Page:Hamlet - The Arden Shakespeare - 1899.djvu/124

death you were better have a bad epitaph than
their ill report while you live.^{[a 1]} 560

Pol. My lord, I will use them according to their
desert.

Ham. God's bodykins,^{[a 2] [b 1]} man, much^{[a 3]} better! Use
every man after his desert, and who should^{[a 4]}
'scape whipping? Use them after your own 565
honour and dignity; the less they deserve,
the more merit is in your bounty. Take
them in.

Pol. Come, sirs.

Ham. Follow him, friends: we'll hear a play 570
to-morrow.
[Exit Polonius, with all the Players, but
the First.^{[a 5]}
Dost thou hear me, old friend; can you play
The Murder of Gonzago?

First Play. Ay, my lord.

Ham. We'll ha 't to-morrow night. You could, 575
for a need,^{[a 6]} study a speech of some dozen^{[a 7]} or
sixteen lines,^{[b 2]} which I would set down and
insert in 't,^{[a 8]} could you^{[a 9]} not?

First Play. Ay, my lord.

Ham. Very well. Follow that lord; and look you 580
mock him not.
[Exit First Player.^{[a 10]}

1. 560. live] Q, lived F.
2. 563. bodykins] F, bodkin Q.
3. 563. much] Q, farre Q 1, omitted F.
4. 564. should] F, shall Q.
5. Exit, &c.] Dyce, Exit Polon. F after line 569; Exeunt Pol. and Players Q after "Elsinore," line 583.
6. 576. for a need] Q 1, F; for need Q.
7. 576. dozen] Q 1, F; dosen lines Q.
8. 578. in 't,] Q, in 't? F.
9. 578. you] Q, ye F.
10. Exit First Player] Dyce, omitted Q, F.

1. 563. bodykins] dear body—diminutive of endearment.
2. 576, 577. dozen or sixteen lines] See III. ii. 200 (note).