Ham. Now, mother; what's the matter? Queen. Hamlet, thou hast thy father much offended. Queen. Why, how now, Hamlet? Hcm. What's the matter now? Queen. Have you forgot me? Ham. No, by the rood, not so: You are the queen, your husband's brother's wife; And, would it were not so!-you are my mother. Queen. Nay, then, I'll send those to you that can speak. Ham. Come, come, and sit you down; you shall not budge; You go not, till I set you up a glass Where you may see the inmost part of you. Queen. What wilt thou do? thou wilt nót murder me? Help, help, ho! Ham. Leave wringing of your hands: Peace, sit you down, And let me wring your heart; for so I shall, If it be made of penetrable stuff; If damned custom have not braz'd it so, That it be proof and bulwark against sense. Queen. What have I done, that thou dar'st wag thy tongue In noise so rude against me? Such an act Ham. A rhapsody of words: Heaven's face doth glow, With tristful visage, as against the doom, Is thought-sick at the act. Queen. Ah me! what act, That roars so loud, and thunders in the index? Ham. Look here, upon this picture, and on this! Hyperion's curls, the front of Jove himself; New-lighted on a heaven-kissing hill; To give the world assurance of a man: This was your husband. —Look you now, what follows: Blasting his wholesome brother. Have you eyes? The hey-day in the blood is tame, it's humble, Is appoplex'd: for madness would not err; Nor sense to ecstasy was ne'er so thrall'd, But it reserv'd some quantity of choice, To serve in such a difference. What devil was't, O shame! where is thy, blush? Rebellious hell, And melt in her own fire; proclaim no shame, And reason panders will. Queen. O, speak to me no more; These words, like daggers, enter in mine ears; Ham. A murderer, and a villain: A slave, that is not twentieth part the tythe Ham. Of shreds and patches: (Enter GHOST.) A king Save me, and hover o'er me with your wings, You heavenly guards!—What would your gracious figure? Queen. Alas! he's mad. Ham. Do you not come your tardy son to chide, That, laps'd in fume and passion, lets go by The important acting of your dread command? Ghost. Do not forget: This visitation Ham. How is it with you, lady? Queen. Alas, how is 't with you? That you do bend your eye on vacancy, And with the incorporal air do hold discourse? Ham. On him! on him!-Look you, how pale he glares! His form and cause conjoined, preaching to stones, Would make them capable.-Do not look upon me; Lest, with this piteous action, you convert My stern effects: then what I have to do Will want true color; tears, perchance, for blood. Ham. Do you see nothing there? Queen. Nothing at all; yet all, that is, I see. Ham. Nor did you nothing hear? Queen. No, nothing but ourselves. Ham. Why, look you there! look, how it steals away! My father, in his habit as he liv'd! Look, where he goes, even now, out at the portal! [Exit Ghost. Queen. This is the very coinage of your brain: This bodiless creation, ecstasy Is very cunning in. Ham. Ecstasy! My pulse, as yours, doth temperately keep time, Confess yourself to heaven; Repent what's past: avoid what is to come; To make them ranker. Forgive me this my virtue: Yea, curb and woo, for leave to do him good. Queen. O Hamlet! thou hast cleft my heart in twain. Him. THE AMERICAN FLAG. J. Rodrian race When Freedom from her mountain height Unfurl'd her standard to the air, She tore the azure robe of night, And set the stars of glory there; Who rear'st aloft thy regal form, When strive the warriors of the storın, And rolls the thunder-drum of heaven- To guard the banner of the free, The harbingers of victory! Flag of the brave! thy folds shall fly, Heave in wild wreaths the battle-shroud, And gory sabres rise and fall, Like shoots of flame on midnight's pall; And cowering foes shall sink beneath Flag of the seas! on ocean wave Thy stars shall glitter o'er the brave; When death, careering on the gale, Sweeps darkly round the bellied sail, And frighted waves rush wildly back Before the broadside's reeling rack, Each dying wanderer of the sea Shall look at once to heaven and thee, Flag of the free hearts' hope and home, Thy stars have lit the welkin dome, And all thy hues were born in heaven. |