Enter Hamlet as Archbishop. (All laugh except the King, who is miserable.)
Ham. "Free from the cares of Church and State
I come to wreak my love and hate.
Love whirls me to the lofty skies—
Hate drags me where dark Pluto lies!" [All laugh except King.
Q. Marry, but he must have a nice time of it between them! Oh, sir, this passeth the bounds of ridicule, and to think that these lines were to have drawn our tears!
Oph. Truly mine eyes run with tears, but they are begotten of laughter!
Ham. Gently, gently. Spare your ridicule, lest you have none left for the later scenes. The tragedy is full of such windy fooling. You shall hear more anon. There are five acts of this! [All groan.
(Resumes). "For two great ends I daily fume—
The altar and the deadly tomb.
How can I live in such a state
And hold my Arch-Episcopate?"
Ros. (exhausted with laughter). Oh, my lord—I pray you end this or I shall die with laughter!
Q. (ditto). Did mortal ever hear such metrical folly! Stop it, my good lord, or I shall assuredly do myself some injury.
Oph. (ditto). Oh, sir—prithee have mercy on us—we have laughed till we can laugh no more!
Ham. The drollest scene is coming now.
Listen
