The courtier's, soldier's,
scholar's, eye, tongue, sword,
Th' expectancy and rose of the fair state,
The glass of fashion and the mould of form,
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Th' observed of all observers, quite, quite down!
And I, of ladies most deject and wretched,
That sucked the honey of his music vows,
Now see that noble and most sovereign reason
Like sweet bells jangled, out of tune and harsh;
160
That unmatched form and feature of blown youth
Blasted with ecstasy. Oh, woe is me,
T' have seen what I have seen, see what I see!
OPHELIA
Oh, how noble his mind used to be, and how lost he is now! He used
to have a gentleman's grace, a scholar's wit,
and a soldier's strength. He used to be the jewel of our
country, the obvious heir to the throne, the one everyone admired
and imitated. And now he has fallen so low! And of all the miserable
women who once enjoyed hearing his sweet, seductive words, I am the
most miserable. A mind that used to sing so sweetly is now
completely out of tune, making harsh sounds instead of fine notes.
The unparalleled appearance and nobility he had in the full bloom of
his youth has been ruined by madness. O, how miserable I am to see
Hamlet now and know what he was before!
CLAUDIUS and
POLONIUS come forward
CLAUDIUS and
POLONIUS come forward.
CLAUDIUS
Love? His affections do not that way tend.
Nor what he spake, though it lacked form a little,
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Was not like madness. There's something in his soul
O'er which his melancholy sits on brood,
And I do doubt the hatch and the disclose
Will be some danger—which for to prevent,
I have in quick determination
170
Thus set it down: he shall with speed to England
For the demand of our neglected tribute.
Haply the seas and countries different
With variable objects shall expel
This something-settled matter in his heart,
175
Whereon his brains still beating puts him thus
From fashion of himself. What think you on 't?
CLAUDIUS
Love? His feelings don't move in that direction. And
his words, although they were a little disorganized,
weren't crazy. No, his sadness is hatching something,
like a hen does sitting on an egg. What hatches very well may be
dangerous. So to prevent any harm being done, I've made a
quick executive decision: he'll be sent to England to try
to get back the money they owe us. With any luck, the sea and new
countries will push out these thoughts that have somehow taken root
in his mind. What do you think of this plan?
POLONIUS
It shall do well. But yet do I believe
The origin and commencement of his grief
Sprung from neglected love.—How now, Ophelia?
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You need not tell us what Lord Hamlet said.
POLONIUS
It should work. But I still believe that his madness was caused by
unrequited love.—Hello, Ophelia. You don't
have to tell us what Lord Hamlet said.
