For if the king like not the comedy, When then, belike, he likes it not, perdy. Come, some music! Re-enter ROSENCRANTZ and GuildENSTERN. Guil. Good my lord, vouchsafe me a word with Guil. No, my lord, rather with choler. Ham. Your wisdom should show itself more richer to signify this to his doctor; for, for me to put Guil. Good my lord, put your discourse into some 320 frame, and start not so wildly from my affair. Ham. I am tame, sir: pronounce. Guil. The queen, your mother, in most great afflic tion of spirit, hath sent me to you. Ham. You are welcome. Guil. Nay, good my lord, this courtesy is not of the right breed. If it shall please you to make me a wholesome answer, I will do your mother's commandment: if not, your pardon and my return shall be the end of my business. Ham. Sir, I cannot. 330 Ham. Make you a wholesome answer; my wit's diseased: but, sir, such answer as I can make, you shall command; or rather, as you say, my mother: therefore no more, but to the matter: my mother, you say, Ros. Then thus she says; your behavior hath struck her into amazement and admiration. Ham. O wonderful son, that can so astonish a 340 mother! But is there no sequel at the heels of this mother's admiration? Impart. Ros. She desires to speak with you in her closet, ere you go to bed. Ham. We shall obey, were she ten times our mother. Have you any further trade with us? Ros. My lord, you once did love me. Ham. So I do still, by these pickers and stealers. Ros. Good my lord, what is your cause of dis- 350 temper? you do surely bar the door upon your own liberty, if you deny your griefs to your friend. Ham. Sir, I lack advancement. Ros. How can that be, when you have the voice of the king himself for your succession in Denmark? Ham. Ay, sir, but 'While the grass grows,'-the proverb is something musty. Re-enter PLAYERS with recorders. O, the recorders! let me see one. To withdraw 360 with you:-why do you go about to recover the wind of me, as if you would drive me into a toil? Guil. O, my lord, if my duty be too bold, my love is too unmannerly. Ham. I do not well understand that. Will you play upon this pipe? Guil. My lord, I cannot. Ham. I pray you. Guil. Believe me, I cannot. Ham. I do beseech you. Guil. I know no touch of it, my lord. Ham. 'Tis as easy as lying: govern these ventages with your fingers and thumb, give it breath with your mouth, and it will discourse most eloquent music. Look you, these are the stops. Guil. But these cannot I command to any utterance of harmony; I have not the skill. Ham. Why, look you now, how unworthy a thing 370 you make of me! You would play upon me; 380 Re-enter POLONIUS. God bless you, sir! Pol. My lord, the queen would speak with you, and presently. Ham. Do you see yonder cloud that's almost in shape of a camel? Pol. By the mass, and 'tis like a camel, indeed. Ham. Methinks it is like a weasel. Pol. It is backed like a weasel. Ham. Or like a whale? Pol. Very like a whale. 390. Ham. Then I will come to my mother by and by. 400 They fool me to the top of my bent. I will come by and by. Pol. I will say so. [Exit Polonius. Ham. 'By and by' is easily said. Leave me, friends. [Exeunt all but Hamlet. 'Tis now the very witching time of night, blood, And do such bitter business as the day I will speak daggers to her, but use none; 411 To give them seals never, my soul, consent! [Exit. SCENE III A room in the castle. Enter KING, ROSENCRANTz, and GuildENSTERN. King. I like him not, nor stands it safe with us Guil. Out of his lunacies. We will ourselves provide: Most holy and religious fear it is 10 Ros. The single and peculiar life is bound |