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: And I do think, (or else this brain of mine Hunts not the trail of policy" so sure As it hath us'd 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. Give first admittance to the embassadors; My news shall be the fruit to that great feast. King. Thyself do grace to them, and bring them in. [Exit POLONIUS. He tells me, my dear Gertrude, he hath found Re-enter POLONIUS with VOLTIMAND and CORNELIUS. King. Well, we shall sift him.-Welcome, my good friends! Say, Voltimand, what from our brother Norway? Volt. Most fair return of greetings, and desires. Upon our first, he sent out to suppress It was against your highness: Whereat griev'd,- That so his sickness, age, and impotence, On Fortinbras; which he, in brief, obeys; -the trail of policy-] The trail is the course of an animal pursued by the scent. JOHNSON. y the fruit-] The desert after the meat.-JOHNSON. hand,] i. e. Imposed on. Receives rebuke from Norway; and, in fine, To give the assay" of arms against your majesty. King. It likes us well; And, at our more consider'd time, we'll read, Answer, and think upon this business. Mean time, we thank you for your well-took labour; Go to your rest; at night we'll feast together: Most welcome home! Pol. [Exeunt VOLTIMAND and CORNELIUS. This business is well ended. My liege, and madam, to expostulateb What majesty should be, what duty is, Why day is day, night, night, and time is time, And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes, I will be brief: Your noble son is mad: Queen. More matter, with less art. Pol. Madam, I swear, I use no art at all. That he is mad, 'tis true: 'tis true, 'tis pity; And pity 'tis, 'tis true: a foolish figure; But farewell it, for I will use no art. Mad let us grant him then: and now remains, To give the assay-] To take the assay was a technical expression, originally applied to those who tasted wine for princes and great men. MALONE. afee;] i. e. Reward. b - to expostulate-] i. e. To discuss. That we find out the cause of this effect; I have a daughter; have, while she is mine; Hath given me this: Now gather, and surmise. -To the celestial, and my soul's idol, the most beautified That's an ill phrase, a vile phrase; beautified is a vile phrase; but you shall hear.--Thus : In her excellent white bosom, these, &c. Queen. Came this from Hamlet to her? Pol. Good madam, stay a while; I will be faithful. Doubt thou, the stars are fire; Doubt, that the sun doth move: Doubt truth to be a liar; But never doubt, I love. [Reads. 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. Adieu. Thine evermore, most dear lady, whilst this machine is to him,d 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. King. Receiv'd his love? But how hath she What do you think of me? King. As of a man faithful and honourable. beautified] For beautiful. Vile as this phrase may be, it was certainly a common one in those times, particularly in the addresses of letters.NARES. d whilst this machine is to him,] This phrase seems to have a French construction. Pendant que cette machine est à lui. -STEEVENS. more above,]-is, moreover, besides. e Pol. I would fain prove so. think, But what might you When I had seen this hot love on the wing, Thence to a watch; thence into a weakness; Into the madness wherein now he raves, And all we mourn for. King. Do you think, 'tis this? Queen. It may be, very likely. Pol. Hath there been such a time, (I'd fain know that,) That I have positively said, 'Tis so, When it prov'd otherwise? King. Not that I know. Pol. Take this from this, if this be otherwise: [Pointing to his head and shoulder. 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 to gether, Here in the lobby. Which done, she took the fruits of my advice;] She took the fruits of advice when she obeyed advice, the advice was then made fruitful.-JOHNSON. 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. Enter HAMLET, reading. Queen. But, look, where sadly the poor wretch comes reading. Pol. Away, I do beseech you, both away; I'll board hims presently :-O, give me leave. [Exeunt King, Queen, and Attendants. 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. 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 as your daughter may conceive, friend, look to't. Pol. How say you by that? [Aside.] Still 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! * I'll board him-] i. e. Accost, address him. |