Shakespeare Portal

Act 3, Scene 2

A hall in the Castle.

  1. [Enter Hamlet and cartain Players.]
  2. Hamlet
  3. 1825 Speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounced it to you,
  4. 1826 trippingly on the tongue: but if you mouth it, as many of your
  5. 1827 players do, I had as lief the town crier spoke my lines. Nor do
  6. 1828 not saw the air too much with your hand, thus, but use all
  7. 1829 gently: for in the very torrent, tempest, and, as I may say,
  8. 1830 whirlwind of passion, you must acquire and beget a
  9. 1831 temperance that may give it smoothness. O, it offends me to the
  10. 1832 soul, to hear a robustious periwig-pated fellow tear a passion to
  11. 1833 tatters, to very rags, to split the cars of the groundlings, who,
  12. 1834 for the most part, are capable of nothing but inexplicable dumb
  13. 1835 shows and noise: I would have such a fellow whipped for o'erdoing
  14. 1836 Termagant; it out-herods Herod: pray you avoid it.
  15. First Player
  16. 1837 I warrant your honour.
  17. Hamlet
  18. 1838 Be not too tame neither; but let your own discretion be your
  19. 1839 tutor: suit the action to the word, the word to the action; with
  20. 1840 this special observance, that you o'erstep not the modesty of
  21. 1841 nature: for anything so overdone is from the purpose of playing,
  22. 1842 whose end, both at the first and now, was and is, to hold, as
  23. 1843 'twere, the mirror up to nature; to show virtue her own image,
  24. 1844 scorn her own image, and the very age and body of the time his
  25. 1845 form and pressure. Now, this overdone, or come tardy off, though
  26. 1846 it make the unskilful laugh, cannot but make the judicious
  27. 1847 grieve; the censure of the which one must in your allowance,
  28. 1848 o'erweigh a whole theatre of others. O, there be players that I
  29. 1849 have seen play,—and heard others praise, and that highly,—not
  30. 1850 to speak it profanely, that, neither having the accent of
  31. 1851 Christians, nor the gait of Christian, pagan, nor man, have so
  32. 1852 strutted and bellowed that I have thought some of nature's
  33. 1853 journeymen had made men, and not made them well, they imitated
  34. 1854 humanity so abominably.
  35. First Player
  36. 1855 I hope we have reform'd that indifferently with us, sir.
  37. Hamlet
  38. 1856 O, reform it altogether. And let those that play your clowns
  39. 1857 speak no more than is set down for them: for there be of them
  40. 1858 that will themselves laugh, to set on some quantity of barren
  41. 1859 spectators to laugh too, though in the meantime some necessary
  42. 1860 question of the play be then to be considered: that's villanous
  43. 1861 and shows a most pitiful ambition in the fool that uses it. Go
  44. 1862 make you ready.
  45. [Exeunt Players.]
  46. [Enter Polonius, Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern.]
  47. Hamlet
  48. 1863 How now, my lord! will the king hear this piece of work?
  49. Polonius
  50. 1864 And the queen too, and that presently.
  51. Hamlet
  52. 1865 Bid the players make haste.
  53. [Exit Polonius.]
  54. Hamlet
  55. 1866 Will you two help to hasten them?
  56. Ros. and Guil
  57. 1867 We will, my lord.
  58. [Exeunt Ros. and Guil.]
  59. Hamlet
  60. 1868 What, ho, Horatio!
  61. [Enter Horatio.]
  62. Horatio
  63. 1869 Here, sweet lord, at your service.
  64. Hamlet
  65. 1870 Horatio, thou art e'en as just a man
  66. 1871 As e'er my conversation cop'd withal.
  67. Horatio
  68. 1872 O, my dear lord,—
  69. Hamlet
  70. 1873 Nay, do not think I flatter;
  71. 1874 For what advancement may I hope from thee,
  72. 1875 That no revenue hast, but thy good spirits,
  73. 1876 To feed and clothe thee? Why should the poor be flatter'd?
  74. 1877 No, let the candied tongue lick absurd pomp;
  75. 1878 And crook the pregnant hinges of the knee
  76. 1879 Where thrift may follow fawning. Dost thou hear?
