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Hamlet

Page 88

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As false as dicers' oaths: O, such a deed

As from the body of contraction53 plucks The very soul, and sweet religion makes

A rhapsody of words. Heaven's face doth glow55: Yea, this solidity and compound mass56

With tristful visage, as against the doom57, Is thought-sick at the act.

GERTRUDE Ay me, what act,

That roars so loud and thunders in the index60?

HAMLET Look here, upon this picture, and on this,

Shows her two pictures

The counterfeit presentment62 of two brothers.

See what a grace was seated on his brow:

Hyperion's curls, the front64 of Jove himself, An eye like Mars65 to threaten or command, A station like the herald Mercury66

New-lighted67 on a heaven-kissing hill, A combination and a form indeed

Where every god did seem to set his seal69

To give the world assurance of a man:

This was your husband. Look you now, what follows:

Here is your husband, like a mildewed ear72, Blasting73 his wholesome brother. Have you eyes?

Could you on this fair mountain leave74 to feed And batten on this moor75? Ha! Have you eyes?

You cannot call it love, for at your age

The heyday in the blood77 is tame, it's humble, And waits upon the judgement: and what judgement

Would step from this to this? What devil was't

That thus hath cozened you at hoodman-blind80?

O, shame, where is thy blush? Rebellious hell,

If thou canst mutine in a matron's82 bones, To flaming youth let virtue be as wax

And melt in her own fire. Proclaim no shame

When the compulsive ardour gives the charge85, Since frost86 itself as actively doth burn And reason panders will87.

GERTRUDE O Hamlet, speak no more:

Thou turn'st mine eyes into my very soul,

And there I see such black and grained90 spots As will not leave their tinct91.

HAMLET Nay, but to live

In the rank sweat of an enseamed93 bed, Stewed in corruption, honeying and making love94



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