Page:Hamlet - The Arden Shakespeare - 1899.djvu/102

Into the madness wherein^{[a 1]} now he raves 150
And all we mourn^{[a 2]} for.

King. Do you think 'tis this?^{[a 3]}

Queen. It may be, very likely.^{[a 4]}

Pol. Hath there been such a time, I'd^{[a 5]} fain know that,
That I have positively said "'tis so,"
When it proved otherwise?

King. Not that I know. 155

Pol. Take this from this,^{[b 1]} if this be otherwise.
If circumstances lead me, I will find
Where truth is hid, though it were hid indeed
Within the centre.^{[b 2]}

King. How may we try it further?

Pol. You know, sometimes he walks four^{[a 6][b 3]} hours together 160
Here in the lobby.

Queen. So he does,^{[a 7]} indeed.

Pol. At such a time I'll loose^{[b 4]} my daughter to him;
Be you and I behind an arras then;^{[a 8]}

1. 150. wherein] Q, whereon F.
2. 151. mourn] Q, wail F and many editors.
3. 152. 'tis this] F, this Q.
4. 152. likely] F, like Q.
5. 153. I'd] F, I would Q.
6. 160. four] Hanmer, followed by other editions, reads for.
7. 161. does] Q, has F.
8. 163. arras then;] arras then, Q, F; arras; then Staunton.

1. 156. Take this from this] Theobald here added a stage direction, "Pointing to his head and shoulders"; he has been followed by many editors. Stage tradition may have guided Theobald. But see lines 166, 167. May not "this from this" mean the chamberlain's staff or wand and the hand which bears it?
2. 159. centre] that is, of the earth, and so, according to Ptolemaic astronomy, of the universe. Compare Midsummer Night's Dream, III. ii. 54.
3. 160. four] Hanmer's emendation for is specious. But Elze (Shakespeare Jahrbuch, B. xi.) has shown the use by Elizabethan writers of four, forty, forty thousand to express an indefinite number. Malone cites Webster, Duchess of Malfi: "She will muse four hours together"; and Clar. Press, Pattenham, Arte of English Poesie: "laughing and gibing . . . foure houres by the clocke."
4. 162. loose] The word reminds the King and Queen that he has restrained Ophelia from communication with Hamlet.