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Scene VII.

HAMLET, PRINCE OF DENMARK.

If is should blast in proof. *

see;

1

Soft;-let me
We'll make a solemn wager on your cun-
【nings, †— 1,34
I ha't:
When in your motion you are hot and dry,
(As make your boats more violent to that end,)
And that he calls for drink, I'll have preferr'd‡
him

A chalice for the nonce: whereon bat sipping,
If be by chance escape your venom'd stuck,||
But stay, what
Our purpose may hold there.

noise? 1:

Enter QUEEN.

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How now, sweet queen?
Queen. One woe doth tread upon
31 heel,

197

2 Clo. Nay, but hear you, goodman deliver.
1 Clo. Give me leave. Here lies the water;
good: here stands the man; good: If the man
go to this water, and drown himself, it is, will
he, nill he, he goes; mark you that: but if the
water come to him, and drown him, he drowns
not himself: argal, he, that is not guilty of his
own death, shortens not his own life.
2 Clo. But is this law?

1 Clo. Ay, marry is't;crowner's-quest law.

2 Clo. Will you ha' the truth on't? If this had not been a gentlewoman, she should have been buried out of Christian burial.

1 Clo. Why, there thou say'st: And the more pity; that great folks shall have counteuance in this world to drown or hang themselves, inore another's than their even⚫ Christian. Come, my spade. [Laertes, There is no ancient gentlemen but gardeners, drown'd, ditchers, and grave-makers; "they hold up Adam's profession. 2 Clo. Was he a gentlemen?'

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So fast they follow:-Your sister's
Laer. Drown'd! Oh! where ?
Queen. There is a willow grows ascant the
brook,

That shows his hoar leaves in the glassy stream;
Therewith fantastic garlands did she make
nettles, daisies, and long
Of crow-flowers,
le purples,

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That liberal shepherds give a grosser name, But our cold maids do dead men's fingers call them :

1

There on the pendent boughs her coronet weeds
Clambering to hang, an envious sliver broke
When down her weedy trophies, and herself,
Fell in the weeping brook. Her clothes spread
wide;

And, mermaid-like, awhile they bore her up:
Which time, she chaunted snatches of old
As one incapable ++ of her own distress, [tunes,
Or like a creature native and indu'd,

Unto that element: but long it could not be,
Till that her garments, heavy with their drink,
Pull'd the poor wretch from her melodious lay
To muddy death.

Laer. Alas then, she is drown'd ?

Queen. Drown'd, drown'd.

Laer. Too much of water hast thou, poor

LL Ophelia,

And therefore I forbid my tears: But yet
It is our trick; nature ber custom holds,

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1 Clo. What is he, that builds stronger than either the mason, the shipwright, or the carpenter ?

2 Clo. The gallows maker; for that frame out-lives a thousand tenants.

1 Clo. I like thy wit well, in good faith; the gallows does well: But how does it well? it does well to those that, do ill now thou dost ill, to say the gallows is built stronger than the church; argal, the gallows may do well to thee. To't again; come.

2 Clo. Who builds stronger than a mason, a shipwright, or a carpenter ?'

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Let shame say what it will: when these are Enter HAMLET and HORATIO, at a distance.

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SCENE IA Church-Yard.

Enter Two CLOWNS, with Spades, &c. 1 Clo. Is she to be buried in Christian burial, that wilfully seeks her own salvation? 12o. I tell thee, she is ; therefore make her grave straight: 55 the crowner hath set on ber, and finds it Christian burial.

1 (20. How can that be, unless she drowned herself in her own defence? to •2 €76. Why 'tis found so.

1 Clo. It must be se ofendendo; it cannot be else. For here lies the point: If I drown myself wittingly, it argues an act: and an act hath three branches; it is, to act, to do, and to perforin; argal, she drowned herself wittingly.

As fire arms sometimes burst in proving their

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1 Clo. Cudgel thy brains no more about it; for your dull ass will not mend his pace with beating and, when you are asked this question next, say, a grave-nraker; the houses that he Go, get thee to makes last till doomsday. Yaughan, and fetch me a stoup of liquor. Exit 2 CLOWN.

