When that her golden couplets are disclos'd, His silence will sit drooping. Ham. Hear you, sir; We'll put the matter to the present push.- SCENE II.-A Hall in the Castle. Enter HAMLET and HORATIO. [Exeunt. Ham. So much for this, sir: now shall you see the You do remember all the circumstance? [other ;Hor. Remember it, my lord! Ham. Sir, in my heart there was a kind of fighting, That would not let me sleep: methought, I lay Worse than the mutines in the bilboes. Rashly, And prais'd be rashness for it,-Let us know, Our indiscretion sometimes serves us well, When our deep plots do pall; and that should teach There's a divinity that shapes our ends, Rough-hew them how we will. Hor. Ham. Up from my cabin, [us, That is most certain. My sea-gown scarf'd about me, in the dark Hor. Hor. Ay, 'beseech you. Ham. Being thus benetted round with villainies, A baseness to write fair, and labour'd much Hor. Har. How was this seal'd? Ham. Why, even in that was heaven ordinant; I had my father's signet in my purse, Hor. So Guildenstern and Rosencrantz go to't. Hor. And with such cozenage; is't not perfect conscience, Hor. It must be shortly known to him from England, What is the issue of the business there. Ham. It will be short: the interim is mine; Peace; who comes here! 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 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. Osr. I thank your lordship, 'tis very hot. Ham. No, believe me, 'tis very cold; the wind is northerly. Osr. It is indifferent cold, my lord, indeed. Ham. But yet, methinks, it is very sultry and hot; or my complexion Osr. Exceedingly, my lord; it is very sultry,-as 'twere,-I cannot tell how.-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, good my lord; for my 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 grant 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, would dizzy the arithmetic of memory; and yet but raw neither, in respect of his quick sail. But, in the verity of extolment, I take him to be a soul of great article; and his infusion of such dearth and rareness, as, to make true diction of him, his semblable is his mirrour; and, who else would trace him, his umbrage, nothing more. 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 Osr. Your lordship speaks most infallibly of him.out. Ham. The concernancy, sir? why do we wrap the gentleman in our more rawer breath? Osr. Sir? Hor. Is't not possible to understand in another tongue? You will do't, sir, really. Osr. Of Laertes ? Ham. What imports the nomination of this gentle[man? Hor. His purse is empty already; all his golden words are spent. Ham. Of him, sir. Osr. I know, you are not ignorant Ham. 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 impawned, 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 margent, ere you had done. 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 your pleasure hold to play with Laertes, or that 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. Lord. The queen desires you, to use some gentle Hor. Nay, good my lord, Ham. It is but foolery; but it is such a kind of gain-giving, as would, perhaps, trouble a woman. Hor. If your mind dislike any thing, obey it: I will forestal 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, Osnic, and 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 have done you But pardon it, as you are a gentleman. [wrong; 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 as-This presence knows, and you must needs have heard, signs, and three liberal conceited carriages; that's How I am punish'd with a sore distraction. the French bet against the Danish: Why is this im- What I have done, pawned, as you call it? Osr. The king, sir, hath laid, that in a dozen passes between yourself and him, he shall not exceed you three hits; he hath laid, on twelve for nine; and it would come to immediate trial, if your lordship would vouchsafe the answer. Ham. How, if I answer, no? Osr. 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 can; if not, I will gain nothing but my shame, and the odd hits. Osr. 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 bead. Ham. He did comply with his dug, before he sucked That might your nature, honour, and exception, Let my disclaiming from a purpos'd evil Laer. I embrace it freely; Osr. Ay, my good lord. King. Set me the stoups of wine upon that table :- The king shall drink to Hamlet's better breath; Laer. Ham. Laer. Ham. One. Osr. A hit, a very palpable hit. Laer. No. She swoons to see them bleed Queen. No, no, the drink, the drink,—O my dear Hamlet ! The drink, the drink ;-I am poison'd! [Die Ham. O villany!-Ho! let the door be lock'd Treachery! seek it out. [LAERTES fall. Laer. It is here, Hamlet: Hamlet, thou art slain, No medicine in the world can do thee good, In thee there is not half an hour's life; The treacherous instrument is in thy hand, Unbated, and envenom'd: the foul practice Hath turn'd itself on me; lo, here I lie, Never to rise again: Thy mother's poison'd; I can no more; the king, the king's to blame. Ham. The point Envenom'd too!-Then, venom, to thy work. [Stabs the KING Osr.& Lords. Treason! treason! King. O, yet defend me, friends, I am but hurt. Ham. Here, thou incestuous, murd'rous, damned Drink off this potion :-Is the union here? [Dane, Follow my mother. [KING die.. Laer. He is justly serv'd; It is a poison temper'd by himself.— Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Hamlet: Mine and my father's death come not upon thee; Nor thine on me! [Dies. Ham. Heaven make thee free of it! I follow thee. I am dead, Horatio :-Wretched queen, adieu !— You that look pale and tremble at this chance, [They play. That are but mutes or audience to this act, Had I but time, (as this fell sergeant, death, Is strict in his arrest,) O, I could tell you,But let it be :-Horatio, I am dead; Thou liv'st; report me and my cause aright To the unsatisfied. Judgment. Well,-again. King. Stay, give me drink: Hamlet, this pearl is Here's to thy health.-Give him the cup. [thine; [Trumpets sound; and cannon shot off within. Ham. I'll play this bout first, set it by awhile. Come. Another hit; What say you? [They play. Laer. A touch, a touch, I do confess. King. Our son shall win. Queen. He's fat, and scant of breath. Ham. Come for the third, Laertes: [LAERIES wounds HAMLET; then, in scuffling, they Ham. Nay, come again. [The QUEEN falls. Larr Why, as a woodcock to my own springe, Osric; | Hor. Never believe it; And in this harsh world draw thy breath in pain, And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest! |