  77. 1880 Since my dear soul was mistress of her choice,
  78. 1881 And could of men distinguish, her election
  79. 1882 Hath seal'd thee for herself: for thou hast been
  80. 1883 As one, in suffering all, that suffers nothing;
  81. 1884 A man that Fortune's buffets and rewards
  82. 1885 Hast ta'en with equal thanks: and bles'd are those
  83. 1886 Whose blood and judgment are so well commingled
  84. 1887 That they are not a pipe for Fortune's finger
  85. 1888 To sound what stop she please. Give me that man
  86. 1889 That is not passion's slave, and I will wear him
  87. 1890 In my heart's core, ay, in my heart of heart,
  88. 1891 As I do thee.—Something too much of this.—
  89. 1892 There is a play to-night before the king;
  90. 1893 One scene of it comes near the circumstance,
  91. 1894 Which I have told thee, of my father's death:
  92. 1895 I pr'ythee, when thou see'st that act a-foot,
  93. 1896 Even with the very comment of thy soul
  94. 1897 Observe mine uncle: if his occulted guilt
  95. 1898 Do not itself unkennel in one speech,
  96. 1899 It is a damned ghost that we have seen;
  97. 1900 And my imaginations are as foul
  98. 1901 As Vulcan's stithy. Give him heedful note;
  99. 1902 For I mine eyes will rivet to his face;
  100. 1903 And, after, we will both our judgments join
  101. 1904 In censure of his seeming.
  102. Horatio
  103. 1905 Well, my lord:
  104. 1906 If he steal aught the whilst this play is playing,
  105. 1907 And scape detecting, I will pay the theft.
  106. Hamlet
  107. 1908 They are coming to the play. I must be idle:
  108. 1909 Get you a place.
  109. [Danish march. A flourish. Enter King, Queen, Polonius, Ophelia, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, and others.]
  110. King Claudius
  111. 1910 How fares our cousin Hamlet?
  112. Hamlet
  113. 1911 Excellent, i' faith; of the chameleon's dish: I eat the air,
  114. 1912 promise-crammed: you cannot feed capons so.
  115. King Claudius
  116. 1913 I have nothing with this answer, Hamlet; these words are not
  117. 1914 mine.
  118. Hamlet
  119. 1915 No, nor mine now. My lord, you play'd once i' the university, you
  120. 1916 say?
  121. [To Polonius.]
  122. Polonius
  123. 1917 That did I, my lord, and was accounted a good actor.
  124. Hamlet
  125. 1918 What did you enact?
  126. Polonius
  127. 1919 I did enact Julius Caesar; I was kill'd i' the Capitol; Brutus
  128. 1920 killed me.
  129. Hamlet
  130. 1921 It was a brute part of him to kill so capital a calf there.—Be
  131. 1922 the players ready?
  132. Rosencrantz
  133. 1923 Ay, my lord; they stay upon your patience.
  134. Queen Gertrude
  135. 1924 Come hither, my dear Hamlet, sit by me.
  136. Hamlet
  137. 1925 No, good mother, here's metal more attractive.
  138. Polonius
  139. 1926 O, ho! do you mark that?
  140. [To the King.]
  141. Hamlet
  142. 1927 Lady, shall I lie in your lap?
  143. [Lying down at Ophelia's feet.]
  144. Ophelia
  145. 1928 No, my lord.
  146. Hamlet
  147. 1929 I mean, my head upon your lap?
  148. Ophelia
  149. 1930 Ay, my lord.
  150. Hamlet
  151. 1931 Do you think I meant country matters?
  152. Ophelia
  153. 1932 I think nothing, my lord.
  154. Hamlet
  155. 1933 That's a fair thought to lie between maids' legs.
  156. Ophelia
  157. 1934 What is, my lord?
  158. Hamlet
  159. 1935 Nothing.
  160. Ophelia
  161. 1936 You are merry, my lord.
  162. Hamlet
  163. 1937 Who, I?
  164. Ophelia
  165. 1938 Ay, my lord.
  166. Hamlet
  167. 1939 O, your only jig-maker! What should a man do but be merry?
  168. 1940 for look you how cheerfully my mother looks, and my father died
  169. 1941 within 's two hours.
  170. Ophelia
  171. 1942 Nay, 'tis twice two months, my lord.
  172. Hamlet
  173. 1943 So long? Nay then, let the devil wear black, for I'll have a
  174. 1944 suit of sables. O heavens! die two months ago, and not forgotten
  175. 1945 yet? Then there's hope a great man's memory may outlive his life
  176. 1946 half a year: but, by'r lady, he must build churches then; or else
  177. 1947 shall he suffer not thinking on, with the hobby-horse, whose
  178. 1948 epitaph is 'For, O, for, O, the hobby-horse is forgot!'
