"For out o' doors he went without their help, And, to the last, bended their light on me. Pol. Come, go with me, I will go seek the King. This is the very ecstasy of love; Whofe violent property forgoes itself, And leads the will to defp'rate undertakings, That does afflict our natures. I am forry; What, have you giv'n him any hard words of late? Oph. No, my good lord; but, as you did com· mand, I did repel his letters, and deny'd His access to me. Pol. That hath made him mad. I'm forry, that with better speed and judgment To caft beyond ourselves in our opinions, As it is common for the younger fort To lack difcretion. Come; go we to the King. This must be known; which, being kept close, might move More grief to hide, than hate to utter love. [Exeunt. Enter King, Queen, Rofincrantz, Guildenftern, Lords, King⋅ WE and other Attendants. ELCOME, dear Rofincrantz, and Guil- Moreover that we much did long to fee you, Our hafty fending. Something you have heard Of Hamlet's transformation; fo I call it, Since not th' exterior, nor the inward man I cannot dream of. I entreat you Both, That being of fo young days brought up with him, To draw him on to pleasures, and to gather, Queen. Good gentlemen, he hath much talk'd of you; And, fure I am, two men there are not living, Rof. Both your Majesties Might, by the fov'reign power you have of us, dread pleasures more into command Put your Than to entreaty. Guil. But we both obey, And here give up ourselves, in the full bent, King. Thanks, Rofincrantz, and gentle Guildenftern. Queen. Thanks, Guildenstern, and gentle Rosincrantz. And, I beseech you, inftantly to visit ye, My too much changed fon. Go fome of Guil. Heav'ns make our prefence and our practices Pleafant and helpful to him! [Exeunt Rof. and Guil. Queen. Amen. Enter Enter Polonius. Pol. Th' ambaffadors from Norway, my good Lord, Are joyfully return'd. King. Thou ftill haft been the father of good news. Pol. Have I, my lord? affure you, my good liege, I hold my duty, as I hold my foul, Both to my God, and to my gracious King; As I have us'd to do) that I have found King. Oh, speak of that, that do I long to hear. [Exit Pol. He tells me, my fweet Queen, that he hath found The head and fource of all your fon's diftemper. Queen. I doubt, it is no other but the main, His father's death, and our o'er-hafty marriage. Re-enter Polonius, with Voltimand, and Cornelius 7ELL, we fhall fift him.-Welcome, my good friends! King. WELL, Say, Voltimand, what from our brother Norway? M 2 Receives Receives rebuke from Norway; and, in fine, King. It likes us well; And at our more confider'd time we'll read, Mean time, we thank you for your well-took labour. Moft welcome home! Pol. This bufinefs is well ended. My Liege, and Madam, to expoftulate What Majefty fhould be, what duty is, [Exit Embal Why day is day, night night, and time is time, And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes, Queen. More matter, with lefs art. Pol. Madam, I swear, I use no art at all :— Thus Thus it remains, and the remainder thus.-Per pend. I have a daughter; have, whilst she is mine; Hath giv'n me this; now gather, and surmise. [He opens a letter, and reads.] To the celestial, and my foul's idol, the most beatified Ophelia. That's an ill phrafe, a vile phrafe: beatified is a vile phrafe; but you fhall hear- -Thefe to her excellent white bofom, thefe.- Queen. Came this from Hamlet to her? Pol. Good Madam, stay a while, I will be faithful. Doubt thou, the ftars are fire, Doubt, that the Sun doth move;. But never doubt, I love. [Reading. Oh, dear Ophelia, I am ill at these numbers; I have not art to reckon my groans; but that I love thee beft, oh mof best, believe it. Adieu. Thine evermore, moft dear Lady, whilst this Machine is to him, Hamlets This in obedience hath my daughter fhewn me: As they fell out by time, by means, and place, King. But how hath fhe receiv'd'his love? King. As of a man, faithful and honourable. Pol. I would fain prove fo. But what might you think? When I had feen this hot love on the wing, (As I perceiv'd it, I muft tell you that, Before my daughter told me:) what might you, M 13. Or |