About the world have times twelve thirties been, 150 Since love our hearts and Hymen did our hands Unite commutual in most sacred bands. P. Queen. So many journeys may the sun and moon So far from cheer and from your former state, 160 Now, what my love is, proof hath made you know, 170 Where love is great, the littlest doubts are fear, Where little fears grow great, great love grows there. P. King. 'Faith, I must leave thee, love, and shortly too; My operant powers their functions leave to do, And thou shalt live in this fair world behind, P. Queen. O, confound the rest! Ham. [Aside] Wormwood, wormwood. P. Queen. The instances that second marriage move Are base respects of thrift, but none of love. P. King. I do believe you think what now you speak, But, what we do determine oft we break. Of violent birth but poor validity; Which now, like fruit unripe, sticks on the tree, To pay ourselves what to ourselves is debt; 180 Their own enactures with themselves destroy; For 'tis a question left us yet to prove, Whether love lead fortune or else fortune love. The great man down, you mark his favorite flies; For who not needs shall never lack a friend; But, orderly to end where I begun, 200 Our wills and fates do so contráry run, 210 220 That our devices still are overthrown; Our thoughts are ours, their ends none of our own; So think thou wilt no second husband wed, But die thy thoughts when thy first lord is dead. P. Queen. Nor earth to me give food, nor heaven light! Ham. If she should break it now! P. King. 'Tis deeply sworn. Sweet, leave me here a while; My spirits grow dull, and fain I would beguile The tedious day with sleep. P. Queen. [Sleeps Sleep rock thy brain, [Exit And never come mischance between us twain. Ham. Madam, how like you this play? Queen. The lady doth protest too much, methinks. Ham. Oh, but she'll keep her word. King. Have offense in't? you heard the argument? Is there no Ham. No, no; they do but jest, poison in jest; no offense i' the world. King. What do you call the play? Ham. The Mouse-trap. Marry, how? Tropically. This play is the image of a murder done in Vienna; Gonzago is the duke's name; his wife, Baptista: you shall see anon; 'tis a knavish piece of work; but what of that? your majesty and we that have free souls, it 230 touches us not: let the galled jade wince, our withers are unwrung. Enter LUCIANUS This is one Lucianus, nephew to the king. Ham. I could interpret between you and your love, if I could see the puppets dallying. Oph. Still better, and worse. Ham. Begin, murderer; leave thy damnable faces, and begin. Come; -the croaking raven doth bellow for revenge. Luc. Thoughts black, hands apt, drugs fit, and time agreeing; Confederate season, else no creatures seeing; 240 Thou mixture rank, of midnight weeds collected, On wholesome life usurp immediately. [Pours the poison into the sleeper's ear Ham. He poisons him i' the garden for his estate. His name's Gonzago; the story is extant, and writ in choice Italian; you shall see anon how the murderer 250 gets the love of Gonzago's wife. 260 Oph. The king rises! Ham. What, frighted with false fire! Queen. How fares my lord? Pol. Give o'er the play. King. Give me some light. — Away! All. Lights, lights, lights! [Exeunt all but HAMLET and HORATIO Ham. Why, let the strucken deer go weep, For some must watch, while some must sleep; Would not this, sir, and a forest of feathers, if the rest of my fortunes turn Turk with me, with two Provincial roses on my razed shoes, get me a fellowship in a cry of players, sir? |