The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark Part 32

Get from him why he puts on[2] this Confusion: Grating so harshly all his dayes of quiet With turbulent and dangerous Lunacy.

_Rosin._ He does confesse he feeles himselfe distracted, [Sidenote: 92] But from what cause he will by no meanes speake.

[Sidenote: a will]

_Guil._ Nor do we finde him forward to be sounded, But with a crafty Madnesse[3] keepes aloofe: When we would bring him on to some Confession Of his true state.

_Qu._ Did he receiue you well?

_Rosin._ Most like a Gentleman.

_Guild._ But with much forcing of his disposition.[4]

_Rosin._ n.i.g.g.ard of question, but of our demands Most free in his reply.[5]

_Qu._ Did you a.s.say him to any pastime?

_Rosin._ Madam, it so fell out, that certaine Players We ore-wrought on the way: of these we told him, [Sidenote: ore-raught[6]]

And there did seeme in him a kinde of ioy To heare of it: They are about the Court, [Sidenote: are heere about]

And (as I thinke) they haue already order This night to play before him.

_Pol._ 'Tis most true; And he beseech'd me to intreate your Majesties To heare, and see the matter.

_King._ With all my heart, and it doth much content me To heare him so inclin'd. Good Gentlemen,

[Footnote 1: This may be regarded as the commencement of the Third Act.]

[Footnote 2: The phrase seems to imply a doubt of the genuineness of the lunacy.]

[Footnote 3: _Nominative p.r.o.noun omitted here._]

[Footnote 4: He has noted, without understanding them, the signs of Hamlet's suspicion of themselves.]

[Footnote 5: Compare the seemingly opposite statements of the two: Hamlet had bewildered them.]

[Foonote 6: _over-reached_--came up with, caught up, overtook.]

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Giue him a further edge,[1] and driue his purpose on [Sidenote: purpose into these]

To these delights.

_Rosin._ We shall my Lord. _Exeunt._ [Sidenote: _Exeunt Ros. & Guyl._]

_King._ Sweet Gertrude leaue vs too, [Sidenote: Gertrard two]

For we haue closely sent for _Hamlet_ hither, [Sidenote: 84] That he, as 'twere by accident, may there [Sidenote: heere]

Affront[2] _Ophelia_. Her Father, and my selfe[3] (lawful espials)[4]

Will so bestow our selues, that seeing vnseene We may of their encounter frankely iudge, And gather by him, as he is behaued, If't be th'affliction of his loue, or no, That thus he suffers for.

_Qu._ I shall obey you, And for your part _Ophelia_,[5] I do wish That your good Beauties be the happy cause Of _Hamlets_ wildenesse: so shall I hope your Vertues [Sidenote: 240] Will bring him to his wonted way againe, To both your Honors.[6]

_Ophe._ Madam, I wish it may.

_Pol. Ophelia_, walke you heere. Gracious so please ye[7]

[Sidenote: you,]

We will bestow our selues: Reade on this booke,[8]

That shew of such an exercise may colour Your lonelinesse.[9] We are oft too blame in this,[10]

[Sidenote: lowlines:]

'Tis too much prou'd, that with Deuotions visage, And pious Action, we do surge o're [Sidenote: sugar]

The diuell himselfe.

[Sidenote: 161] _King._ Oh 'tis true: [Sidenote: tis too true]

How smart a lash that speech doth giue my Conscience?

The Harlots Cheeke beautied with plaist'ring Art Is not more vgly to the thing that helpes it,[11]

Then is my deede, to my most painted word.[12]

Oh heauie burthen![13]

[Footnote 1: '_edge_ him on'--somehow corrupted into _egg_.]

[Footnote 2: _confront_.]

[Footnote 3: _Clause in parenthesis not in Q._]

[Footnote 4: --apologetic to the queen.]

[Footnote 5: --_going up to Ophelia_--I would say, who stands at a little distance, and has not heard what has been pa.s.sing between them.]

[Footnote 6: The queen encourages Ophelia in hoping to marry Hamlet, and may so have a share in causing a certain turn her madness takes.]

[Footnote 7: --_aside to the king_.]

[Footnote 8: --_to Ophelia:_ her prayer-book. 122.]

[Footnote 9: _1st Q._

And here _Ofelia_, reade you on this booke, And walke aloofe, the King shal be vnseene.]

[Footnote 10: --_aside to the king._ I insert these _asides_, and suggest the queen's going up to Ophelia, to show how we may easily hold Ophelia ignorant of their plot. Poor creature as she was, I would believe Shakspere did not mean her to lie to Hamlet. This may be why he omitted that part of her father's speech in the _1st Q._ given in the note immediately above, telling her the king is going to hide. Still, it would be excuse enough for _her_, that she thought his madness justified the deception.]

[Footnote 11: --ugly to the paint that helps by hiding it--to which it lies so close, and from which it has no secrets. Or, 'ugly to' may mean, 'ugly _compared with_.']

[Footnote 12: 'most painted'--_very much painted_. His painted word is the paint to the deed. _Painted_ may be taken for _full of paint_.]

[Footnote 13: This speech of the king is the first _a.s.surance_ we have of his guilt.]

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_Pol._ I heare him comming, let's withdraw my Lord.

[Sidenote: comming, with-draw]

_Exeunt._[1]