Enter Rofincroffe and Guildenstern. Ham. Oh, ha! come fome mufick. Come the recorders. For if the King like not the comedy; Why then belike he likes it not perdy. Come, fome musick. Guil. Good my lord, vouchfafe me a word with you. Ham. Sir, a whole hiftory. Guil. The King, Sir Ham. Ay Sir, what of him? Guil. Is in his retirement, marvellous distemper'd --- Guil. No, my lord, with choler. Ham. Your wifdom fhould fhew it felf more rich to fignifie this to his doctor: for me to put him to his purgation, would perhaps plunge him into more choler. Guil. Good my lord, put your discourse into some frame, and ftart not fo wildly from my affair. Ham. I am tame, Sir, pronounce. Guil. The Queen your mother, in most great affliction of spirit, hath fent me to you. Ham. You are welcome. Guil. Nay, good my lord, this courtefie is not of the right breed. If it fhall please you to make me a wholfom answer, I will do your mother's commandment; if not, your pardon, and my return fhall be the end of my business. Ham. Sir, I cannot. Guil. What, my lord? Ham. Make you a wholfom anfwer: my wit's diseas'd. But, Sir, such answers as I can make, you shall command; or rather you fay, my mother therefore no more but to the matter -- my mother, you say Rof. Rof. Then thus fhe fays; your behaviour hath struck her into amazement, and admiration. Ham. Oh wonderful fon, that can so astonish a mother. But is there no fequel at the heels of this mother-admiration? Rof. She defires to speak with you in her closet ere you go to bed. Ham. We fhall obey, were the ten times our mother. Have you any further trade with us? Rof. My lord, you once did love me. Ham. So I do still, by these pickers and stealers. Rof. Good my lord, what is your cause of distemper? you do furely bar the door of your own liberty, if you deny your griefs friend. to your Ham. Sir, I lack advancement. Rof. How can that be, when you have the voice of the King himself, for your fucceffion in Denmark? Ham. Ay, but while the grafs grows ---- the proverb is fomething musty. Enter one with a Recorder. Oh the recorders, let me fee one. To withdraw with youwhy do you go about to recover the wind of me, as if you would drive me into a toil? Guil. Oh my lord, if my duty be too bold, my love is too unmannerly. Ham. I do not well understand that. this pipe? Gail. My lord, I cannot. Ham. I pray you. Guil. Believe me, I cannot. Ham. I do befeech you. Guil. I know no touch of it, my lord. Will you play upon Ham. 'Tis as easie as lying; govern these ventiges with your fin fingers and thumb, give it breath with your mouth, and it will difcourfe most eloquent mufick. Look you, these are the stops. Guil. But these cannot I command to any utterance of harmony, I have not the skill. Ham. Why look you now, how unworthy a thing you make of me; you would play upon me, you would feem to know my ftops; you would pluck out the heart of my myftery, you would found me from my lowest note, to the top of my compass; and there is much mufick, excellent voice, in this little organ, yet cannot you make it speak. Why do you think that I am easier to be plaid on than a pipe? call me what inftrument you will, though you can fret me, you cannot play upon me. God blefs you, Sir. Enter Polonius. Pol. My lord, the Queen would speak with you, and presently. Ham. Do you fee yonder cloud, that's almost in shape of a Camel? Pol. By the mafs, and it's like a Camel indeed. Ham. Methinks it is like an † Ouzle. Pol. It is black like an Ouzle. Ham. Or like a Whale? Pol. Very like a Whale. Ham. Then will I come to my mother by and by; me to the top of my bent. I will come by and by. friends. I will fay fo. By and by is easily said. 'Tis now the very witching time of night, When church-yards yawn, they fool Leave me [Exeunt. and hell it felf breaths out Contagion to this world. Now could I drink hot blood, Would quake to look on. Soft, now to my mother Oh heart, lose not thy nature; let not ever The An Ouzle or Blackbird: it has been printed by mistake a Weesel, which is not black. The foul of Nero enter this firm bofom; I will speak daggers to her, but use none. [Exit. Enter King, Rofincroffe, and Guildenstern. King. I like him not, nor ftands it safe with us Guild. We will provide our felves; Ros. The single and peculiar life is bound Attends the boiftrous ruin. 4 Ne'er alone Did the King figh, but with a general groan. King. Arm you, I pray you, to this speedy voyage; G gg • Spirit For For we will fetters put upon this fear, Both. We will hafte us. Enter Polonius. [Exeunt Gent. Pol. My lord, he's going to his mother's closet; Behind the arras I'll convey my self To hear the process. I'll warrant she'll tax him home. And as you faid, and wifely was it faid, 'Tis meet that fome more audience than a mother, (Since nature makes them partial,) fhould o'er-hear The speech of vantage. I'll call upon you ere you go to bed, Fare you well my liege, [Exit. And tell you what I know. King. Thanks, dear my lord. 'Oh my offence is rank, it smells to heav'n, ' And what's in prayer, but this two-fold force, Or pardon'd being down? then I'll look up. My fault is paft. But oh what form of prayer "Can serve my turn; Forgive me my foul murther! • That cannot be, fince I am ftill possest 'Of |