Up, sword;, and know thou a more horrid hent. Then trip him, that his heels may kick at heaven, The King rises and advances. King. My words fly up, my thoughts remain below: Words without thoughts never to heaven go. SCENE IV. A Room in the Same. Enter Queen and POLONIUS. [Exit. [Exit. Pol. He will come straight. Look, you lay home to him; Tell him, his pranks have been too broad to bear with, And that your grace hath screen'd and stood between Pray you, be round with him. Ham. [Within.] Mother, mother, mother! Fear me not: - withdraw, I hear him coming. Enter HAMLet. I'll warrant you; [POLONIUS hides himself. Ham. Now, mother! what's the matter? Queen. Hamlet, thou hast thy father much offended. Ham. Queen. Have you forgot me? What's the matter now? Ham. No, by the rood, not so: You are the queen, your husband's brother's wife; And, would it were not so! — you are my mother. Queen. Nay then, I'll set those to you that can speak. Ham. Come, come, and sit you down; you shall not budge: You go not, till I set you up a glass Where you may see the inmost part of you. Queen. What wilt thou do? thou wilt not murder me. Help, help, ho! Pol. [Behind.] What, ho! help! help! help! Ham. How now! a rat? [Draws.] Dead for a ducat, dead. [HAMLET makes a pass through the Arras. Pol. [Behind.] O! I am slain. Queen. Ham. [Falls and dies. O me! what hast thou done? Nay, I know not: Is it the king? [Lifts up the Arras, and draws forth POLONIUS. Queen. O, what a rash and bloody deed is this! Ham. A bloody deed; almost as bad, good mother, As kill a king, and marry with his brother. Queen. As kill a king! Ham. Ay, lady, 't was my word. Thou wretched, rash, intruding fool, farewell. I took thee for thy better; take thy fortune: Thou find'st to be too busy is some danger. [TO POLONIUS. Leave wringing of your hands. Peace! sit you down, If it be made of penetrable stuff; If damned custom have not braz'd it so, That it is proof and bulwark against sense. Queen. What have I done, that thou dar'st wag thy tongue In noise so rude against me? Ham. As from the body of contraction plucks Queen. Ah me! what act, That roars so loud, and thunders in the index? Ham. Look here, upon this picture, and on this; This was your husband: look you now, what follows. To serve in such a difference. What devil was 't, Or but a sickly part of one true sense Could not so mope. O shame! where is thy blush? Rebellious hell, And reason panders will. Queen. O Hamlet! speak no more! Thou turn'st mine eyes into my very soul; And there I see such black and grained spots, In the rank sweat of an enseamed bed; Stew'd in corruption; honeying, and making love Over the nasty stye; Queen. O, speak to me no more! These words, like daggers enter in mine ears: Ham. A murderer, and a villain; A slave, that is not twentieth part the tithe Ham. A king of shreds and patches. Save me, and hover o'er me with your wings, You heavenly guards! - What would you, gracious figure? Queen. Alas! he's mad. Ham. Do you not come your tardy son to chide, That, laps'd in time and passion, lets go by Th' important acting of your dread command? 0, say! Ghost. Do not forget. This visitation Is but to whet thy almost blunted purpose. But, look! amazement on thy mother sits; Ham. How is it with you, lady? Queen. Alas! how is 't with you, Ham. On him, on him! Look you, how pale he glares! My stern effects: then, what I have to do Will want true colour; tears, perchance, for blood. Queen. Do you see nothing there? No, nothing but ourselves. Ham. Why, look you there! look, how it steals away! My father, in his habit as he liv'd! Look, where he goes, even now, out at the portal! Queen. This is the very coinage of your brain: This bodily creation ecstasy Is very cunning in. Ham. Ecstasy! My pulse, as yours, doth temperately keep time, And makes as healthful music. It is not madness, And I the matter will re-word, which madness [Exit Ghost. |