Act 2 — Scene II. A room in the castle.

King. Welcome, dear Rosencrantz and Guildenstern![640][641] 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[642] Of Hamlet's transformation; so call it,[643] 5 Sith nor the exterior nor the inward man[644] Resembles that it was. What it should be, More than his father's death, that thus hath put him So much from th' understanding of himself, I cannot dream of: I entreat you both,[645] 10 That, being of so young days brought up with him And sith so neighbour'd to his youth and haviour,[646] That you vouchsafe your rest here in our court Some little time: so by your companies To draw him on to pleasures, and to gather 15 So much as from occasion you may glean,[647] Whether aught to us unknown afflicts him thus,[648] That open'd lies within our remedy.[649] Queen. Good gentlemen, he hath much talk'd of you, And sure I am two men there are not living[650] 20 To whom he more adheres. If it will please you To show us so much gentry and good will[651] As to expend your time with us awhile[652] For the supply and profit of our hope, Your visitation shall receive such thanks[653] 25 As fits a king's remembrance. Ros. Both your majesties Might, by the sovereign power you have of us,[654] Put your dread pleasures more into command Than to entreaty. Guil. But we both obey,[655] And here give up ourselves, in the full bent 30 To lay our service freely at your feet,[656] To be commanded.[657] King. Thanks, Rosencrantz and gentle Guildenstern.[640][641] Queen. Thanks, Guildenstern and gentle Rosencrantz:[640][641] And I beseech you instantly to visit 35 My too much changed son. Go, some of you,[658] And bring these gentlemen where Hamlet is.[659] Guil. Heavens make our presence and our practices Pleasant and helpful to him! Queen. Ay, amen!

Pol. The ambassadors from Norway, my good lord, 40 Are joyfully return'd. King. Thou still hast been the father of good news. Pol. Have I, my lord? I assure my good liege,[661] I hold my duty as I hold my soul, Both to my God and to my gracious king:[662] 45 And I do think, or else this brain of mine Hunts not the trail of policy so sure[663] As it hath used to do, that I have found[664] The very cause of Hamlet's lunacy. King. O, speak of that; that do I long to hear.[665] 50 Pol. Give first admittance to the ambassadors; My news shall be the fruit to that great feast.[666] King. Thyself do grace to them, and bring them in.

He tells me, my dear Gertrude, he hath found[668] The head and source of all your son's distemper. 55 Queen. I doubt it is no other but the main; His father's death and our o'erhasty marriage.[669] King. Well, we shall sift him.

Welcome, my good friends![670] Say, Voltimand, what from our brother Norway?[671] Volt. Most fair return of greetings and desires. 60 Upon our first, he sent out to suppress His nephew's levies, which to him appear'd[672] To be a preparation 'gainst the Polack,[673] But better look'd into, he truly found It was against your highness: whereat grieved, 65 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 70 To give the assay of arms against your majesty. Whereon old Norway, overcome with joy, Gives him three thousand crowns in annual fee[674] And his commission to employ those soldiers, So levied as before, against the Polack:[673] 75 With an entreaty, herein further shown, [Giving a paper.[675] That it might please you to give quiet pass Through your dominions for this enterprise,[676] On such regards of safety and allowance As therein are set down.[677] King. It likes us well, 80 And at our more consider'd time we'll read,[678] Answer, and think upon this business.[679] Meantime we thank you for your well-took labour: Go to your rest; at night we'll feast together:[680] Most welcome home! [Exeunt Voltimand and Cornelius. Pol. This business is well ended.