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
His Nephew's levies, which to him appear'd
To be a preparation 'gainst the Polack:
But, better look'd into, he truly found
It was against your Highness: Whereat griev'd,
That so his sickness, age, and impotence
Was falsely borne in hand, sends out Arrests
On Fortinbras; which he, in brief, obeys;
Receives rebuke from Norway; and, in fine,
Makes vow before his uncle, never more
To give th' assay of arms against your Majesty.
Whereon old Norway, overcome with joy,
Gives him three thousand crowns in annual fee;
And his Commission to employ those soldiers,
So levied as before, against the Polack:
With an entreaty, herein further shewn,

That it might please you to give quiet Pass
Through your Dominions for this enterprize,
On such regards of safety and allowance,
As therein are set down.

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! [Exit Ambas.

&wlquo;Pol.
&wlquo;This business is well ended.
&wlquo;^{1 note}

&wlquo;What Majesty should be, what duty is,
&wlquo;Why day is day, night night, and time is time,
&wlquo;Were nothing but to waste night, day, and time.
&wlquo;Therefore, since brevity's the soul of wit,
&wlquo;And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes,
&wlquo;I will be brief; your noble son is mad;
&wlquo;Mad, call I it; for, to define true madness,
&wlquo;What is't, but to be nothing else but mad?
&wlquo;But let that go.—

Queen.
More matter, with less art.

&wlquo;Pol.
&wlquo;Madam, I swear, I use no art at all:—
&wlquo;That he is mad, 'tis true; 'tis true, 'tis pity;
&wlquo;And pity 'tis, 'tis true; A foolish figure;
&wlquo;But farewel it; for I will use no art.
&wlquo;Mad let us grant him then; and now remains
&wlquo;That we find out the cause of this effect,
&wlquo;Or rather say, the cause of this defect,
&wlquo;For this effect, defective, comes by cause;
&wlquo;Thus it remains, and the remainder thus.—Perpend.—

&wlquo;I have a daughter; have, whilst she is mine;
&wlquo;Who in her duty and obedience, mark,
&wlquo;Hath giv'n me this; now gather, and surmise. [He opens a letter, and reads.]

To the celestial, and my soul's idol, the most beatified Ophelia.—That's an ill phrase, a vile phrase: (a) ^note beatified is a vile phrase; but you shall hear—These to her excellent white bosom, these.—

Queen.

Came this from Hamlet to her?

Pol.
Good Madam, stay a while, I will be faithful.

Doubt thou, the stars are fire, [Reading.
Doubt, that the Sun doth move;
Doubt truth to be a liar,
But never doubt, I love.

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

Adieu.

Thine evermore, most dear Lady, whilst
this Machine is to him, Hamlet.

King.
But how hath she receiv'd his love?

Pol.
What do you think of me?

King.
As of a man, faithful and honourable.

Pol.
I would fain prove so. But what might you think?
When I had seen this hot love on the wing,
(As I perceiv'd it, I must tell you that,
Before my daughter told me:) what might you,

Or my dear Majesty your Queen here, think?
^{3 note}


If I had play'd the desk or table-book,
Or giv'n my heart a working mute and dumb,
Or look'd upon this love with idle sight;
&wlquo;What might you think? no, I went round to work,
&wlquo;And my young mistress thus I did bespeak;
&wlquo;Lord Hamlet is a Prince out of thy sphere,
&wlquo;This must not be; and then, I precepts gave her,
&wlquo;That she should lock herself from his resort,
&wlquo;Admit no messengers, receive no tokens:
&wlquo;^{4 note}


Which done, see too the fruits of my advice;
&wlquo;For, he repulsed, ^{5 note}


a short tale to make,
&wlquo;Fell to a sadness, then into a fast,
&wlquo;Thence to a watching, thence into a weakness,

&wlquo;Thence to a lightness, and, by this declension,
&wlquo;Into the madness wherein now he raves,
&wlquo;And all we wail for.

King.
Do you think this?

Queen.
It may be very likely.

&wlquo;Pol.
&wlquo;Hath there been such a time, I'd fain know that,
&wlquo;That I have positively said, 'tis so,
&wlquo;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.
&wlquo;If circumstances lead me, I will find
&wlquo;Where truth is hid, though it were hid indeed
&wlquo;Within the center.

King.
How may we try it further?

Pol.
You know, sometimes he walks four hours together,
Here in the lobby.

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 fal'n thereon,
Let me be no assistant for a State,
But keep a farm and carters.

King.
We will try it.

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