Our indiscretion sometimes serves us well,

When our deep plots do fail; and that should teach us
There's a divinity that shapes our ends,

Rough-hew them how we will,

Horatio.

Hamlet. Up from my cabin,

That is most certain.

My sea-gown scarf'd about me, in the dark
Grop'd I to find out them; had my desire,
Finger'd their packet, and in fine withdrew
To mine own room again; making so bold,
My fears forgetting manners, to unseal

Their grand commission; where I found, Horatio,—
O royal knavery !-an exact command,

Larded with many several sorts of reasons staffed concerning Importing Denmark's health and England's too, bebas With, ho! such bugs and goblins in my life,

wait

IC

20

and the execution.

That, on the supervise, no leisure bated, deducted between the order
No, not to stay the grinding of the axe,
My head should be struck off.

Horatio.

Is 't possible?

Hamlet. Here's the commission; read it at more leisure.
But wilt thou hear me how I did proceed?
Horatio. I beseech you.

Hamlet. Being thus be-netted round with villanies—
Ere I could make a prologue to my brains, foutanency, before &
They had begun the play-I sat me down, this flan
Devis'd a new commission, wrote it fair;

state I once did hold it, as our statists do,

A baseness to write fair, and labour'd much
How to forget that learning, but, sir, now

It did me yeoman's service.

The effect of what I wrote ?

Horatio.

Wilt thou know

Ay, good my lord.

Hamlet. An earnest conjuration from the king,
As England was his faithful tributary,

As love between them like the palm might flourish,
As peace should still her wheaten garland wear

And stand a comma 'tween their amities,

40

And many such-like as's of great charge, wel burden
That, on the view and knowing of these contents,

musiduation Without debatement further, more or less,

pact.

He should the bearers put to sudden death,

Not shriving-time allow'd.

Horatio.

How was this seal'd?

Hamlet. Why, even in that was heaven ordinant. meaning ruiting I had my father's signet in my purse,

mandate.

copy, Which was the model of that Danish seal;
Folded the writ up in form of the other,
Subscrib'd it, gave 't the impression, plac'd it safely,
The changeling never known. Now, the next day
Was our sea-fight; and what to this was sequent
Thou know'st already.

50

"a dawned defeat was made""

Horatio. So Guildenstern and Rosencrantz go to 't. their fate. Hamlet. Why, man, they did make love to this employment: They are not near my conscience; their defeat meddling Does by their own insinuation grow. 'T is dangerous when the baser nature comes Between the pass and fell incensed points Of mighty opposites.

Thrust

Horatio.

Why, what a king is this!

Hamlet. Does it not, thinks 't thee, stand me now upon-
He that hath kill'd my king and whor'd my mother,
Popp'd in between the election and my hopes,
hook & live Thrown out his angle for my proper life,

And with such cozenage-is 't not perfect conscience,
To quit him with this arm? and is 't not to be damn'd,
To let this canker of our nature come

In further evil?

Horatio. It must be shortly known to him from England
What is the issue of the business there.

70

Hamlet. It will be short: the interim is mine; And a man's life 's no more than to say 'One.' But I am very sorry, good Horatio,

That to Laertes I forgot myself;

For, by the image of my cause, I see

The portraiture of his. I'll court his favours;

But, sure, the bravery of his grief did put me ostentatives exhibition Into a towering passion.

Horatio.

Peace! who comes here?

8c

Enter OSRIC.

Osric. Your lordship is right welcome back to Denmark. Hamlet. I humbly thank you, sir.-[Aside to Horatio] Dost know this water-fly? because sheffing fellow. Horatio. [Aside to Hamlet] No, my good lord.

6

Hamlet. [Aside to Horatio] Thy state is the more gracious ; for 't is 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. 'T is a chough, but, as I say, spacious in the possession of dirt. a crow with latho

Osric. Sweet lord, if your lordship were at leisure, I should impart a thing to you from his majesty.

91

Hamlet. I will receive it, sir, with all diligence of spirit. attentiven

Put your bonnet to his right use; 't is for the head.

Osric. I thank your lordship, it is very hot.

Hamlet. No, believe me, 't is very cold; the wind is north

erly.

Osric. It is indifferent cold, my lord, indeed.

Hamlet. But yet methinks it is very sultry and hot for my complexion. temperament. or the complex of the 4 hemmors. Osric. Exceedingly, my lord; it is very sultry, -as 't were, 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,—

Hamlet. I beseech you, remember

103

[Hamlet moves him to put on his hat.

Osric. 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 different soft society and great showing: indeed, to speak feelingly ofens with firfer him, he is the card or calendar of gentry, for you shall find inmpre har in politive him the continent of what part a gentleman would see.

Hamlet. Sir, his definement suffers no perdition in you; discrep though, I know, to divide him inventorially would dizzy the ratin arithmetic of memory, and yet but yaw neither, in respect of his quick sail. But, in the verity of extolment, I take him to ཨེ་མ be a soul of great article, and his infusion of such dearth and h rareness, as, to make true diction of him, his semblable is his farsang fein fact mirror, and who else would trace him, his umbrage, nothing "The low him in his live'

more.

Shadow of

Osric. Your lordship speaks most infallibly of him. alsolute correction
Hamlet. The concernancy, sir? why do we wrap the gen-

tleman in our more rawer breath?

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we dost speak of him in a proference.

Osric. Sir?
Horatio. Is 't not possible to understand in another
tongue? You will do 't, sir, really.

Hamlet. What imports the nomination of this gentleman?
Osric. Of Laertes ?

Нашит

Horatio. [Aside to Hamlet] His purse is empty already; all's golden words are spent.

Hamlet. Of him, sir.

Osric. I know you are not ignorant—
Hamlet. I would you did, sir; yet, in faith, if you did, it
would not much approve me. Well, sir?

130

would not he

Osric. You are not ignorant of what excellence Laertes is

Hamlet. I dare not confess that, lest I should compare boun with him in excellence; but, to know a man well, were to to know himself.

Osric. I mean, sir, for his weapon; but in the imputation laid on him by them, in his meed he 's unfellowed.

merit

unequaled

exercise

Hamlet. What's his weapon?

Osric. Rapier and dagger.

Hamlet. That's two of his weapons; but, well.

140

Osric. 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, affendaye. 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. tasteful design.

the blades as

ملية حسن

Hamlet. What call you the carriages?ously contred in the dining.
Horatio. [Aside to Hamlet] I knew you must be edified
by the margent ere you had done. mayinal note
Osric. The carriages, sir, are the hangers.

151

Hamlet. The phrase would be more germane to the matin, furting ter, if we could carry 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?

Osric. 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. after Hamlet. How if I answer no?

163

Osric. I mean, my lord, the opposition of your person in trial.

Hamlet. Sir, I will walk here in the hall: if it please his time for majesty, 't 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.

170

Osric. Shall I re-deliver you e'en so? refert.
Hamlet. To this effect, sir, after what flourish your nature
will.

Osric. I commend my duty to your lordship.