[681] 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[682] 90 And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes,[683] I will be brief. Your noble son is mad: Mad call I it; for, to define true madness,[684] What is't but to be nothing else but mad?[685] But let that go. Queen. More matter, with less art. 95 Pol. Madam, I swear I use no art at all. That he is mad, 'tis true: 'tis true 'tis pity,[686] And pity 'tis 'tis true: a foolish figure;[687] But farewell it, for I will use no art.[688] Mad let us grant him then: and now remains 100 That we find out the cause of this effect,[689] Or rather say, the cause of this defect, For this effect defective comes by cause: Thus it remains and the remainder thus.[690][691] Perpend.[690][692] 105 I have a daughter,—have while she is mine,—[693] Who in her duty and obedience, mark, Hath given me this: now gather and surmise. [Reads.[694] 'To the celestial, and my soul's idol, the most beautified Ophelia,'—[695] That's an ill phrase, a vile phrase; 'beautified' is a vile[696] 110 phrase: but you shall hear. Thus: [Reads.[697][698] 'In her excellent white bosom, these,' &c.[697][699] Queen. Came this from Hamlet to her? Pol. Good madam, stay awhile; I will be faithful. [Reads.[700] 'Doubt thou the stars are fire; 115 Doubt that the sun doth move; Doubt truth to be a liar; But never doubt I love. 'O dear Ophelia, I am ill at these numbers; I have not art to reckon my groans: but that I love thee best, O most 120 best, believe it. Adieu. 'Thine evermore, most dear lady, whilst this machine is to him, Hamlet.'[701] This in obedience hath my daughter shown me;[702] And more above, hath his solicitings,[703] 125 As they fell out by time, by means and place, All given to mine ear. King. But how hath she[704] Received his love?[704] Pol. What do you think of me? King. As of a man faithful and honourable. Pol. I would fain prove so. But what might you think,[705] 130 When I had seen this hot love on the wing,—[706] As I perceived it, I must tell you that, Before my daughter told me,—what might you, Or my dear majesty your queen here, think,[707] If I had play'd the desk or table-book,[708] 135 Or given my heart a winking, mute and dumb,[709] Or look'd upon this love with idle sight; What might you think? No, I went round to work, And my young mistress thus I did bespeak:[710] 'Lord Hamlet is a prince, out of thy star;[711] 140 This must not be:' and then I prescripts gave her,[712] That she should lock herself from his resort,[713] Admit no messengers, receive no tokens. Which done, she took the fruits of my advice;[714] And he repulsed, a short tale to make,[714][715] 145 Fell into a sadness, then into a fast,[716] Thence to a watch, thence into a weakness,[717][718] Thence to a lightness, and by this declension[718][719] Into the madness wherein now he raves[720] And all we mourn for.[721] 150 King. Do you think this? Queen. It may be, very like.[722] Pol. Hath there been such a time, I'ld fain know that,[723] That I have positively said ''tis so,' When it proved otherwise? King. Not that I know. Pol. [Pointing to his head and shoulder] Take this from this, if this be otherwise:[724]155 If circumstances lead me, I will find Where truth is hid, though it were hid indeed Within the centre. King. How may we try it further?[725] Pol. You know, sometimes he walks four hours together[726][727] Here in the lobby.[726] Queen. So he does, indeed.[728] 160 Pol. At such a time I'll loose my daughter to him: Be you and I behind an arras then;[729][730] Mark the encounter: if he love her not,[729] And be not from his reason fall'n thereon, Let me be no assistant for a state, 165 But keep a farm and carters.[731] King. We will try it. Queen. But look where sadly the poor wretch comes reading.[732] Pol. Away, I do beseech you, both away:[733] I'll board him presently.

