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

Ay81, madam, it is common.82

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.