All the most fairly famed tragedians
To play the small parts—as tragedians should.
A mad Archbishop! Yes, that's very good!
ACT III.
Room in the Palace prepared for a Stage performance.
Enter King Claudius and Queen, meeting Rosencrantz.
Q. A fair good morrow to you, Rosencrantz. How march the Royal revels?
Ros. Lamely, madam, lamely, like a one-legged duck. The Prince has discovered a strange play. He hath called it "A Right Reckoning Long Delayed."
Cl. And of what fashion is the Prince's play?
Ros. 'Tis an excellent poor tragedy, my Lord—a thing of shreds and patches welded into a form that hath mass without consistency, like an ill-built villa.
Q. But, sir, you should have used your best endeavours to wean his phantasy from such a play.
Ros. Madam, I did, and with some success, for he now seeth the absurdity of its tragical catastrophes, and laughs at it as freely as we do. So, albeit the poor author had hoped to have drawn tears of sympathy, the
