Page:Hamlet (1917) Yale.djvu/125

Prince of Denmark, IV. v

Antiquity forgot, custom not known,

The ratifiers and props of every word,

They cry, 'Choose we; Laertes shall be king!'

Caps, hands, and tongues, applaud it to the clouds,

'Laertes shall be king, Laertes king!'

Queen. How cheerfully on the false trail they cry!

O! this is counter, you false Danish dogs!

King. The doors are broke.

Laer. Where is the king? Sirs, stand you all without.

All. No, let's come in.

Laer. I pray you, give me leave.

All. We will, we will.

[They retire without the door.]

Laer. I thank you: keep the door. O thou vile king!

Give me my father.

Queen. Calmly, good Laertes.

Laer. That drop of blood that's calm proclaims me bastard,

Cries cuckold to my father, brands the harlot

Even here, between the chaste unsmirched brow

Of my true mother.

King. What is the cause, Laertes,

That thy rebellion looks so giant-like?

Let him go, Gertrude; do not fear our person:

There's such divinity doth hedge a king,

That treason can but peep to what it would,

Acts little of his will. Tell me, Laertes,

Why thou art thus incens'd. Let him go, Gertrude.

 110 counter: following the trail in a direction opposite to that which the game has taken

118 cuckold: husband with an unfaithful wife