1 CLOWN digs, and sings. In youth, when I did love, did love,‡ Methought, it was very sweet,

To contract, O, the time, for, ah, my behove

O, methought, there was nothing meet. Ham. Has this fellow no feeling of his business? he sings at grave-making.

Hor. Custom hath made it in him a property of easiness.

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Ham. 'Tis e'en so: the hand, of little employment hath the daintier sense, haz

1 Clo. But age, with his stealing steps,
"Hath claw'd me in his clutch,
And hath shipped me into the lanil,
As if I had never been such.
DA [Throws up a Scull.

Ham. That scull had a tongue in it, and could sing once: How the knave jowls it to the ground, as if it were Cain's jaw-bone, that did the first murder! This might be the pate of a politician, which this ass now o'er-reaches: one that would circumvent God, might it not?

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Or I could make a prologue to my brains,
They had begun the play ;-I sat me down;
Devis'd a new commission; wrote it fair :
I once did hold it, as our statists + do,
A baseness to write fair, and labour'd much
How to forget that learning; but, Sir, now
It did me yeoman's service: Wilt thou know
The effect of what I wrote ?

Hor. Ay, good my lord.

Ham. An earnest conjuration from king,

As England was his faithful tributary;

Osr. Sweet lord, if your lordship were at leisure, I should impart a thing to you from his majesty.

Ham. I will receive it, Sir, with all diligence of spirit: Your bonnet to its right use; 'tis for the head.

Osr. I thank your lordship, 'tis very hot. Ham. No, believe me, 'tis very cold; the wind is northerly.

the Osr. It is indifferent cold, my lord, indeed. Ham. But yet, methinks, it is very sultry and hot; or my complexion

As love between them like the palm might
flourish;

As peace should still ber wheaten garland wear,
And stand a comma 'tween their amities;
And many such like as's of great charge,-
That, on the view and knowing of these con-
tents,

Without debatement further, more, or less,
He should the bearers put to sudden death,
Not shriving-time allow'd.

Hor. How was this seal'd?

Ham. Why, even in that was heaven

naut;

Osr. Exceedingly, my lord; it is very sultry, as 'twere,-1 cannot tell how-My lord, his majesty bade me signify to you, that he has laid a great wager on your head: Sir, this is the matter,

Ham. I beseech you, remember

[HAMLET moves him to put on his Hat. Osr. Nay, good my lord; for my ease, in good faith.. Sir, here is newly come to court, Laertes: believe me, an absolute gentleman, fuli of most excellent differences, of very soft soordi-ciety, and great showing: Indeed, to speak feelingly of him, he is the card or calendar of gentry, for you shall find in him the coutinent of what part a gentleman would see.

I had my father's signet in my purse,
Which was the model of that Danish seal:
Folded the writ up in form of the other;
Subscrib'd it; gave't the impression; plac'd it
safely,

The changeling never known: Now, the next day
Was our sea-light; and what to this was se-
quent ¶

Thon know'st already.

Hor. So Guildenstern and Rosencrantz go

to't.

Ham. Why, man, they did make love to this
employment;

They are not near my conscience; their defeat
Does by their own insinuation grow:
'Tis dangerous, when the baser nature comes
Between the pass and fell incensed points
Of mighty opposites.

Hor. Why, what a king is this !

Ham. Does it not, think thee, stand me now,
upon?

He that hath kill'd my king and whor'd my mother,
Popp'd in between the election and my hopes;
Thrown out his angel for my proper life,
And with such cozenage; is't not perfect con-
science,

To quit

him with this arm? and is't not to be damın'd,

To let this canker of our nature come

In further evil?

Ham. Sir, this definement suffers no perdition in you;-thongh, I know, to divide him inventorially, would dizzy the arithmetic of memory; and yet but raw neither, in respect of his quick sail. But, in the verity of extolment, I take him to be a soul of great article; and his infusion of such dearth and rareness, as, to make true diction of him, his semblable is his mirror; and, who else would trace him, his umbrage, nothing more.

