as it used to be—that I've found out why
Hamlet's gone crazy.
CLAUDIUS
50
Oh, speak of that. That do I long to hear.
CLAUDIUS
Tell me! I want very much to find out.
POLONIUS
Give first admittance to th' ambassadors.
My news shall be the fruit to that great feast.
POLONIUS
All right, but first let the ambassadors speak. Then you can hear
my news, as dessert.
CLAUDIUS
Thyself do grace to them, and bring them in.
CLAUDIUS
Then be so kind as to show them in.
Exit POLONIUS
POLONIUS exits.
He tells me, my dear Gertrude, he hath found
55
The head and source of all your son's distemper.
Gertrude, he says he's found out the reason for your
son's insanity.
GERTRUDE
I doubt it is no other but the main:
His father's death and our o'erhasty
marriage.
GERTRUDE
I doubt it's anything but the obvious reason: his
father's dying and our quick marriage.
Enter POLONIUS with ambassadors
VOLTEMAND and CORNELIUS
POLONIUS enters with the ambassadors
VOLTEMAND and
CORNELIUS.
CLAUDIUS
Well, we shall sift him.—Welcome, my good friends!
Say, Voltemand, what from our brother Norway?
CLAUDIUS
Well, we'll get to the bottom of it. Welcome, my good
friends. Tell me, Voltemand, what's the news from the
king of Norway?
VOLTEMAND
60
Most fair return of greetings and desires.
Upon our first, he sent out to suppress
His nephew's levies, which to him appeared
To be a preparation 'gainst the Polack,
But, better looked into, he truly found
65
It was against your highness. Whereat grieved—
That so his sickness, age, and impotence
Was falsely borne in hand—sends out arrests
On Fortinbras, which he, in brief, obeys,
Receives rebuke from Norway, and in fine
70
Makes vow before his uncle never more
To give th' assay of arms against your majesty.
Whereon old Norway, overcome with joy,
VOLTEMAND
Greetings to you too, your Highness. As soon as we raised the
matter, the king sent out messengers to stop his nephew's
war preparations, which he originally thought were directed against
Poland but learned on closer examination were directed against you.
He was very upset that Fortinbras had taken advantage of his being
old and sick to deceive him, and he ordered Fortinbras's
arrest. Fortinbras swore never to threaten Denmark again.
