Hor. So have I heard, and do in part believe it. But, look, the morn, in russet mantle clad, Walks o'er the dew of yon high eastern hill: Break we our watch up; and, by my advice, Let us impart what we have seen to-night Unto young Hamlet: for, upon my life, This spirit, dumb to us, will speak to him: Do you consent we shall acquaint him with it, As needful in our loves, fitting our duty? Mar. Let's do't, I pray; and I this morning know Where we shall find him most convenient. SCENE II. [Exeunt. The same. A Room of State in the same. Enter the King, Queen, HAMLET, POLONIUS, LAERTES, VOLTIMAND, CORNELIUS, Lords, and Attendants. King. Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother's The death memory be green; and that it us befitted To bear our hearts in grief, and our whole kingdom To be contracted in one brow of woe; Yet so far hath discretion fought with nature, Now follows, that you know, young Fortinbras,Holding a weak supposal of our worth; Or thinking, by our late dear brother's death, Our state to be disjoint and out of frame, Colleagued with this dream of his advantage,2 He hath not fail'd to pester us with message, Importing the surrender of those lands Lost by his father, with all bands of law, To our most valiant brother.-So much for him. Now for ourself, and for this time of meeting. Thus much the business is: We have here writ To Norway, uncle of young Fortinbras,— Who, impotent and bed-rid, scarcely hears Of this his nephew's purpose, to suppress His further gait herein; in that the levies, The lists, and full proportions, are all made Out of his subject:-and we here despatch You, good Cornelius, and you, Voltimand, For bearers of this greeting to old Norway; Giving to you no further personal power To business with the king, more than the scope* Of these dilated articles allow. Farewell; and let your haste commend your duty. Cor. Vol. In that, and all things, will we show our duty. King. We doubt it nothing; heartily farewell. [Exeunt VOLTIMAND and CORNElius. Colleagued with this dream of his advantage,] This imaginary advantage, which Fortinbras hoped to derive from the unsettled state of the kingdom. 3 to suppress His further gait herein,] Gate or gait is here used in the northern sense, for proceeding, passage; from the A. S. verb gae. A gate for a path, passage, or street, is still current in the north. more than the scope-] More is comprized in the general design of these articles, which you may explain in a more diffused and dilated style. 4 dilated articles, &c.] i. e. the articles when dilated. And now, Laertes, what's the news with you? And lose your voice: What would'st thou beg, That shall not be my offer, not thy asking? Laer. My thoughts and wishes bend again toward France, And bow them to your gracious leave and pardon. King. Have you your father's leave? What says Polonius? Pol. He hath, my lord, wrung from me my slow leave, By laboursome petition; and, at last, King. Take thy fair hour, Laertes; time be thine, [Aside. King. How is it that the clouds still hang on you? Ham. Not so, my lord, I am too much i'the sun. Queen. Good Hamlet, cast thy nighted colour off, Ham. A little more than kin, and less than kind.] A little more than kin, is a little more than a common relation. The king was certainly something less than kind, by having betrayed the mother of Hamlet into an indecent and incestuous marriage, and obtained the crown by means which he suspects to be unjustifiable. And let thine eye look like a friend on Denmark. Seek for thy noble father in the dust: Thou know'st, 'tis common; all, that live, must die, Passing through nature to eternity. Ham. Ay, madam, it is common. Queen. Why seems it so particular with thee? If it be, Ham. Seems, madam! nay, it is; I know not seems. 'Tis not alone my inky cloak, good mother, To give these mourning duties to your father: To do obsequious sorrow: But to perséver 8 7 railed lids-] With lowering eyes, cast down eyes. obsequious sorrow:] Obsequious is here from obsequies, or funeral ceremonies. 9 In obstinate condolement,] Condolement, for sorrow. a will most incorrect-] i. e. ill-regulated, not sufficiently regulated by a sense of duty and submission to the dispensations of Providence. An understanding simple and unschool'd: Queen. Let not thy mother lose her prayers, I pray thee, stay with us, go not to Wittenberg. 2 To reason most absurd;] Reason is here used in its common sense, for the faculty by which we form conclusions from argu ments. And, with no less nobility of love,] Eminence and distinction of love. bend you to remain-] i, e. subdue your inclination to go from hence, and remain, &c. |