a villain dwelling in all Denmark--
But he's an arrant knave._]

Hamlet probably begins these words in the ardour of confidence
and sincerity; but suddenly alarmed at the magnitude of the
disclosure he was going to make, and considering that, not his
friend Horatio only, but another person was present, he breaks
off suddenly:--"There's ne'er a villain in all Denmark that can
match (perhaps he would have said) my uncle in villainy; but
recollecting the danger of such a declaration, he pauses for a
moment, and then abruptly concludes:--"but he's an arrant
knave."]

[Footnote I.119: _Whirling words_,] Random words thrown out with
no specific aim.]

[Footnote I.120: _By Saint Patrick_,] At this time all the whole
northern world had their learning from Ireland; to which place it
had retired, and there flourished under the auspices of this
Saint.]

[Footnote I.121: _O'er-master it_] Get the better of it.]

[Footnote I.122: _Give it welcome._] Receive it courteously, as
you would a stranger when introduced.]

[Footnote I.123: _Antick disposition_] _i.e._, strange, foreign
to my nature, a disposition which Hamlet assumes as a protection
against the danger which he apprehends from his uncle, and as a
cloak for the concealment of his own meditated designs.]

[Footnote I.124: _Arms encumber'd thus_,] _i.e._, folded.]

[Footnote I.125: _Friending to you--shall not lack_] Disposition
to serve you shall not be wanting.]

ACT II.

SCENE I.--A ROOM IN POLONIUS'S HOUSE.

_Enter_ POLONIUS[1] (L.H.), _meeting Ophelia._ (R.H.)

_Pol._ How now, Ophelia! What's the matter?

_Oph._ O, my lord, my lord, I have been so affrighted!

_Pol._ With what, in the name of Heaven?

_Oph._ My lord, as I was sewing in my closet,
Lord Hamlet, with his doublet all unbrac'd;
Pale as his shirt; his knees knocking each other,
And with a look so piteous in purport,
He comes before me.

_Pol._ Mad for thy love?

_Oph._ My lord, I do not know;
But, truly, I do fear it.

_Pol._ What said he?

_Oph._ He took me by the wrist, and held me hard;
Then goes he to the length of all his arm;
And, with his other hand thus o'er his brow,
He falls to such perusal of my face
As he would draw it. Long staid he so;
At last,--a little shaking of mine arm,
And