SCENE II. A room of state in the castle.
Flourish1. Enter KING, QUEEN, HAMLET, POLONIUS, LAERTES, VOLTEMAND, CORNELIUS, Lords, and Attendants
KING
Though yet2 of Hamlet our3 dear brother’s death
The memory be green4, and that5 it us befitted6
To bear our hearts in grief and our whole kingdom
To be contracted in one brow of woe,7
5 Yet8 so far hath discretion9 fought with nature
That we with wisest sorrow think on him,
Together with remembrance of ourselves.
Therefore10 our11 sometime12 sister13, now our queen,
The imperial jointress14 to this warlike state,
10 Have we, as ’twere with a defeated15 joy,
With an auspicious16 and a dropping17 eye,
With mirth in funeral and with dirge in marriage,
In equal scale weighing delight and dole18,
Taken to wife.19 Nor have we herein barred20
15 Your better wisdoms21, which have freely gone.
With this affair along.22 For all, our thanks.23
Now follows, that24 you know, young Fortinbras,
Holding a weak supposal of our worth25,
Or thinking by our late dear brother’s death
20 Our state to be disjoint26 and out of frame,27
Colleagued28 with the dream of his advantage29,
He hath not failed to pester us with message,
Importing30 the surrender of those lands
Lost by his father, with all bonds of law31,
25 To our most valiant brother.32 So much for him.
Now for ourself and for this time of meeting.
Thus much the business is: we have here writ33
To Norway, uncle of young Fortinbras,
Who, impotent34 and bed-rid35, scarcely hears
Of this his nephew’s purpose, to suppress
30 His further gait36 herein; in that the levies,
The lists and full proportions37 are all made38
Out of his subject39; and we here dispatch
You, good Cornelius, and you, Voltemand,
For40 bearers41 of this greeting to old Norway;
35 Giving to you no further personal power
To business42 with the King, more than the scope
Of these delated articles43 allow.
Farewell, and let your haste commend your duty44.
CORNELIUS VOLTEMAND
In that and all things will we show our duty.45
40 KING
We doubt it nothing46. Heartily farewell.
Exeunt VOLTEMAND and CORNELIUS
And now, Laertes, what’s the news with you?47
You told us of some suit48; what is’t, Laertes?
You cannot speak of reason49 to the Dane50,
And loose your voice51. What wouldst thou beg, Laertes,
45 That shall not be my offer, not52 thy asking?53
The head is not more native54 to the heart,
The hand more instrumental to the mouth,
Than is the throne of Denmark to thy father.55
What wouldst thou have, Laertes?56.
50 LAERTES
My dread lord,
Your leave and favour57 to return to France;
From whence though willingly I came to Denmark,
To show my duty in your coronation,
Yet now, I must confess, that duty done,
55 My thoughts and wishes bend again toward France
And bow58 them to your gracious leave and pardon.
KING
Have you your father’s leave? What says Polonius?
POLONIUS
He hath, my lord, wrung from me my slow59 leave
By laboursome60 petition, and at last
60 Upon his will I sealed my hard61 consent.I do beseech you, give him leave to go.
KING
Take62 thy fair hour63, Laertes; time be thine64,
And thy best graces spend it at thy will!65
But now, my cousin66 Hamlet, and my son—67
65 HAMLET
[Aside]68 A little more than kin, and less than kind69.70
KING
How is it that the clouds still71 hang on you?
HAMLET
Not so, my lord; I am too much i’ the sun.72
QUEEN
Good Hamlet,73 cast thy nighted74 color75 off,
And let thine76 eye look like a friend on Denmark77.
70 Do not for ever with thy vailèd78 lids79
Seek for thy noble father in the dust.
Thou know’st ’tis common; all that lives must die,
Passing through nature80 to eternity.
HAMLET
75 QUEEN
If it be,
Why seems it so particular with thee?
HAMLET
Seems, madam!83 Nay, it is; I know not ‘seems’.84
’Tis not alone my inky85 cloak, good mother86,
Nor customary suits87 of solemn black,
80 Nor windy suspiration88 of forced89 breath,
No, nor the fruitful90 river in the eye91,
Nor the dejected92 ’havior93 of the visage94,
Together with all forms, moods, shapes of grief,
That can denote95 me truly. These indeed seem,
For they are actions that a man might play;
85 But I have that within which passeth96 show;
These but the trappings97 and the suits98 of woe.
