Was our sea fight; and what to this was sequent Thou know'st already. Horatio. So Guildenstern and Rosencrantz go to't. Hamlet. Why, man, they did make love to this employment: They are not near my conscience; their defeat Does by their own insinuation grow.1 'Tis dangerous when the baser nature 2 comes Between the pass and fell incensed points Of mighty opposites.3 Horatio. Why, what a king is this! Hamlet. Does it not, think'st thee, stand me now upon - 6 Thrown out his angle 5 for my proper life, And with such cozenage-is't not perfect conscience,7 8 To quit him with this arm? and is't not to be damn'd, In further evil? Horatio. It must be shortly known to him from England What is the issue of the business there. Hamlet. It will be short: the interim is mine; And a man's life's no more than to say "One." That to Laertes I forgot myself; For, by the image of my cause, I see The portraiture of his. I'll court his favors; 1 "Does by their own insinuation grow," i.e., comes from their having willingly put themselves into the business. 2 "The baser nature," i.e., those inferior in rank and courage. 3 Opponents. 4 "Stand me now upon," i.e., become my unavoidable duty. 5 Hooked fishing line. 6 Very. 7 "Is't not perfect conscience," i.e., am I not clearly justifiable? 8 Requite. 9 Into. But, sure, the bravery of his grief did put me Into a towering passion. Horatio. whalen Дже Peace! who comes here? Enter OSRIC. Osric. Your lordship is right welcome back to Denmark. Oyeth to y Horatio. No, my good lord. Hamlet. 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.3 2 Osric. Sweet lord, if your lordship were at leisure, I should impart a thing to you from his Majesty. Hamlet. I will receive it, sir, with all diligence of spirit. Put your bonnet to his right use; 'tis for the head. Osric. I thank your lordship, it is very hot. Hamlet. No, believe me, 'tis very cold: the wind is northerly. Hamlet. But yet methinks it is very sultry and hot for my complexion.5 Osric. 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, [Hamlet moves him to put on his hat. Osric. Nay, good my lord; 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 6 3 " Spacious in the possession of dirt," i.e., a large landowner. 4 "Indifferent cold," i.e., somewhat cold. 5 See Note 9, p. 42. 6 "Excellent differences," i.e., distinguishing excellences. and great showing: indeed, to speak feelingly of him, he is the card or calendar of gentry,1 for you shall find in him the continent of what part a gentleman would see. Hamlet. 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. 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.2 Osric. Your lordship speaks most infallibly of him. Hamlet. The concernancy, sir? why do we wrap the gentleman in our more rawer breath ? 3 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 ? Horatio. 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? 1 "The card or calendar of gentry," i.e., a perfect model of all gentlemanly accomplishments. 2 Warburton, in a note in Steevens and Johnson's Shakespeare (edition 1785), remarks on this passage: It is designed as a specimen and ridicule of the court jargon of his [Shakespeare's] time. The sense in English is: 'He suffers nothing in your account of him, though to enumerate his good qualities particularly would be endless; yet when we have done our best, it would still come short of him. However, in strictness of truth, he is a great genius, and of a character so rarely to be met with, that, to find anything like him, we must look into his mirror, and his imitators will appear no more than his shadows."" 3 "The concernancy," etc., i.e., why is it that you have brought this gentleman's name and excellences into our conversation? Osric. You are not ignorant of what excellence Laertes is Hamlet. I dare not confess that, lest I should compare with him in excellence; but to know a man well were to know himself. Osric. I mean, sir, for his weapon; but in the imputation laid on him by them, in his meed he's unfellow'd. Hamlet. What's his weapon? Osric. Rapier and dagger. here i Hamlet. That's two of his weapons; but, well. Osric. The King, sir, hath wager'd with him six Barbary horses; against the which he has impon'd,1 as I take it, six French rapiers and poniards, with their assigns,2 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.3 Hamlet. What call you the carriages ? 4 Horatio. I knew you must be edified by the margent ere you had done. Osric. The carriages, sir, are the hangers. Hamlet. The phrase would be more germane 5 to the matter 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 "impon'd," 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. Hamlet. How if I answer 1 Wagered. no"? 2 Belongings; accompaniments. 3 "Dear to fancy," etc., i.e., in excellent taste, harmonizing well with the hilts, and elaborately designed. 4 "" 'Edified by the margent,” i.e., would require explanation of Osric's language. 5 Relative, 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 Majesty, 'tis the breathing time of day with me; 1 let the foils be brought, the gentleman willing, and the King hold his purpose, I will win for him an 2 I can; if not, I will gain nothing but my shame and the odd hits. Osric. Shall I redeliver you e'en so? Hamlet. To this effect, sir; after what flourish your nature will. Osric. I commend my duty to your lordship. Hamlet. Yours, yours. [Exit Osric.] He does well to commend it himself; there are no tongues else for's turn. Horatio. This lapwing runs away with the shell on his head.3 Hamlet. He did comply with his dug,4 before he suck'd it. Thus has he- and many more of the same bevy that I know the drossy age dotes on only got the tune of the time and outward habit of encounter; 5 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 your pleasure hold to play with Laertes, or that you will take longer time. Hamlet. 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. 1 Breathing time of day with me," i.e., my leisure, or resting time. 2 If. 3 "This lapwing runs," etc., i.e., this silly fellow, like the newly hatched lapwing, runs, etc. 4 "He did comply," etc., i.e., he formally begged pardon of the breast. 5 "The tune," etc., i.e., the fashionable manners and phrases of the time. |