most now. Things were never so clear to Hamlet as to
us.

But how can he say he has strength and means--in the position in which
he now finds himself? I am glad to be able to believe, let my defence of
Hamlet against himself be right or wrong, that Shakspere intended the
omission of the passage. I lay nothing on the great lack of logic
throughout the speech, for that would not make it unfit for Hamlet in
such mood, while it makes its omission from the play of less consequence
to my general argument.]

[Footnote 13: _threaten_. This supports my argument as to the great
soliloquy--that it was death as the result of his slaying the king, or
attempting to do so, not death by suicide, he was thinking of: he
expected to die himself in the punishing of his uncle.]

[Footnote 14: He had had no chance but that when the king was on his
knees.]

[Footnote 15: 'a fancy and illusion.']

[Footnote 16: 'which is too small for those engaged to find room to
fight on it.']

[Footnote 17: 'continent,' _containing space_.]

[Footnote 18: This soliloquy is antithetic to the other. Here is no
thought of the 'something after death.']

[Footnote 19: If, with this speech in his mouth, Hamlet goes coolly on
board the vessel, _not being compelled thereto_ (190, 192, 216), and
possessing means to his vengeance, as here he says, and goes merely in
order to hoist Rosincrance and Guildensterne with their own petard--that
is, if we must keep the omitted passages, then the author exposes his
hero to a more depreciatory judgment than any from which I would justify
him, and a conception of his character entirely inconsistent with the
rest of the play. He did not observe the risk at the time he wrote the
passage, but discovering it afterwards, rectified the oversight--to the
dissatisfaction of his critics, who have agreed in restoring what he
cancelled.]

[Page 196]

Which as her winkes, and nods, and gestures yeeld[1] them,
Indeed would make one thinke there would[2] be thought,
[Sidenote: there might[2] be]
Though nothing sure, yet much vnhappily.

_Qu_. 'Twere good she were spoken with,[3] [Sidenote: _Hora_.]
For she may strew dangerous coniectures
In ill breeding minds.[4] Let her come in. [Sidenote: _Enter Ophelia_.]
To my sicke soule (as sinnes true Nature is)
[Sidenote: _Quee_. 'To my[5]]
Each toy seemes Prologue, to some great amisse,