irectly
applicable.]

ACT III.

SCENE I.--A ROOM IN THE CASTLE.

_Three chairs on_ L.H., _one on_ R.

_Enter_ KING _and_ QUEEN, _preceded by_ POLONIUS. OPHELIA,
ROSENCRANTZ, _and_ GIULDENSTERN, _following_ (R.H.)

_King._ (C.) And can you, by no drift of conference,
Get from him why he puts on this confusion?

_Ros._ (R.) He does confess he feels himself distracted;
But from what cause he will by no means speak.

_Guild._ (R.) Nor do we find him forward[1] to be sounded
But, with a crafty madness, keeps aloof,
When we would bring him on to some confession
Of his true state.

_Queen._ (R.C.) Did you assay him[2]
To any pastime?

_Ros._ Madam, it so fell out, that certain players
We o'er-raught on the way:[3] of these we told him;
And there did seem in him a kind of joy
To hear of it: They are about the court;
And, as I think, they have already order
This night to play before him.

_Pol._ 'Tis most true:
And he beseech'd me to entreat your majesties
To hear and see the matter.

_King._ With all my heart; and it doth much content me
To hear him so inclin'd.
Good gentlemen, give him a further edge,
And drive his purpose on to these delights.

_Ros._ We shall, my lord.

[_Exeunt_ ROSENCRANTZ _and_ GUILDENSTERN, R.H.]

_King._ Sweet Gertrude, leave us too;
For we have closely sent[4] for Hamlet hither,
That he, as 'twere by accident, may here
Affront Ophelia:[5]
Her father and myself (lawful espials[6]),
Will so bestow ourselves, that, seeing, unseen,
We may of their encounter frankly judge;
And gather by him, as he is behaved,
If't be the affliction of his love or no
That thus he suffers for.

_Queen._ (R.) I shall obey you:
And for your part, Ophelia,

[OPHELIA _comes down_ L.H.]

I do wish
That your good beauties be the happy cause
Of Hamlet's wildness: so shall I hope your virtues
Will bring him to his wonted way again,
To both your honours.

_Oph._ Madam, I wish it may.

[_Exit_ QUEEN, R.H.]

_Pol._ Ophelia, walk you here. Gracious, so please you,
We will bestow ourselves. Read on this book;

[_To_ OPHELIA.]

That show of such an exercise may colour
Your loneliness. We are oft to blame in this,--
'Tis too much prov'd,[7] that, with devotion's visage
And