Page:Hamlet (1917) Yale.djvu/89

Prince of Denmark, III. ii

Ham. Marry, this is miching mallecho; it

means mischief.

Oph. Belike this show imports the argument

of the play.

Ham. We shall know by this fellow: the

players cannot keep counsel; they'll tell all.

Oph. Will he tell us what this show meant?

Ham. Ay, or any show that you'll show

him; be not you ashamed to show, he'll not

shame to tell you what it means.

Oph. You are naught, you are naught. I'll

mark the play.

Pro. For us and for our tragedy,

Here stooping to your clemency,

We beg your hearing patiently.

Ham. Is this a prologue, or the posy of a

ring?

Oph. 'Tis brief, my lord.

Ham. As woman's love.

[P.] King. Full thirty times hath Phœbus' cart gone round

Neptune's salt wash and Tellus' orbed ground,

And thirty dozen moons with borrow'd sheen

About the world have times twelve thirties been,

Since love our hearts and Hymen did our hands

Unite commutual in most sacred bands.

 148 miching mallecho: skulking mischief; cf. n.

150 imports: indicates

153 counsel: secret

158 naught: wanton

161 stooping: bowing

163 posy: motto, short verse

167 cart: chariot

168 wash: sea

Tellus'; cf. n.

169 borrow'd sheen: reflected light

172 commutual: an intensive form of 'mutual'

