Chapter IV: Act II: SCENE I. A room in Polonius's house

_Enter_ POLONIUS _and_ REYNALDO.[560]

_Pol._ Give him this money and these notes, Reynaldo.[561][562]

_Rey._ I will, my lord.

_Pol._ You shall do marvellous wisely, good Reynaldo,[562][563]
Before you visit him, to make inquire[564]
Of his behaviour.

_Rey._ My lord, I did intend it. 5

_Pol._ Marry, well said, very well said. Look you, sir,[565]
Inquire me first what Danskers are in Paris,[566]
And how, and who, what means, and where they keep,
What company, at what expense, and finding[567]
By this encompassment and drift of question 10
That they do know my son, come you more nearer[568]
Than your particular demands will touch it:[568]
Take you, as 'twere, some distant knowledge of him,
As thus, 'I know his father and his friends,[569]
And in part him:' do you mark this, Reynaldo?[562] 15

_Rey._ Ay, very well, my lord.

_Pol._ 'And in part him; but,' you may say, 'not well:
But if't be he I mean, he's very wild,[570]
Addicted so and so;' and there put on him
What forgeries you please; marry, none so rank 20
As may dishonour him; take heed of that;
But, sir, such wanton, wild and usual slips
As are companions noted and most known
To youth and liberty.

_Rey._ As gaming, my lord.

_Pol._ Ay, or drinking, fencing, swearing, quarrelling,[571][572] 25
Drabbing: you may go so far.[571]

_Rey._ My lord, that would dishonour him.

_Pol._ Faith, no; as you may season it in the charge.[573]
You must not put another scandal on him,[574]
That he is open to incontinency;[575] 30
That's not my meaning: but breathe his faults so quaintly
That they may seem the taints of liberty,
The flash and outbreak of a fiery mind,
A savageness in unreclaimed blood,[576][577]
Of general assault.[576]

_Rey._ But, my good lord,--[578] 35

_Pol._ Wherefore should you do this?

_Rey._ Ay, my lord,[579][580]
I would know that.[579]

_Pol._ Marry, sir, here's my drift,
And I believe it is a fetch of warrant:[581]
You laying these slight sullies on my son,[582]
As 'twere a thing a little soil'd i' the working,[583] 40
Mark you,[584][585]
Your party in converse, him you would sound,[584][586]
Having ever seen in the prenominate crimes[587]
The youth you breathe of guilty, be assured[588]
He closes with you in this consequence;[589] 45
'Good sir,' or so, or 'friend,' or 'gentleman,'[590]
According to the phrase or the addition[591]
Of man and country.

_Rey._ Very good, my lord.

_Pol._ And then, sir, does he this--he does--what was I[592][593]
about to say? By the mass, I was about to say something:[592][594] 50
where did I leave?[592]

_Rey._ At 'closes in the consequence,' at 'friend or so,'[595]
and 'gentleman.'[595]

_Pol._ At 'closes in the consequence,' ay, marry;[596]
He closes with you thus: 'I know the gentleman;[597] 55
I saw him yesterday, or t'other day,[598]
Or then, or then, with such, or such, and, as you say,[599]
There was a' gaming, there o'ertook in's rouse,[600]
There falling out at tennis:' or perchance,[601]
'I saw him enter such a house of sale,'[602] 60
Videlicet, a brothel, or so forth.[603]
See you now;[603]
Your bait of falsehood takes this carp of truth:[604]
And thus do we of wisdom and of reach,
With windlasses and with assays of bias,[605] 65
By indirections find directions out:[606]
So, by my former lecture and advice,[607]
Shall you my son. You have me, have you not?

_Rey._ My lord, I have.

_Pol._ God be wi' ye; fare ye well.[608]

_Rey._ Good my lord![609] 70

_Pol._ Observe his inclination in yourself.[610]

_Rey._ I shall, my lord.

_Pol._ And let him ply his music.

_Rey._ Well, my lord.

_Pol._ Farewell! [_Exit Reynaldo._

_Enter_ OPHELIA.[611]

How now, Ophelia! what's the matter?

_Oph._ O, my lord, my lord, I have been so affrighted![612] 75

_Pol._ With what, i' the name of God?[613]

_Oph._ My lord, as I was sewing in my closet,[614]
Lord Hamlet, with his doublet all unbraced,[615]
No hat upon his head, his stockings foul'd,[616]
Ungarter'd and down-gyved to his ancle;[617] 80
Pale as his shirt, his knees knocking each other,
And with a look so piteous in purport
As if he had been loosed out of hell
To speak of horrors, he comes before me.[618]

_Pol._ Mad for thy love?

_Oph._ My lord, I do not know,[619] 85
But truly I do fear it.[619]

_Pol._ What said he?

_Oph._ He took me by the wrist and held me hard;[620]
Then goes he to the length of all his arm,
And with his other hand thus o'er his brow,
He falls to such perusal of my face 90
As he would draw it. Long stay'd he so;[621]
At last, a little shaking of mine arm,[622]
And thrice his head thus waving up and down,
He raised a sigh so piteous and profound[623]
As it did seem to shatter all his bulk[624] 95
And end his being: that done, he lets me go:[625]
And with his head over his shoulder turn'd,[626]
He seem'd to find his way without his eyes;
For out o' doors he went without their helps,[627]
And to the last bended their light on me. 100

_Pol._ Come, go with me: I will go seek the king.[628]
This is the very ecstasy of love;
Whose violent property fordoes itself[629]
And leads the will to desperate undertakings
As oft as any passion under heaven[630] 105
That does afflict our natures. I am sorry.
What, have you given him any hard words of late?

_Oph._ No, my good lord, but, as you did command,
I did repel his letters and denied
His access to me.

_Pol._ That hath made him mad. 110
I am sorry that with better heed and judgement[631]
I had not quoted him: I fear'd he did but trifle[632]
And meant to wreck thee; but beshrew my jealousy![633]
By heaven, it is as proper to our age[634]
To cast beyond ourselves in our opinions 115
As it is common for the younger sort
To lack discretion. Come, go we to the king:[635]
This must be known; which, being kept close, might move[636]
More grief to hide than hate to utter love.[637]
Come. [_Exeunt._[638] 120

SCENE II. _A room in the castle._

_Flourish. Enter_ KING, QUEEN, ROSENCRANTZ, GUILDENSTERN,
_and_ Attendants.[639]

_King._ Welcome, dear Rosencrantz and Guildenstern![640][641]
Moreover that we much did long to see you,
The need we have to use you did provoke
Our hasty sending. Something have you heard[642]
Of Hamlet's transformation; so call it,[643] 5
Sith nor the exterior nor the inward man[644]
Resembles that it was. What it should be,
More than his father's death, that thus hath put him
So much from th' understanding of himself,
I cannot dream of: I entreat you both,[645] 10
That, being of so young days brought up with him
And sith so neighbour'd to his youth and haviour,[646]
That you vouchsafe your rest here in our court
Some little time: so by your companies
To draw him on to pleasures, and to gather 15
So much as from occasion you may glean,[647]
Whether aught to us unknown afflicts him thus,[648]
That open'd lies within our remedy.[649]

_Queen._ Good gentlemen, he hath much talk'd of you,
And sure I am two men there are not living[650] 20
To whom he more adheres. If it will please you
To show us so much gentry and good will[651]
As to expend your time with us awhile[652]
For the supply and profit of our hope,
Your visitation shall receive such thanks[653] 25
As fits a king's remembrance.

_Ros._ Both your majesties
Might, by the sovereign power you have of us,[654]
Put your dread pleasures more into command
Than to entreaty.

_Guil._ But we both obey,[655]
And here give up ourselves, in the full bent 30
To lay our service freely at your feet,[656]
To be commanded.[657]

_King._ Thanks, Rosencrantz and gentle Guildenstern.[640][641]

_Queen._ Thanks, Guildenstern and gentle Rosencrantz:[640][641]
And I beseech you instantly to visit 35
My too much changed son. Go, some of you,[658]
And bring these gentlemen where Hamlet is.[659]

_Guil._ Heavens make our presence and our practices
Pleasant and helpful to him!

_Queen._ Ay, amen!

[_Exeunt Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, and some Attendants._[660]

_Enter_ POLONIUS.

_Pol._ The ambassadors from Norway, my good lord, 40
Are joyfully return'd.

_King._ Thou still hast been the father of good news.

_Pol._ Have I, my lord? I assure my good liege,[661]
I hold my duty as I hold my soul,
Both to my God and to my gracious king:[662] 45
And I do think, or else this brain of mine
Hunts not the trail of policy so sure[663]
As it hath used to do, that I have found[664]
The very cause of Hamlet's lunacy.

_King._ O, speak of that; that do I long to hear.[665] 50

_Pol._ Give first admittance to the ambassadors;
My news shall be the fruit to that great feast.[666]

_King._ Thyself do grace to them, and bring them in.

[_Exit Polonius._[667]

He tells me, my dear Gertrude, he hath found[668]
The head and source of all your son's distemper. 55

_Queen._ I doubt it is no other but the main;
His father's death and our o'erhasty marriage.[669]

_King._ Well, we shall sift him.

_Re-enter_ POLONIUS, _with_ VOLTIMAND _and_ CORNELIUS.

Welcome, my good friends![670]
Say, Voltimand, what from our brother Norway?[671]

_Volt._ Most fair return of greetings and desires. 60
Upon our first, he sent out to suppress
His nephew's levies, which to him appear'd[672]
To be a preparation 'gainst the Polack,[673]
But better look'd into, he truly found
It was against your highness: whereat grieved, 65
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 70
To give the assay of arms against your majesty.
Whereon old Norway, overcome with joy,
Gives him three thousand crowns in annual fee[674]
And his commission to employ those soldiers,
So levied as before, against the Polack:[673] 75
With an entreaty, herein further shown, [_Giving a paper._[675]
That it might please you to give quiet pass
Through your dominions for this enterprise,[676]
On such regards of safety and allowance
As therein are set down.[677]

_King._ It likes us well, 80
And at our more consider'd time we'll read,[678]
Answer, and think upon this business.[679]
Meantime we thank you for your well-took labour:
Go to your rest; at night we'll feast together:[680]
Most welcome home! [_Exeunt Voltimand and Cornelius._

_Pol._ This business is well ended.[681] 85
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 is the soul of wit[682] 90
And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes,[683]
I will be brief. Your noble son is mad:
Mad call I it; for, to define true madness,[684]
What is't but to be nothing else but mad?[685]
But let that go.

_Queen._ More matter, with less art. 95

_Pol._ Madam, I swear I use no art at all.
That he is mad, 'tis true: 'tis true 'tis pity,[686]
And pity 'tis 'tis true: a foolish figure;[687]
But farewell it, for I will use no art.[688]
Mad let us grant him then: and now remains 100
That we find out the cause of this effect,[689]
Or rather say, the cause of this defect,
For this effect defective comes by cause:
Thus it remains and the remainder thus.[690][691]
Perpend.[690][692] 105
I have a daughter,--have while she is mine,--[693]
Who in her duty and obedience, mark,
Hath given me this: now gather and surmise. [_Reads._[694]
'To the celestial, and my soul's idol, the most beautified
Ophelia,'--[695]
That's an ill phrase, a vile phrase; 'beautified' is a vile[696] 110
phrase: but you shall hear. Thus: [_Reads._[697][698]
'In her excellent white bosom, these,' &c.[697][699]

_Queen._ Came this from Hamlet to her?

