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Sir； here is newly come to court Laertes； 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 dozy th' 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。 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？ Hor
＇aside to Hamlet＇ Is't not possible to understand in another tongue？ You
will do't； sir； really。 Ham。 What imports the nomination of this gentleman？
Osr。 Of Laertes？ Hor。 ＇aside＇ 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 did； it would not much approve
me。 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。 Ham。
That's two of his weapons… but well。 Osr。 The King； sir； hath wager'd with
him six Barbary horses； against the which he has impon'd； 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。 ＇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
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THE TRAGEDY OF HAMLET； PRINCE OF DENMARK
all impon'd； 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 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 redeliver 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。 Hor。 This lapwing runs
away with the shell on his head。 Ham。 He did comply with his dug 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… a kind of yesty collection； which carries them through and
through the most fann'd 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。
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。 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 gaingiving 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。 Ham。 Not a whit； we defy augury； there's a special providence in
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THE TRAGEDY OF HAMLET； PRINCE OF DENMARK
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 knows aught of what he leaves； what is't to leave betimes？ Let be。
Enter King； Queen； Laertes； Osric； and Lords； with other Attendants
with foils and gauntlets。A table and flagons of wine on it。
King。 Come； Hamlet； come； and take this hand from me。 ＇The King
puts Laertes' hand into Hamlet's。＇ Ham。 Give me your pardon； sir。 I have
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 sore
distraction。 What I have done That might your nature； honour； and
exception Roughly awake； I here proclaim was madness。 Was't Hamlet
wrong'd Laertes？ Never Hamlet。 If Hamlet from himself be taken 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； Let my disclaiming from a purpos'd evil Free me so far in
your most generous thoughts That I have shot my arrow o'er the house
And hurt my brother。 Laer。 I am satisfied in nature； Whose motive in t