Which was the model of that Danish seal:

Folded the writ up in form of the other;

50

Subscribed it, gave't the impression, placed it

safely,

The changeling never known.

Was our sea-fight; and what to

Thou know'st already.

Now, the next day

this was sequent

Hor. So Guildenstern and Rosencrantz go to't.

Ham. Why, man, they did make love to this employ

Hor.

ment;

They are not near my conscience; their defeat
Does by their own insinuation grow:

'Tis dangerous when the baser nature comes
Between the pass and fell incensed points
Of mighty opposites.

Why, what a king is this!

60

Ham. Does it not, thinks't thee, stand me now upon-
He that hath kill'd my king and whored my mother,
Popp'd in between the election and my hopes,
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?

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;

And a man's life's no more than to say 'One.'

But I am very sorry, good Horatio,

70

Hor.

That to Laertes I forgot myself;

For, by the image of my cause, I see

The portraiture of his: I'll court his favors:
But, sure, the bravery of his grief did put me
Into a towering passion.

Peace! who comes here? 80

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. Put your bonnet to his right use; 'tis

for the head.

Osr. I thank your lordship, it is 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 for

my complexion.

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100

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, good my lord; for mine ease, in good faith. Sir, here is newly come to court Laertes; 110 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 would dizzy the arithmetic of memory, and yet but yaw neither, in respect of his quick sail. 120 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 mirror; and who else would trace him, his umbrage, nothing more. Osr. Your lordship speaks most infallibly of him.

Ham. The concernancy, sir? why do we wrap
the gentleman in our more rawer breath?
Osr. Sir?

130

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

Ham. What imports the nomination of this gentle

man?

Osr. Of Laertes?

Hor. His purse is empty already; all's 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 140 did, it would not much approve me. sir?

Well,

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?

Osr. Rapier and dagger.

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.

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160

Ham. What call you the carriages?

Hor. I knew you must be edified by the margent

ere you had done.

Osr. The carriages, sir, are the hangers.

Ham. The phrase would be more germane 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 170 Danish. Why is this 'imponed,' 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 180 his majesty, 'tis 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 an I can; if not, I will gain nothing but my shame and the odd hits.

Osr. Shall I re-deliver you e'en so?

Ham. To this effect, sir; after what flourish your nature will.

Osr. I commend my duty to your lordship.

Ham. Yours, yours. [Exit Osric.] He does well 190