_Pol._ Good madam, stay awhile; I will be faithful. [_Reads._[700]
'Doubt thou the stars are fire; 115
Doubt that the sun doth move;
Doubt truth to be a liar;
But never doubt I love.
'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 120
best, believe it. Adieu.
'Thine evermore, most dear lady, whilst this
machine is to him, HAMLET.'[701]
This in obedience hath my daughter shown me;[702]
And more above, hath his solicitings,[703] 125
As they fell out by time, by means and place,
All given to mine ear.

_King._ But how hath she[704]
Received his love?[704]

_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,[705] 130
When I had seen this hot love on the wing,--[706]
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,[707]
If I had play'd the desk or table-book,[708] 135
Or given my heart a winking, mute and dumb,[709]
Or look'd upon this love with idle sight;
What might you think? No, I went round to work,
And my young mistress thus I did bespeak:[710]
'Lord Hamlet is a prince, out of thy star;[711] 140
This must not be:' and then I prescripts gave her,[712]
That she should lock herself from his resort,[713]
Admit no messengers, receive no tokens.
Which done, she took the fruits of my advice;[714]
And he repulsed, a short tale to make,[714][715] 145
Fell into a sadness, then into a fast,[716]
Thence to a watch, thence into a weakness,[717][718]
Thence to a lightness, and by this declension[718][719]
Into the madness wherein now he raves[720]
And all we mourn for.[721] 150

_King._ Do you think this?

_Queen._ It may be, very like.[722]

_Pol._ Hath there been such a time, I'ld fain know that,[723]
That I have positively said ''tis so,'
When it proved otherwise?

_King._ Not that I know.

_Pol._ [_Pointing to his head and shoulder_] Take this
from this, if this be otherwise:[724] 155
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?[725]

_Pol._ You know, sometimes he walks four hours together[726][727]
Here in the lobby.[726]

_Queen._ So he does, indeed.[728] 160

_Pol._ At such a time I'll loose my daughter to him:
Be you and I behind an arras then;[729][730]
Mark the encounter: if he love her not,[729]
And be not from his reason fall'n thereon,
Let me be no assistant for a state, 165
But keep a farm and carters.[731]

_King._ We will try it.

_Queen._ But look where sadly the poor wretch comes reading.[732]

_Pol._ Away, I do beseech you, both away:[733]
I'll board him presently.

[_Exeunt King, Queen, and Attendants._

_Enter_ HAMLET, _reading_.[734]

O, give me leave: how does my good Lord Hamlet?[735] 170

_Ham._ Well, God-a-mercy.

_Pol._ Do you know me, my lord?

_Ham._ Excellent well; you are a fishmonger.[736]

_Pol._ Not I, my lord.

_Ham._ Then I would you were so honest a man. 175

_Pol._ Honest, my lord![737]

_Ham._ Ay, sir; to be honest, as this world goes, is to[738]
be one man picked out of ten thousand.[738][739]

_Pol._ That's very true, my lord.

_Ham._ For if the sun breed maggots in a dead dog,[740] 180
being a god kissing carrion--Have you a daughter?[741]

_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[742]
to't. 185

_Pol._ [_Aside_] How say you by that? Still harping on[743]
my daughter: yet he knew me not at first; he said I was a[743][744][745]
fishmonger: he is far gone: and truly in my youth I[743][745][746][747]
suffered much extremity for love; very near this. I'll[743][746][748]
speak to him again. What do you read, my lord?[743][746][749] 190

_Ham._ Words, words, words.

_Pol._ What is the matter, my lord?[749]

_Ham._ Between who?[750]

_Pol._ I mean, the matter that you read, my lord.[751]

_Ham._ Slanders, sir: for the satirical rogue says here that[752] 195
old men have grey beards, that their faces are wrinkled,
their eyes purging thick amber and plum-tree gum, and[753]
that they have a plentiful lack of wit, together with most[754]
weak hams: all which, sir, though I most powerfully and
potently believe, yet I hold it not honesty to have it thus 200
set down; for yourself, sir, shall grow old as I am, if like a[755]
crab you could go backward.

_Pol._ [_Aside_] Though this be madness, yet there is[756][757][758]
method in't. Will you walk out of the air, my lord?[757]

_Ham._ Into my grave.[759] 205

_Pol._ Indeed, that's out of the air. [_Aside_] How pregnant[760][761]
sometimes his replies are! a happiness that often madness[760][762]
hits on, which reason and sanity could not so prosperously[760][763][764]
be delivered of. I will leave him, and suddenly contrive[760][764][765][766]
the means of meeting between him and my daughter. My[760][766][767] 210
honourable lord, I will most humbly take my leave of you.[760][767]

_Ham._ You cannot, sir, take from me any thing that I[768]
will more willingly part withal: except my life, except my[769][770]
life, except my life.[770]

_Pol._ Fare you well, my lord. 215

_Ham._ These tedious old fools!

_Enter_ ROSENCRANTZ _and_ GUILDENSTERN.[771]

_Pol._ You go to seek the Lord Hamlet; there he is.[772]

_Ros._ [_To Polonius_] God save you, sir! [_Exit Polonius._[773]

_Guil._ My honoured lord![774]

_Ros._ My most dear lord! 220

_Ham._ My excellent good friends! How dost thou, Guildenstern?[775]
Ah, Rosencrantz! Good lads, how do you both?[776]

_Ros._ As the indifferent children of the earth.

_Guil._ Happy, in that we are not over-happy;[777]
On Fortune's cap we are not the very button.[777][778] 225

_Ham._ Nor the soles of her shoe?[779]

_Ros._ Neither, my lord.

_Ham._ Then you live about her waist, or in the middle[780]
of her favours?[781]

_Guil._ Faith, her privates we.[782] 230

_Ham._ In the secret parts of Fortune? O, most true;
she is a strumpet. What's the news?[783]

_Ros._ None, my lord, but that the world's grown honest.[784]

_Ham._ Then is doomsday near: but your news is not[785]
true. Let me question more in particular: what have you,[786] 235
my good friends, deserved at the hands of Fortune, that she[786]
sends you to prison hither?[786]

_Guil._ Prison, my lord![786]

_Ham._ Denmark's a prison.[786]

_Ros._ Then is the world one.[786] 240

_Ham._ A goodly one; in which there are many confines,[786]
wards and dungeons, Denmark being one o' the worst.[786][787]

_Ros._ We think not so, my lord.[786]

_Ham._ Why, then 'tis none to you; for there is nothing[786][788]
either good or bad, but thinking makes it so: to me it is a[786][788] 245
prison.[786]

_Ros._ Why, then your ambition makes it one; 'tis too[786]
narrow for your mind.[786]

_Ham._ O God, I could be bounded in a nut-shell and[786]
count myself a king of infinite space, were it not that I[786] 250
have bad dreams.[786][789]

_Guil._ Which dreams indeed are ambition; for the very[786]
substance of the ambitious is merely the shadow of a dream.[786]

_Ham._ A dream itself is but a shadow.[786]

_Ros._ Truly, and I hold ambition of so airy and light a[786] 255
quality that it is but a shadow's shadow.[786]

_Ham._ Then are our beggars bodies, and our monarchs[786]
and outstretched heroes the beggars' shadows. Shall we to[786]
the court? for, by my fay, I cannot reason.[786][790]

_Ros. Guil._ We'll wait upon you.[786][791] 260

_Ham._ No such matter: I will not sort you with the rest[786]
of my servants; for, to speak to you like an honest man, I[786]
am most dreadfully attended. But, in the beaten way of[786]
friendship, what make you at Elsinore?[792][793]

_Ros._ To visit you, my lord; no other occasion. 265

_Ham._ Beggar that I am, I am even poor in thanks; but[794]
I thank you: and sure, dear friends, my thanks are too dear
a halfpenny. Were you not sent for? Is it your own[795]
inclining? Is it a free visitation? Come, deal justly with me:[796]
come, come; nay, speak. 270

_Guil._ What should we say, my lord?

_Ham._ Why, any thing, but to the purpose. You were[797]
sent for; and there is a kind of confession in your looks,[798]
which your modesties have not craft enough to colour: I
know the good king and queen have sent for you. 275

_Ros._ To what end, my lord?

_Ham._ That you must teach me. But let me conjure you,
by the rights of our fellowship, by the consonancy of our[799]
youth, by the obligation of our ever-preserved love, and by[800]
what more dear a better proposer could charge you withal, be[801] 280
even and direct with me, whether you were sent for, or no.[802]

_Ros._ [_Aside to Guil._] What say you?[803]

_Ham._ [_Aside_] Nay then, I have an eye of you.--If you[804][805]
love me, hold not off.[804]

_Guil._ My lord, we were sent for. 285

_Ham._ I will tell you why; so shall my anticipation prevent
your discovery, and your secrecy to the king and queen[806][807]
moult no feather. I have of late--but wherefore I know not--lost[807][808]
all my mirth, foregone all custom of exercises; and indeed[809]
it goes so heavily with my disposition that this goodly[810] 290
frame, the earth, seems to me a sterile promontory; this most
excellent canopy, the air, look you, this brave o'erhanging[811]
firmament, this majestical roof fretted with golden fire, why,[812]
it appears no other thing to me than a foul and pestilent[813]
congregation of vapours. What a piece of work is a man![814] 295
how noble in reason! how infinite in faculty! in form and[815][816]
moving how express and admirable! in action how like an[816]
angel! in apprehension how like a god! the beauty of the[816]
world! the paragon of animals! And yet, to me, what is this
quintessence of dust? man delights not me; no, nor woman[817] 300
neither, though by your smiling you seem to say so.[818]

_Ros._ My lord, there was no such stuff in my thoughts.

_Ham._ Why did you laugh then, when I said 'man[819]
delights not me'?

_Ros._ To think, my lord, if you delight not in man, what 305
lenten entertainment the players shall receive from you:[820]
we coted them on the way; and hither are they coming, to[821]
offer you service.

_Ham._ He that plays the king shall be welcome; his
majesty shall have tribute of me; the adventurous knight[822] 310
shall use his foil and target; the lover shall not sigh gratis;[823]
the humourous man shall end his part in peace; the clown[824]
shall make those laugh whose lungs are tickled o' the sere,[824][825]
and the lady shall say her mind freely, or the blank verse[826]
shall halt for't. What players are they? 315

_Ros._ Even those you were wont to take such delight[827]
in, the tragedians of the city.[828]

_Ham._ How chances it they travel? their residence,[829]
both in reputation and profit, was better both ways.[830]

_Ros._ I think their inhibition comes by the means of the[831][832] 320
late innovation.[831][833]

_Ham._ Do they hold the same estimation they did when[834]
I was in the city? are they so followed?

