memory, and yet but yaw1 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 infusion2 of such dearth3 and rareness, as, to make true diction of him, his semblable is his mirror, and who else would trace1 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

139

Osr. I know you are not ignorantHam. I would you did, sir; yet, in faith, if you did, it would not much approve mes 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?
Osr. Rapier and dagger.

150

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,8 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.9

Ham. What call you the carriages?

1 Yaw, to move unsteadily (nautical term).

2 Infusion, essential qualities.

4 Trace, follow.

6 Imputation, repute.

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Dearth, dearness.

5 Approve me, be to my credit.

Imponed, staked (perhaps=impawned).

s Hangers, straps by which the sword was attached to the girdle.

9 Liberal conceit, lavish ornamentation.

[Hor. [Aside to Hamlet] 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 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?]

171

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.

179

Ham. Sir, I will walk here in the hall: if it please his 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 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 to commend it himself; there are no tongues else for 's turn.

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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. 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,

Ham. It is but foolery; but it is such a kind of gain-giving2 as would perhaps trouble a

Ham. Not a whit, we defy augury; there's a special providence in the fall of a sparrow. If it be now, 't is 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? Let be.

Enter KING, QUEEN, LAERTES, Lords, OSRIC, and Attendants with foils, &c.

King. Come, Hamlet, come, and take this hand from me.

[The King puts Laertes' hand into

With sore distraction. What I have done,
That might your nature, honour, and exception3)
Roughly awake, I here proclaim was madness.
Was 't Hamlet wrong'd Laertes? Never Ham-
let:

If Hamlet from himself be ta'en away,
And when he's not himself does wrong Laertes,
Then Hamlet does it not, Hamlet denies it.
Who does it, then? His madness: if't be so,
Hamlet is of the faction that is wrong'd;
His madness is poor Hamlet's enemy.
Sir, in this audience,]

250

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
To my revenge: but in my terms of honour
I stand aloof; and will no reconcilement
Till by some elder masters, of known honour,
I have a voice and precedent of peace,
To keep my name ungor'd. But till that time
I do receive your offer'd love like love,
And will not wrong it.

260

Ham. I embrace it freely; And will this brother's wager frankly play. Give us the foils. Come on.

You know the wager?
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. Laer. This is too heavy, let me see another. Ham. This likes me well. These foils have all a length? [They prepare to play. Osr. Ay, my good lord.

3 Exception, objection, as in the phrase "to take exception."

[Laertes wounds Hamlet; then, in scuffling, they change rapiers, and Hamlet wounds Laertes. King. Part them; they are incens'd. Ham. Nay, come, again. [The Queen falls. Osr. Look to the queen there, ho! Hor. They bleed on both sides. How is it, my lord?

Osr. How is 't, Laertes?

Laer. Why, as a woodcock to mine own springe, Osric;

I am justly kill'd with mine own treachery. Ham. How does the queen?

King.

She swoons to see them bleed. Queen. No, no, the drink, the drink, O my dear Hamlet,

The drink, the drink! Ham. O villany! lock'd:

Treachery! seek it out.

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I am poison'd. [Dies. Ho! let the door be

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 of life; The treacherous instrument is in thy hand, Unbated and envenom'd: the foul practice

1 Napkin, handkerchief.

Hath turn'd itself on me; lo, here I lie, 329
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.
All. Treason! treason!

King. O, yet defend me, friends; I am but hurt.

Ham. Here, thou incestuous, murderous damned Dane,

Drink off this potion: is thy union here?
Follow my mother.

Laer.

[King dies.

339

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

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,
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.
Hor.

Never believe it:
I am more an antique Roman than a Dane:
Here's yet some liquor left.

349

Ham.
As thou 'rt a man,
Give me the cup: let go; by heaven, I'll have't.
O good Horatio, what a wounded name,
Things standing thus unknown, shall live be-
hind me!

If thou didst ever hold me in thy heart,
Absent thee from felicity awhile,
And in this harshworld draw thy breath in pain,
To tell my story.

[March at some distance, and shot within. What warlike noise is this? Osr. Young Fortinbras, with conquest come from Poland,

To the ambassadors of England gives
This warlike volley.

361

Ham. O, I die, Horatio; The potent poison quite o'er-crows2 my spirit:

2 O'er-crows, triumphs over (as a cock over his beaten antagonist).