Page 150 - Hamlet: The Cambridge Dover Wilson Shakespeare

a.2.141 PRINCE OF D E N M A R K 43

'Lord Hamlet is a prince out of thy star,
This must not be': and then I prescripts gave her
That she should lock herself from his resort,
Admit no messengers, receive no tokens.
Which done, she took the fruits of my advice:
And he repelled, a short tale to make,
Fell into a sadness, then into a fast,
Thence to a watch, thence into a weakness,
Thence to a lightness, and by this declension,.
Into the madness wherein now he raves, 150
And all we mourn for.
King. Do you think'tis this?
Queen. It may be, very like.
Polonius. Hath there been such a time, I would fain.
know that,
That I have positively said "Tis so,'
When it proved otherwise?
King. Not that I know.
Polonius. Take this from this, if this be otherwise;
[he points to Ms head and shoulder
If circumstances lead me, I will find
Where truth is hid, though it were hid indeed
Within the Centre.

[f Hamlet, disorderly attired and reading a book, entert
the lobby by the door at the back; he hears voices from the
chamber and pauses a moment beside one of the curtains^
unobserved]

King. How may we try it further?
Polonius. You know sometimes he walks four
hours together 160
Here in the lobby.
. So he does, Indeed.