Hamlet

HAMLET Nay, that follows not405.

POLONIUS What follows, then, my lord?

HAMLET Why,

'As by lot, God wot408',

and then, you know,

'It came to pass, as most like410 it was' --

the first row of the pious chanson411 will show you more,

for look where my abridgements412 come.--

Enter four or five Players

You're welcome, masters, welcome all.-- I am glad to see

thee well.-- Welcome, good friends.-- O, my old friend! Thy

face is valanced since I saw thee last: com'st thou to beard415

me in Denmark?-- What, my young lady and mistress! By'r416

lady, your ladyship417 is nearer heaven than when I saw you

last, by the altitude of a chopine418. Pray God your voice, like a

piece of uncurrent gold, be not cracked within the ring419.

Masters, you are all welcome. We'll e'en to't420 like French

falconers, fly at anything we see. We'll have a speech

straight: come, give us a taste of your quality422: come, a

passionate speech.

FIRST PLAYER What speech, my lord?

HAMLET I heard thee speak me a speech once, but it was

never acted, or if it was, not above once, for the play, I

remember, pleased not the million: 'twas caviar to the427

general. But it was -- as I received it, and others, whose

judgement in such matters cried in the top of429 mine -- an

excellent play, well digested430 in the scenes, set down with as

much modesty as cunning431. I remember one said there was

no sallets in the lines to make the matter savoury432, nor no

matter in the phrase that might indict433 the author of