KING99
’Tis sweet and commendable100 in your nature101, Hamlet,
To give these mourning duties to your father;
But, you must know, your father lost a father;
90 That father lost, lost his, and the survivor bound102
In filial obligation for some term103
To do obsequious104 sorrow. But to persever105
In obstinate condolement106 is a course107
Of impious108 stubbornness; ’tis unmanly grief;
95 It shows a will most incorrect109 to heaven110,
A heart unfortified111, a mind impatient112,
An understanding simple113 and unschooled114:
For what we know must be and is as common
As any the most vulgar115 thing to sense116,
100 Why should we in our peevish117 opposition
Take it to heart? Fie! ’tis a fault118 to heaven119,
A fault against the dead, a fault to nature120,
To reason most absurd, whose121 common theme122
Is death of fathers, and who123 still124 hath cried,
105 From the first corse125 till he126 that died to-day,
‘This must be so.’ We pray you, throw to earth
This unprevailing127 woe, and think of us127-1
As of a father; for let the world take note,
You are the most immediate to our throne;128
110 And with129 no less nobility of love130
Than that which131 dearest father bears his son,
Do I impart toward you. For132 your intent
In going back to school in Wittenberg133,
115 It is most retrograde134 to our135 desire;
And we beseech you, bend you136 to remain
Here, in the cheer and comfort of our eye,137
Our chiefest courtier, cousin, and our son.
QUEEN
Let not thy mother lose her prayers138, Hamlet.
120 I pray thee, stay with us; go not to Wittenberg.
HAMLET
I shall in all my best obey you139, madam.
KING
Why, ’tis a loving and a fair reply.
Be as ourself139-1 in Denmark. Madam, come;
This gentle and unforced accord of Hamlet
125 Sits smiling to140 my heart;141 in grace whereof142,
No jocund143 health144 that Denmark drinks to-day,
But the great cannon to the clouds shall tell145,
And the King’s rouse146 the heavens shall bruit147 again,
Re-speaking148 earthly thunder149. Come away.
130 Exeunt all but HAMLET
HAMLET
O, that this too too solid150 flesh would melt,
Thaw and resolve151 itself into a dew!
Or that the Everlasting152 had not fixed
His canon153 ‘gainst self-slaughter!154 O God! God!
How weary, stale, flat and unprofitable,
135 Seem to me all the uses155 of this world!156
Fie157 on’t! ah fie! ’tis an unweeded158 garden159,
That grows to seed160; things rank161 and gross162 in nature
Possess it merely163. That it should come to this!
But two months dead—nay, not so much, not two!
So excellent a king, that was to this164
140 Hyperion165 to a satyr166, so loving to my mother
That he might not167 beteem168 the winds of heaven
Visit her face too roughly. Heaven and earth!
Must I remember? why, she would hang on him,
As if increase of appetite169 had grown170
145 By what it fed on171, and yet, within a month—
Let me not think on’t! Frailty172, thy name173 is woman!174
A little month, or ere175 those shoes were old
With which she followed my poor father’s body,
Like Niobe176, all tears—why she, even she—O, God! a beast that wants177
150 discourse of reason178,
Would have mourned longer—married with my uncle,
My father’s brother, but no more like my father
Than I to Hercules179. Within a month,
Ere yet the salt of most unrighteous180 tears
Had left the flushing181 in her galled182 eyes,
155 She married. O, most wicked speed, to post183
With such dexterity184 to incestuous185 sheets!186
It is not, nor it cannot187 come to good.
But break my heart, for I must hold my tongue.
Enter HORATIO, MARCELLUS, and BERNARDO
160 HORATIO
Hail to your lordship!
HAMLET
I am glad to see you well.
Horatio,—or188 I do forget myself.189
HORATIO
The same, my lord, and your poor servant ever.
HAMLET
Sir, my good friend; I’ll change190 that name191 with you.192
And what make you from193 Wittenberg, Horatio? Marcellus?
165 MARCELLUS
My good lord—
HAMLET
I am very glad to see you. Good even194, sir.
But what, in faith195, make you from Wittenberg?
HORATIO
A truant196 disposition, good my lord197.
HAMLET
I would not hear198 your enemy say so,
170 Nor shall you do mine ear that violence,
To make it truster of199 your own report
Against yourself. I know you are no truant.