  179. [Trumpets sound. The dumb show enters.]
  180. [Enter a King and a Queen very lovingly; the Queen embracing him and he her. She kneels, and makes show of protestation unto him. He takes her up, and declines his head upon her neck: lays him down upon a bank of flowers: she, seeing him asleep, leaves him. Anon comes in a fellow, takes off his crown, kisses it, pours poison in the king's ears, and exit. The Queen returns, finds the King dead, and makes passionate action. The Poisoner with some three or four Mutes, comes in again, seeming to lament with her. The dead body is carried away. The Poisoner wooes the Queen with gifts; she seems loth and unwilling awhile, but in the end accepts his love.]
  181. [Exeunt.]
  182. Ophelia
  183. 1949 What means this, my lord?
  184. Hamlet
  185. 1950 Marry, this is miching mallecho; it means mischief.
  186. Ophelia
  187. 1951 Belike this show imports the argument of the play.
  188. [Enter Prologue.]
  189. Hamlet
  190. 1952 We shall know by this fellow: the players cannot keep counsel;
  191. 1953 they'll tell all.
  192. Ophelia
  193. 1954 Will he tell us what this show meant?
  194. Hamlet
  195. 1955 Ay, or any show that you'll show him: be not you ashamed to
  196. 1956 show, he'll not shame to tell you what it means.
  197. Ophelia
  198. 1957 You are naught, you are naught: I'll mark the play.
  199. Prologue
  200. 1958 For us, and for our tragedy,
  201. 1959 Here stooping to your clemency,
  202. 1960 We beg your hearing patiently.
  203. Hamlet
  204. 1961 Is this a prologue, or the posy of a ring?
  205. Ophelia
  206. 1962 'Tis brief, my lord.
  207. Hamlet
  208. 1963 As woman's love.
  209. [Enter a King and a Queen.]
  210. Player King
  211. 1964 Full thirty times hath Phoebus' cart gone round
  212. 1965 Neptune's salt wash and Tellus' orbed ground,
  213. 1966 And thirty dozen moons with borrow'd sheen
  214. 1967 About the world have times twelve thirties been,
  215. 1968 Since love our hearts, and Hymen did our hands,
  216. 1969 Unite commutual in most sacred bands.
  217. Player Queen
  218. 1970 So many journeys may the sun and moon
  219. 1971 Make us again count o'er ere love be done!
  220. 1972 But, woe is me, you are so sick of late,
  221. 1973 So far from cheer and from your former state.
  222. 1974 That I distrust you. Yet, though I distrust,
  223. 1975 Discomfort you, my lord, it nothing must:
  224. 1976 For women's fear and love holds quantity;
  225. 1977 In neither aught, or in extremity.
  226. 1978 Now, what my love is, proof hath made you know;
  227. 1979 And as my love is siz'd, my fear is so:
  228. 1980 Where love is great, the littlest doubts are fear;
  229. 1981 Where little fears grow great, great love grows there.
  230. Player King
  231. 1982 Faith, I must leave thee, love, and shortly too;
  232. 1983 My operant powers their functions leave to do:
  233. 1984 And thou shalt live in this fair world behind,
  234. 1985 Honour'd, belov'd, and haply one as kind
  235. 1986 For husband shalt thou,—
  236. Player Queen
  237. 1987 O, confound the rest!
  238. 1988 Such love must needs be treason in my breast:
  239. 1989 In second husband let me be accurst!
  240. 1990 None wed the second but who kill'd the first.
  241. [Aside.]
  242. Hamlet
  243. 1991 Wormwood, wormwood!
  244. Player Queen
  245. 1992 The instances that second marriage move
  246. 1993 Are base respects of thrift, but none of love.
  247. 1994 A second time I kill my husband dead
  248. 1995 When second husband kisses me in bed.
  249. Player King
  250. 1996 I do believe you think what now you speak;
  251. 1997 But what we do determine oft we break.
  252. 1998 Purpose is but the slave to memory;
  253. 1999 Of violent birth, but poor validity:
  254. 2000 Which now, like fruit unripe, sticks on the tree;
  255. 2001 But fall unshaken when they mellow be.
