. Stewed in corruption — Queen. Nay, but to live Oh, speak to me no more; These words like daggers enter in mine ears; Ham. A murderer and a villain; 80 90 |