But what is your affair in Elsinore?
We’ll teach you to drink deep200 ere you depart.
175 HORATIO
My lord, I came to see your father’s funeral.
HAMLET
I pray thee, do not mock me, fellow-student;
I think it was to see my mother’s wedding.
HORATIO
Indeed, my lord, it followed hard upon201.
HAMLET
Thrift, thrift202, Horatio! the funeral baked meats
180 Did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables.
Would I had met my dearest203 foe204 in heaven
Or ever205 I had seen that day, Horatio!
My father!—methinks206 I see my father.
HORATIO
Where, my lord?
185 HAMLET
In my mind’s eye, Horatio.
HORATIO
I saw him once; he was a goodly207 king.
HAMLET
He was a man, take him for all in all,
I shall not look upon his like again.
HORATIO
My lord, I think I saw him yesternight208.
190 HAMLET
Saw? who?
HORATIO
My lord, the King your father.
HAMLET
The King my father!
HORATIO
Season209 your admiration210 for awhile
With an attent211 ear, till I may deliver212,
Upon the witness of these gentlemen,
195 This marvel to you.
HAMLET
For God’s love, let me hear.
HORATIO
Two nights together had these gentlemen,
Marcellus and Bernardo, on their watch,
In the dead vast213 and middle of the night,
200 Been thus encountered. A figure like your father,
Armed at point214 exactly, cap-a-pe215,
Appears216 before them, and with solemn march
Goes217 slow218 and stately by them. Thrice he walked
By their oppressed219 and fear-surprisèd220 eyes,
205 Within his truncheon’s221 length; whilst they, distilled222
Almost to jelly with the act223 of fear224,
Stand225 dumb and speak226 not to him. This to me
In dreadful227 secrecy impart they did;
210 And I with them the third night kept the watch;
Where, as they had delivered, both in time,
Form of the thing228, each word made true and good,
The apparition comes229. I knew your father:
These hands are not more like230.
215 HAMLET
But where was this?
MARCELLUS
My lord, upon the platform where we watched231.
HAMLET
Did you not speak to it?
HORATIO
My lord, I did;
But answer made it none. Yet once methought232
220 It lifted up its head and did address
Itself to motion233, like as234 it would speak;
But even then the morning cock crew loud,
And at the sound it shrunk235 in haste away,
And vanished from our sight.
225 HAMLET
’Tis very strange.
HORATIO
As I do live, my honored lord, ’tis true;
And we did think it writ down in our duty235-1
To let you know of it.
HAMLET
Indeed, indeed, sirs, but this troubles me.
Hold you the watch tonight?
MARCELLUS BERNARDO
230 We do, my lord.
HAMLET
Armed, say you?
MARCELLUS BERNARDO
Armed, my lord.
HAMLET
From top to toe?
MARCELLUS BERNARDO
My lord, from head to foot.
235 HAMLET
Then saw you not his face?
HORATIO
O, yes, my lord! he wore his beaver236 up.
HAMLET
What, looked he frowningly237 ?
HORATIO
A countenance238 more in sorrow than in anger.
HAMLET
Pale or red?
240 HORATIO
Nay, very pale.
HAMLET
And fixed his eyes upon you?
HORATIO
Most constantly.
HAMLET
I would I had been there.
HORATIO
It would have much amazed you239.
245 HAMLET
Very like240, very like. Stayed it long?
HORATIO
While one with moderate haste might tell241 a hundred.
MARCELLUS BERNARDO
Longer, longer.
HORATIO
Not when I saw’t.
HAMLET
His beard was grizzled242—no243?
250 HORATIO
It was, as I have seen it in his life,
A sable silvered.244
HAMLET
I will watch tonight;
Perchance ’twill walk again.
HORATIO
I warrant it will.
255 HAMLET
If it assume245 my noble father’s person,
I’ll speak to it, though246 hell itself should gape
And bid me hold my peace247. I pray you all,
If you have hitherto concealed this sight,
Let it be tenable248 in your silence still249,
260 And250 whatsoever else shall hap251 tonight,
Give it an understanding, but no tongue.252
I will requite253 your loves.254
So, fare you well.
Upon the platform, ’twixt eleven and twelve,
265 I’ll visit you.
All
Our duty to your honor.
HAMLET
Your loves255, as mine256 to you. Farewell.