O, give me leave: how does my good Lord Hamlet?[735] 170 Ham. Well, God-a-mercy. Pol. Do you know me, my lord? Ham. Excellent well; you are a fishmonger.[736] Pol. Not I, my lord. Ham. Then I would you were so honest a man. 175 Pol. Honest, my lord![737] Ham. Ay, sir; to be honest, as this world goes, is to[738] be one man picked out of ten thousand.[738][739] Pol. That's very true, my lord. Ham. For if the sun breed maggots in a dead dog,[740] 180 being a god kissing carrion—Have you a daughter?[741] Pol. I have, my lord. Ham. Let her not walk i' the sun: conception is a blessing; but as your daughter may conceive,—friend, look[742] to't. 185 Pol. [Aside] How say you by that? Still harping on[743] my daughter: yet he knew me not at first; he said I was a[743][744][745] fishmonger: he is far gone: and truly in my youth I[743][745][746][747] suffered much extremity for love; very near this. I'll[743][746][748] speak to him again. What do you read, my lord?[743][746][749] 190 Ham. Words, words, words. Pol. What is the matter, my lord?[749] Ham. Between who?[750] Pol. I mean, the matter that you read, my lord.[751] Ham. Slanders, sir: for the satirical rogue says here that[752] 195 old men have grey beards, that their faces are wrinkled, their eyes purging thick amber and plum-tree gum, and[753] that they have a plentiful lack of wit, together with most[754] weak hams: all which, sir, though I most powerfully and potently believe, yet I hold it not honesty to have it thus 200 set down; for yourself, sir, shall grow old as I am, if like a[755] crab you could go backward. Pol. [Aside] Though this be madness, yet there is[756][757][758] method in't. Will you walk out of the air, my lord?[757] Ham. Into my grave.[759] 205 Pol. Indeed, that's out of the air. [Aside] How pregnant[760][761] sometimes his replies are! a happiness that often madness[760][762] hits on, which reason and sanity could not so prosperously[760][763][764] be delivered of. I will leave him, and suddenly contrive[760][764][765][766] the means of meeting between him and my daughter. My[760][766][767] 210 honourable lord, I will most humbly take my leave of you.[760][767] Ham. You cannot, sir, take from me any thing that I[768] will more willingly part withal: except my life, except my[769][770] life, except my life.[770] Pol. Fare you well, my lord. 215 Ham. These tedious old fools!

Pol. You go to seek the Lord Hamlet; there he is.[772] Ros. [To Polonius] God save you, sir! [Exit Polonius.[773] Guil. My honoured lord![774] Ros. My most dear lord! 220 Ham. My excellent good friends! How dost thou, Guildenstern?[775] Ah, Rosencrantz! Good lads, how do you both?[776] Ros. As the indifferent children of the earth. Guil. Happy, in that we are not over-happy;[777] On Fortune's cap we are not the very button.[777][778] 225 Ham. Nor the soles of her shoe?[779] Ros. Neither, my lord. Ham. Then you live about her waist, or in the middle[780] of her favours?[781] Guil. Faith, her privates we.[782] 230 Ham. In the secret parts of Fortune? O, most true; she is a strumpet. What's the news?[783] Ros. None, my lord, but that the world's grown honest.[784] Ham. Then is doomsday near: but your news is not[785] true. Let me question more in particular: what have you,[786] 235 my good friends, deserved at the hands of Fortune, that she[786] sends you to prison hither?[786] Guil. Prison, my lord![786] Ham. Denmark's a prison.[786] Ros. Then is the world one.[786] 240 Ham. A goodly one; in which there are many confines,[786] wards and dungeons, Denmark being one o' the worst.[786][787] Ros. We think not so, my lord.[786] Ham. Why, then 'tis none to you; for there is nothing[786][788] either good or bad, but thinking makes it so: to me it is a[786][788] 245 prison.[786] Ros. Why, then your ambition makes it one; 'tis too[786] narrow for your mind.[786] Ham. O God, I could be bounded in a nut-shell and[786] count myself a king of infinite space, were it not that I[786] 250 have bad dreams.[786][789] Guil. Which dreams indeed are ambition; for the very[786] substance of the ambitious is merely the shadow of a dream.[786] Ham. A dream itself is but a shadow.