Hamlet

They have proclaimed their malefactions578:

For murder, though it have no tongue, will speak

With most miraculous organ. I'll have these players

Play something like the murder of my father

Before mine uncle: I'll observe his looks,

I'll tent him to the quick: if he but blench583,

I know my course. The spirit that I have seen

May be the devil, and the devil hath power

T'assume a pleasing shape, yea, and perhaps,

Out of my weakness and my melancholy,

As he is very potent with such spirits588,

Abuses me to damn me. I'll have grounds

More relative590 than this: the play's the thing

Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king.

Exit

[Act 3 Scene 1]

running scene 7

Enter King, Queen, Polonius, Ophelia, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern and Lords

KING And can you by no drift of circumstance1

Get from him why he puts on this confusion,

Grating3 so harshly all his days of quiet

With turbulent and dangerous lunacy?

ROSENCRANTZ He does confess he feels himself distracted,

But from what cause he will by no means speak.

GUILDENSTERN Nor do we find him forward to be sounded7,

But with a crafty madness keeps aloof

When we would bring him on to some confession

Of his true state.

GERTRUDE Did he receive you well?

ROSENCRANTZ Most like a gentleman.