Enter HAMLET. Ham. Now might I do it pat, now he is praying, And now I'll do't—and so he goes to heaven. And so am I revenged? that would be scanned; I, his sole son, do this same villain send With all his crimes broad blown, as flush as May; t; Then trip him, that his heels may kick at heaven; And that his soul may be as damn'd and black As hell, whereto it goes. My mother stays; This physic but prolongs thy sickly days. [Exit. The King rises, and comes forward. King. My words fly up, my thoughts remain below. [Exit. Words, without thoughts, never to Heaven go. SCENE changes to the Queen's Apartment. Enter Queen and POLONIUS. Pol. He will come straight; look you lay home to him: [with; Tell him, his pranks have been too broad to bear And that your Grace hath screened, and stood between Much heat and him. I'll silence me e'en here; Pray you, be round with him. Ham. [within.] Mother, mother, mother.―― Queen. I'll warrant you, fear me not, Withdraw, I hear him coming. [Polonius hides himself behind the Arras. Ham. Now, mother, what's the matter? fended? [fended. Ham. Mother, you have my father much ofQueen. Come, come, you answer with an idle tongue. Ham. Go, go, you question with a wicked Queen. Why, how now, Hamlet? Queen. Have you forgot me? Ham. No, by the rood, not so; [tongue. You are the Queen, your husband's brother's wife, But 'would you were not so!-You are my mother. Queen. Nay, then I'll set those to you that can speak. shall [not budge: Ham. Come, come, and sit you down; you You go not, 'till I set you up a glass (58) Where you may see the inmost part of you. Queen. What wilt thou do? thou wilt not Help, ho. [murder me? Pol. What ho, help. [Behind the Arras. Ham. How now, a rat? dead for a ducat, dead. Pol. Oh, I am slain. [Hamlet kills Polonius. Queen. Oh me, what hast thou done? Ham. Nay, I know not: is it the King? Queen. Oh, 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, 'twas my word.— Thou wretched, rash, intruding fool, farewel, [To Polonius. (58) The face of the queen in the moon is like a looking-glass with reflected shadows in it: there may be also an allusion here to the moon itself being only a mirror of the sun. The old theatrical motto, veluti in speculum, might have been intended to put the spectators in mind that the characters of many plays are drawn from, or connected with, appearances in the moon. I took thee for thy betters; take thy fortune; Thou findest, to be too busy, is some danger. Leave wringing of your hands; peace, sit you down, And let me wring your heart, for so I shall, If damned custom have not brazed it so, Queen. What have I done, that thou darest wag In noise so rude against me? Ham. Such an act, [thy tongue That blurs the grace and blush of modesty; The very soul, and sweet religion makes With tristful visage, as against the doom, Queen. Ay me! what act, That roars so loud, and thunders in the index ? An eye like Mars, to threaten or command; This was your husband.-Look you now, what fol- The hey-day in the blood is tame, it's humble, And waits upon the judgment; and what judgment Would step from this to this? Sense, sure, you have, Else could you not have motion: but, sure, that But it reserved some quantity of choice O shame! where is thy blush? rebellious hell, |