not craft enough to colour: I know the good
king and queen have sent for you. 297
Ros. To what end, my lord?
Ham. That you must teach me. But let me
conjure you, by the rights of our fellowship,
by the consonancy of our youth, by the obli-
gation of our ever-preserved love, and by what
more dear a better proposer could charge you
withal, be even and direct with me, whether
you were sent for or no! 305
Ros. [Aside to Guildenstern.] What say
you?
Ham. Nay, then, I have an eye of you. If
you love me, hold not off. 309
Guil. My lord, we were sent for.
Ham. I will tell you why; so shall my antici-
pation prevent your discovery, and your secrecy
to the king and queen moult no feather. I have
of late,—but wherefore I know not,—lost all my
mirth, forgone all custom of exercises; and
indeed it goes so heavily with my disposition
that this goodly frame, the earth, seems to me a
sterile promontory; this most excellent canopy,
the air, look you, this brave o'erhanging firma-
ment, this majestical roof fretted with golden
fire, why, it appears no other thing to me but
a foul and pestilent congregation of vapours.
What a piece of work is a man! How noble in
reason! how infinite in faculty! in form and
296 colour: disguise
300 conjure: adjure
301 consonancy of youth: being of the same age
303 better proposer: more skillful exhorter
304 even: straightforward
308 have an eye of you: have an eye upon you
312 prevent: precede
discovery: disclosure
319 brave: splendid
320 fretted: adorned
324 faculty: capacity
