They are here at court now, and I believe they've been
told to give a performance for him tonight.
POLONIUS
'Tis
most true,
And he beseeched me to entreat your Majesties
To hear and see the matter.
POLONIUS
It's true, and he asked me to beg you both to
attend.
CLAUDIUS
With all my heart, and it doth much content me
25
To hear him so inclined.
Good gentlemen, give him a further edge,
And drive his purpose on to these delights.
CLAUDIUS
It makes me very happy to hear he's so interested.
Gentlemen, please try to sharpen his interest even more, and let
this play do him some good.
ROSENCRANTZ
We shall, my lord.
ROSENCRANTZ
We will, my lord.
Exeunt ROSENCRANTZ and
GUILDENSTERN
ROSENCRANTZ and
GUILDENSTERN exit.
CLAUDIUS
Sweet Gertrude, leave us too,
30
For we have closely sent for Hamlet hither,
That he, as 'twere by accident, may here
Affront Ophelia.
Her father and myself (lawful espials)
Will so bestow ourselves that, seeing unseen,
35
We may of their encounter frankly judge,
And gather by him, as he is behaved,
If 't be the affliction of his love or no
That thus he suffers for.
CLAUDIUS
Dear Gertrude, please give us a moment alone. We've
secretly arranged for Hamlet to come here so that he can run into
Ophelia. Her father and I, justifiably acting as spies, will hide in
the room and observe Hamlet's behavior, to determine
whether it's love that's making him
suffer.
GERTRUDE
I shall obey you.
And for your part, Ophelia, I do wish
40
That your good beauties be the happy cause
Of Hamlet's wildness. So shall I hope your virtues
Will bring him to his wonted way again,
To both your honors.
GERTRUDE
Yes, I'll go. As for you, Ophelia, I hope that your
beauty is the reason for Hamlet's insane behavior, just
as I hope your virtues will return him to normal some day, for the
good of both of you.
