1

Act Second.

Scene First. - A Room IN THE PALACE.

[Enter Ophelia and Polonius, meeting.

Pol.

How now, Ophelia! what's the matter?

Oph.

Alas! my lord, I have been so affrighted!

Pol.

With what, i' the name of heaven ?

Oph.

My lord, as I was sewing in my chamber,
Lord Hamlet, with his doublet all unbraced;
No hat upon his head; ; he comes before me.

What said he?

Pol.

Oph.

He took me by the wrist, and held me hard;
Then goes he to the length of all his arm;
And, with his other hand thus o'er his brow,
He falls to such perusal of my face
As he would draw it. Long stayed he so ;
At last, a little shaking of mine arm,
And thrice his head thus waving up and down,-
He raised a sigh so piteous and profound,
That it did seem to shatter all his bulk,
And end his being: that done, he lets me go:
And, with his head over his shoulder turned,
He seemed to find his way without his eyes;
For out of doors he went without their help,
And to the last, bended their light on me.

I am sorry,

What! have you given him any hard words of late?

Oph.

No, my good lord; but, as you did command,
I did repel his letters, and denied

This must be known; which, being kept close, might move More grief to hide than hate to utter love.

[Exeunt Polonius and Ophelia L. I. E.

[Enter King, Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern c.

King.

Welcome, dear Rosencrantz and Guildenstern!
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,
Since nor the 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,

[Enter Queen and Attendants L. U. E.

That you vouchsafe your rest here in our court

Some little time: so by your companies

HAMLET.

To draw him on to pleasures, and to gather,
So much as from occasion you may glean,
Whether aught, to us unknown, afflicts him thus,
That, opened, lies within our remedy.

Queen.

Good gentlemen, he hath much talked 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 awhile,
For the supply and profit of our hope,
Your visitation shall receive such thanks
As fits a king's remembrance.

Both your majesties

Ros.

Might, by the sovereign power you have of us,
Put your dread pleasures more into command
Than to entreaty.

But we both obey,

Guil.

And here give up ourselves, in the full bent,
To lay our service freely at your feet,

To be commanded.

Queen.

Thanks, Rosencrantz and gentle Guildenstern.

We do beseech you instantly to visit

Our too much changed son. -Go, you,

[To the attendants.

And bring these gentlemen where Hamlet is.

[Exeunt Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, and all the

attendants.

King.

[Enter Polonius L. U. E.

Thou still hast been the father of good news.

Pol.

Have I, my lord? Assure you, my good liege,
I hold my duty, as I hold my soul,

Both to my God, and to my gracious king;
And I do think (or else this brain of mine
Hunts not the trail of policy so sure
As it hath used to do) that I have found
The very cause of Hamlet's lunacy.

King.

O, speak of that; that do I long to hear.

Pol.

My liege, and madam, - to expostulate
What majesty should be, what duty is,
Why day is day, night night, and time is time,
Were nothing but to waste night, day, and time.
Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit,
And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes,
I will be brief:- your noble son is mad:
Mad call I it; for, to define true madness,
What is 't, but to be nothing else but mad ?
But let that go.

More matter, with less art.

Queen.

Pol.

Madam, I swear I use no art at all.

That he is mad, 't is true: 't is true 't is pity;
And pity 't is 't is true: a foolish figure;
But farewell it, for I will use no art.

Mad let us grant him, then and now remains
That we find out the cause of this effect,-
Or rather say, the cause of this defect,
For this effect defective comes by cause:
Thus it remains, and the remainder thus.
Perpend.

I have a daughter, - have, while she is mine,

HAMLET.

Who, in her duty and obedience, mark,
Hath given me this: now gather, and surmise.

[Reads.

To the celestial, and my soul's idol, the most beautified Ophelia

That's an ill phrase, a vile phrase, - "beautified" is a vile phrase; but you shall hear. Thus:

[Reads,

In her excellent white bosom, these, &c.

Queen.

Came this from Hamlet to her?

Pol.

Good madam, stay awhile; I will be faithful.

[Reads.

Doubt thou the stars are fire;
Doubt that the sun doth move;

Doubt truth to be a liar;
But never doubt I love.

O, dear Ophelia, I am ill at these numbers; I have not art to reckon ny groans: but that I love thee best, O, most best, believe it. Adieu. Thine evermore, most dear lady, whilst this machine is to him,

HAMLET.

This, in obedience, hath my daughter shown me :
And more above, hath his solicitings,
As they fell out by time, by means, and place,
All given to mine ear.

But how hath she

King.

Received his love?

Pol.

What do you think of me ?

King.

As of a man faithful and honourable.