Mr.  Street's  theory  induces  him  to  read  into  Hamlet's
phrases  meanings  'doubly  redoubled.'  For  example,  he  tells
us  that  'Claudius  does  not  suspect  Hamlet  knows  he  is  present
till  Hamlet  refers  to  "outrageous  fortune."  But  why  this  im-
plication in  that  innocent  phrase?  Does  any  one  doubt  that
Hamlet  has  suffered  the  slings  and  arrows  of  outrageous  fortune  ?
What  more  natural  than  this  plaint  in  his  communing  with
himself?

•  Next  Mr.  Street  asserts  that  taking  'arms  against  a  sea  of
troubles'  'cannot  but  suggest  to  the  suspicious  mind  of  Claudius
that  his  own  life  is  in  jeopardy.'  But  why  would  Claudius,  if
he  were  listening,  consider  'a  sea  of  troubles'  a  reference  to
himself?  He  would  be  very  suspicious  indeed  to  wrest  such  a
metaphorical  meaning  from  the  context.  Whereas  anyone  might
hesitate  to  identify  Claudius  with  a  sea  of  troubles,  no  one
doubts  that  Hamlet  is  baffled  by  a  sea  of  troubles — that  is  the
essence  of  the  tragedy.
