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Hamlet

Page 39

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Lord Hamlet, with his doublet all unbraced85,

No hat86 upon his head, his stockings fouled,

Ungartered, and down-gyved87 to his ankle,

Pale as his shirt, his knees knocking each other,

And with a look so piteous in purport89

As if he had been loosed out of hell

To speak of horrors -- he comes before me.

POLONIUS Mad for thy love?

OPHELIA My lord, I do not know, but truly I do fear it.

POLONIUS What said he?

OPHELIA He took me by the wrist and held me hard;

Then goes he to the length of all his arm96,

And with his other hand thus o'er his brow

He falls to such perusal of my face

As99 he would draw it. Long stayed he so.

At last, a little shaking of mine arm

And thrice his head thus waving up and down,

He raised a sigh so piteous and profound

That it did seem to shatter all his bulk

And end his being: that done, he lets me go,

And, with his head over his shoulders turned,

He seemed to find his way without his eyes,

For out o'doors he went without their help,

And to the last, bended their light108 on me.

POLONIUS Go with me: I will go seek the king.

This is the very ecstasy110 of love,

Whose violent property fordoes itself111

And leads the will to desperate undertakings

As oft as any passion under heaven

That does afflict our natures. I am sorry.



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