King. Arm you, I pray you, to this speedy voyage, Pol. My lord, he's going to his mother's closet: To hear the process: I'll warrant she'll tax him And, as you said, and wisely was it said, 'Tis meet that some more audience than a mother, Since nature makes them partial, should o'erhear The speech, of vantage. liege: 30 Fare you well, my I'll call upon you ere you go to bed, And tell you what I know. King. Thanks, dear my lord. [Exit Polonius. O, my offence is rank, it smells to heaven; 40 Were thicker than itself with brother's blood, mercy But to confront the visage of offence? 50 Or pardon'd being down? Then I'll look up; murder'? That cannot be, since I am still possess'd 60 Art more engaged! Help, angels! Make assay! Bow, stubborn knees, and, heart with strings of steel, 71 [Retires and kneels. Be soft as sinews of the new-born babe!... All may be well. Enter HAMLET. Ham. Now might I do it pat, now he is praying; I, his sole son, do this same villain send O, this is hire and salary, not revenge. He took my father grossly, full of bread, 80 With all his crimes broad blown, as flush as May; And how his audit stands who knows save heaven? To take him in the purging of his soul, Up, sword, and know thou a more horrid hent: 90 [Exit. King. [Rising] My words fly up, my thoughts remain below: Words without thoughts never to heaven go. [Exit. 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, And that your grace hath screen'd and stood between Much heat and him. I'll sconce me even here. Ham. Pray you, be round with him. [Within] Mother, mother, mother! Queen. I'll warrant you; fear me not. Withdraw, I [Polonius hides behind the arras. hear him coming. Enter HAMLET. Ham. Now, mother, what's the matter? Queen. Hamlet, thou hast thy father much offended. Ham. Queen. Have you forgot me? ΙΟ What's the matter now? No, by the rood, not so: You are the queen, your husband's brother's wife; 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 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! 20 Ham. [Drawing] How now! a rat? Dead, for a ducat, dead! Pol. [Behind] O, I am slain! [Makes a pass through the arras. [Falls and dies. Nay, I know not: Queen. O me, what hast thou done? Ham. Is it the king? Queen. O, what a rash and bloody deed is this! Ham. 30 Ay, lady, 'twas my word. Thou wretched, rash, intruding fool, farewell! Thou find'st to be too busy is some danger. Leave wringing of your hands: peace! sit you down, If it be made of penetrable stuff; If damned custom have not brass'd it so That it be proof and bulwark against sense. Queen. What have I done, that thou darest wag thy tongue In noise so rude against me? |