Our fovereign procefs, which imports at full, The prefent death of Ham'et. Do it, England: [Exit. SCENE A Camp, on the Frontiers of Denmark, For. Enter Fortinbras, with an Army. GO, Captain, from me, greet the Danish King, Tell him, that, by his licence, Fortinbras Capt. I will do't, my Lord. For. Go foftly on. [Exit Fortinbras, with the Army. Enter Hamlet, Rofincrantz, Guildenstern, &c., Ham. Good Sir, whofe powers are these? Capt. They are of Norway, Sir. Ham. How purpos'd, Sir, I pray you? Ham. Who commands them, Sir? Capt. The nephew of old Norway, Fortinbras. Ham. Goes it against the main of Poland, tir, Or for fome frontier ? Capt. Truly to speak it, and with no addition, to him. But what then shall we do with our own home chronicles? They are exprefs, that the Danes never fet footing on our coaft till the 8th century. They infefted us for fome time in a piratical way, then made a descent and conquer'd part of the country and about the year 800, King Egbert is faid to have fubmitted to a tribute, call'd Dane gelt: a tax of 12 d. on every hide of land through the whole nation. But our authors differ about this Dane-gelt: whether it was a tax paid, to obtain good terms of the Dans; or levied by our Kings towards the charge of defences, to repel the invafions of the Danes. We go to gain a little patch of ground, H.m. Why, then the Polack never will defend it. [cats, Ham. Two thousand fouls, and twenty thousand du Will not debate the question of this straw; This is th' impofthume of much wealth and peace, Ref. Will't please you go, my Lord ? Ham. I'll be with you ftrait, go a little before. Manet Hamlet. [Excunt. How all occafions do inform against me, That capability and god-like reafon To raft in us unus'd. Now whether it be Of thinking too precifely on th' event, (A thought, which, quarter'd, hath but one part wisdom, (58) Sure, he that made us with fuch large discourse, Looking before and after.] This is an expreffion purely Homeric ; Ος δ' ὁ γέρων μετῃσιν, ἅ μα ΠΡΟΣΣΩ ΚΑΙ ΟΠΙΣΣΩ, Λετίσσει, And again; - ὁ ἀς διο "ρα ΠΡΟΣΣΩ ΤΑ ΟΠΙΣΣΩ. Iliad. y. ver. 1cg. Iliad.o. ver.250. The bort fcholiaft on the laft paffage gives us a comment, that very aptly explains our Author's phrafe. Duvet jag dideós égi, tà ménkovla τοῖς γεγενημένοις αρμόζεσθαι, καὶ ὅτως ὁρᾶν τα επόμενα, " For it is the part of an understanding man to connect the reflection of events to come with fuch as have pafs'd, and fo to foresee what shall follow." This is, as our Author phrafes it, locking BEFORE and AFTER. And ever three parts coward:) I do not know Sith I have cause, and will, and strength, and means To all that fortune, death, and danger dare, Go to their graves like beds; fight for a plot, SCENE changes to a Palace. Enter Queen, Horatio, and a Gentleman. 2.een. I Will not speak with her. Gent. She is importunate, Indeed, diftract; her mood will needs be pitied. (Exita Gent. She fpeaks much of her father; fays, fhe hears, There's tricks i'th' world; and hems, and beats her heart; Spurns enviously at straws; speaks things in doubt, That carry but half fenfe; her speech is nothing, Yet the unfhaped use of it doth move The hearers to collection; they aim at it, And botch the words up fit to their own thoughts; 7 Which ་ Which as her winks, and nods, and geftures yield them, Queen. To my fick foul, as fin's true nature is, It fpills itself, in fearing to be fpilt. Enter Ophelia, distracted. Oph. Where is the beauteous Majesty of Denmark ? Oph. How Should I your true love know from another one? By his cockle bat and ftaf, and his fandal fboon. [Singing. Queen. Alas, fweet lady; what imports this fong? Oph. Say you? nay, pray you, mark. He's dead and gone, lady, he is dead and gone; Queen. Nay, but Ophelia Oph. Pray you, mark. White his froud as the mountain fnow. King. How do ye, pretty lady? Oph. Well, God yield you! they fay, the owl was a baker's daughter. Lord, we know what we are, but know not what we may be. God be at your table! (59) King (59) Well, God dild you!] i. e. Heaven reward you. We meet with this expreffion a little otherwife writ in Macbe.b; -Herein I teach you How you should bid God eyld us for our pains, And thank us for your trouble. But, King. Conceit upon her father. Oph. Pray, let us have no words of this; but when they ask you what it means, fay you this: To-morrow is St. Valentine's day, all in the morn betime, Aid I a maid at jour window, to be your Valentine. Then up he rofe, and don'd his clouths, and dupt the chamber door; Let in the maid, that out a maid never departed more. Oph. Indeed, without an oath, I'll make an end on't. By Gis, and by S. Charity, Young men will do't, if they come 10'!, Quoth fhe, before you tumble me, You promis'd me to wed: So would I ha' done, by yonder Jun, King. How long has he been thus ? Oph. I hope, all will be well. We must be patient; but I cannot chufe but weep, to think, they fhould lay him i'th' cold ground; my brother fhall know of it, and fo I thank you for your good counfel. Come, my coach; good night, ladies; good night, fweet ladies; good night, good night. [Exit. King. Follow her clofe, give her good watch, I pray [Exit Horatio. This is the poifon of deep grief; it fprings you; All from her father's death. O Gertrude, Gertrude! But, in Antony, we have the phrafe in plain and genuine Engis. And the Gods yield you for't! So, Sir John Grey in a letter, in Ashmole's Appendix to his account of the Garter, Numb. 46. The King of his gracious Lordthipe, God yield him, hafe chosen me to be owne of his brethrene of the Knights of the Gartier. |