How now, my Lord; will the King hear this piece of work?

Pol.
And the Queen too, and that presently.

Ham.
Bid the Players make haste. [Exit Polonius.
Will you two help to hasten them?

Both.
We will, my Lord. [Exeunt.

Ham.
What, ho, Horatio! Enter Horatio to Hamlet.

Hor.
Here, sweet Lord, at your service.

Ham.
Horatio, thou art e'en as just a Man,
As e'er my conversation cop'd withal.

Hor.
Oh my dear Lord,—

Ham.
Nay, do not think, I flatter:
For what advancement may I hope from thee,
That no revenue hast, but thy good spirits,
To feed and cloath thee? Should the poor be flatter'd?
No, let the candied tongue lick absurd Pomp,
And crook ^{3 note}the pregnant hinges of the knee,
Where thrift may follow fawning. Dost thou hear?
Since ^{4 note}my dear soul was mistress of her choice,

And could of men distinguish, her election
Hath seal'd thee for herself; for thou hast been
As one, in suffering all, that suffers nothing;
A man, that fortune's buffets and rewards
Hast ta'en with equal thanks. And blest are those,
^{5 note}Whose blood and judgment are so well co-mingled,
That they are not a pipe for fortune's finger,
To sound what stop she please. Give me that man,
That is not passion's slave, and I will wear him
In my heart's core; ay, in my heart of heart,
As I do thee. Something too much of this.
There is a Play to-night before the King,
One Scene of it comes near the circumstance,
Which I have told thee, of my father's death.
I pr'ythee, when thou seest that Act a-foot,
Ev'n with the very comment of thy soul
Observe mine uncle; if his occult guilt
Do not itself unkennel in one speech,
It is a damned Ghost that we have seen,
And my imaginations are as foul
As ^{6 note}Vulcan's Stithy. Give him heedful note;
For I mine eyes will rivet to his face;
And, after, we will both our judgments join,
In censure of his Seeming.

Hor.
Well, my Lord.
If he steal aught, the whilst this Play is playing,
And 'scape detecting, I will pay the theft.

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