[786] Ros. Truly, and I hold ambition of so airy and light a[786] 255 quality that it is but a shadow's shadow.[786] Ham. Then are our beggars bodies, and our monarchs[786] and outstretched heroes the beggars' shadows. Shall we to[786] the court? for, by my fay, I cannot reason.[786][790] Ros. Guil. We'll wait upon you.[786][791] 260 Ham. No such matter: I will not sort you with the rest[786] of my servants; for, to speak to you like an honest man, I[786] am most dreadfully attended. But, in the beaten way of[786] friendship, what make you at Elsinore?[792][793] Ros. To visit you, my lord; no other occasion. 265 Ham. Beggar that I am, I am even poor in thanks; but[794] I thank you: and sure, dear friends, my thanks are too dear a halfpenny. Were you not sent for? Is it your own[795] inclining? Is it a free visitation? Come, deal justly with me:[796] come, come; nay, speak. 270 Guil. What should we say, my lord? Ham. Why, any thing, but to the purpose. You were[797] sent for; and there is a kind of confession in your looks,[798] which your modesties have not craft enough to colour: I know the good king and queen have sent for you. 275 Ros. To what end, my lord? Ham. That you must teach me. But let me conjure you, by the rights of our fellowship, by the consonancy of our[799] youth, by the obligation of our ever-preserved love, and by[800] what more dear a better proposer could charge you withal, be[801] 280 even and direct with me, whether you were sent for, or no.[802] Ros. [Aside to Guil.] What say you?[803] Ham. [Aside] Nay then, I have an eye of you.—If you[804][805] love me, hold not off.[804] Guil. My lord, we were sent for. 285 Ham. I will tell you why; so shall my anticipation prevent your discovery, and your secrecy to the king and queen[806][807] moult no feather. I have of late—but wherefore I know not—lost[807][808] all my mirth, foregone all custom of exercises; and indeed[809] it goes so heavily with my disposition that this goodly[810] 290 frame, the earth, seems to me a sterile promontory; this most excellent canopy, the air, look you, this brave o'erhanging[811] firmament, this majestical roof fretted with golden fire, why,[812] it appears no other thing to me than a foul and pestilent[813] congregation of vapours. What a piece of work is a man![814] 295 how noble in reason! how infinite in faculty! in form and[815][816] moving how express and admirable! in action how like an[816] angel! in apprehension how like a god! the beauty of the[816] world! the paragon of animals! And yet, to me, what is this quintessence of dust? man delights not me; no, nor woman[817] 300 neither, though by your smiling you seem to say so.[818] Ros. My lord, there was no such stuff in my thoughts. Ham. Why did you laugh then, when I said 'man[819] delights not me'? Ros. To think, my lord, if you delight not in man, what 305 lenten entertainment the players shall receive from you:[820] we coted them on the way; and hither are they coming, to[821] offer you service. Ham. He that plays the king shall be welcome; his majesty shall have tribute of me; the adventurous knight[822] 310 shall use his foil and target; the lover shall not sigh gratis;[823] the humourous man shall end his part in peace; the clown[824] shall make those laugh whose lungs are tickled o' the sere,[824][825] and the lady shall say her mind freely, or the blank verse[826] shall halt for't. What players are they? 315 Ros. Even those you were wont to take such delight[827] in, the tragedians of the city.[828] Ham. How chances it they travel? their residence,[829] both in reputation and profit, was better both ways.[830] Ros. I think their inhibition comes by the means of the[831][832] 320 late innovation.[831][833] Ham. Do they hold the same estimation they did when[834] I was in the city? are they so followed? Ros. No, indeed, are they not.[835] Ham. How comes it? do they grow rusty?[836] 325 Ros. Nay, their endeavour keeps in the wonted pace:[836] but there is, sir, an eyrie of children, little eyases, that cry[836][837] out on the top of question and are most tyranically clapped[836][838] for't: these are now the fashion, and so berattle the common[836][839] stages—so they call them—that many wearing rapiers[836][840] 330 are afraid of goose-quills, and dare scarce come thither.