Exeunt all but HAMLET
My father’s spirit in arms! All is not well;
I doubt257 some foul play258. Would the night were come!
270 Till then sit still, my soul. Foul deeds will rise259,
Though all the earth o’erwhelm260 them, to261 men’s eyes.262
Exit
1 Flourish: a fanfare of trumpets
2 yet: still
3 our: the royal plural
4 green: fresh
5 that: though; consequently
6 befitted: would have been appropriate for us
7 To be … woe: personification
8 yet: a shrewd turn
9 discretion: reason
10 Therefore: a second turn
11 our: the royal plural (a clever pun)
12 sometime: former
13 sister: sister-in-law
14 jointress: a widow who is a joint inheritor (it recalls Elizabeth I)
15 defeated: frustrated, overcome
16 auspicious: joyful
17 dropping: tearful, drooping
18 In equal … dole: balancing joy against an equivalent quantity of sorrow
19 Taken to wife: He deliberately postpones the information.
20 barred: excluded
21 wisdoms: wise preference
22 With this affair along: He justifies his action and shifts the burden.
23 For all, our thanks: It is a vigorous ending that bespeaks “a certain appropriate majesty”(S. T. Coleridge).
24 that: as
25 a weak supposal of our worth: a poor estimation of my ability
26 disjoint: disjointed
27 Our …frame: Cf. I. v. 208: “The time is out of joint. ”
28 Colleagued: allied
29 advantage: superior position
30 importing: demanding
31 bonds of law: legal bonds
32 Cf. I. i. 98: “our valiant Hamlet” (From “the general censure” we can roughly tell what old Hamlet was like in his lifetime.)
33 writ: written
34 impotent: incapable
35 bed-rid: bed-ridden
36 gait: course, proceeding
37 The lists and full propotions: the troops and the supplies
38 made: drawn
39 subject: subjects
40 For: as
41 bearers: messengers
42 business: negotiate
43 delated articles: detailed items
44 let … duty: prove your duty by the speed with which you accomplish your mission; let your speedy departure take the place of ceremonious leave-taking
45 duty: the medieval society is a duty-based hierarchy.
46 We doubt it nothing: we have complete confidence in you
47 you: “You” and “thou” indicate different social distances. “You” is more formal.
48 suit: request
49 speak of reason: make a reasonable request
50 the Dane: king of Denmark
51 loose your voice: speak in vain
52 not: without
53 That … asking: “My” and “thy” are both terms of endearment.
54 native: obliged, connected
55 46—48: It is an indirect compliment to Polonius.
56 41—49: There are altogether 4 Laertes’s, 2 thou’s and 2 thy’s.
57 Your leave and favour: the favor of your permission (hendiadys)
58 bow: submit
59 slow: reluctant
60 laboursome: repeated
61 hard: unwilling
62 take: enjoy
63 fair hour: youth (Cf. Edmund Spenser: “Make haste while it is prime.”)
64 time be thine: let time be yours
65 And … will: May your virtues control the way you spend it.
66 cousin: kinsman
67 But now … son: He is hesitating how to orientate their relationship.
68 He refuses to answer, hence an embarrassing change of atmosphere.
69 kind: of a kind (a son here); benevolent.
70 kin, kind: The nearer in kin, the less in kindness. “Kin” alliterates with “kind”. A. C. Bradley: “Hamlet … is fond of quibbles and word-play, and of ‘conceits’ and turns of thought”; this tendency “betokens a nimbleness and flexibility of mind which is characteristic of him and not of the later many-sided heroes.” (Shakespearean Tragedy, London: The Macmillan Press Ltd., 1974, p.120)
71 still: always
72 He puns on “sun” and “son”. There are many interpretations for this line, such as “You have given too much avuncular love (for me to be gloomy)”, “I have been a son for too long a time” etc.
73 Good Hamlet: Her first words addressed to Hamlet. Cf. her last words: “oh my dear Hamlet” (V. ii. 323—324)
74 nighted: dark
75 color: mourning dress
76 thine: “Thine” is more familiar than “your”.
77 Denmark: the King
78 vailèd: lowered
79 lids: eyelids
80 nature: natural life
81 Ay: yes
82 it is common: It is an ironic agreement.
83 Seems, madam: He takes up the word “seems” and twists it against the speaker.
84 seems: a pun on “seams”.