_Ros._ No, indeed, are they not.[835]

_Ham._ How comes it? do they grow rusty?[836] 325

_Ros._ Nay, their endeavour keeps in the wonted pace:[836]
but there is, sir, an eyrie of children, little eyases, that cry[836][837]
out on the top of question and are most tyranically clapped[836][838]
for't: these are now the fashion, and so berattle the common[836][839]
stages--so they call them--that many wearing rapiers[836][840] 330
are afraid of goose-quills, and dare scarce come thither.[836]

_Ham._ What, are they children? who maintains 'em?[836][841]
how are they escoted? Will they pursue the quality no[836]
longer than they can sing? will they not say afterwards, if[836]
they should grow themselves to common players,--as it is[836][842] 335
most like, if their means are no better,--their writers do them[836][843]
wrong, to make them exclaim against their own succession?[836][844]

_Ros._ Faith, there has been much to do on both sides,[836]
and the nation holds it no sin to tarre them to controversy:[836]
there was for a while no money bid for argument unless[836] 340
the poet and the player went to cuffs in the question.[836]

_Ham._ Is't possible?[836]

_Guil._ O, there has been much throwing about of brains.[836]

_Ham._ Do the boys carry it away?[836]

_Ros._ Ay, that they do, my lord; Hercules and his load too.[836][845] 345

_Ham._ It is not very strange; for my uncle is king of[846]
Denmark, and those that would make mows at him while[847]
my father lived, give twenty, forty, fifty, a hundred ducats[848]
a-piece, for his picture in little. 'Sblood, there is something[849]
in this more than natural, if philosophy could find it out.[850] 350

[_Flourish of trumpets within._

_Guil._ There are the players.[851]

_Ham._ Gentlemen, you are welcome to Elsinore. Your[793]
hands, come then: the appurtenance of welcome is fashion[852]
and ceremony: let me comply with you in this garb, lest[853][854]
my extent to the players, which, I tell you, must show[854][855] 355
fairly outwards, should more appear like entertainment[856]
than yours. You are welcome: but my uncle-father and
aunt-mother are deceived.

_Guil._ In what, my dear lord?

_Ham._ I am but mad north-north-west: when the wind 360
is southerly I know a hawk from a handsaw.[857]

_Enter_ POLONIUS.

_Pol._ Well be with you, gentlemen![858]

_Ham._ Hark you, Guildenstern; and you too: at each[859]
ear a hearer: that great baby you see there is not yet out[860]
of his swaddling clouts.[861] 365

_Ros._ Happily he's the second time come to them; for[862]
they say an old man is twice a child.

_Ham._ I will prophesy he comes to tell me of the[863]
players; mark it. You say right, sir: o'Monday morning;[864]
'twas so, indeed.[865] 370

_Pol._ My lord, I have news to tell you.

_Ham._ My lord, I have news to tell you. When Roscius[866]
was an actor in Rome,--[867]

_Pol._ The actors are come hither, my lord.

_Ham._ Buz, buz! 375

_Pol._ Upon my honour,--[868]

_Ham._ Then came each actor on his ass,--[869]

_Pol._ The best actors in the world, either for tragedy,
comedy, history, pastoral, pastoral-comical, historical-pastoral,[870]
tragical-historical, tragical-comical-historical-pastoral,[870][871] 380
scene individable, or poem unlimited: Seneca cannot be too[872]
heavy, nor Plautus too light. For the law of writ and the[873][874][875]
liberty these are the only men.[873][875]

_Ham._ O Jephthah, judge of Israel, what a treasure[876][877]
hadst thou! 385

_Pol._ What a treasure had he, my lord?[878]

_Ham._ Why,[879]
'One fair daughter, and no more,[879]
The which he loved passing well.'[879]

_Pol._ [_Aside_] Still on my daughter.[880] 390

_Ham._ Am I not i' the right, old Jephthah?

_Pol._ If you call me Jephthah, my lord, I have a daughter[881][882]
that I love passing well.[881]

_Ham._ Nay, that follows not.[881]

_Pol._ What follows, then, my lord? 395

_Ham._ Why,[883]
'As by lot, God wot,'[883]
and then, you know,[884]
'It came to pass, as most like it was,'--[884]
the first row of the pious chanson will show you more;[885] 400
for look, where my abridgement comes.[886]

_Enter four or five_ Players.

You are welcome, masters; welcome, all. I am glad to see[887]
thee well. Welcome, good friends. O, my old friend! Why[888][889]
thy face is valanced since I saw thee last; comest thou to[889][890]
beard me in Denmark? What, my young lady and mistress! 405
By'r lady, your ladyship is nearer to heaven than[891]
when I saw you last, by the altitude of a chopine. Pray[892]
God, your voice, like a piece of uncurrent gold, be not
cracked within the ring. Masters, you are all welcome.
We'll e'en to 't like French falconers, fly at any thing we[893] 410
see: we'll have a speech straight: come, give us a taste of
your quality; come, a passionate speech.

_First Play._ What speech, my good lord?[894][895]

_Ham._ I heard thee speak me a speech once, but it was
never acted; or, if it was, not above once; for the play, I remember, 415
pleased not the million; 'twas caviare to the general:[896]
but it was--as I received it, and others, whose judgements[897]
in such matters cried in the top of mine--an excellent play,
well digested in the scenes, set down with as much modesty
as cunning. I remember, one said there were no sallets in[898] 420
the lines to make the matter savoury, nor no matter in the
phrase that might indict the author of affection; but called[899]
it an honest method, as wholesome as sweet, and by very[900]
much more handsome than fine. One speech in it I chiefly[900][901]
loved: 'twas Æneas' tale to Dido; and thereabout of it especially,[902] 425
where he speaks of Priam's slaughter: if it live in[903]
your memory, begin at this line; let me see, let me see;
'The rugged Pyrrhus, like th' Hyrcanian beast,'--[904]
It is not so: it begins with 'Pyrrhus.'[905]
'The rugged Pyrrhus, he whose sable arms, 430
Black as his purpose, did the night resemble[906]
When he lay couched in the ominous horse,[907]
Hath now this dread and black complexion smear'd[908]
With heraldry more dismal: head to foot[909]
Now is he total gules; horridly trick'd[910] 435
With blood of fathers, mothers, daughters, sons,
Baked and impasted with the parching streets,[911]
That lend a tyrannous and a damned light[912][913]
To their lord's murder: roasted in wrath and fire,[913][914]
And thus o'er-sized with coagulate gore,[915] 440
With eyes like carbuncles, the hellish Pyrrhus[916]
Old grandsire Priam seeks.'
So, proceed you.[917]

_Pol_ 'Fore God, my lord, well spoken, with good accent
and good discretion. 445

_First Play._ 'Anon he finds him[894]
Striking too short at Greeks; his antique sword,[918]
Rebellious to his arm, lies where it falls,[919]
Repugnant to command: unequal match'd,[920]
Pyrrhus at Priam drives; in rage strikes wide; 450
But with the whiff and wind of his fell sword
The unnerved father falls. Then senseless Ilium,[921]
Seeming to feel this blow, with flaming top[922]
Stoops to his base, and with a hideous crash[923]
Takes prisoner Pyrrhus' ear: for, lo! his sword,[924] 455
Which was declining on the milky head
Of reverend Priam, seem'd i' the air to stick:[925]
So, as a painted tyrant, Pyrrhus stood.[926]
And like a neutral to his will and matter,[927][928]
Did nothing.[928] 460
But as we often see, against some storm,
A silence in the heavens, the rack stand still,[929]
The bold winds speechless and the orb below[930]
As hush as death, anon the dreadful thunder
Doth rend the region, so after Pyrrhus' pause[924][931] 465
Aroused vengeance sets him new a-work;[932]
And never did the Cyclops' hammers fall[933]
On Mars's armour, forged for proof eterne,[934]
With less remorse than Pyrrhus' bleeding sword[924]
Now falls on Priam. 470
Out, out, thou strumpet, Fortune! All you gods,[935]
In general synod take away her power,
Break all the spokes and fellies from her wheel,[936]
And bowl the round nave down the hill of heaven
As low as to the fiends!' 475

_Pol._ This is too long.[937]

_Ham._ It shall to the barber's, with your beard. Prithee,[938]
say on: he's for a jig or a tale of bawdry, or he sleeps:
say on: come to Hecuba.

_First Play._ 'But who, O, who had seen the mobled
queen--'[939][940][941] 480

_Ham._ 'The mobled queen?'[940][942]

_Pol._ That's good; 'mobled queen' is good.[943]

_First Play._ 'Run barefoot up and down, threatening the flames[944]
With bisson rheum; a clout upon that head[945]
Where late the diadem stood; and for a robe, 485
About her lank and all o'er-teemed loins,
A blanket, in the alarm of fear caught up:[946]
Who this had seen, with tongue in venom steep'd
'Gainst Fortune's state would treason have pronounced:[947]
But if the gods themselves did see her then, 490
When she saw Pyrrhus make malicious sport
In mincing with his sword her husband's limbs,[948]
The instant burst of clamour that she made,
Unless things mortal move them not at all,[949]
Would have made milch the burning eyes of heaven[950] 495
And passion in the gods.'[951]

_Pol._ Look, whether he has not turned his colour and[952]
has tears in's eyes. Prithee, no more.[953]

_Ham._ 'Tis well; I'll have thee speak out the rest of this[954]
soon. Good my lord, will you see the players well bestowed?[955] 500
Do you hear, let them be well used, for they are the abstract[956]
and brief chronicles of the time: after your death you were
better have a bad epitaph than their ill report while you live.[957]

_Pol._ My lord, I will use them according to their desert.[958]

_Ham._ God's bodykins, man, much better: use every[959] 505
man after his desert, and who shall 'scape whipping? Use[958][960]
them after your own honour and dignity: the less they deserve,
the more merit is in your bounty. Take them in.

_Pol._ Come, sirs.

_Ham._ Follow him, friends: we'll hear a play to-morrow. 510

[_Exit Polonius with all the Players but the First._[961]

Dost thou hear me, old friend; can you play the Murder of[962]
Gonzago?[963]

_First Play._ Ay, my lord.

_Ham._ We'll ha't to-morrow night. You could, for a[961][964][965]
need, study a speech of some dozen or sixteen lines, which[965][966] 515
I would set down and insert in't, could you not?[967]

_First Play._ Ay, my lord.

