Hamlet. [Within] Mother, mother, mother! Queen. I'll warrant you, fear me not. Withdraw, I hear [Polonius hides behind the arras. him coming. Enter HAMLet. Hamlet. Now, mother, what's the matter? Queen. Hamlet, thou hast thy father much offended. Hamlet. Mother, you have my father much offended. 10 Queen. Come, come, you answer with an idle tongue. Hamlet. Go, go, you question with a wicked tongue. Queen. Why, how now, Hamlet! Hamlet. Queen. Have you forgot me ? 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. Hamlet. 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. 20 Queen. What wilt thou do? thou wilt not murder me? Help, help, ho! Polonius. [Behind] What, ho! help, help, help! Hamlet. [Drawing] How now! a rat? Dead, for a ducat, [Makes a pass through the arras. dead! Polonius. [Behind] O, I am slain! Queen. [Falls and dies. O me, what hast thou done? Hamlet. Nay, I know not: is it the king? Queen. O, what a rash and bloody deed is this! Hamlet. A bloody deed! almost as bad, good mother, As kill a king, and marry with his brother. Queen. As kill a king! Hamlet. 30 Ay, lady, 'twas my word. [Lifts up the arras and discovers Polonius. Thou wretched, rash, intruding fool, farewell! 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? Such an act Hamlet. A rhapsody of words: heaven's face doth glow; With tristful visage, as against the doom, Is thought-sick at the act. Queen. Ay me, what act, That roars so loud, and thunders in the index? Hamlet. Look here, upon this picture, and on this, Where every god did seem to set his seal To give the world assurance of a man: This was your husband. Look you now, what follows: 40 50 60 Blasting his wholesome brother. Have you eyes? The hey-day in the blood is tame, it's humble, Nor sense to ecstasy was ne'er so thrall'd To serve in such a difference. What devil was 't O shame! where is thy blush? Rebellious hell, And reason pandars will. Queen. O Hamlet, speak no more: As will not leave their tinct. Hamlet. O, speak to me no more; enter in mine ears; A murderer and a villain; A slave that is not twentieth part the tithe A cutpurse of the empire and the rule, 70 80 90 Hamlet. A king of shreds and patches Enter Ghost. Save me, and hover o'er me with your wings, 100 You heavenly guards! What would your gracious figure? Hamlet. Do you not come your tardy son to chide, The important acting of your dread command?s O, say! Do not forget: this visitation Is but to whet thy almost blunted purpose. Hamlet. How is it with you, lady? Queen. Alas, how is 't with you, That you do bend your eye on vacancy Upon the heat and flame of thy distemper Sprinkle cool patience. Whereon do you look? Hamlet. On him, on him! Look you, how pale he glares! His form and cause conjoin'd, preaching to stones, Would make them capable. Do not look upon me; Lest with this piteous action you convert My stern effects: then what I have to do Will want true colour; tears perchance for blood. Do you see nothing there? Queen. No, nothing but ourselves. Hamlet. Why, look you there! look, how it steals away! My father, in his habit as he lived! Look, where he goes, even now, out at the portal! 132 [Exit Ghost. Queen. This is the very coinage of your brain: This bodiless creation ecstasy 140 ALAS POOR My pulse, as yours, doth temperately keep time, And do not spread the compost on the weeds, To make them ranker. Forgive me this my virtue; Virtue itself of vice must pardon beg, Yea, curb and woo for leave to do him good. Queen. O Hamlet, thou hast cleft my heart in twain. Hamlet. O, throw away the worser part of it, And live the purer with the other half. Good night: but go not to my uncle's bed; That monster, custom, who all sense doth eat, That aptly is put on. Refrain to-night, And that shall lend a kind of easiness To the next abstinence: the next more easy; 150 160 |