Ham. Marry, this is miching mallecho; it
means mischief. 149
Oph. Belike this show imports the argument
of the play.
Enter Prologue.
Ham. We shall know by this fellow: the
players cannot keep counsel; they'll tell all. 153
Oph. Will he tell us what this show meant?
Ham. Ay, or any show that you'll show
him; be not you ashamed to show, he'll not
shame to tell you what it means. 157
Oph. You are naught, you are naught. I'll
mark the play.
Pro. For us and for our tragedy, 160
Here stooping to your clemency,
We beg your hearing patiently.
Ham. Is this a prologue, or the posy of a
ring? 164
Oph. 'Tis brief, my lord.
Ham. As woman's love.
Enter [two Players as] King and his Queen.
[P.] King. Full thirty times hath Phœbus' cart gone round 167
Neptune's salt wash and Tellus' orbed ground,
And thirty dozen moons with borrow'd sheen
About the world have times twelve thirties been,
Since love our hearts and Hymen did our hands
Unite commutual in most sacred bands. 172
148 miching mallecho: skulking mischief; cf. n.
150 imports: indicates
153 counsel: secret
158 naught: wanton
161 stooping: bowing
163 posy: motto, short verse
167 cart: chariot
168 wash: sea
Tellus'; cf. n.
169 borrow'd sheen: reflected light
172 commutual: an intensive form of 'mutual'
