Page:The Psychology of Shakespeare.pdf/88

Rh my lord.”

Hamlet knows better, and sends a random shaft

into his ambuscade. “Let the doors be shut upon him, that he may play the fool nowhere but in his own house.” “Ham. Get thee to a nunnery : why would'st thou be a breeder of sinners ? I am myself indifferent honest; but yet I could accuse me of such things, that it were better my mother had not borne me : I am very proud, revengeful, ambitious; with more offences at my beck, than I have

thoughts to put them in, imagination to give them shape, or time to act them in.

What should such fellows as I do

crawling between earth and heaven

We are arrant knaves,

all ; believe none of us: Gothy ways to a nunnery. Where's your father ?”

“Ham. If thou dost marry, I'll give thee this plague for thy dowry : Be thou as chaste as ice, as pure as snow, thou shalt

not escape calumny. Get thee to a nunnery; farewell ; or, if thou wilt needs marry, marry a fool; for wise men know well

enough what monsters you make of them. To a nunnery, go ; and quickly too.

Farewell.

Oph. Heavenly powers, restore him Ham. I have heard of your paintings too, well enough ; God hath given you one face, and you make yourselves another ; you jig, you amble, and you lisp, and nick-name

God's creatures, and make your wantonness your ignorance: Go to, I'll no more of 't ; it hath made me mad. I say, we will have no more marriages: those that are married already, all but one, shall live; the rest shall keep as they are. To a nunnery, go.” Partly dictated by jealous fear that Ophelia may solace her pain with some other lover, it is yet an attempt to wean from himself any fondness which may remain. The burthen is, Grieve not for me, but do not marry another. The latter speech is directed to the Queen in ambush. What exquisite pathos what wail of despairing love in Ophelia's lament over the ruin of her lover's mind What fine diserimination of the excellencies marred

What

forgetfulness of self in the grief she feels for him Not for her own loss, but for his fall, is she “ of ladies most deject