By heaven, it is as proper to our age

To cast beyond ourselves in our opinions

As it is common for the younger sort

To lack discretion. Come, go we to the King.

This must be known, which, being kept close, might

move

More grief to hide than hate to utter love. Exeunt

2.2 ⌈Flourish.⌉ Enter King Claudius and Queen Gertrude, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, with others

KING CLAUDIUS

Welcome, dear Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.

Moreover that we much did long to see you,

The need we have to use you did provoke

Our hasty sending. Something have you heard

Of Hamlet’s transformation—so I call it,

Since not th‘exterior nor the inward man

Resembles that it was. What it should be,

More than his father’s death, that thus hath put him

So much from th’understanding of himself,

I cannot deem of. I entreat you both

That, being of so young days brought up with him,

And since so neighboured to his youth and humour,

That you vouchsafe your rest here in our court

Some little time, so by your companies

To draw him on to pleasures, and to gather,

So much as from occasions you may glean,

Whether aught to us unknown afflicts him thus

That, opened, lies within our remedy.

QUEEN GERTRUDE

Good gentlemen, he hath much talked of you,

And sure I am two men there is not living

To whom he more adheres. If it will please you

To show us so much gentry and good will

As to expend your time with us a while

For the supply and profit of our hope,

Your visitation shall receive such thanks

As fits a king’s remembrance.

ROSENCRANTZ

Both your majesties

Might, by the sovereign power you have of us,

Put your dread pleasures more into command

Than to entreaty.

GUILDENSTERN

But we both obey,

And here give up ourselves in the full bent

To lay our service freely at your feet

To be commanded.

KING CLAUDIUS

Thanks, Rosencrantz and gentle Guildenstern.

QUEEN GERTRUDE

Thanks, Guildenstern and gentle Rosencrantz.

And I beseech you instantly to visit

My too-much changed son.—Go, some of ye,

And bring the gentlemen where Hamlet is.

GUILDENSTERN

Heavens make our presence and our practices

Pleasant and helpful to him.

QUEEN GERTRUDE

Ay, amen!

Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern ⌈with others⌉ Enter Polonius

POLONIUS

Th’ambassadors from Norway, my good lord,

Are joyfully returned.

KING CLAUDIUS

Thou still hast been the father of good news.

POLONIUS

Have I, my lord? Assure you, my good liege,

I hold my duty, as I hold my soul,

Both to my God and to my gracious King.

And I do think—or else this brain of mine

Hunts not the trail of policy so sure

As it hath used to do—that I have found

The very cause of Hamlet’s lunacy.

KING CLAUDIUS

O speak of that, that I do long to hear!

POLONIUS

Give first admittance to th’ambassadors.

My news shall be the fruit to that great feast.

KING CLAUDIUS

Thyself do grace to them, and bring them in.

Exit Polonius

He tells me, my sweet queen, that he hath found

The head and source of all your son’s distemper.

QUEEN GERTRUDE

I doubt it is no other but the main—

His father’s death and our o’er-hasty marriage.

KING CLAUDIUS

Well, we shall sift him.

Enter Polonius, Valtemand, and Cornelius Welcome, my good friends.

Say, Valtemand, what from our brother Norway?

VALTEMAND

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

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,

Makes vow before his uncle never more

To give th’essay of arms against your majesty;

Whereon old Norway, overcome with joy,

Gives him three thousand crowns in annual fee

And his commission to employ those soldiers

So levied as before, against the Polack,

With an entreaty herein further shown,

He gives a letter to Claudius

That it might please you to give quiet pass

Through your dominions for his enterprise

On such regards of safety and allowance

As therein are set down.

KING CLAUDIUS

It likes us well,

And at our more considered time we’ll read,

Answer, and think upon this business.

Meantime we thank you for your well-took labour.

Go to your rest; at night we’ll feast together.

Most welcome home.

Exeunt Valtemand and Cornelius

POLONIUS

This business is very well ended.

My liege, and madam, to expostulate

What majesty should be, what duty is,