, thence into a Weaknesse, [Sidenote: to a wath,]
Thence to a Lightnesse, and by this declension [Sidenote: to lightnes]
Into the Madnesse whereon now he raues, [Sidenote: wherein]
And all we waile for.[9] [Sidenote: mourne for]

_King_. Do you thinke 'tis this?[10] [Sidenote: thinke this?]

_Qu_. It may be very likely. [Sidenote: like]

_Pol_. Hath there bene such a time, I'de fain know that,
[Sidenote: I would]
That I haue possitiuely said, 'tis so,
When it prou'd otherwise?

_King_. Not that I know.

_Pol_. Take this from this[11]; if this be otherwise,
If Circumstances leade me, I will finde
Where truth is hid, though it were hid indeede
Within the Center.

_King_. How may we try it further?

[Footnote 1: --behaved like a piece of furniture.]

[Footnote 2: The love of talk makes a man use many idle words, foolish
expressions, and useless repetitions.]

[Footnote 3: Notwithstanding the parenthesis, I take 'Mistris' to be the
objective to 'bespeake'--that is, _address_.]

[Footnote 4: _Star_, mark of sort or quality; brand (45). The _1st Q_.
goes on--

An'd one that is vnequall for your loue:

But it may mean, as suggested by my _Reader_, 'outside thy destiny,'--as
ruled by the star of nativity--and I think it does.]

[Footnote 5: Here is a change from the impression conveyed in the first
act: he attributes his interference to his care for what befitted
royalty; whereas, talking to Ophelia (40, 72), he attributes it entirely
to his care for her;--so partly in the speech correspondent to the
present in _1st Q_.:--

Now since which time, seeing his loue thus cross'd,
Which I tooke to be idle, and but sport,
He straitway grew into a melancholy,]

[Footnote 6: See also passage in note from _1st Q_.]

[Footnote 7: She obeyed him. The 'fruits' of his advice were her
conformed actions.]

[Footnote 8: When the appetite goes, and the sleep follows, doubtless
the man is on the steep slope of madness. But as to Hamlet, and how
matters were with him, what Polonius says is worth nothing.]

[Footnote 9: '_wherein_ now he raves, and _wherefor_ all we wail.']

[Footnote 10: _To the queen_.]

[Footnote 11: head from shoulders.]

[Page 84]

_Pol_. You know sometimes
He walkes foure houres together, heere[1]
In the Lobby.

_Qu_. So he ha's indeed.