moving, how express and admirable! in action
how like an angel! in apprehension how like a
god! the beauty of the world! the paragon of
animals! And yet, to me, what is this quintes-
sence of dust? man delights not me; no, nor
woman neither, though, by your smiling, you
seem to say so. 331
Ros. My lord, there was no such stuff in my
thoughts.
Ham. Why did you laugh then, when I said
'man delights not me?' 335
Ros. To think, my lord, if you delight not
in man, what lenten entertainment the players
shall receive from you: we coted them on the
way; and hither are they coming, to offer you
service. 340
Ham. He that plays the king shall be wel-
come; his majesty shall have tribute of me; the
adventurous knight shall use his foil and target;
the lover shall not sigh gratis; the humorous
man shall end his part in peace; the clown shall
make those laugh whose lungs are tickle o' the
sere; and the lady shall say her mind freely,
or the blank verse shall halt for 't. What players
are they? 349
Ros. Even those you were wont to take delight
in, the tragedians of the city.
Ham. How chances it they travel? their
residence, both in reputation and profit, was
better both ways. 354
325 express: well-modelled
326 apprehension: understanding
328 quintessence; cf. n.
332 stuff: matter
337 lenten: meagre
338 coted: passed
343 foil and target: sword and shield
344 humorous man: actor of whimsical characters
345 clown: low comedian
346 tickle o' the sere: yield easily to any impulse; cf. n.
348 halt: limp
353 residence: remaining in one place
