Ham. Ay, sir, but While the grass grows,—the proverb is something musty. Enter the Players, with Recorders. 549 O, the recorders :-let me see one. To withdraw. with you: Why do you go about to recover the wind of me, as if you would drive me into a toil ? Guil. O, my lord, if my duty be too bold, my love is too unmannerly. : Ham. I do not well understand that. Will you play upon this pipe? Guil. My lord, I cannot. Ham. I pray you. Guil. Believe me, I cannot. : Ham. I do beseech you. Guil. I know no touch of it, my lord. A 560 Ham. 'Tis as easy as lying: govern these ventages with your fingers and thumb, give it breath with your mouth, and it will discourse most eloquent musick. Look you, these are the stops. Guil. But these cannot I command to any utterance of harmony; I have not the skill. 567 Ham. Why, look you now, how unworthy a thing you make of me? You would play upon me; you would seem to know my stops; you would pluck out the heart of my mystery; you would sound me from my lowest note to the top of my compass: and there is much musick, excellent voice, in this little organ; yet cannot you make it speak. Why, do you think, that I am easier to be play'd on than a pipe? Call me what instrument you will, though you can fret me, you cannot play upon me. [Enter POLONIUS.]- -God bless you, sir! Pol. My lord, the queen would speak with you, and presently. 580 Ham. Do you see yonder cloud, that's almost in shape of a camel ? Pol. By the mass, and 'tis like a camel, indeed. Ham. Methinks it is like a weazel.. Pol. It is back'd like a weazel. Ham. Or, like a whale ? Pol. Very like a whale. Ham. Then will I come to my mother by and by.They fool me to the top of my bent.-I will come by and by. Pol. I will say so. 599 Ham. By and by is easily said.-Leave me, friends. [Exeunt Ros, GUIL. HOR. &c. 'Tis now the very witching time of night; When church-yards yawn, and hell itself breathes out Contagion to this world: Now could I drink hot blood, And do such business as the bitter day Would quake to look on. Soft; now to my mo O, heart, lose not thy nature; let not ever The soul of Nero enter this firm bosom : I will speak daggers to her, but use none; Goo How How in my words soever she be shent, To give them seals never, my soul, consent! SCENE III. A Room in the Palace. Enter the King, ROSENCRANTZ, and GUILDENSTERN. King. I like him not; nor stands it safe with us, To let his madness range. Therefore, prepare you; I your commission will forthwith dispatch, And he to England shall along with you: The terms of our estate may not endure Hazard so near us, as doth hourly grow Out of his lunes. Guil. We will ourselves provide: Most holy and religious fear it is Ros. The single and peculiar life is bound, 610 620 Never alone Did the king sigh, but with a general groan. King. Arm you, I pray you, to this speedy voyage; For we will fetters put upon this fear, 630 [Exeunt Ros. and GUIL. Which now goes too free-footed. Both. We will haste us. Enter POLONIUS. Pol, My lord, he's going to his mother's closet; Behind the arras I'll convey myself, To hear the process; I'll warrant, she'll tax him home : And, as you said, and wisely was it said, 'Tis meet, that some more audience than a mother, Since nature makes them partial, should o'er-hear The speech, of vantage. Fare you well, my liege: I'll call upon you ere you go to bed, And tell you what I know, King. Thanks, dear my lord. 640 [Exit O, my offence is rank, it smells to heaven; 650 And And what's in prayer, but this two-fold force,- Or pardon'd, being down? Then I'll look up; 660 Of those effects for which I did the murder, steel, Be soft as sinews of the new-born babe; 670 All may be well! · [The King kneels, 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 |