Page 261 - Shakespeare - Vol. 3

HAMLET

Nay, then I have an eye of you. If you love [290] me, hold not off.

GUILDENSTERN
My lord, we were sent for.

HAMLET
I will tell you why; so shall my anticipation prevent your discovery, and your
secrecy to the Kingand Queen moult no feather. I have of late, but [295]

wherefore I know not, lost all my mirth, forgone all custom of exercises; and
indeed it goes so heavily with my disposition that this goodly frame the earth
seems to me a sterile promontory, this most excellent canopy the air, look
you, this brave o’erhanging firmament, this majestical roof fretted with
golden [300] fire, why, it appeareth nothing to me but a foul and pestilent

congregation of vapours. What piece of work is a man, how noble in reason,
how infinite in faculties, in form and moving how express and admirable, in
action how like an angel, in apprehension [305] how like a god: the beauty of

the world, the paragon of animals − and yet, to me, what is this quintessence
of dust? Man delights not me − nor woman neither, though by your smiling
you seem to say so. [310]

ROSENCRANTZ
My lord, there was no such stuff in my thoughts.

HAMLET
Why did ye laugh then, when I said man delights not me?

ROSENCRANTZ
To think, my lord, if you delight not in man, what Lenten entertainment the

players shall [315] receive from you. We coted them on the way, and hither
are they coming to offer you service.

HAMLET
He that plays the king shall be welcome − his Majesty shall have tribute on
me, the adventurous knight shall use his foil and target, the lover shall not

[320] sigh gratis, the humorous man shall end his part in peace, the clown
shall make those laugh whose lungs are tickle a th’ sear, and the lady shall