_Ham._ Very well. Follow that lord; and look you[961]
mock him not. [_Exit First Player._] My good friends, I'll[968]
leave you till night: you are welcome to Elsinore.[969] 520

_Ros._ Good my lord![970]

_Ham._ Ay, so, God be wi' ye! [_Exeunt Rosencrantz and
Guildenstern._] Now I am alone.[971]
O, what a rogue and peasant slave am I!
Is it not monstrous that this player here,
But in a fiction, in a dream of passion,[972] 525
Could force his soul so to his own conceit[973]
That from her working all his visage wann'd;[974]
Tears in his eyes, distraction in's aspect,[975]
A broken voice, and his whole function suiting[976]
With forms to his conceit? and all for nothing![977] 530
For Hecuba![978]
What's Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba,[979]
That he should weep for her? What would he do,
Had he the motive and the cue for passion[980]
That I have? He would drown the stage with tears 535
And cleave the general ear with horrid speech,
Make mad the guilty and appal the free,[981]
Confound the ignorant, and amaze indeed
The very faculties of eyes and ears.[982][983]
Yet I,[982][984][985] 540
A dull and muddy-mettled rascal, peak,[984][985][986]
Like John-a-dreams, unpregnant of my cause,[985][987]
And can say nothing; no, not for a king,[985]
Upon whose property and most dear life
A damn'd defeat was made. Am I a coward?[988] 545
Who calls me villain? breaks my pate across?[988]
Plucks off my beard, and blows it in my face?[988]
Tweaks me by the nose? gives me the lie i' the throat,[988]
As deep as to the lungs? who does me this?[988]
Ha![989] 550
'Swounds, I should take it: for it cannot be[990]
But I am pigeon-liver'd and lack gall
To make oppression bitter, or ere this[991]
I should have fatted all the region kites[992]
With this slave's offal: bloody, bawdy villain![993] 555
Remorseless, treacherous, lecherous, kindless villain![994]
O, vengeance![995]
Why, what an ass am I! This is most brave,[996]
That I, the son of a dear father murder'd,[997]
Prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell, 560
Must, like a whore, unpack my heart with words,
And fall a-cursing, like a very drab,[998][999]
A scullion![998][999]
Fie upon't! foh! About, my brain! Hum, I have heard[998][1000]
That guilty creatures, sitting at a play,[998][1001] 565
Have by the very cunning of the scene
Been struck so to the soul that presently[1002]
They have proclaim'd their malefactions;
For murder, though it have no tongue, will speak
With most miraculous organ. I'll have these players[1003] 570
Play something like the murder of my father
Before mine uncle: I'll observe his looks;
I'll tent him to the quick: if he but blench,[1004]
I know my course. The spirit that I have seen[1005]
May be the devil; and the devil hath power[1006] 575
To assume a pleasing shape; yea, and perhaps
Out of my weakness and my melancholy,
As he is very potent with such spirits,
Abuses me to damn me. I'll have grounds
More relative than this. The play's the thing 580
Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king. [_Exit._

FOOTNOTES:

[560] ACT II. SCENE I.] Q (1676) and Rowe. Actus Secundus. Ff.

A room ...] An Apartment ... Rowe.

Enter ... Reynaldo.] Capell. Enter old Polonius, with his man or two. Qq. Enter ... Reynoldo. Ff.

[561] _this_] Qq. _his_ Ff.

_these_] Q₂ Q₃ F₁. _these two_ Q₄ Q₅ Q₆. _those_ F₂ F₃ F₄.

[562] _Reynaldo_] Qq. _Reynoldo_ Ff.

[563] _marvellous_] Q₅ Q₆. _meruiles_ Q₂ Q₃. _maruelous_ Q₄. _maruels_ F₁. _marvels_ F₂ F₃ F₄.]

_wisely,_] Q₆. _wisely_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. _wisely:_ Ff.

[564] _to make inquire_] Qq. _you make inquiry_ Ff. _make you inquiry_ Rowe. _to make inquiry_ Q (1676) and Pope.

[565] _Marry ... sir,_] As in Qq. Two lines in Ff.

_Marry_] _Mary_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

[566] _Danskers_] _Dantz'ckers_ Capell (corrected in MS.)

[567] _at_] om. F₄.

[568] _nearer Than_] Capell. _neerer Then_ Qq F₁. _neere Than_ F₂. _near Then_ F₃. _near. Then_ Q (1676) and Pope. _near, Then_ F₄.

[569] _As_] Qq. _And_ Ff.

[570] _if't_] Ff. _y'ft_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. _if it_ Q₆.

[571] _Ay ... far._] Arranged as in Capell. In Qq Ff the first line ends at _swearing._

[572] _fencing_] Put in brackets by Warburton as an interpolation.

[573] _no_] Ff. om. Qq.

[574] _another_] _an utter_ Hanmer (Theobald conj. withdrawn).

[575] _That_] _Than_ Keightley.

[576] _A savageness ... assault._] As in Qq. One line in Ff.

[577] _unreclaimed_] Q₅ Q₆. _unreclamed_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. _unreclaim'd_ Ff.

[578] _lord,--_] _lord--_ Pope. _Lord._ Qq Ff.

[579] _Ay, ... that._] As in Steevens (1778). One line in Qq Ff.

[580] _lord_] _good lord_ Capell, ending the line at _lord._

[581] _warrant_] Ff. _wit_ Qq.

[582] _sullies_] Q₄ Q₅ Q₆ F₄. _sallies_ Q₂ Q₃. _sulleyes_ F₁ F₂ F₃.

[583] _i' the_] _i' th'_ Ff. _with_ Qq.

[584] _Mark ... sound,_] As in Malone. One line in Qq Ff.

[585] _you,_] Qq. _you_ Ff.

[586] _him_] _he_ Q₆.

_you would_] _you'ld_ Johnson.

[587] _seen in_] _seene in_ Qq. _seene._ _In_ F₁ F₂ F₃. _seen. In_ F₄.

_prenominate_] _prenominate_] Q₂ Q₃ Q₄.

[588] _breathe_] Rowe (ed. 2). _breath_ Qq Ff. _speak_ Pope.

[589] _consequence_] _cosequence_ Q₄.

[590] _or so_] Put in parentheses in Qq.

_or so, or_] _or Sir, or_ Hanmer. _or sire or_ Warburton. _forsooth, or_ Johnson conj. _or so forth,_ Steevens conj. (1778).

[591] _or_] Qq. _and_ Ff.

_addition_] _addistion_ Q₂ Q₃.

[592] _And then ... leave?_] Prose first by Malone. Three lines in Qq, ending _say?... something, ... leave?_ Three lines in Ff, ending _this?... say? ... leave?_ Capell ends the lines _was I ... say ... leave?_

[593] _does he this--he does_] _does he this? He does:_ Ff. _doos a this, a doos,_ Q₂ Q₃. _doos a this, a doos:_ Q₄ Q₅. _does a this, a does:_ Q₆.

[594] _By the mass_] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

_something_] _nothing_ F₂ F₃ F₄.

[595] _At ... gentleman.'_] Prose in Globe ed. Two lines, the first ending _consequence:_ in Ff.

_at 'friend ... gentleman.'_] Omitted in Qq.

[596] Pol.] Reynol. F₂. Pelon. F₃.

[597] _closes with you thus_] Ff. _closes thus_ Qq. _closeth with him thus_ (Q₁).

[598] _t'other_] _tother_ F₁ F₂. _'tother_ F₃ F₄. _th' other_ Qq.

[599] _Or then, or then,_] _Or then,_ Pope.

_or such_] Qq. _and such_ Ff.

[600] _a'_] _a_ Qq. _he_ Ff.

_gaming, there_] _gaming, there_ Ff. _gaming there_ Qq.

_o'ertook_] _or tooke_ Qq.

[601] _There_] _Their_ F₂ F₃.

[602] _such_] Q₂ Q₃ Ff. _such or such_ Q₄ Q₅. _such and such_ Q₆.

_sale_] Qq. _saile_ F₁ F₂. _sail_ F₃ F₄.

[603] _Videlicet ... now_] As in Capell. One line in Qq Ff.

[604] _falsehood takes_] _falshood takes_ Q₆. _falshood, takes_ Ff. _falshood take_ Q₂ Q₃. _falshood: take_ Q₄ Q₅.

_carp_] _carpe_ Qq. _cape_ Ff.

[605] _assays_] _essayes_ Q₆.

[606] _indirections_] _indirects_ Q₄ Q₅ Q₆.

[607] _advice_] Ff Q₆. _advise_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅.

[608] _be wi' ye_] _buy ye_ Qq. _buy you_ F₁ F₂ F₃. _b'w'you_ F₄.

_fare ye_] Q₆. _far ye_ Q₂ Q₃. _far yee_?] Q₄ Q₅. _fare you_ Ff.

[609] _Good my lord!_] Dyce. _Good my Lord._ Qq Ff. _Good my Lord--_ Rowe. _But, my good lord,--_ Capell conj.

[610] _in_] _e'en_ Hanmer.

[611] [Exit Reynaldo.] Exit Rey. Qq (after _lord_). Exit. Ff (after _lord_).

SCENE II.] Pope.

[Enter Ophelia.] As in Singer (ed. 2). Before _Farewell!_ in Qq Ff. Enter Ophelia, hastily. Capell.

[612] _O, my lord,_] Qq. _Alas,_ Ff.

[613] _i' the_] _i' th_ Qq. _in the_ Ff.

_God_] Qq. _Heaven_ Ff.

[614] _sewing_] Warburton. _sowing_ Qq Ff. _reading_ Q (1676).

_closet_] Q₆. _closset_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. _chamber_ Ff.

[615] _Lord_] _Prince_ Q (1676).

[616] _foul'd_] Ff Q₆. _fouled_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. _loose_ Q (1676). See note (XI).

[617] _down-gyved_] F₃ F₄. _downe gyved_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₆. _downe gyred_ Q₄ Q₅. _downe gived_ F₁. _downe-gyved_ F₂. _down-gyred_ Theobald.

[618] _horrors, he_] Qq. _horrors: he_ Ff. _horrors: thus he_ Pope. _horrors there, he_ Anon. conj.

[619] _My lord ... it._] As in Qq. One line in Ff.

[620] _and held me hard_] Omitted in F₂ F₃ F₄.

[621] _As he_] Ff. _As a_ Qq.

_Long_] _Long time_ Pope.

[622] _mine_] Qq F₁. _my_ F₂ F₃ F₄. _his_ Pope (ed. 2).

[623] _piteous_] Q₆. _pittious_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅ F₁. _hideous_ F₂ F₃ F₄.

[624] _As_] Qq. _That_ Ff.

[625] _that done,_] _Then_ Pope.

_me_] om. F₂ F₃ F₄.

[626] _shoulder_] Q₂ Q₃. _shoulders_ The rest.

[627] _o'doors_] Theobald. _adoores_ Q₂ Q₃. _a doores_ Q₄. _of doores_ Q₅ Q₆. _adores_ F₁ F₂. _adoors_ F₃ F₄.

_helps_] Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. _helpes_ Q₅ Q₆. _helpe_ (Q₁) F₁ F₂. _help_ F₃ F₄.

[628] _Come_] Qq. om. Ff.

[629] _fordoes_] _forgoes_ Q₄ Q₅ Q₆.

[630] _passion_] Ff. _passions_ Qq.

[631] _I am_] _I'm_ Pope.

_heed_] Q₅ Q₆. _heede_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. _speed_ Ff.

[632] _quoted_] Ff. _coted_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. _coated_ Q₆. _noted_ Warburton.

_fear'd_] Qq. _feare_ F₁ F₂. _fear_ F₃ F₄.

