Page:Hamlet (1917) Yale.djvu/57

Prince of Denmark, II. ii

Pol. What do you think of me?

King. As of a man faithful and honourable.

Pol. I would fain prove so. But what might you think,

When I had seen this hot love on the wing,—

As I perceiv'd it, I must tell you that,

Before my daughter told me,—what might you,

Or my dear majesty, your queen here, think,

If I had play'd the desk or table-book,

Or given my heart a winking, mute and dumb,

Or look'd upon this love with idle sight;

What might you think? No, I went round to work,

And my young mistress thus I did bespeak:

'Lord Hamlet is a prince, out of thy star;

This must not be:' and then I precepts gave her,

That she should lock herself from his resort,

Admit no messengers, receive no tokens.

Which done, she took the fruits of my advice;

And he, repulsed,—a short tale to make,—

Fell into a sadness, then into a fast,

Thence to a watch, thence into a weakness,

Thence to a lightness; and by this declension

Into the madness wherein now he raves,

And all we wail for.

King. Do you think 'tis this?

Queen. It may be, very likely.

Pol. Hath there been such a time,—I'd fain know that,—

That I have positively said, ' 'Tis so,'

When it prov'd otherwise?

 137 winking: with eyes shut, i.e., allowed my heart to connive

139 round: straightforwardly

140 bespeak: address

141 out of thy star: above the position allotted thee by fortune

148 watch: state of sleeplessness

149 lightness: lightheadedness

declension: decline

