Page:Hamlet (1917) Yale.djvu/90

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The Tragedy of Hamlet,

[P.] Queen. So many journeys may the sun and moon
Make us again count o'er ere love be done!
But, woe is me! you are so sick of late, 175
So far from cheer and from your former state,
That I distrust you. Yet, though I distrust,
Discomfort you, my lord, it nothing must;
For women's fear and love holds quantity,
In neither aught, or in extremity. 180
Now, what my love is, proof hath made you know;
And as my love is siz'd, my fear is so.
[Where love is great, the littlest doubts are fear;
Where little fears grow great, great love grows there.] 184

[P.] King. Faith, I must leave thee, love, and shortly too;
My operant powers their functions leave to do:
And thou shall live in this fair world behind,
Honour'd, belov'd; and haply one as kind 188
For husband shall thou

[P.] Queen. O! confound the rest;
Such love must needs be treason in my breast:
In second husband let me be accurst;
None wed the second but who killed the first. 192

Ham. [Aside.] Wormwood, wormwood.

[P.] Queen. The instances that second marriage move,
Are base respects of thrift, but none of love;
A second time I kill my husband dead, 196
When second husband kisses me in bed.


177 I distrust you: I have misgivings on your account
179 quantity: proportion
180 In . . . extremity: in either no feeling or the very deepest
186 operant: active
194 instances: motives, inducements
move: suggest