Oph. Ay, my lord.
Ham. O God, your only jig-maker. What should a[1208]
man do but be merry? for, look you, how cheerfully my
mother looks, and my father died within 's two hours.[1209]
Oph. Nay, 'tis twice two months, my lord.[1210] 120
Ham. So long? Nay, then, let the devil wear black, for[1211][1212]
I'll have a suit of sables. O heavens! die two months ago,[1212][1213]
and not forgotten yet? Then there's hope a great man's
memory may outlive his life half a year: but, by'r lady, he[1214][1215]
must build churches then; or else shall he suffer not thinking[1215] 125
on, with the hobby-horse, whose epitaph is, 'For, O,
for, O, the hobby-horse is forgot.'[1216]
Hautboys play. The dumb-show enters.
Enter a King and a Queen very lovingly; the Queen embracing him, and he her. She kneels, and makes show of protestation unto him. He takes her up, and declines his head upon her neck: lays him down upon a bank of flowers: she, seeing him asleep, leaves him. Anon comes in a fellow, takes off his crown, kisses it, and pours poison in the King's ears, and exit. The Queen returns; finds the King dead, and makes passionate action. The Poisoner, with some two or three Mutes, comes in again, seeming to lament with her. The dead body is carried away. The Poisoner wooes the Queen with gifts: she seems loath and unwilling awhile, but in the end accepts his love.[1217]
[Exeunt.
Oph. What means this, my lord?[1218]
Ham. Marry, this is miching mallecho; it means mischief. 130
Oph. Belike this show imports the argument of the play.