Osr. Your lordship speaks most infallibly of him.

Ham. The concernancy, Sir? why do we wrap the gentleman in our more rawer breath? Osr. Sir?

Hor. Is't not possible to understand in another tongue? You will do't, Sir, really. Ham. What imports the nomination gentleman?

Osr. Of Laertes ?

of this

Hor. His purse is empty already; all his golden words are spent.

Ham. Of him, Sir.

Osr. I know, you are not ignorant

Ham. I would, you did, Sir; yet, in faith, if you did, it would not much approve ** me;Well, Sir.

Osr. You are not ignorant of what excellence

Hor. It must be shortly known to him from Laertes is-

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Ham. I dare not confess that, lest I should compare with him in excellence; but, to know a man well, were to know himself.

Osr. I mean, Sir, for his weapon; but in the imputation laid on him by them, in bis meed †† he's unfellowed.

Ham, What's his weapon?

Osr. Rapier and dagger.

Ham. That's two of his weapons: but, well. Osr. The king, Sir, bath wagered with him six Barbary horses: against the which he has impawned, as I take it, six French rapiers and poniards, with their assigns, as girdle, bangers, 56 and so: Three of the carriages, in faith, are very dear to fancy, very responsive to the hilts, most delicate carriages, and of very liberal conceit.

Ham. What call you the carriages?
Hor. I knew, you must be edited by the
margent, ere you had done.
Osr. The carriages, Sir, are the hangers.

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+ Statesmen.
Copy.
tt For count some Editors read That part of
11 Water-fies are gnats.
pended.
jf. A bira like a jackdaw.
planatory notes.

OF DENMARK

Ham. The phrase would be more german * to the matter, if we could carry a cannon by our sides; I would, it might be hangers til then. But, on: Six Barbary horses against six French swords, their assigns, and three liberal conceited carriages; that's the French bet against the Danish: Why is this impawned, as you call it t

Osr. The king, Sir, hath laid, that in a dozen passes between your self and him, he shall not exceed you three hits; he hath laid, on twelve for nine; and it would come to immediate trial, if your lordship would vouchsafe the an

swer.

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Ham. How, if I answer, no f
Osr. I mean, my lord, the opposition of your

person in trial.

Ham. Sir, I will walk here in the hall: If it please his majesty, it is the breathing time of day with me: let the foils be brought, the gen. tleman willing, and the king hold his purpose, will win for him, if I can; if not, I will gain nothing but my shame, and the odd hits. da Or Shall I deliver you so?.

Ham. To this effect, Sir; after what flourish your nature will.

Usr. I commend my duty to your lordship. [Exit. Ham. Yours, yours.-He does well to commend it himself; there are no tongues else for's turn. Hor. This lapwing runs away with the shell

on his head.

Hem. He did comply with his dug, before be sacked it. Thus has he (and many more of the same breed, that, I know, the drossy age dotes on,) only got the tune of the time, and outward habit of encounter; a kind of yesty them through and collection, which carries through the most fond ¶ and winnowed opinions; and do but blow them to their trial, the bubbles

are out.

Enter a LORD.

Lord. My lord, his majesty commended him to you by young Osric, who brings back to him, that you attend him in the hall: He sends to know, if your pleasure hold to play with Laertes, or that you will take longer time.

Ham. I am constant to my purposes, they follow the king's pleasure: if his fitness speaks, mine is ready; now, or whensoever, provided I be so able as now.

Lord. The king, and queen, and all are com

ing down.

Ham. In happy time.)

Lord. The queen desires you to use some gentle entertainment to Laertes, before you fall to play.

[Exit LORD. Ham. She well instructs me. Hor. You will lose this wager, my lord. Ham. I do not think so; since he went into France, 1 have been in continual practice; I shall win at the odds. But thou wouldst not think, bow ill all's here about my heart; but it

is no matter.

