Doubt truth to be a liar,

But never doubt, I love.

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"O dear Ophelia, I am ill at these numbers, I have not art to reckon my groans; but that I love thee best, O, most best, believe it. A dieu.

'Thine evermore, most dear lady, whilst this machine is to him, HAMLET.'

This in obedience hath my daughter showed me⚫
And more above, hath his solicitings,

As they fell out by time, by means, and place,
All given to mine ear.

King.

Received his love?

Pol.

But how hath she

What do you think of me?

But what might

King. As of a man faithful and honourable. 130

Pol. I would fain prove so.

you think,

When I had seen this hot love on the wing,—
As I perceived it, I must tell you that,
Before my daughter told me,-what might you
Or my dear majesty, your queen here, think,
If I had played the desk, or table-book;
Or given my heart a winking, mute and dumb;
Or looked upon this love with idle sight:
What might you think? No, I went round to work,
And my young mistress thus I did bespeak:
'Lord Hamlet is a prince out of thy star:

140

This must not be:' and then I precepts gave

her,

That she should lock herself from his resort,
Admit no messengers, receive no tokens.
Which done, she took the fruits of my advice;
And he, repulséd,—a short tale to make,—
Fell into a sadness; then into a fast;

Thence to a watch; thence into a weakness;
Thence to a lightness; and, by this declension,
Into the madness wherein now he raves,

And all we mourn for.

King.

Do you think 't is this?

Queen. It may be, very likely.

150

Pol. Hath there been such a time, I'd fain know

that,

That I have positively said, "T is so,'

When it proved otherwise?

King.

Not that I know.

Pol. [Pointing to his head and body.] Take

this from this, if this be otherwise.

If circumstances lead me, I will find

Where truth is hid, though it were hid indeed

Within the centre.

King.

How may we try it further!

Pol. You know, sometimes he walks four hours

together

Here in the lobby.

160

Queen

So he does, indeed.

Pol. At such a time I'll loose my daughter to

him :

Be you and I behind an arras then;

Mark the encounter: if he love her not,

And be not from his reason fallen thereon,

Let me be no assistant for a state

But keep a farm and carters.

King.

We will try it.

Queen. But, look, where sadly the poor wretch

comes reading.

Pol. Away! I do beseech you, both away:

169

I'll board him presently :-O! give me leave.—
[Exeunt KING, QUEEN, and Attendants.

Enter HAMLET, reading.

How does my good Lord Hamlet?

Ham. Well, God-a-mercy.

Pol. Do you know me, my lord?

Ham. Excellent well; you are a fishmonger.
Pol. Not I, my lord.

Ham. Then I would you were so honest a man.
Pol. Honest, my lord?

Ham. Ay, sir: to be honest, as this world goes,

is to be one man picked out of ten thousand.

Pol. That's very true, my lord.

180

Ham. For if the sun breed maggots in a dead

dog, being a god kissing carrion,-Have you a daughter?

Pol. I have, my lord.

Ham. Let her not walk i' the sun : conception is a blessing; but not as your daughter may conceive. -Friend, look to't.

187

Still

Pol. How say you by that -[Aside.] harping on my daughter :-yet he knew me not at first; he said, I was a fishmonger. He is far gone, far gone and truly in my youth I suffered much extremity for love; very near this. I'll speak to him again. What do you read, my lord?

Ham. Words, words, words.

Pol. What is the matter, my lord?
Ham. Between who?

196

Pol. I mean, the matter that you read, my lord. Ham. Slanders, sir: for the satirical slave says here, that old men have grey beards, that their faces are wrinkled, their eyes purging thick amber and plum-tree gum, and that they have a plentiful lack of wit, together with most weak hams: all of which, sir, though I most powerfully and potently believe, yet I hold it not honesty to have it thus set down; for yourself, sir, shall grow old as I am: if like a crab you could go backward.

207

Pol. [Aside.] Though this be madness, yet there's

method in 't.-Will you walk out o' the air, my lord?

Ham. Into my grave.

210

Pol. Indeed, that is out o' the air.-[Aside.] How pregnant sometimes his replies are a happiness that often madness hits on, which reason and sanity could not so prosperously be delivered of. I will leave him, and suddenly contrive the means of meeting between him and my daughter.-My honourable lord, I will most humbly take my leave

of you.

Ham. You cannot, sir, take from me anything that I will more willingly part withal: except my life, except my life, except my life.

Pol. Fare you well, my lord.

Ham. These tedious old fools!

Enter ROSENCRANTZ and GUILDENSTERN.

222

Pol. You go to seek the Lord Hamlet; there he

is.

Ros. [TO POLONIUS.] God save you, sir!

Guil. Mine honoured lord !

Ros. My most dear lord!

[Exit POLONIUS.

Ham. My excellent good friends! How dost thou, Guildenstern? Ah, Rosencrantz ! Good lads, how do ye both?

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