would have well, and it destroy! Both here and hence pursue me lasting strife, If, once a widow, ever I be wife. 

 HAMLET. [To Ophelia.] If she should break it now. 

 PLAYER KING. ’Tis deeply sworn. Sweet, leave me here awhile. My spirits grow dull, and fain I would beguile The tedious day with sleep. [Sleeps.] 

 PLAYER QUEEN. Sleep rock thy brain, And never come mischance between us twain. 

 [Exit.] 

 HAMLET. Madam, how like you this play? 

 QUEEN. The lady protests too much, methinks. 

 HAMLET. O, but she’ll keep her word. 

 KING. Have you heard the argument? Is there no offence in’t? 

 HAMLET. No, no, they do but jest, poison in jest; no offence i’ th’ world. 

 KING. What do you call the play? 

 HAMLET. The Mousetrap. Marry, how? Tropically. This play is the image of a murder done in Vienna. Gonzago is the Duke’s name, his wife Baptista: you shall see anon; ’tis a knavish piece of work: but what o’ that? Your majesty, and we that have free souls, it touches us not. Let the gall’d jade wince; our withers are unwrung. 

 Enter Lucianus. 

Lucianus

 This is one Lucianus, nephew to the King. 

 OPHELIA. You are a good chorus, my lord. 

 HAMLET. I could interpret between you and your love, if I could see the puppets dallying. 

 OPHELIA. You are keen, my lord, you are keen. 

 HAMLET. It would cost you a groaning to take off my edge. 

 OPHELIA. Still better, and worse. 

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