_Ham._ Why, any thing, but to the purpose. You were[797] sent for; and there is a kind of confession in your looks,[798] which your modesties have not craft enough to colour: I know the good king and queen have sent for you. 275 _Ros._ To what end, my lord? _Ham._ That you must teach me. But let me conjure you, by the rights of our fellowship, by the consonancy of our[799] youth, by the obligation of our ever-preserved love, and by[800] what more dear a better proposer could charge you withal, be[801] 280 even and direct with me, whether you were sent for, or no.[802] _Ros._ [_Aside to Guil._] What say you?[803] _Ham._ [_Aside_] Nay then, I have an eye of you.--If you[804][805] love me, hold not off.[804] _Guil._ My lord, we were sent for. 285 _Ham._ I will tell you why; so shall my anticipation prevent your discovery, and your secrecy to the king and queen[806][807] moult no feather. I have of late--but wherefore I know not--lost[807][808] all my mirth, foregone all custom of exercises; and indeed[809] it goes so heavily with my disposition that this goodly[810] 290 frame, the earth, seems to me a sterile promontory; this most excellent canopy, the air, look you, this brave o'erhanging[811] firmament, this majestical roof fretted with golden fire, why,[812] it appears no other thing to me than a foul and pestilent[813] congregation of vapours. What a piece of work is a man![814] 295 how noble in reason! how infinite in faculty! in form and[815][816] moving how express and admirable! in action how like an[816] angel! in apprehension how like a god! the beauty of the[816] world! the paragon of animals! And yet, to me, what is this quintessence of dust? man delights not me; no, nor woman[817] 300 neither, though by your smiling you seem to say so.[818] _Ros._ My lord, there was no such stuff in my thoughts. _Ham._ Why did you laugh then, when I said 'man[819] delights not me'? _Ros._ To think, my lord, if you delight not in man, what 305 lenten entertainment the players shall receive from you:[820] we coted them on the way; and hither are they coming, to[821] offer you service. _Ham._ He that plays the king shall be welcome; his majesty shall have tribute of me; the adventurous knight[822] 310 shall use his foil and target; the lover shall not sigh gratis;[823] the humourous man shall end his part in peace; the clown[824] shall make those laugh whose lungs are tickled o' the sere,[824][825] and the lady shall say her mind freely, or the blank verse[826] shall halt for't. What players are they? 315 _Ros._ Even those you were wont to take such delight[827] in, the tragedians of the city.[828]