“My liege, and madam, to expostulate,” &c.
Warburton's note.
“Then as to the jingles, and play on words, let us but look into the sermons of Dr. Donne (the wittiest man of that age), and we shall find them full of this vein.”
I have, and that most carefully, read Dr. Donne's [pg 219] sermons, and find none of these jingles. The great art of an orator—to make whatever he talks of appear of importance—this, indeed, Donne has effected with consummate skill.
Ib.—
“Ham. Excellent well;
You are a fishmonger.”
That is, you are sent to fish out this secret. This is Hamlet's own meaning.
Ib.—
“Ham. For if the sun breed maggots in a dead dog,