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HAMLET Nay, that follows not405.
POLONIUS What follows, then, my lord?
HAMLET Why,
'As by lot, God wot408',
and then, you know,
'It came to pass, as most like410 it was' --
the first row of the pious chanson411 will show you more,
for look where my abridgements412 come.--
Enter four or five Players
You're welcome, masters, welcome all.-- I am glad to see
thee well.-- Welcome, good friends.-- O, my old friend! Thy
face is valanced since I saw thee last: com'st thou to beard415
me in Denmark?-- What, my young lady and mistress! By'r416
lady, your ladyship417 is nearer heaven than when I saw you
last, by the altitude of a chopine418. Pray God your voice, like a
piece of uncurrent gold, be not cracked within the ring419.
Masters, you are all welcome. We'll e'en to't420 like French
falconers, fly at anything we see. We'll have a speech
straight: come, give us a taste of your quality422: come, a
passionate speech.
FIRST PLAYER What speech, my lord?
HAMLET I heard thee speak me a speech once, but it was
never acted, or if it was, not above once, for the play, I
remember, pleased not the million: 'twas caviar to the427
general. But it was -- as I received it, and others, whose
judgement in such matters cried in the top of429 mine -- an
excellent play, well digested430 in the scenes, set down with as
much modesty as cunning431. I remember one said there was
no sallets in the lines to make the matter savoury432, nor no
matter in the phrase that might indict433 the author of
