_Pol._ Give first admittance to the ambassadors; My news shall be the fruit to that great feast.[666] _King._ Thyself do grace to them, and bring them in. [_Exit Polonius._[667] He tells me, my dear Gertrude, he hath found[668] The head and source of all your son's distemper. 55 _Queen._ I doubt it is no other but the main; His father's death and our o'erhasty marriage.[669] _King._ Well, we shall sift him. _Re-enter_ POLONIUS, _with_ VOLTIMAND _and_ CORNELIUS. Welcome, my good friends![670] Say, Voltimand, what from our brother Norway?[671] _Volt._ Most fair return of greetings and desires. 60 Upon our first, he sent out to suppress His nephew's levies, which to him appear'd[672] To be a preparation 'gainst the Polack,[673] But better look'd into, he truly found It was against your highness: whereat grieved, 65 That so his sickness, age and impotence Was falsely borne in hand, sends out arrests On Fortinbras; which he, in brief, obeys, Receives rebuke from Norway, and in fine Makes vow before his uncle never more 70 To give the assay of arms against your majesty. Whereon old Norway, overcome with joy, Gives him three thousand crowns in annual fee[674] And his commission to employ those soldiers, So levied as before, against the Polack:[673] 75 With an entreaty, herein further shown, [_Giving a paper._[675] That it might please you to give quiet pass Through your dominions for this enterprise,[676] On such regards of safety and allowance As therein are set down.[677] _King._ It likes us well, 80 And at our more consider'd time we'll read,[678] Answer, and think upon this business.[679] Meantime we thank you for your well-took labour: Go to your rest; at night we'll feast together:[680] Most welcome home! [_Exeunt Voltimand and Cornelius._ _Pol._ This business is well ended.[681] 85 My liege, and madam, to expostulate What majesty should be, what duty is, Why day is day, night night, and time is time, Were nothing but to waste night, day and time. Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit[682] 90 And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes,[683] I will be brief. Your noble son is mad: Mad call I it; for, to define true madness,[684] What is't but to be nothing else but mad?[685] But let that go. _Queen._ More matter, with less art. 95