Ham.
So much for this, Sir. Now shall you see the other.
You do remember all the circumstance?

Hor.
Remember it, my Lord?

Ham.
Sir, in my heart there was a kind of fighting,
That would not let me sleep; methought, I lay
Worse than the ^{5 note}mutines in the Bilboes. ^{6 note}

And prais'd be rashness for it—Let us know,
Our indiscretion sometimes serves us well,
When our deep plots do fail; and that should teach us,
There's a Divinity that shapes our ends,
Rough-hew them how we will.

Hor.
That is most certain.

Ham.
Up from my cabin,
My sea-gown scarft about me, in the dark
Grop'd I to find out them; had my desire,
Finger'd their packet, and in fine withdrew
To mine own room again; making so bold,
My fears forgetting manners, to unseal
Their grand Commission, where I found, Horatio,
A royal knavery; an exact Command,
Larded with many several sorts of reasons,
Importing Denmark's health, and England's too,
^{7 note}With, ho! such buggs and goblins in my life;

That on the supervize, ^{8 note}no leisure bated,
No, not to stay the grinding of the ax,
My head should be struck off.

Hor.
Is't possible?

Ham.
Here's the Commission, read it at more leisure;
But wilt thou hear now how I did proceed?

Hor.
I beseech you.

Ham.
^{9 note}

I once did hold it, as our Statists do,
A baseness to write fair, and labour'd much
How to forget that Learning; but, Sir, now
It did me yeoman's service. Wilt thou know
Th' effect of what I wrote?

Hor.
Ay, good my Lord.

Ham.
An earnest conjuration from the King,
As England was his faithful tributary,
As love between them, like the palm, might flourish,
^{1 note}

And many such like ^{2 note}As's of great charge;
That on the view and knowing of these contents,
Without debatement further, more or less,
He should the bearers put to sudden death,
Not shriving-time allow'd.

Hor.
How was this seal'd?

Ham.
Why, even in that was heaven ordinant;
I had my father's signet in my purse,
Which was the model of that Danish seal:
I folded the writ up in form of th' other,
Subscrib'd it, gave th'impression, plac'd it safely,
^{3 note}The changeling never known; now, the next day
Was our sea-fight, and what to this was sequent
Thou know'st already.

Hor.
So, Guildenstern and Rosincrantz go to't.

“Ham.
Why, man, they did make love to this employment.”
They are not near my conscience; their defeat
^{4 note}Doth by their own insinuation grow.
'Tis dangerous when the baser nature comes
Between the pass, and fell incensed points,
Of mighty opposites.

Hor.
Why, what a King is this!

Ham.
Does it not, think'st thou, stand me now upon?
He that hath kill'd my King, and whor'd my mother,
Popt in between th' election and my hopes,
Thrown out his angle for my proper life,
And with such cozenage; is't not perfect conscience,

“^{5 note}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's mine; and a man's life's no more
“Than to say, one.
“But I am very sorry, good Horatio,
“That to Laertes I forgot myself;
“For by the image of my cause I see
“The portraiture of his; I'll court his favour;
“But, sure, the bravery of his grief did put me
“Into a tow'ring passion.

Hor.
Peace, who comes here?

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