The head is not more native to the heart,
The hand more instrumental to the mouth, 48
Than is the throne of Denmark to thy father.
What wouldst thou have, Laertes?
Laer. Dread my lord,
Your leave and favour to return to France;
From whence though willingly I came to Denmark, 52
To show my duty in your coronation,
Yet now, I must confess, that duty done,
My thoughts and wishes bend again toward France
And bow them to your gracious leave and pardon. 56
King. Have you your father's leave? What says Polonius?
Pol. He hath, my lord, [wrung from me my slow leave
By laboursome petition, and at last
Upon his will I seal'd my hard consent:] 60
I do beseech you, give him leave to go.
King. Take thy fair hour, Laertes; time be thine,
And thy best graces spend it at thy will.
But now, my cousin Hamlet, and my son,—64
Ham. [Aside]. A little more than kin, and less than kind.
King. How is it that the clouds still hang on you?
Ham. Not so, my lord; I am too much i' the sun.
Queen. Good Hamlet, cast thy nighted colour off, 68
And let thine eye look like a friend on Denmark.
Do not for ever with thy vailed lids
Seek for thy noble father in the dust:
47 native: closely and congenitally connected
48 instrumental: serviceable
50 Dread my lord: my dread lord
51 leave and favour: kind permission
56 leave and pardon: indulgence [to depart]
60 hard: given with difficulty
63 graces: virtues
65 kin . . . kind; cf. n.
67 i' the sun; cf. n.
70 vailed: down-cast
