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HAMLET He that plays the king shall be welcome; his majesty
shall have tribute320 of me: the adventurous knight shall use
his foil and target: the lover shall not sigh gratis321: the
humorous322 man shall end his part in peace: the clown shall
make those laugh whose lungs are tickled o'th'sear323: and the
lady shall say her mind freely, or the blank verse shall halt324
for't. What players are they?
ROSENCRANTZ Even those you were wont326 to take delight in, the
tragedians of the city.
HAMLET How chances it they travel? Their residence328, both in
reputation and profit, was better both ways.
ROSENCRANTZ I think their inhibition330 comes by the means of
the late innovation331.
HAMLET Do they hold the same estimation332 they did when I
was in the city? Are they so followed?
ROSENCRANTZ No, indeed, they are not.
HAMLET How comes it? Do they grow rusty?
ROSENCRANTZ Nay, their endeavour keeps in the wonted pace.
But there is, sir, an eyrie of children, little eyases, that cry out337
on the top of question and are most tyrannically338 clapped
for't: these are now the fashion, and so berattle the common339
stages -- so they call them -- that many wearing rapiers are340
afraid of goose-quills and dare scarce come thither.
HAMLET What, are they children? Who maintains 'em? How
are they escoted? Will they pursue the quality no longer than343
they can sing? Will they not say afterwards, if they should
grow themselves to common players -- as it is most like345, if
their means346 are no bet
ter -- their writers do them wrong, to
make them exclaim against their own succession347?
