Osr. Of Laertes ? 120 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. 125 Osr. You are not ignorant of what excellence Laertes isHam. 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. 130 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 margent, ere you had done. Osr. The carriages, sir, are the hangers. 141 Ham. The phrase would be more german 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 imponed, as you call it ? 148 Osr. The king, sir, hath laid, that in a dozen passes between you 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? 152 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 I can; if not, I will gain nothing but my shame, and the odd hits. Osr. Shall I re-deliver you e'en so? 160 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 to commend it himself; there are no tongues else for 's turn. Hor. This lapwing runs away with the shell on his head. 165 Ham. He did comply with his dug, before he sucked 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; 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. 172 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. 176 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. 180 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. 185 Ham. I do not think so; since he went into France, I have been in continual practice; I shall win at the odds. But thou wouldst not think, how ill all's here about my heart: but it is no matter. Hor. Nay, good my lord 190 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 anything, obey it: I will forestall their repair hither, and say, you are not fit. 194 Ham. Not a whit, we defy augury: there's 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 has aught of what he leaves, what is 't to leave betimes? Enter KING, QUEEN, LAERTES, Lords, OSRIC, and Attendants with foils, &c. King. Come, Hamlet, come, and take this hand from me. 200 [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. This presence knows, and you must needs have heard, How I am punish'd with a sore distraction. What I have done, 205 That might your nature, honour, and exception, And, when he's not himself, does wrong Laertes, 210 Then Hamlet does it not, Hamlet denies it. Hamlet is of the faction that is wrong'd; His madness is poor Hamlet's enemy. Sir, in this audience, Let my disclaiming from a purpos'd evil Free me so far in your most generous thoughts, That I have shot mine arrow o'er the house, And hurt my brother. Laer. I am satisfied in nature, Whose motive, in this case, should stir me most 215 220 To my revenge: but in my terms of honour, To keep my name ungor'd. But till that time, And will not wrong it. Ham. And will this brother's wager frankly play. I embrace it freely ; Come, one for me. Give us the foils.-Come on. Laer. Ham. I'll be your foil, Laertes; in mine ignorance Your skill shall, like a star i̇' the darkest night, Stick fiery off indeed. Laer. Ham. No, by this hand. 225 230 You mock me, sir. King. Give them the foils, young Osric.-Cousin Hamlet, You know the wager? 235 Ham. Very well, my lord; Your grace hath laid the odds o' the weaker side. King. I do not fear it: I have seen you both. But since he's better'd, we have therefore odds. 240 Ham. This likes me well. These foils have all a length? [They prepare to play. Osr. Ay, my good lord. King. Set me the stoups of wine upon that table: In Denmark's crown have worn. Give me the cups; 250 The trumpet to the cannoneer without, The cannons to the heavens, the heaven to earth, And you, Ham. Come on, sir. 255 King. Stay, give me drink. Hamlet, this pearl is thine ; Here's to thy health. Give him the cup. [Trumpets sound; and cannon shot off within Ham. I'll play this bout first, set it by awhile. Come.-Another hit; what say you? Laer. A touch, a touch, I do confess. King. Our son shall win. Queen. 260 [They play. He's fat, and scant of breath. 265 Here, Hamlet, take my napkin, rub thy brows: Ham. Good, madam ! King. Gertrude, do not drink. Queen. I will, my lord ;-I pray you, pardon me. [Aside. Ham. I dare not drink yet, madam; by and by. 270 I do not think it. [Aside. Ham. Come, for the third, Laertes: you but dally; I pray you, pass with your best violence; I am afeard you make a wanton of me. 275 |