(Videlicet, a brothel,) or so forth. See you now; Your bait of falsehood takes this carp of truth: By indirections find directions out; Shall you my son: You have me, have you not? Pol. God be wi' you; fare you well. Rey. Good my lord, Pol. Observe his inclination in yourself." Rey. I shall, my lord. Pol. And let him ply his musick. Rey. Enter OPHELIA. Pol. Farewell!-How now, Ophelia? what's the matter? Oph. O, my lord, my lord, I have been so affrighted! Pol. With what, in the name of heaven? As if he had been loosed out of hell, in yourself.] In your own person, not by spies. • Ungarter'd, and down-gyved to his ancle;] Down-gyved means, hanging down like the loose cincture which confines the fetters round the ancles. Oph. But, truly, I do fear it. Pol. My lord, I do not know; What said he? 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 stay'd he so; At last, a little shaking of mine arm, And thrice his head thus waving up and down,— Whose violent property foredoes itself,1 That does afflict our natures. I am sorry, What, have you given him any hard words of late? Oph. No, my good lord; but, as you did com mand, I did repel his letters, and denied His access to me. Pol. That hath made him mad. I am sorry, that with better heed and judgment, I had not quoted him:2 I fear'd, he did but trifle, And meant to wreck thee; but, beshrew my jealousy! It seems, it is as proper to our age 1 9 all his bulk,] i. e. all his body. foredoes itself,] To foredo is to destroy. 2 I had not quoted him:] i, e. observed him. To cast beyond ourselves in our opinions, younger sort To lack discretion.3 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.* Come. SCENE II. [Exeunt. A Room in the Castle. · Enter King, Queen, ROSENCRANTZ, GUILDENSTERN, and Attendants. King. Welcome, dear Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern! Moreover that we much did long to see you, So much from the understanding of himself, 3 it is as proper to our age, &c.] This is not the remark of a weak man. The vice of age is too much suspicion. Men long accustomed to the wiles of life cast commonly beyond themselves, let their cunning go farther than reason can attend it. This is always the fault of a little mind, made artful by long commerce with the world. JOHNSON. 4 This must be known, which, being kept close, might move More grief to hide, than hate to utter love.] i. e. this must be made known to the King, for (being kept secret) the hiding Hamlet's love might occasion more mischief to us from him and the Queen, than the uttering or revealing of it will occasion hate and resentment from Hamlet. That,-being of so young days brought up with him: And, since, so neighbour'd to his youth and hu mour, That you vouchsafe your rest here in our court Queen. Good gentlemen, he hath much talk'd of you; And, sure I am, two men there are not living, 5 For the supply and profit of our hope, Ros. Both your majesties Might, by the sovereign power you have of us, Guil. But we both obey; And here give up ourselves, in the full bent," To be commanded. King. Thanks, Rosencrantz, and gentle Guildenstern. Queen. Thanks, Guildenstern, and gentle Ro sencrantz : And I beseech you instantly to visit To show us so much gentry,] Gentry, for complaisance. For the supply, &c.] That the hope which your arrival has raised may be completed by the desired effect. 7 JOHNSON. in the full bent,] The full bent, is the utmost extremity of exertion. The allusion is to a bow bent as far as it will go. My too much changed son.-Go, some of you, tices, Pleasant and helpful to him! Queen. Ay, amen! [Exeunt ROSENCRANTZ, GUILDENSTERN, and some Attendants. Enter POLONIUS. Pol. The embassadors from Norway, my good lord, Are joyfully return'd. King. 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: King. O, speak of that; that do I long to hear. in. Queen. I doubt, it is no other but the main; His father's death, and our o'erhasty marriage. 8 the trail of policy-] The trail is the course of an animal pursued by the scent. 9 the fruit-] The desert after the meat. |