_did but trifle_] _trifl'd_ Pope.

[633] _wreck_] _wrack_ Qq F₃ F₄. _wracke_ F₁ F₂. _rack_ Upton conj.

_beshrew_] Ff Q₆. _beshrow_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅.

[634] _By heaven,_] (Q₁) Qq. _It seemes_ F₁ F₂. _It seems_ F₃ F₄.

[635] _we_] _with me_ Q (1676).

[636] _which_] _wͨ_ F₁.

[637] _than hate_] _hate, than_ Hanmer. _than haste_ Anon. conj.

[638] _Come._] Qq. om. Ff.

[639] SCENE II.] Scena secunda. Ff. SCENE III. Pope.

A room....] Capell. The Palace. Rowe.

Flourish.] om. Ff.

Rosencratz,] Malone. Rossencraft, (Q₁). Rosencraus Qq. Rosincrane, F₁. Rosincrosse, F₂ F₃. Rosincross, F₄. Roseneraus, Rowe (ed. 2). Rosincrantz, Theobald.

Guildenstern] Rowe. Gilderstone (Q₁). Guyldensterne Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. Guildensterne F₁ Q₆. Guildenstare F₂ F₃ F₄.

and Attendants.] Lords and other Attendants. Rowe. Omitted in Qq. Cumalijs. F₁ F₂. cum aliis. F₃ F₄.

[640] _Rosencrantz_] Malone. _Rosencraus_ Qq. _Rosincrance_ F₁. _Rosincros_ F₂. _Rosincross_ F₃ F₄.

[641] _Guildenstern_] Rowe. _Guyldensterne_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. _Guildensterne_ F₁ Q₆. _Guildenstare_ F₂ F₃ F₄.

[642] _have you_] _you have_ Q₆.

[643] _call_] Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. _I call_ Ff Q₆.

[644] _Sith nor_] Qq. _Since not_ Ff.

[645] _dream_] _dreame_ Qq. _deeme_ F₁ F₂. _deem_ F₃ F₄.

[646] _sith_] Qq. _since_ Ff.

_neighbour_'d] Ff. _nabored_ Q₂ Q₃. _neighbored_ Q₄. _neighboured_ Q₅ Q₆.

_haviour_] Q₅ Q₆. _hauior_ Q₂ Q₃. _hau r_ Q₄. _humour_ Ff. _'havour_ Warburton.

[647] _occasion_] Qq. _occasions_ Ff.

[648] _Whether ... thus,_] Qq. Omitted in Ff. _If ... thus,_ Rowe.

[649] _open'd_] om. Q (1676).

[650] _are_] _is_ Q₂ Q₃.

[651] _gentry_] _gentleness_ Q (1676).

[652] _expend_] _extend_ Q₄ Q₅. _employ_ Q (1676).

[653] _shall_] _should_ Q₆.

[654] _of us_] _over us_ Q (1676). _o'er us_ Mason conj.

[655] _to_] _into_ Keightley.

_But we_] Qq. _We_ Ff.

[656] _service_] Qq. _services_ Ff.

[657] _To be commanded._] Omitted in Q₄ Q₅ Q₆.

[658] _My ... you,_] As in Qq. Two lines in Ff.

_you_] Qq. _ye_ Ff.

[659] _these_] Qq. _the_ Ff.

[660] _Ay,_] Capell. _I_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. om. Ff Q₆. _Amen,_ Keightley.

[Exeunt Rosencrantz....] Exeunt Ros. and Gui., Attendants with them. Capell. Exeunt Ros. and Guyld. Qq. Exit. F₁ (after _him_). Exeunt. F₂ F₃ F₄ (after _him_).

[661] [Aside to the King. Anon. conj.

_I assure_] Qq. _Assure you,_ Ff.

[662] _and_] Qq. _one_ Ff.

[663] _sure_] _be sure_ F₃ F₄.

[664] _it hath_] Qq. _I have_ Ff.

[665] _that; that_] Capell. _that, that_ Qq Ff.

_do I_] _doe I_ Qq. _I do_ F₁ F₃ F₄. _I doe._ F₂.

[666] _fruit_] Q₅ Q₆. _fruite_ Q₂ Q₃. _frute_ Q₄. _newes_ F₁ F₂. _news_ F₃ F₄. _nuts_ Hunter conj.

_to_] _of_ Johnson.

[667] [Exit Polonius.] Ex. Pol. Rowe. Omitted in Qq Ff.

[668] _my dear Gertrude_] Capell. _my deere Gertrard_ Q₂ Q₃. _my decree: Gertrud_ Q₄ Q₅. _my deare Gertrud_ Q₆. _my sweet queene, that_ Ff (_queen_ F₃ F₄).

[669] _o'erhasty_] _hastie_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₅ Q₆. _hasty_ Q₄.

[670] SCENE IV. Pope.

Re-enter Polonius....] Theobald. Enter Polonius, Voltimand, and Cornelius. Ff (Voltumand, F₁), after line 57. Enter Embassadors. Qq, after line 57.

_Welcome, my_] _Welcome home,_ S. Walker conj.

_my_] Qq. om. Ff.

[671] _Voltimand_] F₂ F₃ F₄. _Voltemand_ Qq. _Voltumand_ F₁.

[672] _levies_] _lives_ Q (1695).

[673] _Polack_] _Polacke_ (Q₁). _Pollacke_ Qq. _Poleak_ F₁. _Polak_ F₂ F₃ F₄.

[674] _three_] (Q₁) Ff. _threescore_ Qq.

[675] _shown_] _shone_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅.

[Giving a paper.] Malone. om. Qq Ff. Letter. Collier MS. See note (II).

[676] _this_] Qq. _his_ Ff. _that_ (Q₁).

[677] _therein_] _herein_ Q₆.

[678] _consider'd_] Ff. _considered_ Qq.

[679] _Answer, and think upon_] _And think upon an answer to_ Hanmer.

_And think upon and answer_ Anon. conj. (Misc. Obs. on Hamlet, 1752).

[680] _thank_] _take_ F₁.

_well-took_] _well-look't_ F₂ F₃ F₄. _well-luck'd_ Theobald conj. (withdrawn).

[681] [Exeunt Vol. and Cor.] Capell. Exeunt Embassadors. Qq. Exit Ambass. Ff.

_well_] Qq. _very well_ Ff.

[682] _since_] Ff. om. Qq.

_brevity is_] _brevity's_ Pope.

[683] _limbs_] _lines_ Theobald. conj. (withdrawn).

[684] _it:_] _it?_ Q (1676).

[685] _mad?_] Q₄ Q₅ Q₆. _mad,_ Q₂ Q₃. _mad._ Ff.

[686] _he is_] Ff. _hee's_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₆. _he's_ Q₅.

_mad, 'tis_] _mad, is_ Capell.

[687] _'tis 'tis_] _it is_ Ff. _it is, 'tis_ Hanmer.

[688] _farewell it_] _farewell, wit_ Anon. conj.

[689] _the_] _the the_ F₂.

[690] _remains ... Perpend._] _remains: remainder thus perpend._ Maginn conj.

[691] _thus._] Ff Q₆. _thus_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅.

[692] _Perpend._] A separate line in Qq. Ending line 104 in Ff. _Consider._ Q (1676).

[693] _while_] (Q₁) Qq. _whil'st_ F₁ F₃ F₄. _whilst_ F₂.

[694] [Reads.] Q (1676). The Letter. Ff. om. Qq. He opens a Letter, and reads. Rowe.

[695] _and_] om. Q₆.

_idol_] _fair idol_ Capell, reading as verse.

_beautified_] _beatified_ Theobald.

[696] _vile_] Qq F₄. _vilde_ F₁ F₂ F₃.

_beautified_] _that beatify'd_ Capell, reading as verse.

_vile_] Qq F₄. _vilde_ F₁ F₂ F₃.

[697] _Thus: ... these,' &c._] See note (XII).

[698] [Reads.] Dyce. om. Qq Ff.

[699] _excellent white_] _excellent-white_ Dyce, ed. 2 (S. Walker conj.)]

_&c._] Qq. om. Ff.

[700] [Reads.] Reading. Rowe. Letter. Qq. om. Ff.

[701] _HAMLET._] See note (XIII).

[702] _shown_] _showne_ Qq. _shew'd_ Ff.

[703] _above_] F₂ F₃ F₄. _aboue_ F₁. _about_ Qq.

_above, hath_] _about have_ Q₆. _concerning_ Q (1676).

_solicitings_] Qq. _soliciting_ Ff.

[704] _But ... love?_] As in Capell. One line in Qq Ff.

[705] _think,_] Capell. _thinke_ Qq. _think?_ Ff.

[706] _this_] _his_ F₃ F₄.

_wing,--_] _wing,_ Q₂ Q₃ Ff Q₆. _wing?_ Q₄ Q₅.

[707] _your_] _you_ F₂.

[708] _play'd_] _ply'd_ Keightley conj.

[709] _a winking_] Ff Q₆. _a working_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. _working_ Pope.

[710] _my young mistress_] Put in parentheses in F₁.

_thus_] _this_ Q₄ Q₅.

[711] _prince, out_] _prince:--out_ Steevens.

_out of thy star_] Q₂ Q₃. _out of thy starre_ Q₄ Q₅ F₁. _out of your starre_ (Q₁). _out of thy sphere_ F₂ Q₆ F₃ F₄. _above thy sphere_ Q (1676).

_out of thy star_] _out of thy soar_ Bailey conj.

[712] _prescripts_] Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. _precepts_ Ff Q₆.

[713] _his_] Q₄ Q₅ Ff Q₆. _her_ Q₂ Q₃.

[714] _she took ... And he_] _see too ... For, he_ Warburton.

[715] _repulsed, a_] F₂ F₃ F₄. _repulsed._ _A_ F₁. _repell'd, a_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₆. _repel'd. a_ Q₄. _repel'd,_ a Q₅. _repelled, a_ Jennens.

[716] _Fell into_] _Fell to_ Pope.

[717] _watch_] _wath_ Q₂ Q₃. _watching_ Pope. _watch; and_ Keightley.

_thence into_] _then into_ Q (1676). _and thence into_ Maginn conj.

[718] _into a weakness, Thence to_] _to a weakness; thence Into_ S. Walker conj.

[719] _a_] om. Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅.

[720] _wherein_] Qq. _whereon_ Ff.

[721] _all we mourn_] _all we mourne_ Qq. _all we wail_ Ff. _we all wail_ Collier MS.

[722] _this_] Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. _'tis this_ Ff Q₆.

_like_] Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. _likely_ Ff Q₆.

[723] _I'ld_] _I'de_ Ff. _I would_ Qq.

[724] [Pointing ... shoulder] Pope, ed. 2 (Theobald). om. Qq Ff.

_this, if ... otherwise:_] _this, if ... otherwise;_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. _this; if ... otherwise,_ F₁. _this, if ... otherwise,_ F₂ Q₆ F₃ F₄.

[725] _further_] _farther_ Collier.

[726] _You ... lobby._] As in Qq. Three lines, ending _sometimes ... heere ... lobby,_ in Ff.

