What cunning or fubtilty fo euer they vfe to cloak
theire pretence, feeing occafion offered, and that in
fecret, fpecially in the moft inticing fmne that rayn-
eth in man, they cannot chufe (being conftrayned
by voluptuoufneffe), but fall to naturall e£fe6l and
^ , .,. working. To this end certaine courtiers

Subtilties °

vfedtodif- were appointed to leade Hamblet into a

couer rlam-. * *

bietsmad- folitary place within the woods, whether
they brought the woman, inciting him to
take their pleafures together, and to imbrace one an-
comipters Other, but y' fubtill pradtife vfed in thefe
fleme'lfm™' our daics, not to try if men of great account
^OTrtfand bee extraft out of their wits, but rather to
great houfes. jeprlue them of ftrength, vertue, and wife-
dome, by meanes of fuch deuilifh pra6titioners, and



The Hystorie of Hamblet Ixix

jntefernall fpirits, their domeftical feruants, and
ininifters of corruption : and furely the poore prince
at this affault had bin in great danger, if a gentle-
man (that in Horuendiles time had bin nourifhed
with him) had not fhowne himfelfe more affedlioned
to the bringing vp he had receiued with Hamblet,
then defirous to pleafe the Tirant, who by all
meanes fought to intangle the fonne in the fame
nets wherein the father had ended his dayes. This
gentleman bare the courtiers (appointed as afore-
faide of this treafon) company, more defiring to giue
the prince inftrudlions what he fhould do, then to
intrap him making full account that the leaft Ihowe
of perfedl fence and wifedome that Hamblet fhould
make, would be fufficient to caufe him to loofe his
life : and therfore by certain fignes he gaue Ham-
blet intelligence, in what danger hee was like to fall
if by any meanes hee feemed to obaye, or once like
the wanton toyes, & vicious prouocations of the
gentle woman, fent thither by his Uncle : which
much abafhed the prince, as then wholy beeing in
affe6tion to the Lady, but by her he was likewife in-
formed of the treafon, as being one that from her
infancy loued and fauoured him, and would haue
been exceeding forrowfull for his miffortune, and
much more to leaue his companie without inioying
the pleafure of his body, whome fhe loued more
than her felfe. 