Nature is fine in love; and, where 'tis fine, "It fends fome precious inftance of itself "After the thing it loves.

Oph. They bore him bare fac'd on the bier,
And on his Grave rain'd many a tear
Fare you well, my dove!

Laer. Hadft thou thy wits, and didft perfuade Re

venge,

It could not move thus.

Oph. You must fing, down-a-down, and you call bim a-down-a.

"O how the wheel becomes it! it is the falfe fteward that ftole his master's daughter.

Laer. This nothing's more than matter.

Oph. 7 There's rosemary, that's for remembrance, Pray, love, remember. And there's panfies, that's for thoughts.

Laer. A document in madness, thoughts and remembrance fitted.

Oph. 'I here's fennel for you, and columbines,
There's rue for you, and here's fome for me. We

6 O how the WHEEL becomes

it!] We fhould read wEAL. She is now rambling on the balJad of the fteward and his lord's daughter, And in these words fpeaks of the ftate he affumed. WARBURTON

I do not fee why weat is better than wheel. The ftory alluded to I do not know; but perhaps the lady ftolen by the fteward was reduced to pin.

7 There's rofemary, that's for remembrance; and there's panties, that's for thoughts.] There is probably fonte mythology in the choice of thefe herbs, but I cannot explain it. Panfies is for thoughts, because of its name, Penfies; but why refemary indicates remembrance, except that it is an ever-green, and carried at funerals, I have not difcovered.

8 There's rue for you, and here's fome for me. We may call it herb of grace o' Sundays:] Herb of gace is the name the country people give to Rue. And the reafon i, because that herb was a principal ingredient in the po

tion which the Romish priests
ufed to force the poffeffed to fwal-
low down when they exorcifed
them. Now thefe exorcifms being
performed generally on a Sunday,
in the church before the whole
congregation, is the reason why
the fays, we call it herb of grace
'Sundays. Sandys tells us that
at Grand Cairo there is a fpecies
of rue much in requcft, with
which the inhabitants perfume
themselves, not only as a pre-
fervative against infection, but as
very powerful against evil fpirits.
And the cabaliftic Gaffaril pre-
tends to have difcovered the rea-
fon of its virtue, La femence de
Rue eft faide comme une Croix, &
c'eft paraventure la caufe qu'elle a
tant de veriu contre les poffedez,
que l'Eglife s'en fert en les exor-
cifant. It was on the fame prin-
ciple that the Greeks called sul-
phur, or, because of its ufe in
their fuperftitious purgations by
fire. Which too the Romish priests
employ to fumigate in their
exorcifms; and on that account
hallów or confecrate it. WAKB.

may call it herb of grace o' Sundays. o' Sundays. You may wear your rue with a difference; there's a daify. I would give you fome violets, but they withered all when my father dy'd. They say, he made a good end

;

For bonny fweet Robin is all my joy.

Laer. Thought, and affliction, paffion, hell itself, She turns to favour, and to prettiness.

Oph. And will be not come again?
And will be not come again?
No, no, he is dead,

Go to thy death-bed,
He never will come again.
His beard was white as fnow,
All flaxen was his poll:
He is gone, he is gone,
And we caft away mone,
Gramercy on his foul!

And on all chriftian fouls! God b'wi'ye. [Exit Oph. Laer. Do you fee this, you Gods!

King. Laertes, I must commune with your grief, Or you deny me right. Go but a-part. Make choice of whom your wifeft friends you will, And they shall hear and judge 'twixt you and me. If by direct or by collateral hand

They find us touch'd, we will our Kingdom give,
Our Crown, our life, and all that we call ours,
To you in fatisfaction. But if not,
Be you content to lend your patience to us;
And we fhall jointly labour with your foul,
To give it due content.

Laer. Let this be fo.

His means of death, his obfcure funeral,

No

"No trophy, fword, nor hatchment o'er his bones, No noble rite, nor formal oftentation,

Cry to be heard, as 'twere from heav'n to earth,
That I must call't in question.

King. So you fhall :

'And where th' offence is, let the great ax fall.
pray you go
with me.

I

SCENE

Enter Horatio, with an Attendant.

Hor. What are they, that would speak with me?
Serv. Sailors, Sir. They fay, they have letters for

you.

Hor. Let them come in.

I do not know from what part of the world
I fhould be greeted, if not from Lord Hamlet.

Enter Sailors.

Sail. God blefs you, Sir.

Hor. Let him blefs thee too.

VIII.

[Exeunt.

9 No trophy, Sword, nor batchment] It was the custom, in the times of our authour, to hang a fword over the grave of a Knight.

And where th' offence is, let

Sail. He fhall, Sir, an't please him ——There's a letter for you, Sir. It comes from th' ambaffador that was bound for England, if your name be Horatio, as I am let to know it is.

Horatio reads the letter.

HR

ORATIO, when thou shalt bave overlook'd this, give thefe fellows fome means to the King: they have letters for him. Ere we were too days old at sea, a pirate of very warlike appointment gave us chace. Finding ourselves too flow of fail, we put on a compelled valour, and in the grapple I boarded them: on the inftant they got clear of our ship, fo I alone became their prifoner. They have dealt with me, like thieves of mercy; but they knew what they did, I am to do a good turn for them. Let the King bave the letters I have fent, and repair thou to me with as much hafte as thou wouldeft fly death. I have words to speak in thy ear, will make thee dumb; yet are they much too light for the bore of the matter. Thefe good fellows will bring thee where I am. Rofincrantz and Guildenstern hold their courfe for England. Of them I have much to tell thee. Farewel.

1

2

He that thou knowest thine, Hamlet.

Come. I will make you way for these your letters;
And do't the speedier, that you may direct me
To him from whom you brought them..

[Exeunt.

SCENE

Enter King and Laertes.

King, Now muft your confcience my acquittance

feal,

2 for the bore of the matter.] The bore is the caliber of a gun, or the capacity of the barrel.

IX.

The matter, fays Hamlet, would carry heavier words.

And