  256. 2002 Most necessary 'tis that we forget
  257. 2003 To pay ourselves what to ourselves is debt:
  258. 2004 What to ourselves in passion we propose,
  259. 2005 The passion ending, doth the purpose lose.
  260. 2006 The violence of either grief or joy
  261. 2007 Their own enactures with themselves destroy:
  262. 2008 Where joy most revels, grief doth most lament;
  263. 2009 Grief joys, joy grieves, on slender accident.
  264. 2010 This world is not for aye; nor 'tis not strange
  265. 2011 That even our loves should with our fortunes change;
  266. 2012 For 'tis a question left us yet to prove,
  267. 2013 Whether love lead fortune, or else fortune love.
  268. 2014 The great man down, you mark his favourite flies,
  269. 2015 The poor advanc'd makes friends of enemies;
  270. 2016 And hitherto doth love on fortune tend:
  271. 2017 For who not needs shall never lack a friend;
  272. 2018 And who in want a hollow friend doth try,
  273. 2019 Directly seasons him his enemy.
  274. 2020 But, orderly to end where I begun,—
  275. 2021 Our wills and fates do so contrary run
  276. 2022 That our devices still are overthrown;
  277. 2023 Our thoughts are ours, their ends none of our own:
  278. 2024 So think thou wilt no second husband wed;
  279. 2025 But die thy thoughts when thy first lord is dead.
  280. Player Queen
  281. 2026 Nor earth to me give food, nor heaven light!
  282. 2027 Sport and repose lock from me day and night!
  283. 2028 To desperation turn my trust and hope!
  284. 2029 An anchor's cheer in prison be my scope!
  285. 2030 Each opposite that blanks the face of joy
  286. 2031 Meet what I would have well, and it destroy!
  287. 2032 Both here and hence pursue me lasting strife,
  288. 2033 If, once a widow, ever I be wife!
  289. Hamlet
  290. 2034 If she should break it now!
  291. [To Ophelia.]
  292. Player King
  293. 2035 'Tis deeply sworn. Sweet, leave me here awhile;
  294. 2036 My spirits grow dull, and fain I would beguile
  295. 2037 The tedious day with sleep.
  296. [Sleeps.]
  297. Player Queen
  298. 2038 Sleep rock thy brain,
  299. 2039 And never come mischance between us twain!
  300. [Exit.]
  301. Hamlet
  302. 2040 Madam, how like you this play?
  303. Queen Gertrude
  304. 2041 The lady protests too much, methinks.
  305. Hamlet
  306. 2042 O, but she'll keep her word.
  307. King Claudius
  308. 2043 Have you heard the argument? Is there no offence in't?
  309. Hamlet
  310. 2044 No, no! They do but jest, poison in jest; no offence i' the
  311. 2045 world.
  312. King Claudius
  313. 2046 What do you call the play?
  314. Hamlet
  315. 2047 The Mouse-trap. Marry, how? Tropically. This play is the
  316. 2048 image of a murder done in Vienna: Gonzago is the duke's name;
  317. 2049 his wife, Baptista: you shall see anon; 'tis a knavish piece of
  318. 2050 work: but what o' that? your majesty, and we that have free
  319. 2051 souls, it touches us not: let the gall'd jade wince; our withers
  320. 2052 are unwrung.
  321. [Enter Lucianus.]
  322. Hamlet
  323. 2053 This is one Lucianus, nephew to the King.
  324. Ophelia
  325. 2054 You are a good chorus, my lord.
  326. Hamlet
  327. 2055 I could interpret between you and your love, if I could see
  328. 2056 the puppets dallying.
  329. Ophelia
  330. 2057 You are keen, my lord, you are keen.
  331. Hamlet
  332. 2058 It would cost you a groaning to take off my edge.
  333. Ophelia
  334. 2059 Still better, and worse.
  335. Hamlet
  336. 2060 So you must take your husbands.—Begin, murderer; pox, leave
  337. 2061 thy damnable faces, and begin. Come:—'The croaking raven doth
  338. 2062 bellow for revenge.'
  339. Lucianus
  340. 2063 Thoughts black, hands apt, drugs fit, and time agreeing;
  341. 2064 Confederate season, else no creature seeing;
  342. 2065 Thou mixture rank, of midnight weeds collected,
  343. 2066 With Hecate's ban thrice blasted, thrice infected,
  344. 2067 Thy natural magic and dire property
  345. 2068 On wholesome life usurp immediately.
