Page:The Psychology of Shakespeare.pdf/90

Rh play his powerful and sarcastic intelligence without let or hindrance. His innate nobleness of mind is not less clearly pourtrayed in the conversation with Horatio which imme diately follows. The character of this judicious and faithful follower, as it is manifested throughout the piece, and especially as it is here pourtrayed by Hamlet himself, forms a pleasing contrast to that of his princely friend. The one passionate in emotion, inert in action ; the other cool in temper, prompt in conduct. The maxim moscitur a sociis, may be narrowed to the closer and truer one, “Shew me your friend, and I'll

tell your mind;” and in a true and deep friendship, there will always be found much uniformity of sentiment, though it may be, and indeed often is combined with great diversity of temperament. Deep friendship rarely exists between per sons whose emotional tendencies closely resemble. A true friend is generally chosen in some contrast of disposition, as if the basis of this rare and noble affection were the longing to remedy the imperfections of one's nature by complementing ourselves with those good qualities of another, in which we are deficient.

Before this time, Hamlet has confided to his friend the terrible

secret of the Ghost's message, the truth of which he proposes to test by the scheme of the play, and thus to sting the con science and unkennel the occult guilt of his uncle. When the court enter, Hamlet puts on his antics in his ironical half-reasonings with the King and Polonius, and his banter with Ophelia. The manners and playhouse licence of the time explain the broad indelicacy of the latter; but that

he so publicly indulged it may be accepted as proof of his desire to mark his indifference to the woman who had, as he

thought, heartlessly jilted him, and whose love he had reason to think had been “as brief as the posy of a ring.”

As the play within the play draws to its climax, Hamlet becomes so excited and reckless that it is a wonder he does not