.[9]
[Sidenote: Will sort it selfe]
But soft, me thinkes I sent the Mornings Ayre; [Sidenote: morning ayre,]
Briefe let me be: Sleeping within mine Orchard, [Sidenote: my]
My custome alwayes in the afternoone; [Sidenote: of the]
Vpon my secure hower thy Vncle stole

[Footnote 1: Now, _for the moment_, he has no doubt, and vengeance is
his first thought.]

[Footnote 2: Hamlet may be supposed to recall this, if we suppose him
afterwards to accuse himself so bitterly and so unfairly as in the
_Quarto_, 194.]

[Footnote 3: Also _1st Q_.]

[Footnote 4: landing-place on the bank of Lethe, the hell-river of
oblivion.]

[Footnote 5: This does not mean that he had suspected his uncle, but
that his dislike to him was prophetic.]

[Footnote 6: How can it be doubted that in this speech the Ghost accuses
his wife and brother of adultery? Their marriage was not adultery. See
how the ghastly revelation grows on Hamlet--his father in hell--murdered
by his brother--dishonoured by his wife!]

[Footnote 7: _parallel with; correspondent to_.]

[Footnote 8: _1st Q_. 'fate itself from a'.]

[Footnote 9: This passage, from 'Oh _Hamlet_,' most indubitably asserts
the adultery of Gertrude.]

[Page 54]

With iuyce of cursed Hebenon[1] in a Violl, [Sidenote: Hebona]
And in the Porches of mine eares did poure [Sidenote: my]
The leaperous Distilment;[2] whose effect
Holds such an enmity with bloud of Man,
That swift as Quick-siluer, it courses[3] through
The naturall Gates and Allies of the Body;
And with a sodaine vigour it doth posset [Sidenote: doth possesse]
And curd, like Aygre droppings into Milke, [Sidenote: eager[4]]
The thin and wholsome blood: so did it mine;
And a most instant Tetter bak'd about, [Sidenote: barckt about[5]]
Most Lazar-like, with vile and loathsome crust,
All my smooth Body.
Thus was I, sleeping, by a Brothers hand,
Of Life, of Crowne, and Queene at once dispatcht; [Sidenote: of Queene]
[Sidenote: 164] Cut off euen in the Blossomes of my Sinne,
Vnhouzzled, disappointed, vnnaneld,[6] [Sidenote: Vnhuzled, | vnanueld,]
[Sidenote: 262] No reckoning made, but sent to my account
With all my imperfections on my head;
Oh horrible, Oh horrible, most horrible:
If thou hast nature in thee beare it not;
Let not the Royall Bed of Denmarke be
A Couch for Luxury and damned Incest.[7]
But howsoeuer thou