  346. [Pours the poison into the sleeper's ears.]
  347. Hamlet
  348. 2069 He poisons him i' the garden for's estate. His name's Gonzago:
  349. 2070 The story is extant, and written in very choice Italian; you
  350. 2071 shall see anon how the murderer gets the love of Gonzago's wife.
  351. Ophelia
  352. 2072 The King rises.
  353. Hamlet
  354. 2073 What, frighted with false fire!
  355. Queen Gertrude
  356. 2074 How fares my lord?
  357. Polonius
  358. 2075 Give o'er the play.
  359. King Claudius
  360. 2076 Give me some light:—away!
  361. All
  362. 2077 Lights, lights, lights!
  363. [Exeunt all but Hamlet and Horatio.]
  364. Hamlet
  365. 2078 Why, let the strucken deer go weep,
  366. 2079 The hart ungalled play;
  367. 2080 For some must watch, while some must sleep:
  368. 2081 So runs the world away.—
  369. 2082 Would not this, sir, and a forest of feathers—if the rest of my
  370. 2083 fortunes turn Turk with me,—with two Provincial roses on my
  371. 2084 razed shoes, get me a fellowship in a cry of players, sir?
  372. Horatio
  373. 2085 Half a share.
  374. Hamlet
  375. 2086 A whole one, I.
  376. 2087 For thou dost know, O Damon dear,
  377. 2088 This realm dismantled was
  378. 2089 Of Jove himself; and now reigns here
  379. 2090 A very, very—pajock.
  380. Horatio
  381. 2091 You might have rhymed.
  382. Hamlet
  383. 2092 O good Horatio, I'll take the ghost's word for a thousand
  384. 2093 pound! Didst perceive?
  385. Horatio
  386. 2094 Very well, my lord.
  387. Hamlet
  388. 2095 Upon the talk of the poisoning?—
  389. Horatio
  390. 2096 I did very well note him.
  391. Hamlet
  392. 2097 Ah, ha!—Come, some music! Come, the recorders!—
  393. 2098 For if the king like not the comedy,
  394. 2099 Why then, belike he likes it not, perdy.
  395. 2100 Come, some music!
  396. [Enter Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.]
  397. Guildenstern
  398. 2101 Good my lord, vouchsafe me a word with you.
  399. Hamlet
  400. 2102 Sir, a whole history.
  401. Guildenstern
  402. 2103 The king, sir—
  403. Hamlet
  404. 2104 Ay, sir, what of him?
  405. Guildenstern
  406. 2105 Is, in his retirement, marvellous distempered.
  407. Hamlet
  408. 2106 With drink, sir?
  409. Guildenstern
  410. 2107 No, my lord; rather with choler.
  411. Hamlet
  412. 2108 Your wisdom should show itself more richer to signify this to
  413. 2109 the doctor; for me to put him to his purgation would perhaps
  414. 2110 plunge him into far more choler.
  415. Guildenstern
  416. 2111 Good my lord, put your discourse into some frame, and start
  417. 2112 not so wildly from my affair.
  418. Hamlet
  419. 2113 I am tame, sir:—pronounce.
  420. Guildenstern
  421. 2114 The queen, your mother, in most great affliction of spirit,
  422. 2115 hath sent me to you.
  423. Hamlet
  424. 2116 You are welcome.
  425. Guildenstern
  426. 2117 Nay, good my lord, this courtesy is not of the right breed.
  427. 2118 If it shall please you to make me a wholesome answer, I will do
  428. 2119 your mother's commandment: if not, your pardon and my return
  429. 2120 shall be the end of my business.
  430. Hamlet
  431. 2121 Sir, I cannot.
  432. Guildenstern
  433. 2122 What, my lord?
  434. Hamlet
  435. 2123 Make you a wholesome answer; my wit's diseased: but, sir, such
  436. 2124 answer as I can make, you shall command; or rather, as you say,
  437. 2125 my mother: therefore no more, but to the matter: my mother, you
  438. 2126 say,—
  439. Rosencrantz
  440. 2127 Then thus she says: your behaviour hath struck her into
  441. 2128 amazement and admiration.
  442. Hamlet
  443. 2129 O wonderful son, that can so stonish a mother!—But is there no
  444. 2130 sequel at the heels of this mother's admiration?
  445. Rosencrantz
  446. 2131 She desires to speak with you in her closet ere you go to bed.
