As it is common for the younger sort

To lack discretion. 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.

SCENE II. A Room in the Castle

Enter KING, QUEEN, ROSENCRANTZ, GUILDENSTERN, and Attendants

King. Welcome, dear Rosencrantz and Guildenstern°! Moreover that we much did long to see you, The need we have to use you did provoke Our hasty sending. Something have you heard Of Hamlet's transformation; so I call it, Sith nor the exterior nor the inward man Resembles that it was. What it should be,°

More than his father's death, that thus hath put him So much from the understanding of himself,

I cannot dream of. I entreat you both,

That, being of so young days brought up with him, And since so neighbour'd to° his youth and humour,° That you vouchsafe your rest° here in our court Some little time: so by your companies

E

5

ΙΟ

To draw him on to pleasures, and to gather,
So much as from occasion you may glean,
Whether aught, to us unknown, afflicts him thus,
That, open'd, lies within our remedy.

15

Queen. Good gentlemen, he hath much talk'd of you, And sure I am two men there are not living

To whom he more adheres. If it will please you
To show us so much gentry° and good will

As to expend your time with us awhile,
For the supply and profit° of our hope,
Your visitation° shall receive such thanks
As fits a king's remembrance.

Rosencrantz.

Both your majesties

Might, by the sovereign power you have of us,°
Put your dread pleasures more into command

Than to entreaty.

Guildenstern.

But we both obey,

And here give up ourselves, in the full bent°
To lay our service freely at your feet,

To be commanded.

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King. Thanks, Rosencrantz and gentle Guildenstern.

Queen. Thanks, Guildenstern and gentle Rosen

crantz;

And I beseech you instantly to visit

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My too much changed son.

Go, some of you,

And bring these gentlemen where Hamlet is.

Guildenstern. Heavens make our presence and our

King. Thou still hast been the father of good news. Polonius. Have I, my lord? Assure you, my good liege,

I hold my duty, as I hold my soul,

Both to my God and to my gracious king;
And I do think, or else this brain of mine
Hunts not the trail° of policy so sure
As it hath us'd to do, that I have found
The very cause of Hamlet's lunacy.

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King. O, speak of that; that do I long to hear. 50 Polonius. Give first admittance to the ambassadors; My news shall be the fruit to that great feast.

King. Thyself do grace to them, and bring them in. [Exit POLONIUS.

He tells me, my sweet Queen, that he hath found
The head and source of all your son's distemper.

Queen. I doubt it is no other but the main,-
His father's death, and our o'erhasty marriage.
King. Well, we shall sift him.

55

Reënter POLONIUS, with VOLTIMAND and CORNELIUS Welcome, my good friends!

Say, Voltimand, what from our brother Norway?

Voltimand. Most fair return of greetings and

desires.°

Upon our first, he sent out to suppress

His nephew's levies; which to him appear'd
To be a preparation 'gainst the Polack;
But, better look'd into, he truly found°

It was against your highness: whereat grieved,
That so his sickness, age and impotence
Was falsely borne in hand,° sends out arrests
On Fortinbras; which he, in brief, obeys;
Receives rebuke from Norway, and in fine
Makes vow before his uncle never more
To give th' assay° of arms against your majesty.
Whereon old Norway, overcome with joy,

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Gives him three thousand crowns in annual fee,
And his commission to employ those soldiers,
So levi'd as before, against the Polack;
With an entreaty, herein further shown,

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[Giving a paper.

That it might please you to give quiet pass
Through your dominions for this enterprise,
On such regards of safety and allowance
As therein are set down.

King.

It likes us well;

And at our more consider'd° time we'll read,
Answer, and think upon this business.

Meantime we thank you for your well-took labour.
Go to your rest; at night we'll feast together.

Most welcome home!

Polonius.

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[Exeunt VOLTIMAND and CORNELIUS.
This business is well ended. 85

My liege, and madam, to expostulate°
What majesty should be, what duty is,
Why day is day, night night, and time is time,
Were nothing but to waste night, day and time.
Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit,°
And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes,
I will be brief: your noble son is mad; -
Mad call I it; for, to define true madness,

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