l. His dear soul, having once become mistress of his
choice, remains mistress for ever. He _could_ drink hot blood, he
_could_ do bitter business, but he will carry himself as a son, and the
son of his father, _ought_ to carry himself towards a guilty
mother--_mother_ although guilty.]

[Footnote 5: Thus he girds himself for the harrowing interview. Aware of
the danger he is in of forgetting his duty to his mother, he strengthens
himself in filial righteousness, dreading to what word or deed a burst
of indignation might drive him. One of his troubles now is the way he
feels towards his mother.]

[Footnote 6: --who killed his mother.]

[Footnote 7: His words should be as daggers.]

[Footnote 8: _Pretenders_.]

[Footnote 9: _reproached_ or _rebuked_--though oftener _scolded_.]

[Footnote 10: 'to seal them with actions'--Actions are the seals to
words, and make them irrevocable.]

[Footnote 11: _walk at liberty_.]

[Footnote 12: _get ready_.]

[Footnote 13: He had, it would appear, taken them into his confidence in
the business; they knew what was to be in their commission, and were
thorough traitors to Hamlet.]

[Footnote 14: --holy and religious precaution for the sake of the many
depending on him.]

[Footnote 15: Is there not unconscious irony of their own parasitism
here intended?]

[Footnote 16: _private individual_.]

[Page 160]

To keepe it selfe from noyance:[1] but much more,
That Spirit, vpon whose spirit depends and rests
[Sidenote: whose weale depends]
The lives of many, the cease of Maiestie [Sidenote: cesse]
Dies not alone;[2] but like a Gulfe doth draw
What's neere it, with it. It is a massie wheele
[Sidenote: with it, or it is]
Fixt on the Somnet of the highest Mount,
To whose huge Spoakes, ten thousand lesser things
[Sidenote: hough spokes]
Are mortiz'd and adioyn'd: which when it falles,
Each small annexment, pettie consequence
Attends the boystrous Ruine. Neuer alone [Sidenote: raine,]
Did the King sighe, but with a generall grone. [Sidenote: but a[3]]

_King._[4] Arme you,[5] I pray you to this speedie Voyage;
[Sidenote: viage,]
For we will Fetters put vpon this feare,[6] [Sidenote: put about this]
Which now goes too free-footed.

_Both._ We will haste vs. _Ex