her. The dead body is carried away. The Poisoner woos the Queen with gifts. She seems loth and unwilling awhile, but in the end accepts his love. 

 [Exeunt.] 

 OPHELIA. What means this, my lord? 

 HAMLET. Marry, this is miching mallicho; it means mischief. 

 OPHELIA. Belike this show imports the argument of the play. 

 Enter Prologue. 

Prologue

 HAMLET. We shall know by this fellow: the players cannot keep counsel; they’ll tell all. 

 OPHELIA. Will they tell us what this show meant? 

 HAMLET. Ay, or any show that you’ll show him. Be not you ashamed to show, he’ll not shame to tell you what it means. 

 OPHELIA. You are naught, you are naught: I’ll mark the play. 

 PROLOGUE. For us, and for our tragedy, Here stooping to your clemency, We beg your hearing patiently. 

 HAMLET. Is this a prologue, or the posy of a ring? 

 OPHELIA. ’Tis brief, my lord. 

 HAMLET. As woman’s love. 

 Enter a King and a Queen. 

King

Queen

 PLAYER KING. Full thirty times hath Phoebus’ cart gone round Neptune’s salt wash and Tellus’ orbed ground, And thirty dozen moons with borrow’d sheen About the world have times twelve thirties been, Since love our hearts, and Hymen did our hands Unite commutual in most sacred bands. 

 PLAYER QUEEN. So many journeys may the sun and moon Make us again count o’er ere love be done. But, woe is me, you are so sick of late, So far from cheer and from your former state, 

 Prev. P 52/106 next