85 inky: dark
86 good mother: a term for step-mother or mother-in-law (used sarcastically here)
87 customary suits: garments, clothes
88 windy suspiration: sighs
89 forced: strong; affected
90 fruitful: copious
91 the fruitful … eye: abundant flow of tears
92 dejected: depressed, dowcast
93 ’havior: behavior, appearance
94 visage: face
95 denote: indicate, express
96 passeth: surpasses
97 trappings: accoutrements
98 suits: clothes, embellishments
99 92f f .: a speech against “obstinate condolement”. Cf. Twelfth Night, I. V. 63—69
100 commendable: (accented on the first syllable) praiseworthy, laudable
101 nature: human nature
102 bound: being bound (obliged, committed)
103 term: period of time
104 obsequious: dutiful; suitable for funeral rites
105 persever: (accented on the second syllable) persevere
106 condolement: grieving, condolence
107 course: way
108 impious: undutiful, profane
109 incorrect: disobedient
110 heaven: the 1st mention
111 unforified: weak
112 impatient: restless, incapable of suffering
113 simple: foolish, inexperienced
114 unschooled: childish
115 vulgar: common
116 sense: perception
117 peevish: foolish
118 fault: offense
119 heaven: the 2nd mention
120 nature: natural law
121 whose: nature’s; reason’s
122 theme: topic
123 who: nature; reason
124 still: always
125 corse: corpse. In Judaeo-Christian tradition, the first corpse was that of Abel, who was killed by Cain, his elder brother (Genesis 4:11—12), which has been archetypal of sibling slaughter. Its unconscious allusion here simply betrays the speaker’s innermost sense of guilt.
126 he: him
127 unprevailing: unavailing, futile, useless
127-1 us: the royal plural (Claudius refers to himself.)
128 You are … throne: You are my heir
129 with: redundant word
130 no less … love: distinguished affection
131 which: what
132 For: as for
133 school in Wittenberg: It was founded in 1502 (so it is anachronistic for Hamlet to go to Wittenberg in the 12th century), which was the cradle of Martin Luther’s Reformation. Luther posted his famous Ninety-Five Theses on the castle church door in 1517, and Bruno visited Wittenberg in 1586. So it had been a center for revolutionary thoughts in Europe by the end of the 16th century. (As to the question whether Hamlet was at Wittenberg at the time of his father’s murder, see A. C. Bradley: Shakespearean Tragedy, pp.343—344.)
134 retrograde: contrary
135 our: my
136 bend you: change your mind
137 in the cheer … eye: He wants to keep Hamlet under control.
138 Let not … prayers: Don’t let me entreat in vain
139 you: “You” is more formal than “thee”.
139-1 Be as ourself: behave as if you were king
140 to: at
141 Sits … heart: personification
142 whereof: in honor of which
143 jocund: merry, joyful
144 health: toast
145 tell: count, announce
146 rouse: carousal, deep drink
147 bruit: report
148 Re-speaking: echoing
149 earthly thunder: cannon; the King’s voice
150 solid: The First Quarto (Q1) reads “sullied”, the Second Quarto (Q2) reads “sallied”(assailed), and “solid” is the Folio (F) reading.
151 resolve: dissolve
152 Everlasting: God
153 canon: divine law
154 His…self-slaughter: Exodus 20.13: “Thou shalt not kill.”
155 uses: doings, customs; enjoyments
156 134—135: He is sick of the world. (Cf. III. i. 78—90)
157 Fie: a strong exclamation of shock, reproach or disgust
158 unweeded: untilled
159 garden: The garden is a symbol of state or government. (Cf. Richard II , III. iv 40—46&Henry V, V. ii. 41—53)
160 grows to seed: goes to seed, grows shabby
161 things rank: thick and rampant
162 gross: luxuriant
163 merely: entirely
164 to this: compared with the present king
165 Hyperion: Greek sun god
166 satyr: ugly and lustful goat-man.
167 might not: would not; had not the might (strength) to
168 beteem: allow
169 appetite: desire, love. Cf. Twelfth Night, II. iv. 104—108: “Orsino: their love may be called appetite / … / But mine is all as hungry as the sea,/And can digest as much.”
170 grown: increased
171 By what it fed on: by being satisfied;
172 Frailty: weakness, inconstancy (cf. 1 Henry IV, III. iii. 166—168: Falstaff: “I have more flesh than another man, and therefore more frailty.)”