14

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Hor. Nay, good my lord, Has It is but foolery; but it is such a kind and gain-giving, ** as would, perhaps, trouble a

woman.

Her. If your mind dislike any thing, obey it: I will forestal + their repair hither, and say, you

are not fit.

Haw. Not a whit, we defy angury; there is a special providence in the fall of a sparrow. If it be now, 'tis not to come; if it be not to come, it will be now; if it be not now; yet it will Come: the readiness is all: Since no man, of anght be leaves, knows what is't to leave betimes? Let be.

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But pardon it, as you are a gentleman.
This presence knows, and you must needs have
heard,
How I am punish'd with a sore distraction.
What I have done,

That might your nature, honour, and exception,
Roughly awake, I here proclaim was madness.
was't Hamlet wrong'd Laertes? Never, Ham-
let!****
If Hamlet from himself be ta’en away,
And, when he is not himself, does wrong La-
Then Hamlet' does it not, Hamlet denies it.
Who does it then? His madness? If't be so,
Hamlet is of the faction that is wrong'd,
His madness is poor Hamlet's enemy.
Sir, in this audience,

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I stand aloof and will no reconcilement,
To my revenge: but in my terms of honour,
Till by some elder masters, of known honour,
I have a voice and precedent of peace,
To keep my name ungor'd: But till that time,
do receive your offer'd love like love,
And will not wrong it.

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Ham. I embrace it freely;
And will this brother's wager frankly play. —
Give us the foils; come on.

Laer. Come, one for me.

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Ham. I'll be your foil, Laertes; in mine ig

norance

Your skill shall, like a star i'the darkest night,
Stick fiery off, indeed.

Laer. You mock me, Sir. ei golf 2004
Ham. No, by this hand.

King. Give them the foils, young Osric.-
Cousin Hamlet,
You know the wager?

Ham. Very well, my lord';

Your grace hath laid the odds o'the weaker side.
King. I do not fear it: I have seen you

both

But since he's better'd, we have therefore odds.
Laer. This is too heavy, let me see another.
Ham. This likes me well: These foils have all
a length ? [They prepare to play.
Osr. Ay, my good lord.
King. Set me the stomps of wine upon that

table:

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If Hamlet gives the first or second hit,
or quit in answer of the third exchange,
Let all the battlements their ordnance fire;
The king shall drink to Hamlet's better breath;
And in the cup an union shall he throw,
Richer than that which four successive Kings
In Denmark's crown have worn; Give me the
cups;
And let the kettle to the trumpet speak,
The trumpet to the cannoneer without,
The cannons to the heavens, the heaven to

earth,

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Now the King drinks to Hamlet. Come,
begin;-

And you, the judges, bear a wary eye,
Ham. Come on, Sir.
Laer. Come, my lord.
Ham. One.

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[They play.

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OTHELLO, THE MOOR OF VENICE.

LITERARY AND HISTORICAL NOTICE.

THE story upon which this beautiful and instructive tragedy is founded, was taken, according to Mr. Pope, from Cynthio's novels. It was probably written in the year 1611. Mustapha, Selymus's general, invaded Cyprus in May 1570, and conquered it in the following year. His fleet first sailed towards that island; but immediately changing its course for Rhodes, formed a junction with another squadron, and then returned to the attack of Cyprus thus the actual historical periods of the performance are satisfactorily determined. In addition to the admirable lesson set forth in this impressive tragedy, so well calculated to produce an excellent efect upon the human mind, by pourtraying that baneful passion, which, when once indulged, is the inevitable destroyer of conjugal happiness; it may justly be considered as one of the noblest efforts of dramatic genius, that has appeared in any age, or in any language. "The fiery openness of Othello, (says Dr. Johnson) magnanimous, artless, and credulous; boundless in his confidence, ardent in his affection, inflexible in his rese lution, and obdurate in his revenge---the soft simplicity of Desdemona, confident of merit, and conscious of innocence; her artless perseverance in her suit, and her slowness to suspect that she can be suspected--the cool malignity of lago, silent in his resentment, subtle in his designs, and studious at once of his interest ami bis vengeance---are such proofs of Shakspeare's skill in human nature, as I suppose it is in vain to seek in any modern writer; whilst even the inferior characters would be very conspicuous in any other piece, not only for their justness, but their strength." In proportion to the enormity of such a crime as adultery, should be the caution with which a suspicion of it is permitted to be entertained; and our great dramatic moralist was no doubt desirous of enforcing this maxim, when he made it, as he has done, the subject of no less than four of bis most finished productions.