[836] Ham. What, are they children? who maintains 'em?[836][841] how are they escoted? Will they pursue the quality no[836] longer than they can sing? will they not say afterwards, if[836] they should grow themselves to common players,—as it is[836][842] 335 most like, if their means are no better,—their writers do them[836][843] wrong, to make them exclaim against their own succession?[836][844] Ros. Faith, there has been much to do on both sides,[836] and the nation holds it no sin to tarre them to controversy:[836] there was for a while no money bid for argument unless[836] 340 the poet and the player went to cuffs in the question.[836] Ham. Is't possible?[836] Guil. O, there has been much throwing about of brains.[836] Ham. Do the boys carry it away?[836] Ros. Ay, that they do, my lord; Hercules and his load too.[836][845] 345 Ham. It is not very strange; for my uncle is king of[846] Denmark, and those that would make mows at him while[847] my father lived, give twenty, forty, fifty, a hundred ducats[848] a-piece, for his picture in little. 'Sblood, there is something[849] in this more than natural, if philosophy could find it out.[850] 350

Guil. There are the players.[851] Ham. Gentlemen, you are welcome to Elsinore. Your[793] hands, come then: the appurtenance of welcome is fashion[852] and ceremony: let me comply with you in this garb, lest[853][854] my extent to the players, which, I tell you, must show[854][855] 355 fairly outwards, should more appear like entertainment[856] than yours. You are welcome: but my uncle-father and aunt-mother are deceived. Guil. In what, my dear lord? Ham. I am but mad north-north-west: when the wind 360 is southerly I know a hawk from a handsaw.[857]

Pol. Well be with you, gentlemen![858] Ham. Hark you, Guildenstern; and you too: at each[859] ear a hearer: that great baby you see there is not yet out[860] of his swaddling clouts.[861] 365 Ros. Happily he's the second time come to them; for[862] they say an old man is twice a child. Ham. I will prophesy he comes to tell me of the[863] players; mark it. You say right, sir: o'Monday morning;[864] 'twas so, indeed.[865] 370 Pol. My lord, I have news to tell you. Ham. My lord, I have news to tell you. When Roscius[866] was an actor in Rome,—[867] Pol. The actors are come hither, my lord. Ham. Buz, buz! 375 Pol. Upon my honour,—[868] Ham. Then came each actor on his ass,—[869] Pol. The best actors in the world, either for tragedy, comedy, history, pastoral, pastoral-comical, historical-pastoral,[870] tragical-historical, tragical-comical-historical-pastoral,[870][871] 380 scene individable, or poem unlimited: Seneca cannot be too[872] heavy, nor Plautus too light. For the law of writ and the[873][874][875] liberty these are the only men.[873][875] Ham. O Jephthah, judge of Israel, what a treasure[876][877] hadst thou! 385 Pol. What a treasure had he, my lord?[878] Ham. Why,[879] 'One fair daughter, and no more,[879] The which he loved passing well.'[879] Pol. [Aside] Still on my daughter.[880] 390 Ham. Am I not i' the right, old Jephthah? Pol. If you call me Jephthah, my lord, I have a daughter[881][882] that I love passing well.[881] Ham. Nay, that follows not.[881] Pol. What follows, then, my lord? 395 Ham. Why,[883] 'As by lot, God wot,'[883] and then, you know,[884] 'It came to pass, as most like it was,'—[884] the first row of the pious chanson will show you more;[885] 400 for look, where my abridgement comes.[886]

