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The Tragedy of Hamlet,

Enter Polonius.

God bless you, sir!

Pol. My lord, the queen would speak with
you, and presently.

Ham. Do you see yonder cloud that's almost
in shape of a camel? 401

Pol. By the mass, and 'tis like a camel, indeed.

Ham. Methinks it is like a weasel.

Pol. It is backed like a weasel. 404

Ham. Or like a whale?

Pol. Very like a whale.

Ham. Then I will come to my mother by
and by. [Aside.] They fool me to the top of my
bent. [Aloud.] I will come by and by. 409

Pol. I will say so. Exit.

Ham. By and by is easily said. Leave me,
friends. [Exeunt all but Hamlet.]
'Tis now the very witching time of night, 413
When churchyards yawn and hell itself breathes out
Contagion to this world: now could I drink hot blood,
And do such bitter business as the day 416
Would quake to look on. Soft! now to my mother.
O heart! lose not thy nature; let not ever
The soul of Nero enter this firm bosom;
Let me be cruel, not unnatural; 420
I will speak daggers to her, but use none;
My tongue and soul in this be hypocrites;
How in my words soever she be shent,
To give them seals never, my soul, consent! 424

Exit.


409 bent: degree of endurance; cf. n.
413 witching: when spells are cast
419 Nero; cf. n.
423 shent: rebuked
424 give them seals: confirm them by making words into deeds