The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark Part 29

Which he, disdaining, whisk'd his sword about, And with the wound[13] thereof the king fell down.

Marlowe's _Dido, Queen of Carthage_.]

[Footnote 6: The _Quarto_ has omitted '_Then senselesse Illium_,' or something else.]

[Footnote 7: Printed with the long f[symbol for archaic long s].]

[Footnote 8: --motionless as a tyrant in a picture.]

[Footnote 9: 'standing between his will and its object as if he had no relation to either.']

[Footnote 10:

And then in triumph ran into the streets, Through which he could not pa.s.s for slaughtered men; So, leaning on his sword, he stood stone still, Viewing the fire wherewith rich Ilion burnt.

Marlowe's _Dido, Queen of Carthage_.]

[Footnote 11: Who does not feel this pa.s.sage, down to 'Region,'

thoroughly Shaksperean!]

[Footnote 12: Is not the rest of this speech very plainly Shakspere's?]

[Footnote 13: _wind_, I think it should be.]

[Page 106]

And boule the round Naue downe the hill of Heauen, As low as to the Fiends.

_Pol_. This is too long.

_Ham_. It shall to'th Barbars, with your beard. [Sidenote: to the]

Prythee say on: He's for a Iigge, or a tale of Baudry, or hee sleepes. Say on; come to _Hecuba_.

_1. Play_. But who, O who, had seen the in.o.bled[1] Queen.

[Sidenote: But who, a woe, had mobled[1]]

_Ham_. The in.o.bled[1] Queene? [Sidenote: mobled]

_Pol_. That's good: In.o.bled[1] Queene is good.[2]

_1. Play_. Run bare-foot vp and downe, Threatning the flame [Sidenote: flames]

With Bisson Rheume:[3] A clout about that head, [Sidenote: clout vppon]

Where late the Diadem stood, and for a Robe About her lanke and all ore-teamed Loines,[4]

A blanket in th'Alarum of feare caught vp. [Sidenote: the alarme]

Who this had seene, with tongue in Venome steep'd, 'Gainst Fortunes State, would Treason haue p.r.o.nounc'd?[5]

But if the G.o.ds themselues did see her then, When she saw _Pyrrhus_ make malicious sport In mincing with his Sword her Husbands limbes,[6] [Sidenote: husband]

The instant Burst of Clamour that she made (Vnlesse things mortall moue them not at all) Would haue made milche[7] the Burning eyes of Heauen, And pa.s.sion in the G.o.ds.[8]

_Pol_. Looke where[9] he ha's not turn'd his colour, and ha's teares in's eyes. Pray you no more. [Sidenote: prethee]

_Ham_. 'Tis well, He haue thee speake out the rest, soone. Good my Lord, will you see the [Sidenote: rest of this]

Players wel bestow'd. Do ye heare, let them be [Sidenote: you]

well vs'd: for they are the Abstracts and breefe [Sidenote: abstract]

Chronicles of the time. After your death, you

[Footnote 1: '_mobled_'--also in _1st Q_.--may be the word: _m.u.f.fled_ seems a corruption of it: compare _mob-cap_, and

'The moon does mobble up herself'

--_s.h.i.+rley_, quoted by _Farmer_;

but I incline to '_in.o.bled_,' thrice in the _Folio_--once with a capital: I take it to stand for _'ign.o.bled,' degraded_.]

[Footnote 2: 'In.o.bled Queene is good.' _Not in Quarto_.]

[Footnote 3: --threatening to put the flames out with blind tears: '_bisen,' blind_--Ang. Sax.]

[Footnote 4: --she had had so many children.]

[Footnote 5: There should of course be no point of interrogation here.]

[Footnote 6:

This butcher, whilst his hands were yet held up, Treading upon his breast, struck off his hands.

Marlowe's _Dido, Queen of Carthage_.]

[Footnote 7: '_milche_'--capable of giving milk: here _capable of tears_, which the burning eyes of the G.o.ds were not before.]

[Footnote 8: 'And would have made pa.s.sion in the G.o.ds.']

[Footnote 9: 'whether'.]

[Page 108]

were better haue a bad Epitaph, then their ill report while you liued.[1] [Sidenote: live]

_Pol_. My Lord, I will vse them according to their desart.

_Ham_. G.o.ds bodykins man, better. Vse euerie [Sidenote: bodkin man, much better,]

man after his desart, and who should scape whipping: [Sidenote: shall]

vse them after your own Honor and Dignity.

The lesse they deserue, the more merit is in your bountie. Take them in.

_Pol_. Come sirs. _Exit Polon_.[2]

_Ham_. Follow him Friends: wee'l heare a play to morrow.[3] Dost thou heare me old Friend, can you play the murther of _Gonzago_?