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352 The sycophantic crew. My tragedy Was more than even sycophants could stand!
 * Q. Was it, my lord, so very very bad?
 * Not to deceive my trusting queen, it was!
 * Q. And when the play failed, did'st thou take no steps

To set thyself right with the world?
 * I did.

The acts were five—though by five acts too long, I wrote an Act by way of epilogue— An Act by which the penalty of death Was meted out to all who sneered at it. The play was not good—but the punishment Of those that laughed at it was Capital.
 * Q. Think on't no more, my lord. Now, mark me well!

To cheer our son, whose solitary tastes And tendency to long soliloquy Have much alarmed us, I, unknown to thee. Have sent for Rosencrantz and Guildenstern— Two merry knaves, kin to Polonius, Who will devise such revels in our Court— Such antic schemes of harmless merriment— As shall abstract his meditative mind From sad employment. Claudius, who can tell But that they may divert my lord as well? Ah, they are here!


 * My homage to the queen!