unaneled

Ay , that incestuous , that adulterate beast ,
With witchcraft of his wits wit , with traitorous gifts —
O wicked wit and gifts , that have the power
So to seduce ! — won to his shameful lust
The will of my most seeming-virtuous queen .
O Hamlet , what a falling off was there !
From me , whose love was of that dignity
That it went hand in hand even with the vow
I made to her in marriage , and to decline
Upon a wretch whose natural gifts were poor
To those of mine .
But virtue , as it never will be moved ,
Though lewdness court it in a shape of heaven ,
So , lust , though to a radiant angel linked ,
Will sate itself in a celestial bed
And prey on garbage .
But soft , methinks I scent the morning air .
Brief let me be . Sleeping within my orchard ,
My custom always of the afternoon ,
Upon my secure hour thy uncle stole ,
With juice of cursèd hebona in a vial ,
And in the porches of my ears did pour
The leprous distilment , whose effect
Holds such an enmity with blood of man
That swift as quicksilver it courses through
The natural gates and alleys of the body ,
And with a sudden vigor it doth posset
And curd , like eager droppings into milk ,
The thin and wholesome blood . So did it mine ,
And a most instant tetter barked about ,
Most lazar-like , with vile and loathsome crust
All my smooth body .
Thus was I , sleeping , by a brother’s hand
Of life , of crown , of queen at once dispatched ,
Cut off , even in the blossoms of my sin ,
Unhouseled , disappointed , unaneled ,
No reck’ning made , but sent to my account
With all my imperfections on my head .
O horrible , O horrible , most horrible !
If thou hast nature in thee , bear it not .
Let not the royal bed of Denmark be
A couch for luxury and damnèd incest .
But , howsomever thou pursues this act ,
Taint not thy mind , nor let thy soul contrive
Against thy mother aught . Leave her to heaven
And to those thorns that in her bosom lodge
To prick and sting her . Fare thee well at once .
The glowworm shows the matin to be near
And ’gins to pale his uneffectual fire .
Adieu , adieu , adieu . Remember me .