Pol. You shall do marvellous wisely, good Reynaldo, Before you visit him, to make inquiry Of his behaviour. Rey. My lord, I did intend it. Pol. Marry, well said: very well said. Look you, Sir, Inquire me first what Danskers are in Paris; And how, and who, what means, and where they keep, Take you, as 't were, some distant knowledge of him; Pol. "And, in part, him; but," you may say, "not well. But if't be he I mean, he's very wild, Addicted so and so;" and there put on him Rey. As gaming, my lord. Pol. Ay, or drinking, fencing, swearing, quarrelling, Drabbing you may go so far. Rey. My lord, that would dishonour him. Pol. Faith, no; as you may season it in the charge. You must not put another scandal on him, That he is open to incontinency; That's not my meaning; but breathe his faults so quaintly, That they may seem the taints of liberty; The flash and out-break of a fiery mind; A savageness in unreclaimed blood, Of general assault. | Rey. Pol. Wherefore should you do this? Rey. I would know that. Pol. But, my good lord, Ay, my lord, Marry, Sir, here's my drift; And, I believe, it is a fetch of warrant, You laying these slight sullies on my son, As 't were a thing a little soil'd i' the working, Mark you, Your party in converse, him you would sound, 59 60 Having ever seen in the prenominate crimes Rey. Very good, my lord. | - 61 Pol. And then, Sir, does he this, By the mass, I was where did I leave? Rey. At closes in the consequence, As "friend or so," and "gentleman." ay, marry; Pol. At, closes in the consequence, Or then, or then: with such, or such; and, as you say, I saw him enter such a house of sale, Videlicet, a brothel" or so forth. 62 See you now; 63 - Your bait of falsehood takes this carp of truth: With windlaces, and with assays of bias, By indirections find directions out: So, by my former lecture and advice, Shall you my son. You have me, have you not? Pol. Rey. Good my lord. God be wi' you; fare you well. Pol. Observe his inclination in yourself. Rey. I shall, my lord. Pol. And let him ply his music. Rey. Pol. Farewell! How now, Ophelia? what's the matter? Pol. With what, in the name of God? | Oph. My lord, as I was sewing in my chamber, Lord Hamlet, with his doublet all unbrac'd; No hat upon his head; his stockings foul'd, Pale as his shirt; his knees knocking each other; Oph. He took me by the wrist, and held me hard; As he would draw it. Long stay'd he so: | Pol. Come, go with me: I will go seek the king. Whose violent property fordoes itself And leads the will to desperate undertakings, As oft as any passion under heaven, His access to me. Pol. That hath made him mad. I am sorry that with better heed and judgment I had not quoted him: I fear'd, he did but trifle, And meant to wreck thee; but, beshrew my jealousy! To cast beyond ourselves in our opinions, As it is common for the younger sort To lack discretion. Come, go we to the king; This must be known; which, being kept close, might move More grief to hide, than hate to utter love. [Exeunt. 64 65 66 SCENE II. A Room in the Castle. Enter King, Queen, ROSENCRANTZ, GUILDENSTERN, and King. Welcome, dear Rosencrantz, and Guildenstein: Moreover, that we much did long to see you, The need we have to use you, did provoke Our hasty sending. Something have you heard Of Hamlet's transformation; so I call it, Sith nor th' exterior nor the inward man Resembles that it was. What it should be, More than his father's death, that thus hath put him So much from the understanding of himself, I cannot dream of: I entreat you both, That, being of so young days brought up with him, 67 To draw him on to pleasures, and to gather, 68 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 a while, Ros. Both your majesties Might, by the sovereign power you have of us, And here give up ourselves, in the full bent, 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, GUILDENSTERN, and 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. | Both to my God, and to my gracious king: And I do think, (or else this brain of mine. As it hath us'd to do) that I have found, King. O! speak of that; that do I long to hear. He tells me, my dear Gertrude, he hath found Re-enter POLONIUS, with VOLTIMAND and CORNELIUS. King. Well, we shall sift him. Welcome, my good friends. Say, Voltimand, what from our brother Norway? It was against your highness: whereat griev'd, Was falsely borne in hand, sends out arrests.. Gives him three thousand crowns in annual fee; 69 70 71 |