Page 265 - Shakespeare - Vol. 3

Then came each actor on his ass −

POLONIUS
The best actors in the world, either for tragedy, comedy, history, pastoral,
pastoral-comical, historical-pastoral, tragical-historical, tragical-comical-
historical-pastoral, scene individable, or poem unlimited. Seneca cannot be
too heavy, nor Plautus too light. For the law of writ, and the liberty, these are

the only men.

HAMLET
O Jephthah, judge of Israel, what a treasure hadst thou! [400]

POLONIUS
What a treasure had he, my lord?

HAMLET
Why,
One fair daughter and no more,

The which he loved passing well.

POLONIUS
[aside] Still on my daughter. [405]

HAMLET
Am I not i’th’ right, old Jephthah?

POLONIUS
If you call me Jephthah, my lord, I have a daughter that I love passing well.

HAMLET
Nay, that follows not.

POLONIUS
What follows then, my lord? [410]

HAMLET
Why,