Page 303 - Hamlet: The Cambridge Dover Wilson Shakespeare

196 NOTE S 3.3.
could play Ercles rarely, or a part to tear a cat in, to
make all split.' Referring to the violent action of the old
miracle plays, v. G. 'Termagant,' 'Herod.'
12. inexplicable dumb-shows This express condemna-
tion of Dumb-shows proves that Ham. must not be held
responsible for the Dumb-show that follows.
20. from the purpose—contrary to the purpose.
20-24. whose end.. .pressure This famous declara-
tion has relevance to the Gonzago play, to Hamlet itself,
and to the whole question of 'topicality' in Sh. Cf. note
2. 2. 528-30. 'Playing' includes the art of the play-
wright; 'scorn' «= that which should be scorned, v. G.,
for 'body of the time' cf. J.T.L. 2. 1. 58-9.
21—2. hold... nature = not 'reflect nature' but
'show human nature the ideal.'
26-7. the judicious. ..of the which one The singular
suggests reference to a special patron. Southampton,
who is known to have frequented plays assiduously in
1599, was in the Tower after Feb. 1601.
28-34. 0 there be players etc. Another hit at the
•robustious periwig-pated fellow' (cf. note 3. 2. 3-14).
Lucianus later makes- 'damnable faces' and Ham.
sarcastically bids him 'bellow' (v. 11. 252-54).
34. abominably Q2 'abhominably.' The mod. sp.
conceals the quibble; the word being supposed to derive
from 'ab homine.'
35-6. / hope.. .indifferently with us This dubious
assurance of reformation is a confession that Ham.'s
strictures refer to him and his company.
37-43.* and let those that play your chwm etc. No
clown appears in the Gonzago play, so that these words
seem directed against a real down recognisable by Sh.'s
audience. This is supported by an extension of the
passage in Hamlet, 1603 (Qi), which runs (in mod.
spelling):
And then you have some again that keep one suit of jests,
as a man is known by one suit of apparel 5 and gentlemen