173 name: essence; symbolic representation (Cf. Vico: New Science, 433&484)
174 Fraitty … woman: Women are thought to embody frailty or lack of constancy. Cf. Virgil:Aeneid. 4.569—570: “Varium et mutabile semper femina.”
175 ere: even before
176 Niobe: Queen of Thebes, who lost all her children and herself became a stone.
177 wants: lacks
178 discourse of reason: ability to reason, faculty of reasoning
179 Hercules: a demigod, a symbol of strength and courage
180 unrighteous: not virtuous, insincere
181 flushing: redness
182 galled: irritated, inflamed
183 post: rush
184 dexterity: skillfulness
185 incestuous: In Tudor England, it was regarded as incestuous if a widow was married to her husband’s brother. Cf. Leviticus, 20:21: (Jehovah said to Moses) “If a man takes his brother’s wife, it is impurity” etc. Very likely, Claudius would remind Shakespeare’s contemporaries of Henry VIII, who divorced his wife Catherine, widow of his brother, in order to marry Ann Boleyn, who gave birth to Elizabeth I.
186 155—156: Pay attention to the “s” and “ʃ” sounds used here.
187 nor it cannot: can (an emphatic double negative)
188 or: unless
189 Horatio, … myself: Proverb: A friend is our second self. Cf. Aristotle: Nicomachean Ethics, 1170b: “ἕτερος γὰρ αὐτὸς ὁ φίλος ἐστίν”& Zeno: “ἐρωτηθεὶς τίς ἐστι φίλος, ἄλλος, ἔφη,ἐγώ.” (Diogenes Laertius: Lives of Eminent Philosophers, 7.1.23)
190 change: exchange
191 name: i.e. your poor servant
192 I’ll change … you: We’ll call each other “friend”.
193 what make you from: what are you doing away from
194 even: evening
195 in faith: in truth
196 truant: time-wasting
197 good my lord: a particularly deferential form of address
198 hear: allow
199 truster of: one that trusts
200 drink deep: drink deeply (a school custom)
201 hard upon: soon after
202 Thrift, thrift: A. C. Bradley: “This repetition is a habit with Hamlet” (Shakespearean Tragedy, p.119), and “a habit of repetition quite as marked by Hamlet’s may be found in comic persons, e.g. Justice Shallow in 2 Henry IV.” (p.119, n.1)
203 dearest: bitterest, direst
204 dearest foe: oxymoron. Cf. Henry V, V. ii. 202—203: “I love thee cruelly”
205 ever: ever before
206 methinks: I think
207 goodly: admirable, excellent
208 yesternight: last night
209 Season: moderate
210 admiration: wonder, astonishment
211 attent: attentive
212 deliver: relate, report
213 dead vast: great darkness
214 at point: every point
215 cap-a-pe: from top to toe (French: cap-à-pied)
216 Appears: dramatic present
217 Goes: dramatic present
218 slow: slowly
219 oppressed: overwhelmed
220 fear-surprisèd: terrified
221 truncheon’s: mace, staff carried by kings
222 distilled: reduced
223 act: effect; action
224 fear: i.e. fear on them
225 stand: dramatic present
226 speak: dramatic present
227 dreadful: laden with dread
228 the thing: the ghost
229 comes: dramatic present
230 more like: more like than your father and the ghost
231 we watched: kept watch
232 methought: I thought
233 Itself to motion: begin to make motions
234 like as: as if
235 shrunk: shrank
235-1 writ down in our duty: required by the loyalty we owe you
236 beaver: mask, helmet’s visor
237 frowningly: a sign of sorrow
238 countenance: expression of the face
239 amazed you: confused your thoughts
240 very like: likely
241 tell: count
242 grizzled: gray
243 no: wasn’t it
244 A sable silvered: black tipped and shot through with silver
245 assume: take on
246 though: even though
247 peace: be silent
248 tenable: held
249 still: always
250 and: if
251 hap: happen
252 Give … tongue: Keep mum about this.
253 requite: repay
254 loves: “Love” in Shakespeare’s time often took the plural form.
255 Your loves: your loves instead of duty
256 mine: my love
257 doubt: fear, suspect
258 foul play: treacherous action
259 rise: be revealed
260 o’verwhlem: shut
261 to: from
262 270—271: an epilogue, which is composed of two rhyming lines.