  447. Hamlet
  448. 2132 We shall obey, were she ten times our mother. Have you any
  449. 2133 further trade with us?
  450. Rosencrantz
  451. 2134 My lord, you once did love me.
  452. Hamlet
  453. 2135 And so I do still, by these pickers and stealers.
  454. Rosencrantz
  455. 2136 Good my lord, what is your cause of distemper? you do, surely,
  456. 2137 bar the door upon your own liberty if you deny your griefs to
  457. 2138 your friend.
  458. Hamlet
  459. 2139 Sir, I lack advancement.
  460. Rosencrantz
  461. 2140 How can that be, when you have the voice of the king himself
  462. 2141 for your succession in Denmark?
  463. Hamlet
  464. 2142 Ay, sir, but 'While the grass grows'—the proverb is something
  465. 2143 musty.
  466. [Re-enter the Players, with recorders.]
  467. Hamlet
  468. 2144 O, the recorders:—let me see one.—To withdraw with you:—why do
  469. 2145 you go about to recover the wind of me, as if you would drive me
  470. 2146 into a toil?
  471. Guildenstern
  472. 2147 O my lord, if my duty be too bold, my love is too unmannerly.
  473. Hamlet
  474. 2148 I do not well understand that. Will you play upon this pipe?
  475. Guildenstern
  476. 2149 My lord, I cannot.
  477. Hamlet
  478. 2150 I pray you.
  479. Guildenstern
  480. 2151 Believe me, I cannot.
  481. Hamlet
  482. 2152 I do beseech you.
  483. Guildenstern
  484. 2153 I know, no touch of it, my lord.
  485. Hamlet
  486. 2154 'Tis as easy as lying: govern these ventages with your
  487. 2155 finger and thumb, give it breath with your mouth, and it will
  488. 2156 discourse most eloquent music. Look you, these are the stops.
  489. Guildenstern
  490. 2157 But these cannot I command to any utterance of harmony; I
  491. 2158 have not the skill.
  492. Hamlet
  493. 2159 Why, look you now, how unworthy a thing you make of me! You
  494. 2160 would play upon me; you would seem to know my stops; you would
  495. 2161 pluck out the heart of my mystery; you would sound me from my
  496. 2162 lowest note to the top of my compass; and there is much music,
  497. 2163 excellent voice, in this little organ, yet cannot you make it
  498. 2164 speak. 'Sblood, do you think I am easier to be played on than a
  499. 2165 pipe? Call me what instrument you will, though you can fret me,
  500. 2166 you cannot play upon me.
  501. [Enter Polonius.]
  502. Hamlet
  503. 2167 God bless you, sir!
  504. Polonius
  505. 2168 My lord, the queen would speak with you, and presently.
  506. Hamlet
  507. 2169 Do you see yonder cloud that's almost in shape of a camel?
  508. Polonius
  509. 2170 By the mass, and 'tis like a camel indeed.
  510. Hamlet
  511. 2171 Methinks it is like a weasel.
  512. Polonius
  513. 2172 It is backed like a weasel.
  514. Hamlet
  515. 2173 Or like a whale.
  516. Polonius
  517. 2174 Very like a whale.
  518. Hamlet
  519. 2175 Then will I come to my mother by and by.—They fool me to the
  520. 2176 top of my bent.—I will come by and by.
  521. Polonius
  522. 2177 I will say so.
  523. [Exit.]
  524. Hamlet
  525. 2178 By-and-by is easily said.
  526. [Exit Polonius.]
  527. Hamlet
  528. 2179 —Leave me, friends.
  529. [Exeunt Ros, Guil., Hor., and Players.]
  530. Hamlet
  531. 2180 'Tis now the very witching time of night,
  532. 2181 When churchyards yawn, and hell itself breathes out
  533. 2182 Contagion to this world: now could I drink hot blood,
  534. 2183 And do such bitter business as the day
  535. 2184 Would quake to look on. Soft! now to my mother.—
  536. 2185 O heart, lose not thy nature; let not ever
  537. 2186 The soul of Nero enter this firm bosom:
  538. 2187 Let me be cruel, not unnatural;
  539. 2188 I will speak daggers to her, but use none;
  540. 2189 My tongue and soul in this be hypocrites,—
  541. 2190 How in my words somever she be shent,
  542. 2191 To give them seals never, my soul, consent!
  543. [Exit.]