Hamlet

BAPTISTA Nor204 earth to me give food, nor heaven light,

Sport and repose lock from me day and night205,

Each opposite that blanks206 the face of joy

Meet what I would have well and it destroy207!

Both here and hence208 pursue me lasting strife,

If, once a widow, ever I be wife!

HAMLET If she should break it now!

PLAYER KING 'Tis deeply sworn. Sweet, leave me here awhile:

My spirits grow dull, and fain I would beguile212

The tedious day with sleep.

BAPTISTA Sleep rock thy brain,

[He] sleeps

And never come mischance between us twain.

Exit

HAMLET Madam, how like you this play?

GERTRUDE The lady protests217 too much, methinks.

HAMLET O, but she'll keep her word.

KING Have you heard the argument? Is there no offence219

in't?

HAMLET No, no, they do but jest221, poison in jest: no offence

i'th'world.

KING What do you call the play?

HAMLET The Mousetrap. Marry, how? Tropically224. This play is

the image of a murder done in Vienna: Gonzago is the duke's225

name, his wife, Baptista. You shall see anon: 'tis a knavish

piece of work, but what o'that? Your majesty and we that

have free souls, it touches us not: let the galled jade wince228,

our withers are unwrung229.

Enter Lucianus

This is one Lucianus, nephew to the king.