man positive and confident, because
he knows his mind was once strong, and knows not that it is
become weak." The idea of dotage encroaching upon wisdom will
solve all the phenomena of the character of Polonius.]

[Footnote II.2: _His bulk_,] Frame.]

[Footnote II.3: _Ecstacy of love_;] _i.e._, madness of love. In
this sense the word is now obsolete.]

[Footnote II.4:

_This must be known; which being kept close, might move
More grief to hide than hate to utter love._]

_i.e._, this must be made known to the king, for (being kept
secret) the hiding Hamlet's love might occasion more mischief to
us from him and the queen, than the uttering or revealing of it
will occasion hate and resentment from Hamlet.

It was the custom of Shakespeare's age, to conclude acts and
scenes with a couplet, a custom which was continued for nearly a
century afterwards.]

[Footnote II.5: _The understanding of himself_,] _i.e._, the just
estimate of himself.]

[Footnote II.6: _Vouchsafe your rest_] Please to reside.]

[Footnote II.7: _Of us_,] _i.e._, over us.]

[Footnote II.8: _In the full bent_,] To the full stretch and
range--a term derived from archery.]

[Footnote II.9: _The trail of policy_] The _trail_ is the
_course_ of an animal pursued by the scent.]

[Footnote II.10: _Expostulate_] To _expostulate_ is to discuss,
to put the pros and cons, to answer demands upon the question.
_Expose_ is an old term of similar import.]

[Footnote II.11: _Perpend._] _i.e._, reflect, consider
attentively.]

[Footnote II.12: _Most beautified Ophelia_,] Heywood, in his
History of Edward VI., says "Katharine Parre, Queen Dowager to
King Henry VIII., was a woman _beautified_ with many excellent
virtues." The same expression is frequently used by other old
authors.]

[Footnote II.13: _In her excellent white bosom_,] The ladies, in
Shakespeare's time, wore pockets in the front of their stays.]

[Footnote II.14: _These, &c._] In our poet's time, the word
_these_ was usually added at the end of the superscription of
letters.]

[Footnote II.15: _I am ill at these numbers_;] No talent for
these rhymes.]

[Footnote II.16: _O most best_,] An ancient mode of expression.]

[Footnote II.17: _Whilst this machine is to him_,] Belongs to,
obey his impulse; so long as h