yet had he proof _positive_, absolute, conclusive:
the king might well take offence at the play, even were he innocent; and
in any case Hamlet would desire _presentable_ proof: he had positively
none to show the people in justification of vengeance.

As in excitement a man's moods may be opalescent in their changes, and
as the most contrary feelings may coexist in varying degrees, all might
be in a mind, which I have suggested as present in that of Hamlet.

To have been capable of the kind of action most of his critics would
demand of a man, Hamlet must have been the weakling they imagine him.
When at length, after a righteous delay, partly willed, partly
inevitable, he holds documents in the king's handwriting as proofs of
his treachery--_proofs which can be shown_--giving him both right and
power over the life of the traitor, then, and only then, is he in cool
blood absolutely satisfied as to his duty--which conviction, working
with opportunity, and that opportunity plainly the last, brings the end;
the righteous deed is done, and done righteously, the doer blameless in
the doing of it. The Poet is not careful of what is called poetic
justice in his play, though therein is no failure; what he is careful of
is personal rightness in the hero of it.]

[Footnote 8: _1st Q_.

_King_ My wordes fly vp, my sinnes remaine below.
No King on earth is safe, if Gods his foe. _Exit King_.

So he goes to make himself safe by more crime! His repentance is mainly
fear.]

[Page 166]

Tell him his prankes haue been too broad to beare with,
And that your Grace hath scree'nd, and stoode betweene
Much heate, and him. Ile silence me e'ene heere:
[Sidenote: euen heere,]
Pray you be round[1] with him.[2] [Sidenote: _Enter Hamlet_.]

_Ham. within_. Mother, mother, mother.[3]

_Qu_. Ile warrant you, feare me not. [Sidenote: _Ger_. Ile wait you,]
Withdraw, I heare him comming.

_Enter Hamlet_.[4]

_Ham_.[5] Now Mother, what's the matter?

_Qu_. _Hamlet_, thou hast thy Father much offended. [Sidenote: _Ger_.]

_Ham_. Mother, you haue my Father much offended.

_Qu_. Come, come, you answer with an idle tongue. [Sidenote: _Ger_.]

_Ham._ Go, go, you question with an idle tongue.
[Sidenote: with a wicked tongue.]

_Qu_. Why how now _Hamlet_?[6] [Sidenote: _Ger_.]

_Ham_. Whats the matter now?