Guil. But these cannot I command to any utterance of harmony; I have not the skill. Ham. Why, look you now, how unworthy a thing you make of me? You would play upon me; you would seem to know my stops; you would pluck out the heart of my mystery; you would sound me from my lowest note to the top of my compass and there is much musick, excellent voice, in this little organ; yet cannot you make it speak. 'Sblood, do you think, I am easier to be played on than a pipe? Call me what instrument you will, though you can fret me, you cannot play upon me. Enter POLONIUS. God bless you, sir! Pol. My lord, the queen would speak with you, and presently. Ham. Do you see yonder cloud, that's almost in shape of a camel? Pol. By the mass, and 'tis like a camel, indeed. Ham. Methinks, it is like a weasel. Pol. It is backed like a weasel. Ham. Or, like a whale? Pol. Very like a whale. Ham. Then will I come to my mother by and by. -They fool me to the top of my bent.-I will come by and by. Pol. I will say so. [Exit POLONIUS. Ham. By and by is easily said.-Leave me, friends. [Exeunt Ros. GUIL, HOR. &c. 'Tis now the very witching time of night; When churchyards yawn, and hell itself breathes out Contagion to this world: Now could I drink hot blood, They fool me to the top of my bent.] They compel me to play the fool, till I can endure it no longer. And do such business as the bitter day Would quake to look on. Soft; now to my mother.- I will speak daggers to her, but use none; SCENE III. A Room in the same. [Exit. Enter King, ROSENCRANTZ, and GUILDENSTERN. King. I like him not; nor stands it safe with us, To let his madness range. Therefore, prepare you; I your commission will forthwith despatch, And he to England shall along with you: The terms of our estate may not endure Hazard so near us, as doth hourly grow Out of his lunes.' Guil. We will ourselves provide: Most holy and religious fear it is, To keep those many many bodies safe, Ros. The single and peculiar life is bound, 3 be shent,] To shend, is to reprove harshly, to treat with rough language. To give them seals—] i. e. put them in execution. Out of his lunes.] i. e. his madness, frenzy. What's near it, with it: it is a massy wheel, Which now goes too free-footed. Ros. Guil. We will haste us. [Exeunt ROSENCRANTZ & GUILDenstern. Enter POLONIUS. Pol. My lord, he's going to his mother's closet: Behind the arras I'll convey myself," To hear the process; I'll warrant, she'll tax him home: And, as you said, and wisely was it said, 'Tis meet, that some more audience, than a mother, King. Thanks, dear my lord. [Exit POLONIUS. O, my offence is rank, it smells to heaven; Behind the arras I'll convey myself,] The arras-hangings in Shakspeare's time, were hung at such a distance from the walls, that a person might easily stand behind them unperceived. 7 8 of vantage.] By some opportunity of secret observation. Though inclination be as sharp as will;] What the King means to say, is, "That though he was not only willing to pray, but strongly inclined to it, yet his intention was defeated by his guilt. My stronger guilt defeats my strong intent; And what's in prayer, but this two-fold force,— Or pardon'd, being down? Then I'll look up; 9 May one be pardon'd, and retain the offence?] He that does not amend what can be amended, retains his offence. The King kept the crown from the right heir. JOHNSON. Yet what can it, when one can not repent?] What can repentance do for a man that cannot be penitent, for a man who has only part of penitence, distress of conscience, without the other part, resolution of amendment? JOHNSON. 2 O limed soul;] This alludes to bird-lime. Bow, stubborn knees! and, heart, with strings of steel, Be soft as sinews of the new-born babe; All may be well! [Retires, and kneels. Enter HAMLET. Ham. Now might I do it, pat, now he is praying; I, his sole son, do this same villain send Why, this is hire and salary, not revenge. Up, sword; and know thou a more horrid hent:* Then trip him, that his heels may kick at heaven: 3 estimated. [Exit. That would be scann'd:] i. e. that should be considered, Up, sword; and know thou a more horrid hent:] To hent is used by Shakspeare for to seize, to catch, to lay hold on. Hent is, therefore, hold, or seizure. Lay hold on him, sword, at a more horrid time. As hell, whereto it goes.] This speech, in which Hamlet, re |