Page:Hamlet (1917) Yale.djvu/54

42

As it hath us'd to do—that I have found

The very cause of Hamlet's lunacy.

King. O! speak of that; that do I long to hear.

Pol. Give first admittance to the ambassadors;

My news shall be the fruit to that great feast.

King. Thyself do grace to them, and bring them in.

He tells me, my sweet queen, that he hath found

The head and source of all your son's distemper.

Queen. I doubt it is no other but the main;

His father's death, and our o'erhasty marriage.

King. Well, we shall sift him.

Welcome, my good friends!

Say, Voltimand, what from our brother Norway?

Volt. Most fair return of greetings, and desires.

Upon our first, he sent out to suppress

His nephew's levies, which to him appear'd

To be a preparation 'gainst the Polack;

But, better look'd into, he truly found

It was against your highness: whereat griev'd,

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

To give the assay of arms against your majesty.

Whereon old Norway, overcome with joy,

Gives him three thousand crowns in annual fee,

And his commission to employ those soldiers,

So levied as before, against the Polack;

 52 fruit: dessert

56 main: the chief point

67 borne in hand: deluded

69 in fine: in conclusion

71 assay: trial

73 fee: payment

