Act II

But how hath she

Received his love?

What do you think of me?

As of a man faithful and honourable.

When I had seen this hot love on the wing⁠—

As I perceived it, I must tell you that,

Before my daughter told me⁠—what might you,

Or my dear majesty your queen here, think,

If I had play’d the desk or table-book,

Or given my heart a winking, mute and dumb,

Or look’d upon this love with idle sight;

What might you think? No, I went round to work,

And my young mistress thus I did bespeak:

“Lord Hamlet is a prince, out of thy star;

This must not be:” and then I precepts gave her,

That she should lock herself from his resort,

Admit no messengers, receive no tokens.

Which done, she took the fruits of my advice;

And he, repulsed⁠—a short tale to make⁠—

Fell into a sadness, then into a fast,

Thence to a watch, thence into a weakness,

Thence to a lightness, and, by this declension,

Into the madness wherein now he raves,

And all we mourn for.