Enter Polonius.
God bless you, sir !
Pol. My lord, the queen would speak with
you, and presently.
Ham. Do you see yonder cloud that's almost
in shape of a camel? 401
Pol. By the mass, and 'tis like a camel, indeed.
Ham. Methinks it is like a weasel.
Pol. It is backed like a weasel. 404
Ham. Or like a whale?
Pol. Very like a whale.
Ham. Then I will come to my mother by
and by. [Aside.] They fool me to the top of my
bent. [Aloud.] I will come by and by. 409
Pol. I will say so. Exit.
Ham. By and by is easily said. Leave me, friends
[Exeunt all but Hamlet.]
'Tis now the very witching time of night, 413
When churchyards yawn and hell itself breathes out
Contagion to this world: now could I drink hot blood,
And do such bitter business as the day 416
Would quake to look on. Soft! now to my mother.
O heart! lose not thy nature; let not ever
The soul of Nero enter this firm bosom;
Let me be cruel, not unnatural; 420
I will speak daggers to her, but use none;
My tongue and soul in this be hypocrites;
How in my words soever she be shent,
To give them seals never, my soul, consent! 424
Exit.
409 bent: degree of endurance; cf. n.
413 witching: when spells are cast
419 Nero; cf. n.
423 shent: rebuked
424 give them seals: confirm them by making words into deeds
