Page:Hamlet (1917) Yale.djvu/65

Prince of Denmark, II. ii

Ros. I think their inhibition comes by the

means of the late innovation.

Ham. Do they hold the same estimation they

did when I was in the city? Are they so followed?

Ros. No, indeed they are not.

Ham. How comes it? Do they grow rusty?

Ros. Nay, their endeavour keeps in the wonted

pace: but there is, sir, an aery of children, little

eyases, that cry out on the top of question, and

are most tyrannically clapped for 't: these are

now the fashion, and so berattle the common

stages,—so they call them,—that many wearing

rapiers are afraid of goose-quills, and dare scarce

come thither.

Ham. What! are they children? who main-

tains 'em? how are they escoted? Will they

pursue the quality no longer than they can

sing? will they not say afterwards, if they should

grow themselves to common players,—as it is

most like, if their means are no better,—their

writers do them wrong, to make them exclaim

against their own succession?

Ros. Faith, there has been much to-do on

both sides: and the nation holds it no sin to

tarre them to controversy: there was, for a while,

no money bid for argument, unless the poet and

the player went to cuffs in the question.

 355 inhibition: formal prohibition

356 innovation; cf. n.

357 estimation: reputation

362 aery: nest; cf. n.

363 eyases: young hawks

cry question: recite at the highest pitch of the voice; cf. n.

364 tyrannically: outrageously

365 berattle: fill with din

common stages: public theatres

367 afraid of goose-quills: afraid of being satirized

370 escoted: maintained

371 quality: profession

373 common players: professional players

376 succession: future, or, inheritance

379 tarre: incite

380 argument: subject-matter, plot

381 cuffs: blows

