_feeling_ him his
father. He was familiar with the lore of the supernatural, and knew the
doubt he expresses to be not without support.--His companions as well
had all been in suspense as to the identity of the apparition with the
late king.]

[Page 116]

_Enter King, Queene, Polonius, Ophelia, Rosincrance,
Guildenstern, and Lords._[1] [Sidenote: Guyldensterne, Lords.]

[Sidenote: 72] _King._ And can you by no drift of circumstance
[Sidenote: An can | of conference]
Get from him why he puts on[2] this Confusion:
Grating so harshly all his dayes of quiet
With turbulent and dangerous Lunacy.

_Rosin._ He does confesse he feeles himselfe distracted,
[Sidenote: 92] But from what cause he will by no meanes speake.
[Sidenote: a will]

_Guil._ Nor do we finde him forward to be sounded,
But with a crafty Madnesse[3] keepes aloofe:
When we would bring him on to some Confession
Of his true state.

_Qu._ Did he receiue you well?

_Rosin._ Most like a Gentleman.

_Guild._ But with much forcing of his disposition.[4]

_Rosin._ Niggard of question, but of our demands
Most free in his reply.[5]

_Qu._ Did you assay him to any pastime?

_Rosin._ Madam, it so fell out, that certaine Players
We ore-wrought on the way: of these we told him,
[Sidenote: ore-raught[6]]
And there did seeme in him a kinde of ioy
To heare of it: They are about the Court, [Sidenote: are heere about]
And (as I thinke) they haue already order
This night to play before him.

_Pol._ 'Tis most true;
And he beseech'd me to intreate your Majesties
To heare, and see the matter.

_King._ With all my heart, and it doth much content me
To heare him so inclin'd. Good Gentlemen,

[Footnote 1: This may be regarded as the commencement of the Third Act.]

[Footnote 2: The phrase seems to imply a doubt of the genuineness of the
lunacy.]

[Footnote 3: _Nominative pronoun omitted here._]

[Footnote 4: He has noted, without understanding them, the signs of
Hamlet's suspicion of themselves.]

[Footnote 5: Compare the seemingly opposite statements of the two:
Hamlet had bewildered them.]

[Foonote 6: _over-reached_--came up with, caught up, overtook.]

[Page 118]

Giue him a further edge,[1] and driue his purpose on
[Sidenote: purpose into these]
To these deli