1 Does it mean—carries off any child, leaving a changeling? or does

it mean—affect with evil, as a disease might infect or take?

2 1st Q. 'hie mountaine top,'

3 In neither Q.

4 The first court after the marriage.

Together with remembrance of our selues.
Therefore our sometimes Sister, now our Queen,
Th'Imperiall Ioyntresse of this warlike State,
Haue we, as 'twere, with a defeated ioy,
With one Auspicious, and one Dropping eye,
With mirth in Funerall, and with Dirge in Marriage,
In equall Scale weighing Delight and Dole1
Taken to Wife; nor haue we heerein barr'd2
Your better Wisedomes, which haue freely gone
With this affaire along, for all our Thankes.
8 Now followes, that you know young Fortinbras,3
Holding a weake supposall of our worth;
Or thinking by our late deere Brothers death,
Our State to be disioynt, and out of Frame,
Colleagued with the dreame of his Aduantage ; 1
He hath not fayl'd to pester vs with Message,
Importing the surrender of those Lands
Lost by his Father: with all Bonds of Law
To our most valiant Brother. So much for him.

Enter Voltemand and Cornelius.5

Now for our selfe, and for this time of meeting
Thus much the businesse is. We haue heere writ
To Norway, Vncle of young Fortinbras,
Who Impotent and Bedrid, scarsely heares
Of this his Nephewes purpose, to suppresse
His further gate heerein. In that the Leuies,
The Lists, and full proportions are all made
Out of his subiect: and we heere dispatch
You good Cornelius, and you Voltemand,
For bearing of this greeting to old Norway,
Giuing to you no further personall power

to this

an auspitious and a

this dreame

bands

bearers

To businesse with the King, more then the scope
Of these dilated Articles allow : 7

delated'

Farewell and let your hast commend your duty.9

1 weighing out an equal quantity of each

2 Like crossed.

Now follows-that (which) you know-young

Fortinbras:-'

4 Colleagued agrees with supposall. The preceding two lines may be regarded as somewhat parenthetical. Dream of advantage-hope of gain.

5 Not in Q.

6 going; advance.

Note in Norway also, as well as in Denmark, the succession of the brother.

7

(giving them papers)

* Which of these is right, I cannot tell. Dilated means expanded, and would refer to the scope; delated means committed to them, to limit them.

9 idea of duty

с

74

Volt. In that, and all things, will we shew our
duty.

King. We doubt it nothing, heartily farewell.
1 Exit Voltemand and Cornelius.

And now Laertes, what's the newes with you?
You told vs of some suite. What is't Laertes?
You cannot speake of Reason to the Dane,
And loose your voyce. What would'st thou beg

Laertes,

That shall not be my Offer, not thy Asking?

2

The Head is not more Natiue to the Heart,
The Hand more Instrumentall to the Mouth,
Then is the Throne of Denmarke to thy Father.3
What would'st thou haue Laertes?

Laer. Dread my Lord,

Your leaue and fauour to returne to France,

From whence, though willingly I came to Den

marke

To shew my duty in your Coronation,

Yet now I must confesse, that duty done,

My dread

22 My thoughts and wishes bend againe towards toward France,1

And bow them to your gracious leaue and pardon.

King. Haue you your Fathers leaue?

What sayes Pollonius?

Pol. He hath my Lord:

I do beseech you giue him leaue to go.

King. Take thy faire houre Laertes, time be thine,

And thy best graces spend it at thy will:

But now my Cosin Hamlet, and my Sonne?

* In the Quarto :—

1

Polo. Hath my Lord wroung from me my slowe leaue By laboursome petition, and at last

Vpon his will I seald my hard consent,2

I doe beseech you giue him leaue to goe.

1 Not in Q.

2 Before they call, I will answer; and while they are yet speaking, I will hear.'-Isaiah, lxv. 24.

3 The villain king courts his courtiers.

See his

4 He had been educated there. Compare 23. But it would seem rather to the court than the university he desired to return. father's instructions, 38