You are welcome, masters; welcome, all. I am glad to see[887] thee well. Welcome, good friends. O, my old friend! Why[888][889] thy face is valanced since I saw thee last; comest thou to[889][890] beard me in Denmark? What, my young lady and mistress! 405 By'r lady, your ladyship is nearer to heaven than[891] when I saw you last, by the altitude of a chopine. Pray[892] God, your voice, like a piece of uncurrent gold, be not cracked within the ring. Masters, you are all welcome. We'll e'en to 't like French falconers, fly at any thing we[893] 410 see: we'll have a speech straight: come, give us a taste of your quality; come, a passionate speech. First Play. What speech, my good lord?[894][895] Ham. I heard thee speak me a speech once, but it was never acted; or, if it was, not above once; for the play, I remember,415 pleased not the million; 'twas caviare to the general:[896] but it was—as I received it, and others, whose judgements[897] in such matters cried in the top of mine—an excellent play, well digested in the scenes, set down with as much modesty as cunning. I remember, one said there were no sallets in[898] 420 the lines to make the matter savoury, nor no matter in the phrase that might indict the author of affection; but called[899] it an honest method, as wholesome as sweet, and by very[900] much more handsome than fine. One speech in it I chiefly[900][901] loved: 'twas Æneas' tale to Dido; and thereabout of it especially,[902] 425 where he speaks of Priam's slaughter: if it live in[903] your memory, begin at this line; let me see, let me see; 'The rugged Pyrrhus, like th' Hyrcanian beast,'—[904] It is not so: it begins with 'Pyrrhus.'[905] 'The rugged Pyrrhus, he whose sable arms, 430 Black as his purpose, did the night resemble[906] When he lay couched in the ominous horse,[907] Hath now this dread and black complexion smear'd[908] With heraldry more dismal: head to foot[909] Now is he total gules; horridly trick'd[910] 435 With blood of fathers, mothers, daughters, sons, Baked and impasted with the parching streets,[911] That lend a tyrannous and a damned light[912][913] To their lord's murder: roasted in wrath and fire,[913][914] And thus o'er-sized with coagulate gore,[915] 440 With eyes like carbuncles, the hellish Pyrrhus[916] Old grandsire Priam seeks.' So, proceed you.[917] Pol 'Fore God, my lord, well spoken, with good accent and good discretion. 445 First Play. 'Anon he finds him[894] Striking too short at Greeks; his antique sword,[918] Rebellious to his arm, lies where it falls,[919] Repugnant to command: unequal match'd,[920] Pyrrhus at Priam drives; in rage strikes wide; 450 But with the whiff and wind of his fell sword The unnerved father falls. Then senseless Ilium,[921] Seeming to feel this blow, with flaming top[922] Stoops to his base, and with a hideous crash[923] Takes prisoner Pyrrhus' ear: for, lo! his sword,[924] 455 Which was declining on the milky head Of reverend Priam, seem'd i' the air to stick:[925] So, as a painted tyrant, Pyrrhus stood.[926] And like a neutral to his will and matter,[927][928] Did nothing.[928] 460 But as we often see, against some storm, A silence in the heavens, the rack stand still,[929] The bold winds speechless and the orb below[930] As hush as death, anon the dreadful thunder Doth rend the region, so after Pyrrhus' pause[924][931] 465 Aroused vengeance sets him new a-work;[932] And never did the Cyclops' hammers fall[933] On Mars's armour, forged for proof eterne,[934] With less remorse than Pyrrhus' bleeding sword[924] Now falls on Priam. 470 Out, out, thou strumpet, Fortune! All you gods,[935] In general synod take away her power, Break all the spokes and fellies from her wheel,[936] And bowl the round nave down the hill of heaven As low as to the fiends!' 475 Pol. This is too long.[937] Ham. It shall to the barber's, with your beard. Prithee,[938] say on: he's for a jig or a tale of bawdry, or he sleeps: say on: come to Hecuba. First Play. 'But who, O, who had seen the mobled queen—'[939][940][941] 480 Ham. 'The mobled queen?'[940][942] Pol. That's good; 'mobled queen' is good.[943] First Play. 'Run barefoot up and down, threatening the flames[944] With bisson rheum; a clout upon that head[945] Where late the diadem stood; and for a robe, 485 About her lank and all o'er-teemed loins, A blanket, in the alarm of fear caught up:[946] Who this had seen, with tongue in venom steep'd 'Gainst Fortune's state would treason have pronounced:[947] But if the gods themselves did see her then, 490 When she saw Pyrrhus make malicious sport In mincing with his sword her husband's limbs,[948] The instant burst of clamour that she made, Unless things mortal move them not at all,[949] Would have made milch the burning eyes of heaven[950] 495 And passion in the gods.'