Oph. My lord, I do not know,[619] 85
But truly I do fear it.[619]
Pol. What said he?
Oph. He took me by the wrist and held me hard;[620]
Then goes he to the length of all his arm,
And with his other hand thus o'er his brow,
He falls to such perusal of my face 90
As he would draw it. Long stay'd he so;[621]
At last, a little shaking of mine arm,[622]
And thrice his head thus waving up and down,
He raised a sigh so piteous and profound[623]
As it did seem to shatter all his bulk[624] 95
And end his being: that done, he lets me go:[625]
And with his head over his shoulder turn'd,[626]
He seem'd to find his way without his eyes;
For out o' doors he went without their helps,[627]
And to the last bended their light on me. 100
Pol. Come, go with me: I will go seek the king.[628]
This is the very ecstasy of love;
Whose violent property fordoes itself[629]
And leads the will to desperate undertakings
As oft as any passion under heaven[630] 105
That does afflict our natures. I am sorry.
What, have you given him any hard words of late?
Oph. No, my good lord, but, as you did command,
I did repel his letters and denied
His access to me.
Pol. That hath made him mad. 110
I am sorry that with better heed and judgement[631]
I had not quoted him: I fear'd he did but trifle[632]
And meant to wreck thee; but beshrew my jealousy![633]
By heaven, it is as proper to our age[634]
To cast beyond ourselves in our opinions 115
As it is common for the younger sort
To lack discretion. Come, go we to the king:[635]
This must be known; which, being kept close, might move[636]
More grief to hide than hate to utter love.[637]
Come. [Exeunt.[638] 120
Scene II. A room in the castle.
Flourish. Enter King, Queen, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, and Attendants.[639]
King. Welcome, dear Rosencrantz and Guildenstern![640][641]
Moreover that we much did long to see you,
The need we have to use you did provoke
Our hasty sending. Something have you heard[642]
Of Hamlet's transformation; so call it,[643] 5
Sith nor the exterior nor the inward man[644]
Resembles that it was. What it should be,
More than his father's death, that thus hath put him
So much from th' understanding of himself,
I cannot dream of: I entreat you both,[645] 10
That, being of so young days brought up with him
And sith so neighbour'd to his youth and haviour,[646]
That you vouchsafe your rest here in our court
Some little time: so by your companies
To draw him on to pleasures, and to gather 15
So much as from occasion you may glean,[647]
Whether aught to us unknown afflicts him thus,[648]
That open'd lies within our remedy.[649]