He that hath kill'd my king, and whor'd my mother; And with such cozenage-is't not perfect con science, To quit him with this arm? and is't not to be damn'd, In further evil? What is the issue of the business there. Ham. It will be short: the interim is mine; And a man's life no more than to say, one. For by the image of my cause I see The portraiture of his: I'll count his favours: But, sure, the bravery of his grief did put me Hor. It must be shortly known to him from Eng- Into a towering passion. land, Hor. Peace! who comes here? HEWET Enter OSRIC. Osr. Your lordship is right welcome back to Denmark. Ham. I humbly thank you, sir.-Dost know this water-fly? Hor. No, my good lord. Ham. Thy state is the more gracious, for 'tis a vice to know him. He hath much land, and fertile: let a beast be lord of beasts, and his crib shall stand at the king's mess: 'tis a chough; but, as I say, spacious in the possession of dirt. Osr. Sweet lord, if your lordship were at leisure, I should impart a thing to you from his majesty. Ham. I will receive it, sir, with all diligence of spirit. Your bonnet to his right use; 'tis for the head. Ham. But yet, methinks, it is very sultry, and hot for my complexion. Osr. Exceedingly, my lord; it is very sultry,as 'twere, I cannot tell how. But my lord, his majesty bade me signify to you, that he has laid a great wager on your head. Sir, this is the matter,Ham. I beseech you, remember [HAMLET moves him to put on his hat. Osr. Nay, in good faith; for mine ease, in good faith. Sir, here is newly come to court, Laertes; believe me, an absolute gentleman, full of most excellent differences, of very soft society, and great showing: indeed, to speak feelingly of him, he is the card or calendar of gentry, for you shall find in him the continent of what part a gentleman would see. Ham. Sir, his definement suffers no perdition in you; though, I know, to divide him inventorially, Osr. I thank your lordship, 'tis very hot. Ham. No, believe me, 'tis very cold: the wind would dizzy the arithmetic of memory; and yet is northerly. Osr. It is indifferent cold, my lord, indeed. but raw neither, in respect of his quick sail. But, in the verity of extolment, I take him to be a soul Hor. His purse is empty already; all his golden your pleasure hold to play with Laertes, or that words are spent. of great article; and his infusion of such dearth and rareness, as, to make true diction of him, his semblable is his mirror; and who else would trace him, his umbrage, nothing more. Ost. Your lordship speaks most infallibly of him. Ham. The concernaney, sir? why do we wrap the gentleman in our more rawer breath? Ost. Sir? Hor. Is't not possible to understand in another tongue? You will do't, sir, really. Ham. What imports the nomination of this gentleman? Osr. Of Laertes? Ham. He did comply with his dug before he sucked it. Thus has he (and many more of the same breed, that, I know, the drossy age dotes on) only got the tune of the time, and outward habit of encounter, a kind of yesty collection, which carries them through and through the most fond and winnowed opinions; and do but blow them to their trial, the bubbles are out. Enter a Lord. Lord. My lord, his majesty commended him to you by young Osric, who brings back to him, that you attend him in the hall: he sends to know, if Ham. Of him, sir. Osr. I know, you are not ignorantHam. I would, you did, sir; yet, in faith, if you did, it would not much approve me. Well, sir. Osr. You are not ignorant of what excellence Laertes is Ham. I dare not confess that, lest I should compare with him in excellence; but to know a man well were to know himself. Osr. I mean, sir, for his weapon; but in the imputation laid on him by them, in his meed he's unfellowed. Ham. What's his weapon? Ham. That's two of his weapons: but, well. Osr. The king, sir, hath wagered with him six Barbary horses: against the which he has imponed, as I take it, six French rapiers and poniards, with their assigns, as girdle, hangers, and so. Three of the carriages, in faith, are very dear to fancy, very responsive to the hilts, most delicate carriages, and of very liberal conceit. Ham. What call you the