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
His nephew's levies, which to him appear'd
To be a preparation 'gainst the Polack:
But better lookt into, he truly found
It was against your highness. Whereat griev'd,
That so his sickness, age, and impotence
Was falsely born 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:
-- 382 --
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 notewell-took labour.
Go to your rest, at night we'll feast together.
Most welcome home.
[Exit Ambas.
Pol.
This business is well ended.
My liege and madam, to expostulate
What Majesty should be, what duty is,
Why day is day, night night, and time is time,
Were nothing but to waste night, day, and time.
Therefore, since brevity's the soul of wit,
And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes,
I will be brief; your noble son is mad.
Mad call I it; for to define true madness,
What is't, but to be nothing else but mad.
But let that go.
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, it is true; a foolish figure,
But farewel it; for I will use no art.
Mad let us grant him then; and now remains
That we find out the cause of this effect,
Or rather say, the cause of this defect;
For this effect defective, comes by cause,
Thus it remains, and the remainder thus—Perpend—
I have a daughter; have, whilst she is mine,
-- 383 --
Who in her duty and obedience, mark,
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 beautified Ophelia.
That's an ill phrase, a vile phrase, beautified 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
This in obedience hath my daughter shewn me:
And more above, hath his sollicitings,
As they fell out by time, by means, and place,
All given to mine ear.
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 his 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?
If I had play'd the desk or table-book,
Or given my heart working, mute and dumb,
Or look'd upon this love with idle sight,
What might you think? no, I went round to work,
-- 384 --
And my young mistress thus I did bespeak;
Lord Hamlet is a prince out of thy sphere,
This must not be; and then, I precepts gave her,
That she should lock her self from his resort,
Admit no messengers, receive no tokens:
Which done, she took the fruits of my advice,
And he repulsed, a short tale to make,
Fell to a sadness, then into a fast,
Thence to a watching, thence into a weakness,
Thence to a lightness, and by this declension
Into the madness wherein now he raves,
And all we wail for.
King.
Do you think 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,
If circumstances lead me, I will find
Where truth is hid, though it were hid indeed
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 faln thereon,
Let me be no assistant for a state,
And keep a farm and carters.
King.
We will try it.
-- 385 --
George Sewell [1723–5], The works of Shakespear in six [seven] volumes. Collated and Corrected by the former Editions, By Mr. Pope ([Vol. 7] Printed by J. Darby, for A. Bettesworth [and] F. Fayram [etc.], London) [word count] [S11101].
