Page:Hamlet (1917) Yale.djvu/75

Prince of Denmark, III. i

Play something like the murder of my father

Before mine uncle; I'll observe his looks;

I'll tent him to the quick: if he but blench

I know my course. The spirit that I have seen

May be the devil: and the devil hath power

To assume a pleasing shape; yea, and perhaps

Out of my weakness and my melancholy—

As he is very potent with such spirits—

Abuses me to damn me. I'll have grounds

More relative than this: the play's the thing

Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king.

 

King. And can you, by no drift of circumstance,

Get from him why he puts on this confusion,

Grating so harshly all his days of quiet

With turbulent and dangerous lunacy?

Ros. He does confess he feels himself distracted;

But from what cause he will by no means speak.

Guil. Nor do we find him forward to be sounded,

But, with a crafty madness, keeps aloof,

When we would bring him on to some confession

Of his true state.

Queen. Did he receive you well?

 634 tent: probe

blench: start aside

639 spirits: mental moods

641 relative: relevant, to the purpose  1 drift of circumstance: roundabout method

2 confusion: mental agitation

3 Grating: harassing

7 forward: ready, disposed