[727] _four_] F₃ F₄. _foure_ The rest. _for_ Hanmer.

[728] _does_] Q₄ Q₅ Q₆. _dooes_ Q₂ Q₃. _ha's_ F₁. _has_ F₂ F₃ F₄.

[729] _an arras_] _the arras_ Q₆.

_Be ... then;_] _Let ... then_ Anon. conj. (Misc. Obs. on Hamlet, 1752).

[730] _arras then; Mark_] _arras then, Marke_ Qq Ff (_Mark_ F₄). _arras; then Mark_ Staunton. _arras then To mark_ Keightley.

[731] _But_] Qq. _And_ Ff.

_and_] _of_ Q (1703).

[732] SCENE V. Pope.

_But ... reading._] One line in Qq. Two, the first ending _wretch,_ in Ff.

[733] _you, both_] Ff. _you both_ Qq. _you both,_ Anon. conj.

[734] [Exeunt.... Enter....] See note (XIV).

[735] _Well, God-a-mercy._] _Excellent well._ Q (1676).

[736] _Excellent_] Qq. _Excellent, excellent_ Ff.

_you are_] Qq. _y'are_ Ff. _you're_ Dyce.

[737] _lord!_] _lord?_ Ff Q₆. _lord._ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅.

[738] _Ay, sir ... thousand._] Prose in Ff. Two lines, the first ending _goes,_ in Qq.

[739] _man_] om. F₃ F₄.

_ten_] Q₅ Q₆. _tenne_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. _two_ Ff.

[740] Ham.] Ham. [reads]. Staunton.

[741] _god kissing carrion_] Hanmer (Warburton). _good kissing carrion_ Qq Ff. _god-kissing carrion_ Malone conj. _good, kissing carrion_ Whiter conj. _carrion-kissing god_ Mitford conj.

_carrion--_] Ff. _carrion._ Qq.

[742] _but as ... conceive,--friend_] Malone. _but as ... conceave, friend_ Qq. _but not as ... conceive. Friend_ Ff.

[743] _How ... again._] Marked as 'Aside' by Capell.

_Still ... again._] Marked as 'Aside' by Steevens. Verse, Maginn conj., ending the lines _on ... first; ... he is ... youth ... love; ... again._

[744] _at first_] _at the first_ Q (1676).

[745] _he said ... he_] Ff. _a said ... a_ Qq. _but said ... he_ Q (1676).

[746] _he is ... again._] Marked as 'Aside' by Pope, who reads as three lines of verse.

[747] _far gone_] Qq. _farre gone, farre gone_ Ff.

[748] _much_] om. Maginn conj.

[749] _lord?_] Ff Q₆. _lord._ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅.

[750] _who?_] F₁ Q₆. _who._ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. _whom?_ F₂ F₃ F₄.

[751] _that you read_] Qq. _you meane_ F₁ F₂. _you mean_ F₃ F₄.

[752] _rogue_] Qq. _slave_ Ff.

[753] _and plum-tree_] Q₅ Q₆. _& plum-tree_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. _or plum-tree_ Ff.

[754] _lack_] _lacke_ Qq. _locke_ F₁ F₂. _lock_ F₃ F₄.

_most_] Qq. om. Ff.

[755] _yourself_] _your selfe_ Qq. _you your selfe_ F₁ F₂. _you your self_ F₃ F₄.

_shall grow old_] Qq. _should be old_ Ff. _shall be as old_ Rowe. _shall be but as old_ Hanmer. _shall grow as old_ Malone.

[756] [Aside] First marked by Capell.

[757] _Though ... lord?_] Prose in Qq. Three lines, ending _madnesse, ... walke ... lord?_ in Ff. Two lines of verse, the first ending _in't,_ in Rowe.

[758] _there is_] _there's_ Rowe.

[759] _grave._] Qq. _grave?_ Ff.

[760] _Indeed ... you._] Prose in Qq. Eleven irregular lines in Ff: nine in Rowe and Pope.

[761] _that's out of the_] Qq. _that is out oth'_ Ff.

[Aside] Marked first by Capell.

[762] _often madness_] _madness often_ Jennens.

[763] _reason and sanity_] F₂ F₃ F₄. _reason and sanitie_ F₁. _reason and sanctity_ Qq. _sanity and reason_ Pope.

[764] _so prosperously be_] _so happily be_ Q₆. _be So prosp'rously_ Pope.

[765] _I will_] _I'll_ Pope.

[766] _and suddenly ... him_] Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[767] _My ... humbly_] Ff. _My lord, I will_ Qq.

[768] _sir_] Ff. om. Qq.

[769] _will_] Ff. _will not_ Qq.

[770] _except my life_] Three times in Qq. _except my life, my life._ Ff. _except my life._ Pope. [Aside] _except ... life._ Anon. conj.

[771] _These ... fools!_] _Thou ... fool!_ Maginn conj.

Enter....] As in Capell. Enter Guyldersterne, and Rosencraus. Qq (after line 214). Enter Rosincran and Guildensterne. F₁. Enter Rosincros and Guildenstar. F₂ F₃. Enter Rosincros and Guildensterne. F₄ (after line 217 in Ff).

[772] _the Lord_] Qq. _my Lord_ Ff. _lord_ Pope.

[773] SCENE VI. Pope.

[To Polonius] Malone.

[Exit Polonius.] As in Capell. Exit. Pope (after line 217).

[774] _My_] Qq. _Mine_ Ff.

[775] _excellent_] _extent_ Q₂ Q₃. _exelent_ Q₄.

[776] _Ah_] Q₆. _A_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. _Oh_ Ff.

_you_] Qq. _ye_ Ff.

[777] _Happy ... button._] Arranged as by Hanmer. Two lines, the first ending _lap,_ in Qq (_cap_ Q₆). Prose in Ff.

_over-happy; On Fortune's cap we_] Hanmer. _over-happy: on Fortune's cap, we_ Ff. _ever happy on Fortunes lap, We_ Qq (_cap_ Q₆).

[778] _On_] _Of_ Anon. conj.

[779] _shoe_] _shooes_ Collier MS. See note (II).

_shoe?_] _shoo?_ F₁. _shooe?_ F₂ F₃ F₄. _shooe._ Qq.

[780] _waist_] Johnson. _wast_ Qq. _waste_ Ff.

[781] _favours?_] Pope. _favors._ Qq. _favour?_ Ff.

[782] _her_] _in her_ Pope, ed. 2.

[783] _What's the_] Ff. _What_ Qq.

_news?_] _newes?_ Qq F₁. _newes._ F₂ F₃. _news._ F₄.

[784] _that_] Ff. om. Qq.

[785] _but_] _sure_ Q (1676).

[786] _Let me ... attended._] Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[787] _o' the_] _o' th'_ Ff. _of the_ Capell.

[788] _Why ... so:_] Two lines of verse, the first ending _nothing,_ S. Walker conj.

[789] _bad_] _had_ Anon. conj.

[790] _fay_] Pope. _fey_ Ff.

[791] Ros. Guil.] Both. Ff.

[792] _friendship,_] Qq F₁. _friendship._ F₂ F₃ F₄.

[793] _Elsinore_] Malone. _Elsonoure_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. _Elsonower_ F₁. _Elsinooer_ F₂. _Elsenour_ Q₆. _Elsinoore_ F₃ F₄.

[794] _even_] Ff Q₆. _ever_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅.

[795] _a halfpenny_] _of a halfpenny_ Theobald. _at a halfpenny_ Hanmer.

[796] _Come, deal_] Ff. _come, come, deale_ Qq.

[797] _Why_] Ff. om. Qq.]

_any thing, but_] Q₆. _any thing but_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. _any thing. But_ Ff.

_purpose. You_] _purpose you_ Q (1676).

[798] _of_] Qq. om. Ff.

[799] _our fellowship_] _our fellowships_ Q₆. _your fellowship_ F₃ F₄.

[800] _ever-preserved_] _ever preferred_ Q (1676).

[801] _could_] Ff. _can_ Qq.

_charge_] _change_ Q₅.

[802] _no._] Qq Ff. _no?_ Pope.

[803] [Aside to Guil.] Edd. (Globe ed.) To Guilden. Theobald. To Hamlet. Delius conj.

[804] Ham. _Nay ... off._] Omitted by Jennens.

[805] [Aside] Marked first by Steevens (1793).

_of you.--_] _of you:_ Ff. _of you?_ Q₂ Q₃. _of you,_ Q₄ Q₅ Q₆. _on you_ Harness conj.

[806] _discovery, and_] _discovery of_ Ff.

[807] _and your ... moult_] Qq. _of your ... queene: moult_ Ff. _of your ... queen. Moult_ Knight.

[808] _feather. I_] _feather: I_ Q₆. _feather, I_ The rest.

[809] _exercises_] Qq. _exercise_ Ff.

[810] _heavily_] Qq. _heavenly_ Ff.

[811] _brave o'erhanging_] _brave-o'erhanging_ S. Walker conj.

_o'erhanging_] _ore-hanged_ Q₄ Q₅ Q₆. _o'erchanging_] Jennens.

[812] _firmament_] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

[813] _appears_] _appeares_ F₁. _appeared_ F₂ F₃ F₄. _appeareth_ Qq.

_no other thing to me than_] _nothing to me but_ Qq.

[814] _What a piece_] Ff Q₆. _What peece_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅.

_a man_] _man_ Q₆.

[815] _faculty_] Ff. _faculties_ Qq.

[816] _faculty!... god!_] Pointed as in Q₆ and Ff, substantially. _faculties, in ... mooving, how ... action, how ... apprehension, how ... God:_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅ (no other stops).

[817] _no_] om. Qq.

_woman_] _women_ Q₂ Q₃.

[818] _seem_] _see me_ F₂.

[819] _you_] Ff. _yee_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. _ye_ Q₆.

_then_] Qq. om. Ff.

[820] _lenten_] Q₆. _Lenton_ The rest.

[821] _coted_] Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. _coated_ Ff Q₆. _met_ Q (1676). _accosted_ Rowe. _'costed_ Capell. _quoted_ Jennens conj. _escoted_ Staunton conj.

_are they_] _are the_ Q₄ Q₅.

[822] _of me_] Ff Q₆. _on me_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅.

[823] _sigh_] _sing_ Q₄ Q₅.

[824] _the clown ... sere,_] Omitted in Qq.

[825] _o' the_] _a' th'_ F₁. _ath'_ F₂ F₃ F₄.

_sere_] _scene_ Malone conj.

[826] _blank_] _black_ Q₂ Q₃.

[827] _such_] Qq. om. Ff.

[828] _in, the_] Qq F₄. _in the_ F₁ F₂ F₃.

[829] _they_] _the_ Q₄ Q₅.

_travel_] Q₆ F₃ F₄. _travaile_ The rest.

[830] _was_] _were_ Anon conj.

[831] _inhibition ... innovation._] _itineration ... innovation._ Theobald conj. (withdrawn). _innovation ... inhibition._ Johnson conj.

[832] _the means_] _means_ Johnson.