[951] Pol. Look, whether he has not turned his colour and[952] has tears in's eyes. Prithee, no more.[953] Ham. 'Tis well; I'll have thee speak out the rest of this[954] soon. Good my lord, will you see the players well bestowed?[955] 500 Do you hear, let them be well used, for they are the abstract[956] and brief chronicles of the time: after your death you were better have a bad epitaph than their ill report while you live.[957] Pol. My lord, I will use them according to their desert.[958] Ham. God's bodykins, man, much better: use every[959] 505 man after his desert, and who shall 'scape whipping? Use[958][960] them after your own honour and dignity: the less they deserve, the more merit is in your bounty. Take them in. Pol. Come, sirs. Ham. Follow him, friends: we'll hear a play to-morrow. 510

Dost thou hear me, old friend; can you play the Murder of[962] Gonzago?[963] First Play. Ay, my lord. Ham. We'll ha't to-morrow night. You could, for a[961][964][965] need, study a speech of some dozen or sixteen lines, which[965][966] 515 I would set down and insert in't, could you not?[967] First Play. Ay, my lord. Ham. Very well. Follow that lord; and look you[961] mock him not. [Exit First Player.] My good friends, I'll[968] leave you till night: you are welcome to Elsinore.[969] 520 Ros. Good my lord![970] Ham. Ay, so, God be wi' ye! [Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.] Now I am alone.[971] O, what a rogue and peasant slave am I! Is it not monstrous that this player here, But in a fiction, in a dream of passion,[972] 525 Could force his soul so to his own conceit[973] That from her working all his visage wann'd;[974] Tears in his eyes, distraction in's aspect,[975] A broken voice, and his whole function suiting[976] With forms to his conceit? and all for nothing![977] 530 For Hecuba![978] What's Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba,[979] That he should weep for her? What would he do, Had he the motive and the cue for passion[980] That I have? He would drown the stage with tears 535 And cleave the general ear with horrid speech, Make mad the guilty and appal the free,[981] Confound the ignorant, and amaze indeed The very faculties of eyes and ears.[982][983] Yet I,[982][984][985] 540 A dull and muddy-mettled rascal, peak,[984][985][986] Like John-a-dreams, unpregnant of my cause,[985][987] And can say nothing; no, not for a king,[985] Upon whose property and most dear life A damn'd defeat was made. Am I a coward?[988] 545 Who calls me villain? breaks my pate across?[988] Plucks off my beard, and blows it in my face?[988] Tweaks me by the nose? gives me the lie i' the throat,[988] As deep as to the lungs? who does me this?[988] Ha![989] 550 'Swounds, I should take it: for it cannot be[990] But I am pigeon-liver'd and lack gall To make oppression bitter, or ere this[991] I should have fatted all the region kites[992] With this slave's offal: bloody, bawdy villain![993] 555 Remorseless, treacherous, lecherous, kindless villain![994] O, vengeance![995] Why, what an ass am I! This is most brave,[996] That I, the son of a dear father murder'd,[997] Prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell, 560 Must, like a whore, unpack my heart with words, And fall a-cursing, like a very drab,[998][999] A scullion![998][999] Fie upon't! foh! About, my brain! Hum, I have heard[998][1000] That guilty creatures, sitting at a play,[998][1001] 565 Have by the very cunning of the scene Been struck so to the soul that presently[1002] They have proclaim'd their malefactions; For murder, though it have no tongue, will speak With most miraculous organ. I'll have these players[1003] 570 Play something like the murder of my father Before mine uncle: I'll observe his looks; I'll tent him to the quick: if he but blench,[1004] I know my course. The spirit that I have seen[1005] May be the devil; and the devil hath power[1006] 575 To assume a pleasing shape; yea, and perhaps Out of my weakness and my melancholy, As he is very potent with such spirits, Abuses me to damn me. I'll have grounds More relative than this. The play's the thing 580 Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king. [Exit.