SCENE IV.
Enter Osrick.
Os.
Your Lordship is right welcome back to Denmark.
Ham.
I humbly thank you, Sir. 6 noteDost know this water-fly?
Hor.
No, my good Lord.
Ham.
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
-- 296 --
the King's messe. 7 noteIt is a chough; but, as I say, spacious
in the possession of dirt.
Osr.
Sweet Lord, if your Lordship were at leisure,
I should impart a thing to you from his Majesty.
Ham.
I will receive it with all diligence of spirit.
Your bonnet to his right use, 'tis for the head.
Osr.
I thank your Lordship, 'tis very hot.
Ham.
No, believe me, 'tis very cold; the wind is
northerly.
Osr.
It is indifferent cold, my Lord, indeed.
Ham.
But yet, methinks, it is very sultry, and hot
for my complexion.
Osr.
Exceedingly, my Lord. It is very sultry, as
'twere, I cannot tell how.—My Lord, his Majesty
bid me signify to you, that he has laid a great wager
on your head. Sir, this is the matter—
Ham.
I beseech you, remember—
[Hamlet moves him to put on his hat.
Osr.
Nay, in good faith. For mine ease. In good
faith.—Sir, here is newly come to Court Laertes; believe
me, an absolute Gentleman, 8 notefull of most excellent Differences,
of very soft society, and great shew: indeed, to
speak feelingly of him, he is 9 notethe card or kalendar of
gentry; 1 notefor you shall find in him the continent of what
part a gentleman would see.
-- 297 --
Ham.
2 noteSir, his definement suffers no perdition in you,
tho' I know, to divide him inventorially would dizzy the
arithmetick of memory; 3 note
and yet but raw neither in
respect of his quick sail. But, in the verity of extolment,
I take him to be 4 notea Soul of great article; and his infusion
5 noteof such dearth and rareness, as, to make true diction
of him, his Semblable is his mirrour; 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.
6 noteIs't not possible to understand in another tongue?
you will do't, Sir, really.
-- 298 --
Ham.
What imports the nomination of this gentleman?
Osr.
Of Laertes?
Hor.
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, 7 noteif you
did, it would not much approve me.—Well, Sir.
Osr.
You are not ignorant of what excellence Laertes
is.
Ham.
8 noteI 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 9 notein his Meed, he's unfellow'd.
Ham.
What's his weapon?
Osr.
Rapier and dagger.
Ham.
That's two of his weapons; but well.
Osr.
The King, Sir, hath wag'd with him six Barbary
horses, against the which he has 1 note
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.
-- 299 --
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.
Ham.
The phrase would be 2 notemore 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
bett against the Danish. Why is this impon'd, as you
call it?
Osr.
3 noteThe 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 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, 'tis 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'll gain nothing but my shame, and the
odd hits.
Osr.
Shall I deliver you so?
Ham.
To this effect, Sir, after what flourish your
nature will.
Osr.
I commend my duty to your Lordship.
[Exit.
-- 300 --
Ham.
Yours, yours. He does well to commend it
himself, there are no tongues else for 's turn.
Hor.
4 noteThis lapwing runs away with the shell on
his head.
Ham.
5 note
He did compliment with his dug before he
suck'd it: thus has he, and many more of the same
breed, that, I know, the drossy age dotes on, only
got the tune of the time, and outward habit of encounter,
6 note
a kind of yesty collection, which carries them
-- 301 --
through and through the most fond and winnowed
opinions; and 7 notedo but blow them to their trials, the
bubbles are out.
Enter a Lord.
Lord.
My Lord, his Majesty commended him to you
by young Osrick, 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 8 notegentle entertainment
to Laertes, before you fall to play.
Ham.
She well instructs me.
[Exit Lord.
-- 302 --
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, my good Lord.
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 any thing, obey it. I
will forestal their repair hither, and say you are not
fit.
Ham.
Not a whit, we defy augury; there is 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. 9 note
Since no man knows aught of what he leaves,
what is't to leave betimes?
-- 303 --
Samuel Johnson [1765], The plays of William Shakespeare, in eight volumes, with the corrections and illustrations of Various Commentators; To which are added notes by Sam. Johnson (Printed for J. and R. Tonson [and] C. Corbet [etc.], London) [word count] [S11001].