carriages? Hor. I knew, you must be edified by the margin, ere you had done. Osr. The carriages, sir, are the hangers. Ham. The phrase would be more german to the matter, if we could carry a cannon by our sides: I would, it might be hangers till then. But, on: six Barbary horses against six French swords, their assigns, and three liberal-conceited carriages; that's the French bet against the Danish. Why is this imponed, as you call it? Osr. The king, sir, hath laid, sir, that in a dozen passes between yourself and him, he shall not exceed you three hits: he hath laid, on twelve for nine; and that would come to immediate trial, if your lordship would vouchsafe the answer. Ham. How, if I answer, no? Ost. I mean, my lord, the opposition of your person in trial. Ham. Sir, I will walk here in the hall: if it please his majesty, it is the breathing time of day with me, let the foils be brought, the gentleman willing, and the king hold his purpose, I will win for him, if I can: if not, I will gain nothing but my shame, and the odd hits. OST. Shall I deliver you so ? Ham. To this effect, sir; after what flourish your nature will. Osr. I commend my duty to your lordship. [Exit. Ham. Yours, yours.-He does well to commend it himself; there are no tongues else for's turn. Hor. This lapwing runs away with the shell on his head. you will take longer time. Ham. I am constant to my purposes; they follow the king's pleasure: if his fitness speaks, mine is ready; now, or whensoever, provided I be so able as now. Lord. The king, and queen, and all are coming down. Ham. In happy time. Lord. The queen desires you to use some gentle entertainment to Laertes, before you fall to play. Ham. She well instructs me. [Exit Lord. Hor. You will lose this wager, my lord. Ham. I do not think so: since he went into France, I have been in continual practice; I shall win at the odds. Thou would'st not think, how ill all's here about my heart; but it is no matter. Hor. Nay, good my lord,Ham. It is but foolery; but it is such a kind of gaingiving, as would, perhaps, trouble a woman. Hor. If your mind dislike any thing, obey it; I will forestall their repair hither, and say you are not fit. Ham. Not a whit, we defy augury: there is a special providence in the fall of a sparrow. If it be now, 'tis not to come; if it be not to come, it will be now; if it be not now, yet it will come: the readiness is all. Since no man, of aught he leaves, knows, what is't to leave betimes? Let be. Enter King, Queen, LAERTES, Lords, Osric, and Attendants with Foils, &c. King. Come, Hamlet, come, and take this hand from me. [The King puts the hand of LAERTES into that of HAMLET. Ham. Give me your pardon, sir: I've done you wrong; But pardon't, as you are a gentleman. And you must needs have heard, how I am punish'd That might your nature, honour, and exception, And when he's not himself does wrong Laertes, Let my disclaiming from a purpos'd evil Fort. Where is this sight? Hor. What is it ye would see? The drink, the drink: I am poison'd. [Dies. Treachery! seek it out. [LAERTES falls. Laer. It is here, Hamlet. Hamlet, thou art slain; No medicine in the world can do thee good: Ham. The point All. Treason! treason! [Stabs the King. King. O! yet defend me, friends; I am but hurt. Ham. Here, thou incestuous, murderous, damned Dane, Fort. This quarry cries on havock. O proud Death! Had it th' ability of life to thank you: And let me speak to the yet unknowing world, Drink off this potion:-is thy union here? He is justly serv'd; It is a poison temper'd by himself.- [Dies. Ham. Heaven make thee free of it! I follow thee. I am dead, Horatio. - Wretched queen, adieu!- Of carnal, bloody, and unnatural acts, Of accidental judgments, casual slaughters, Fort. Let us haste to hear it, And call the noblest to the audience. Hor. Of that I shall have also cause to speak, And from his mouth whose voice will draw on more: But let this same be presently perform'd, For he was likely, had he been put on, Even while men's minds are wild, lest more mis- Take up the body. Such a sight as this chance, On plots and errors, happen. Let four captains Becomes the field, but here shows much amiss. [Hamlet's Grave.] |