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MONTANO, Othello's predecessor in the Go- Officers, Gentlemen, Messengers, Musicans, vernment of Cyprus.

Sailors, Attendants, &c.

SCENE, for the first Act, in Venice; during the rest of the Play, at a Sea-port in Cyprus.

ACT I.

SCENE I-Venice.-A Street.

Enter RODERIGO and IAGO.

My mediators; for, certes, • says he,
I have already chose my officer.

And what was he?

Forsooth, a great arithmetician,
One Michael Cassio, a Florentine,

Rod. Tush, never tell me, I take it much un- A fellow almost damn'd in a fair wife ; †

kindly,

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That never set a squadron in the field,
Nor the division of a battle knows

More than a spinster; unless the bookish the
oric,

Wherein the toged consuls can propose
As masterly as he mere prattle, without prac
tice,
"tion:

Is all his soldiership. But he, Sir, had the elec
And I,-of whom his eyes had seen the proof,
At Rhodes, at Cyprus, and on other grounds
Christian and heathen,-must be be-lee'd and
calm'd

By debitor and creditor; this counter-caster,
He, in good time, must his lieutenant be,

• Certainly.

For wife some read life, supposing it to allude to the
denunciation in the Gospel, Woe anto you when all
men shall speak well of you."
1 Theory.
It was anciently tha
counters.

6 Rulers of the state.
practice to reckon up sums with

OF VENICE

And I, (God bless the mark!) his Moorship's ancient.

Rod. By heaven, I rather would have been his hanginau.

lago. But there's no remedy; 'tis the curse of
: service ;

Preferment goes by letter and affection,
Not by the old gradation, where each second
Now, Sir, be judge
Stood heir to the first.

yourself,

Whether I in any just term am'affin'd' o
To love the Moor.

Rod. I would not follow him then.

Jago. Sir, content you;

་ ་ ་

I fellow biur to serve my turn upon him i
We cannot all be masters, nor all masters
Cannot be truly follow'd. Your shall mark
Many a duteous and knee-crooking knave,
That, doting on his own obsequions bondage,
Wears out his time, much like his master's ass,
For noaght but provender; and, when he's old,
cashier'd;

Whip me such bonest knaves: Others there are,
Who, trimm'd in forms and visages of drty,
Keep yet their hearts attending on themselves;
And, throwing but shows of service on their lords,
Do well thrive by them; and, when they have
lin'd their coats, **

Do themselves homage: these fellows have some
soul;

And such a one do I profess myself.
For, Sir,

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It is as sure as you are Roderigo,
Were I the Moor, I would not be lago:
In following him, I follow but myself;
Heaven is my judge, not I for love and duty,
But seeming so, for my peculiar end;

For when my outward action, doth demonstrate
The native act and figure of my heart
La compliment extern, 'tis not long after
Eat I will wear my heart upon my sleeve
For daws to peck at: I am not what I am.
Red. What a full fortune does the thick-lips
If he can carry't thus,!

[owe +

lego. Call up her father, ut no
Rouse him; make after him, poison his delight,
Proclaim him in the streets; incense her kius-
men,

And, though he in a fertile climate dwell,
Plague him with flies; though that his joy be joy,
Yet throw such changes of vexation on't,
As it may lose some colour,

Red. Here is her father's house: I'll call

aloud.

Iago. Do; with like timorous accent, and dire yell,

As when, by night and negligence, the fire la spied in populous cities.