[833] _innovation._] _innovation?_ Ff.

[834] _Do they_] _Do the_ Q₄ Q₅.

[835] _are they_] Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. _they are_ Ff Q₆.

[836] Ham. _How ... load too._] Omitted in Qq.

[837] _eyrie_] _ayrie_ F₁. _ayry_ F₂. _airy_ F₃ F₄.

_eyases_] Theobald. _Yases_ Ff.

[838] _question_] _the question_ Capell.

[839] _fashion_] _faction_ Hughs.

_berattle_] _be-rattle_ F₃ F₄. _be ratle_ F₂. _be-ratled_ F₁.

[840] _stages_] _stagers_ Theobald conj. (withdrawn).

[841] _'em_] _them_ Capell.

[842] _players,_] _players?_ Pope (ed. 1).

[843] _most like,_] Pope. _like most_ Ff. _like, most,_ Capell. _like most will,_ Anon. conj.

_no_] _not_ F₂.

_them_] _them on_ Pope (ed. 2).

[844] _succession?_] Pope, ed. 2 (Theobald). _succession_. Ff.

[845] _load_] _club_ Theobald conj. (withdrawn).

[846] _very strange; for_] Q₆. _very strange, for_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. _strange: for_ F₁. _strange for_ F₂ F₃. _strange, for_ F₄.

_my_] Qq. _mine_ Ff.

[847] _mows_] _mowes_ Ff. _mouths_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. _mouthes_ Q₆.

[848] _fifty_] Qq. om. Ff.

_a_] Qq. _an_ Ff.

[849] _'Sblood_] _S'blood_ Q₆. _S'bloud_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. om. Ff.

[850] [Flourish ...] Capell. A Florish. Qq. Flourish for the Players. Ff.

[851] _There ... players._] _Shall we call the players?_ Q (1676).

[852] _then_] Qq. om. Ff.

_appurtenance_] _apportenance_ Q₄ Q₅.

[853] _comply_] _complement_ Hanmer.

_this_] Qq. _the_ Ff.

[854] _lest my_] Ff Q₆. _let me_ Q₂ Q₃. _let my_ Q₄ Q₅.

[855] _extent_] _ostent_ Collier conj.

[856] _outwards_] Qq. _outward_ Ff.

[857] _handsaw_] Ff. _hand saw_ Q Q₃. _hand-saw_ Q₄ Q₅ Q₆. _hernshaw_ Hanmer. _heronsew_ Anon. conj.

[858] SCENE VII. Pope.

[859] _too: at_] Ff. _too, at_ Q₆. _to, at_ Q₂ Q₃. _to, are_ Q₄ Q₅.

[860] _you see there is_] _as you see is_ Q₄ Q₅ Q₆.

[861] _swaddling clouts_] _swadling clouts_ Qq. _swathing clouts_ Ff. _swathling clouts_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[862] _Happily_] Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅ F₁ F₂ F₃. _Happely_ Q₆. _Haply_ F₄.

_he's_] F₁ F₃ F₄. _he is_ Qq. _hes_ F₂.

[863] _prophesy he_] _prophecy, he_ Q₂ Q₃. _prophecy that he_ Q₄. _prophecie that he_ Q₅ Q₆. _prophesie. Hee_ F₁. _prophesie, He_ F₂ F₃ F₄.

[864] _it. You_] _it: You_ Q₆. _it, You_ Q₂ Q₃. _it, you_ Q₄ Q₅ Ff.

_o'_] Capell. _a_ Qq. _for a_ F₁ F₂ F₃. _for on_ F₄.

_morning;_] _morning,_ Q₂ Q₃. _morning_ Q₄ Q₅ Ff Q₆.

[865] _so_] (Q₁) Ff. _then_ Qq.

[866] _Roscius_] F₂ F₃ F₄. _Rossius_ Qq F₁.

[867] _was_] Qq. om. Ff.

_Rome,--_] _Rome--_ Ff. _Rome._ Qq.

[868] _my_] Qq. _mine_ Ff.

_honour,--_] _honour--_ Rowe. _honor._ or _honour._ Qq Ff.

[869] _Then ... ass,--_] Marked as a quotation by Steevens (Johnson conj.)

_came_] Qq. _can_ Ff.

_ass,--_] _asse--_ Ff. _asse._ Qq.

[870] _pastoral-comical, historical-pastoral_] Q₄ Q₅ Q₆. _pastorall comicall, historicall pastorall_ Q₂ Q₃. _pastoricall-comicall-historicall-pastorall_ Ff.

[871] _tragical-historical, tragical-comical-historical-pastoral_] Omitted in Qq.

[872] _scene_] _seeme_ Q₄ Q₅.

_individable_] _indevidible_ Q₂ Q₃. _indevidable_ Q₄ Q₅ Q₆. _indivible_ Ff. _undividable_ Rowe.

[873] _light. For ... liberty, these_] Theobald. _light for ... liberty: these_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. _light, for ... liberty. These_ Ff. _light for ... liberty; these_ Q₆ Q (1676).

[874] _writ_] _wit_ Q (1676) and Rowe.

[875] _the liberty_] _liberty_ Q (1676).

[876] _O Jephthah ... Israel_] As a quotation in Pope.

[877] _&c. Jephthah_] Hanmer. _Ieptha_ Qq. _Iephta_ F₁ F₂. _Jephta_ F₃ F₄.

[878] _What a treasure_] (Q₁) Qq. Ff. _What treasure_ Dyce, ed. 2 (S. Walker conj.)

[879] _Why ... well'_] As in Capell. Prose in Qq. Two lines in Ff. Marked as a quotation in Pope.

[880] [Aside] Marked first by Capell.

[881] Pol. _If ... not._] Omitted in Q₄ Q₅ Q₆.

[882] _you_] _thou_ Jennens.

[883] _Why ... wot,_] As in Malone. Prose in Qq Ff. Pope prints as a quotation _by ... wot._

[884] _and then ... was,'_] As in Pope. Prose in Qq Ff.

[885] _pious chanson_] Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. _Pons Chanson_ F₁. _Pans Chanson_ F₂ F₃ F₄. _pans chanson_ Q₆. _godly Ballet_ (Q₁). _rubrick_ Q (1676). _Pont-chansons_ Hanmer. _Pont chanson_ (i.e. 'chanson du Pont Neuf') Hunter conj.

[886] _abridgement comes_] (Q₁) Q₅ Q₆. _abridgment comes_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. _abridgements come_ Ff.

Enter....] Ff. Enter the Players. Qq. Enter certain players, usher'd. Capell.

[887] _You are_] Qq. _Y'are_ Ff.

[888] _thee_] _you_ Hanmer.

_my_] Ff. om. Qq.

[889] _Why, thy_] Qq. _Thy_ Ff.

[890] _valanced_] _vallanced_ (Q₁). _valanct_ Q₂ Q₃. _valanc'd_ Q₄ Q₅ Q₆. _valiant_ Ff.

[891] _By'r lady_] _Byrlady_ F₁. _Berlady_ F₂ F₃ F₄. _burlady_ (Q₁). _by lady_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. _my Ladie_ Q₅. _my Lady_ Q₆.

_ladyship_] _lordship_ F₃ F₄.

_to heaven_] Qq. _heaven_ Ff.

[892] _chopine_] (Q₁) Qq. _choppine_ Ff. _chioppine_ Pope. _chapin_ Jennens.

[893] _e'en to 't_] Q₆. _ento't_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. _e'ne to 't_ Ff.

_French_] (Q₁) Ff. _friendly_ Qq.

_falconers_] (Q₁). _fankners_ Q₂ Q₃. _faukners_ Q₄ Q₅ Q₆. _faulconers_ Ff.

[894] First Play.] I Play. Ff. Player. Qq.

[895] _good_] (Q₁) Qq. om. Ff.

[896] _caviare_] Johnson. _cauiary_. Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. _cauiarie_ F₁. _cautary_ F₂ F₃ F₄. _caviary_ Q₆. _a caviary_ Q (1676). _caviar_ Rowe. _contrary_ Long MS.

[897] _received_] _conceived_ Collier MS. See note (II).

_judgements_] Qq. _judgement_ Ff.

[898] _were no sallets_] Qq. _was no sallets_ (Q₁) Ff. _was no salts_ Pope (ed. I). _was no salt_ Pope (ed. 2). _were no salts_ Capell. _were no saletés_ Becket conj.

[899] _indict_] Collier. _indite_ Qq Ff.

_affection_] Qq. _affectation_ Ff.

_but_] _but I_ Johnson conj.

[900] _as wholesome ... fine_] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

[901] _speech_] Qq. _cheefe speech_ F₁. _chiefe speech_ F₂. _chief speech_ F₃ F₄.

_in it_] (Q₁) Ff. _in't_ Qq.

[902] _Æneas'_] Pope. _Aeneas_ Q₂ Q₃. _Æneas_ Q₄ Q₅ Ff Q₆.

_tale_] (Q₁) Ff. _talke_ Qq. _talkt_ Q (1676).

[903] _where_] (Q₁) Ff. _when_ Qq.

[904] _th' Hyrcanian_] Ff. _Th' ircanian_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. _th' ircanian_ Q₆.

[905] _It is not so:_] Ff. _tis not so,_ Q₂ Q₃. _tis not_ Q₄ Q₅. _'tis not_ Q₆. _'tis not,_ Q (1695).

[906] _his_] _he_ F₂ F₃.

[907] _he_] _his_ F₂ F₄.

_the ominous_] (Q₁) Ff. _th' omynous_ Q₂ Q₃. _th' ominous_ Q₄ Q₅ Q₆.

[908] _this_] _his_ (Q₁) Q₆.

[909] _heraldry_] _heraldy_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅.

_dismal: head to foot_] Pointed as in Ff. _dismall head to foote,_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. _dismall head to foot:_ Q₆.

[910] _total gules_] _totall Gules_ Qq. _to take Geulles_ F₁ F₂. _to take Geules_ F₃ F₄.

[911] _impasted_] _imbasted_ Q₄ Q₅ Q₆.

_streets_] _fires_ Pope.

[912] _and a_] Qq. _and_ Ff.

[913] _tyrannous ... murder_] _treacherous and damned light To the vile murtherer_ Anon. conj. (Misc. Obs. on Hamlet, 1752).

[914] _their lord's murder_] _their Lords murther_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. _their Lords murder_ Q₆. _their vilde Murthers_ F₁ F₂ F₃. _their vile Murthers_ F₄. _the vile Murthers_ Rowe. _murthers vile_ Pope. _their lords' murder_ S. Walker conj.

[915] _o'er-sized_] _ore-cised_ Qq.

[916] _carbuncles_] _carbuncle_ Q₆.

[917] _So, proceed you._] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

[918] _antique_] Pope. _anticke_ or _antick_ Qq Ff.

[919] _to his_] _in his_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[920] _match'd_] _matcht_ Qq. _match_ Ff.

[921] _falls ... Ilium_] _falls then senseless. Ilium_ Theobald conj. (withdrawn).

_Then senseless Ilium_] Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[922] _this_] Qq. _his_ Ff.

