ire.

_Queen._ O, Hamlet, speak no more:
Thou turn'st mine eyes into my very soul;
And there I see such black and grained spots
As will not leave their tinct.[128]

_Ham._ Nay, but to live
In the rank sweat of an enseamed bed,----[129]

_Queen._ O, speak to me no more;
No more, sweet Hamlet!

_Ham._ A murderer and a villain:
A slave that is not twentieth part the tythe
Of your precedent lord;--a vice of kings;[130]
A cutpurse of the empire and the rule;
That from a shelf the precious diadem stole,
And put it in his pocket![131]

_Queen._ No more!

_Ham._ A king
Of shreds and patches.[132]

[_Enter_ Ghost, R.]

Save me

[_Starts from his chair_],

and hover o'er me with your wings,
You heavenly guards! What would your gracious figure?

_Queen._ Alas, he's mad!

[_Rising._]

_Ham._ (L.) Do you not come your tardy son to chide,
That, laps'd in time and passion,[133] lets go by
The important acting of your dread command?
O, say!

_Ghost._ (R.) Do not forget: This visitation
Is but to whet thy almost blunted purpose.
But, look, amazement on thy mother sits:
O, step between her and her fighting soul.
Speak to her Hamlet.

_Ham._ How is it with you, lady?

_Queen._ Alas, how is't with you,
That you do bend your eye on vacancy,
And with the incorporal air do hold discourse?
Forth at your eyes your spirits wildly peep.
O gentle son,

[_Crosses to_ HAMLET.]

Upon the heat and flame of thy distemper
Sprinkle cool patience.[134] Whereon do you look?

_Ham._ On him, on him!--Look you, how pale he glares!
His form and cause conjoin'd, preaching to stones,
Would make them capable.[135] Do not look upon me;
Lest with this piteous action, you convert
My stern effects:[136] then what I have to do
Will want true colour; tears perchance, for blood.

_Queen._ To whom do you speak this?

_Ham._ Do you see nothing there?

_Queen._ Nothing at all; yet all that is, I see.[137]

_Ham._ Nor did you nothing hear?

_Queen._ No, nothing but ourselves.

_Ham._ Why, look you there! look, how it steals away!

[_Ghost crosses to_ L.]

My father in his habit as he lived![138]
Look, where he goes, even now, out at the portal!