Eod. What, bo! Brabantio! signior Brabantio, ho!

Ingo, Awake! what, ho! Brabantio! thieves thieves! thieves !

[bags! Look to your house, your daughter, and your Thieves ! thieves 1 ut

ERABANTIO, above.

above, at a Window.

Bra. What is the reason of this terrible sum[mons? What is the matter there?

Red. Signior, is all your family within?
lage. Are your doors lock'd ?oz bl-HAA
Bra. Why? wherefore ask you this?
lege. "Zounds, Sir, you are robb'd; for shame,
[soul;
put on your gown;
Your heart is burst, you have lost half your
Even now, very now, an old black ram
Is tapping your white ewe. Arise, arise;
Awake the snorting citizens with the bell,
Or else the devil will make a grandsire of you:
Arise, I say.

Bra. What, have you lost your wits?
Red. Most reverend signior, do you know my
voice?

Bra. Not 1; What are you?

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+ Possess.

name is-Roderigo. Bra. The worse welcome:

[doors;

I have charg'd thee, not to haunt about my
In honest plainness thou hast heard me say
My daughter is not for thee; and now, in mad-
ness,

Being full of supper and distempering draughts
Upon malicious bravery dost thou come
To start my quiet.

Rod. Sir, Sir, Sir, Sir,

Bra. But thou must needs be sure,

My spirit and my place have in them power
To make this bitter to thee.

Rod. Patience, good Sir,.

"1

Bra, What tell'st thou me of robbing? this is
Venice;

My house is not a grange.

Rod. Most grave Brabantio,

In simple and pure soul I come to you.

Iago. 'Zounds, Sir, you are one of those that will not serve God, if the, devil bid you BeCause we come to do you service, you think we are ruffians: You'll have your daughter covered with a Barbaty horse; you'll have your nephews + neigh to you: you'il have coursers for cousins, and genuets for germans.

Bra. What profane wretch art, thou?

Jago. I am one, Sir, that, comes to tell you your daughter and the Moor are now making the beast with two backs.

Bra. Thou art a villain.

Jago. You are--a senator..

Bra. This thou shalt answer: I know thee
Roderigova ut

Rod. Sir, I will answer any thing. But I be

seech you,

If't be your pleasure, and most wise consent,
(As partly, I find, it is,) that your fair daughter,
At this odd-even and dull watch o'the night,
Transported-with no worse nor better guard,
But with knave of common hire, a gondolier,
To the gross clasps of a lascivious Moor,
If this be known to you, and your allowance,
We then have done you bold and saucy wrongs:
But if you know not this, my manners tell me,
We have your wrong rebuke. Do not believe
[ence:
That from the sense of all civility,

If thus would play and tride with your rever-
Your daughter, if you have not given her
leave,-

I say again, hath made a gross revolt;
Tying her duty, beauty, wit, and fortunes,
In an extravagant and wheeling stranger, [self;
Of here and every where: Straight satisfy your
If she be in her chamber, or your house,
Let loose on me the justice of the state
For thus deluding you.

Bra. Strike on the tinder, ho!
Give me a taper ;-call up all my people :-
This accident is not unlike my dream,
Belief of it oppresses me already
Light, I say! light!

[Exit from above.
lago. Farewell; for I must leave you :
It seems not meet, nor wholesome to my place,
To be produc'd (as, if I stay, I shall,)
Against the Moor: For, I do know, the state,
However this may gall him with some check,
Cannot with safety cast | him; for he's embark'd
With such loud reason to the Cyprus wars,
(Which even now stand in act,) that, for their
souls,

Another of his fathom they have not,
To lead their business; in which regard,
Though I do hate him as I do hell pains,
Yet, for necessity of present life,

I must show out a flag and sign of love,
Which is indeed but sign. That you shall surely
find him,

Lead to the Sagittary the rais'd search;
And there will I be with him. So, farewell.

A lone farm house.
kons.

Wandering.

[Exit.

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