[923] _base_] Qq. _Bace_ Ff.

[924] _Pyrrhus'_] Apostrophe inserted by Pope.

[925] _reverend_] Ff. _reverent_ Qq.

[926] _painted_] Omitted in F₃ F₄.

[927] _And like_] F₁ F₄. _Like_ Qq. _And lik'd_ F₂ F₃.

_and matter_] Erased in Long MS.

[928] _And ... nothing._] As in Qq. One line in Ff.

[929] _rack_] _rackes_ Q₆. _wrack_ Theobald conj. (withdrawn).

[930] _winds_] _wind_ Q₆.

[931] _region, so_] Qq. _region. So_ Ff.

[932] _Aroused_] Collier. _A rowsed_ Qq F₂ F₃ F₄. _A ro wsed_ F₁. _A roused_ Theobald (ed. 2).

_a-work_] _a-worke_ F₁. _aworke_ Q₆. _a worke_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅ F₂. _a work_ F₃ F₄. _a' work_ Capell.

[933] _Cyclops'_] Apostrophe inserted by Theobald.

[934] _Mars's armour_] Capell. _Marses Armor_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. _Mars his Armours_ Ff. _Mars his armour_ Q₆.

[935] _strumpet, Fortune_] Hyphened in Ff.

[936] _fellies_] F₄. _follies_ Q₂ Q₃. _folles_ Q₄. _fellowes_ Q₅. _fallies_ F₁ F₂ F₃. _felloes_ Q₆.

[937] _too_] _two_ F₃.

[938] _to the_] (Q₁) Qq. _to'th_ F₁ F₂. _to th'_ F₃ F₄.

[939] _who, O, who_] _who, O who_ (Q₁). _who, O who,_ Ff. _who, a woe,_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. _who, ah woe_ Q₆. _who alas_ Q (1676). _who, a woe!_ Capell. _who, ah woe!_ Malone (Mason conj.)

[940] _mobled_] Qq. _Moblea_ F₂ F₃ F₄. _inobled_ F₁. _mob-led_ Upton conj. _ennobl'd_ Capell. _mabled_ Malone. _mobiled_ Becket conj.

[941] _queen--_] _queen,--_ Theobald. _queene,_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄. _queene._ Q₅ F₂ Q₆. _queen._ F₁ F₃. _queen?_ F₄.

[942] _queen?_] Pointed as in Ff. _queene._ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. _queene!_ Q₆.

[943] _mobled ... good._] F₂ F₃ F₄. _Inobled ... good._ F₁. Omitted in Qq.

[944] _Run ... flames_] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

_flames_] Qq. _flame_ Ff.

[945] _bisson rheum_] F₄. _Bison rehume_ (_Bison_ in italics) Q₂ Q₃. _bison rhume_ Q₄ Q₅ Q₆. _bisson rheume_ F₁ F₂ F₃.

[946] _alarm_] _alarme_ Qq. _alarum_ Ff.

[947] _state_] Qq. _state,_ Ff.

_pronounced:_] _pronounst;_ Q₂ Q₃. _pronounc'd;_ Q₄ Q₅. _pronounc'd:_ Q₆. _pronounc'd?_ Ff.

[948] _husband's_] _husband_ Q₂ Q₃.

[949] _move_] _meant_ F₃ F₄.

_at_] om. F₃ F₄.

[950] _milch_] _melt_ Pope.

[951] _passion in_] _passioned_ Hanmer. _passionate_ Elze (Collier MS.) _passion e'en_ Taylor conj. MS.

[952] _whether_] Malone. _where_ Qq Ff. _if_ (Q₁) Pope. _whe're_ Theobald. _whe'r_ Capell. _there, if_ Long MS. _whêr_ Dyce.

[953] _has tears_] _has not tears_ Hanmer.

_Prithee_] _Prethee_ Qq. _Pray you_ Ff.

[954] _of this_] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

[955] _will_] _doe_ Q₆.

_abstract_] Qq. _abstracts_ Ff.

[956] _you hear_] _ye heare_ or _ye hear_ Ff.

[957] _live_] Qq. _lived_ Ff.

[958] _desert_] _desart_ F₁ F₂.

[959] _God's_] _Odd's_ Johnson.

_bodykins_] Ff. _bodkin_ Qq. _bodikin_ Capell.

_much_] Qq. om. Ff. _farre_ (Q₁).

[960] _shall_] Qq. _should_ (Q₁) Ff.

[961] _hear_] _here_ Q₄ Q₅.

[Exit ...] Dyce. Exit Polon. Ff, after line 509. Exeunt Pol. and Players. Qq (after _Elsinore_, line 520). Exeunt Polonius, and Players. Capell (after _not_, line 519). Exit Pol. with some of the Players. Reed (after line 509).

[962] [Aside to Player. Staunton.

[963] _Gonzago_] _Gonzaga_ Johnson.

[964] _ha't_] Ff. _hate_ Q₂ Q₃. _hav't_ Q₄ Q₅ Q₆. _have it_ Q (1676).

[965] _for a need_] (Q₁) Ff. _for need_ Qq.

[966] _dozen_] (Q₁) F₃ F₄. _dosen_ F₁ F₂. _dosen lines_ Qq.

_or sixteen_] om. Q (1676).

[967] _you_] Qq. _ye_ Ff.

[968] [Exit First Player.] Exit Player. Reed. om Qq Ff.

[To Ros. and Guild. Johnson.

[969] [Exeunt Players. Collier MS. See note (II).

[970] _Good my_] _Good, my_ Capell.

[971] SCENE VIII. Pope.

_God be wi' ye_] _God b' w' ye_ F₄. _God buy 'ye_ F₁ F₂ F₃. _God buy to you_ Qq. _Good b' w' ye_ Rowe. _God be wi' you_ Capell.

[Exeunt....] Edd. (Globe ed.) Exeunt. Q₂ Q₃ Ff (after line 522). Exit. Q₄ Q₅ Q₆ (after line 522).

_I am_] _am I_ Q₆.

[972] _fiction_] F₂ Q₆ F₃ F₄. _fixion_ The rest.

[973] _own_] Qq. _whole_ Ff.

[974] _his visage_] Ff. _the visage_ Qq.

_wann'd_] _wand_ Qq. _warm'd_ Ff.

[975] _in's_] F₁ Q₆ F₃ F₄. _ins_ F₂. _in his_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅.

[976] _and_] _an_ Q₂ Q₃.

[977] _conceit?_] Ff. _conceit;_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. _conceit,_ Q₆.

_nothing!_] _nothing?_ Ff. _nothing,_ Qq.

[978] _For Hecuba!_] om. Seymour conj.

_Hecuba!_] _Hecuba?_ Ff Q₆. _Hecuba._ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅.

[979] _to Hecuba_] (Q₁) Ff. _to her_ Qq.

[980] _the cue for_] Ff. _that for_ Qq. _that cue for_ Anon. conj.

[981] _appal_] _appall_ Rowe. _appale_ Q₂ Q₃. _appeale_ Q₄ Q₅ Q₆. _apale_ Ff.

[982] _The ... Yet I,_] Arranged as in Johnson. One line in Qq Ff.

[983] _faculties_] Qq. _faculty_ Ff.

_eyes and ears_] _ears and eyes_ Johnson.

[984] _Yet I, A dull and_] _Yet I, a_ Seymour conj.

[985] _Yet I, A dull ... can say_] _Yet I say_ Pope, giving the omitted words in the margin.

[986] _muddy-mettled_] Hyphened in Ff.

[987] _John-a-dreams_] _John a-deames_ F₂ F₃ F₄. _John-a-droynes_ Becket, after Steevens, conj.

[988] _coward?... this?_] Pointed as in Ff, and Q₆ substantially. Stops in Qq. Commas in Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅.

[989] _Ha!_] As a separate line by Steevens (1793). It begins line 552 in Qq Ff (_Hah,_ Q₂ Q₃. _Hah!_ Q₄ Q₅. _Hah?_ Q₆. _Ha?_ Ff), and ends line 550 in Collier. Omitted by Pope.

[990] _'Swounds ... it:_] Qq (_it,_ Q₆). _Why I ... it:_ F₁ F₂. _Why should I take it?_ F₃ F₄. _Yet I should take it--_ Pope.

[991] _oppression_] _transgression_ Collier MS. _aggression_ Singer conj. (withdrawn).

[992] _have_] _a_ (Q₁) Q₂ Q₃.

[993] _offal: bloody,_] _offall: bloudy,_ Q₆. _offall, bloody,_ Q₂ Q₃ Q₄ Q₅. _offall, bloudy: a_ Ff (_bloody:_ F₃ F₄).

[994] _Remorseless ... villain!_] Omitted by Jennens.

[995] _O, vengeance!_] Omitted in Qq.

[996] _Why,_] _Why_ Qq. _Who?_ Ff. om. Knight.

_This_] Qq. _I sure, this_ Ff.

[997] _a dear father murder'd_] _a dear father murther'd_ Capell. _a deere murthered_ Q₂ Q₃. _a deere father murthered_ Q₄ Q₅. _a deare father murthered_ Q₆. _the deere murthered_ Ff (_dear_ F₃ F₄).

[998] _And fall ... play_] Arranged as in Capell. Three lines, ending _foh ... heard ... play,_ in Qq. Three lines, ending _drab, ... braine ... play,_ in Ff. Four lines, ending _drab, ... foh!... heard, ... play,_ in Johnson.

[999] _drab, A scullion_] Ff. _drabbe; a stallyon_ Q₂ Q₃. _drabbe; a stallion_ Q₄. _drabbe; stallion_ Q₅. _drabbe, stallion_ Q₆. _drab--A stallion_ Pope. _drab--A cullion_ Theobald.

[1000] _About, my brain!_] _About my braine,_ (Q₁). _About my braine._ Ff (_brain._ F₃ F₄). _About my braines;_ Q₂ Q₃. _About my braines,_ Q₄ Q₅ Q₆. _about my brain--_ Pope (ed. 1). _about my brain!--_ Pope (ed. 2). _about, my brain!--_ Theobald. _about 't my brains!_ Hunter conj. See note (XV).

_Hum_] Qq. om. Ff.

_I have_] _I've_ Pope.

[1001] _sitting_] om. Pope.

[1002] _struck so to_] F₃ F₄. _strooke so to_ Qq F₁ F₂. _struck unto_ Rowe (ed. 2).

[1003] _I'll have these players_] _I'll observe his looks,_ Pope (ed. 1), corrected in ed. 2.

[1004] _tent_] Qq F₁. _rent_ F₂ F₃ F₄.

_he but_] Ff. _a doe_ Qq. _he do_ Q (1676) and Capell.

_blench_] _blink_ Taylor conj. MS. _bleach_ Anon. conj.

[1005] _The_] _This_ Johnson.

[1006] _be the devil_] F₃ F₄. _be the divell_ (Q₁) F₁ F₂. _be a deale_ Q₂ Q₃. _be a divell_ Q₄ Q₅ Q₆.

_and the devil_] _and the deale_ Q₂ Q₃.