Page:The Psychology of Shakespeare.pdf/75

60 “For if the sun breed maggots in a dead dog, being a god [or, a good], kissing carrion,” &c. . Coleridge refers to “some thought in Hamlet's mind, con trasting the daughter with the tedious old fool, her father.” Is it not rather a wild taunt upon the old man's jealous sus picion of his daughter, as if he had said, since the sun causes conception in such vile bodies, “let not your precious daughter walk in the sun.” Perhaps he only intended to convey to Polonius, by a con temptuous simile, the intimation that he cared not for the daughter, and thus to throw him off the scent of his quest. The intention to offend the tedious old fool, and thus to dis

embarrass himself of his presence, becomes still more obvious in the description of old age which immediately follows: “Slanders, sir,” &c.

The point of the satire, and the absence of unreason, strikes Polonius.

“Pol. Though this be madness, yet there's method in it.

Will you walk out o'the air, my lord? Ham. Into my grave 7

Pol. Indeed, that is out o'the air. times his replies are

l

How pregnant some

a happiness that often madness hits

on, which reason and sanity could not so prosperously be delivered of.”

In this, again, the old man shews that though his wits may be somewhat superannuated, yet, either from reading or observa tion, he has no slight knowledge of mental disease. What depth of melancholy and life weariness is there not apparent in the conclusion of the interview. “Pol. I will most humbly take my leave of you. Ham. You cannot, sir, take from me anything that I will more willingly part withal; except my life except my life except my life ſ” But when his old school-fellows arrive, how frank and

hearty his greeting ; how entirely is all disguise for the