f Claudius--evidently not a
popular election, but effected by intrigue with the aristocracy and the
army: 'They cry, Let us choose: Laertes shall be king!'

We may suppose the attempt of Claudius to have been favoured by the
lingering influence of the old Norse custom of succession, by which not
the son but the brother inherited. 16, _bis._]

[Footnote 4: To hunt counter is to 'hunt the game by the heel or track.'
The queen therefore accuses them of not using their scent or judgment,
but following appearances.]

[Footnote 5: Now at length re-appears Laertes, who has during the
interim been ripening in Paris for villainy. He is wanted for the
catastrophe, and requires but the last process of a few hours in the
hell-oven of a king's instigation.]

[Footnote 6: The customary and polite way of saying _leave me_: 'grant
me your absence.' 85, 89.]

[Footnote 7: grows calm.]

[Footnote 8: In taking vengeance Hamlet must acknowledge his mother such
as Laertes says inaction on his part would proclaim his mother.

The actress should here let a shadow cross the queen's face: though too
weak to break with the king, she has begun to repent.]

[Footnote 9: fear _for_.]

[Footnote 10: The consummate hypocrite claims the protection of the
sacred hedge through which he had himself broken--or crept rather, like
a snake, to kill. He can act innocence the better that his conscience is
clear as to Polonius.]

[Footnote 11: 'can only peep through the hedge to its desire--acts
little of its will.']

[Page 204]

Why thou art thus Incenst? Let him go _Gertrude_.
Speake man.

_Laer_. Where's my Father? [Sidenote: is my]

_King_. Dead.

_Qu_. But not by him.

_King_. Let him demand his fill.

_Laer_. How came he dead? Ile not be Iuggel'd with.
To hell Allegeance: Vowes, to the blackest diuell.
Conscience and Grace, to the profoundest Pit
I dare Damnation: to this point I stand,
That both the worlds I giue to negligence,
Let come what comes: onely Ile be reueng'd
Most throughly for my Father.

_King_. Who shall stay you?[1]

_Laer_. My Will, not all the world,[1] [Sidenote: worlds:]
And for my meanes, Ile husband them so well,
They shall go farre with little.

_King_. Good _Laertes_:
If you desire to know the certaintie
Of your deere Fathers death, if writ in your reuenge,
[Sidenote: Father, i'st writ]
That Soop-stake[2] you will dr