Hamlet

Hamlet

ACT V SCENE II	A hall in the castle.
	Enter HAMLET and HORATIO
HAMLET	So much for this, sir: now shall you see the other;
	You do remember all the circumstance?
HORATIO	Remember it, my lord?
HAMLET	Sir, in my heart there was a kind of fighting,	5
	That would not let me sleep: methought I lay
	Worse than the mutines in the bilboes. Rashly,
	And praised be rashness for it, let us know,
	Our indiscretion sometimes serves us well,
	When our deep plots do pall: and that should teach us	10
	There's a divinity that shapes our ends,
	Rough-hew them how we will,--
HORATIO	That is most certain.
HAMLET	Up from my cabin,
	My sea-gown scarf'd about me, in the dark	15
	Groped 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,--	20
	O royal knavery!--an exact command,
	Larded with many several sorts of reasons
	Importing Denmark's health and England's too,
	With, ho! such bugs and goblins in my life,
	That, on the supervise, no leisure bated,	25
	No, not to stay the grinding of the axe,
	My head should be struck off.
HORATIO	Is't possible?
HAMLET	Here's the commission: read it at more leisure.
	But wilt thou hear me how I did proceed?	30
HORATIO	I beseech you.
HAMLET	Being thus be-netted round with villanies,--
	Ere I could make a prologue to my brains,
	They had begun the play--I sat me down,
	Devised a new commission, wrote it fair:	35
	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
	The effect of what I wrote?	40
HORATIO	Ay, good my lord.
HAMLET	An earnest conjuration from the king,
	As England was his faithful tributary,
	As love between them like the palm might flourish,
	As peace should stiff her wheaten garland wear	45
	And stand a comma 'tween their amities,
	And many such-like 'As'es 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,	50
	Not shriving-time allow'd.
HORATIO	How was this seal'd?
HAMLET	Why, even in that was heaven ordinant.
	I had my father's signet in my purse,
	Which was the model of that Danish seal;	55
	Folded the writ up in form of the other,
	Subscribed it, gave't the impression, placed it safely,
	The changeling never known. Now, the next day
	Was our sea-fight; and what to this was sequent
	Thou know'st already.	60
HORATIO	So Guildenstern and Rosencrantz go to't.
HAMLET	Why, man, they did make love to this employment;
	They are not near my conscience; their defeat
	Does by their own insinuation grow:
	'Tis dangerous when the baser nature comes	65
	Between the pass and fell incensed points
	Of mighty opposites.
HORATIO	Why, what a king is this!
HAMLET	Does it not, think'st thee, stand me now upon--
	He that hath kill'd my king and whored my mother,	70
	Popp'd in between the election and my hopes,
	Thrown out his angle for my proper life,
	And with such cozenage--is't not perfect conscience,
	To quit him with this arm? and is't not to be damn'd,
	To let this canker of our nature come	75
	In further evil?
HORATIO	It must be shortly known to him from England
	What is the issue of the business there.
HAMLET	It will be short: the interim is mine;
	And a man's life's no more than to say 'One.'	80
	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 favours.
	But, sure, the bravery of his grief did put me	85
	Into a towering passion.
HORATIO	Peace! who comes here?
	Enter OSRIC
OSRIC	Your lordship is right welcome back to Denmark.
HAMLET	I humbly thank you, sir. Dost know this water-fly?
HORATIO	No, my good lord.	90
HAMLET	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
	the king's mess: 'tis a chough; but, as I say,
	spacious in the possession of dirt.	95
OSRIC	Sweet lord, if your lordship were at leisure, I
	should impart a thing to you from his majesty.
HAMLET	I will receive it, sir, with all diligence of
	spirit. Put your bonnet to his right use; 'tis for the head.
OSRIC	I thank your lordship, it is very hot.	100
HAMLET	No, believe me, 'tis very cold; the wind is
	northerly.
OSRIC	It is indifferent cold, my lord, indeed.
HAMLET	But yet methinks it is very sultry and hot for my
	complexion.	105
OSRIC	Exceedingly, my lord; it is very sultry,--as
	'twere,--I cannot tell how. But, my lord, his
	majesty bade me signify to you that he has laid a
	great wager on your head: sir, this is the matter,--
HAMLET	I beseech you, remember--	110
	HAMLET moves him to put on his hat
OSRIC	Nay, good my lord; for mine ease, in good faith.
	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	115
	calendar of gentry, for you shall find in him the
	continent of what part a gentleman would see.
HAMLET	Sir, his definement suffers no perdition in you;
	though, I know, to divide him inventorially would
	dizzy the arithmetic of memory, and yet but yaw	120
	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	125
	him, his umbrage, nothing more.
OSRIC	Your lordship speaks most infallibly of him.
HAMLET	The concernancy, sir? why do we wrap the gentleman
	in our more rawer breath?
OSRIC	Sir?	130
HORATIO	Is't not possible to understand in another tongue?
	You will do't, sir, really.
HAMLET	What imports the nomination of this gentleman?
OSRIC	Of Laertes?
HORATIO	His purse is empty already; all's golden words are spent.	135
HAMLET	Of him, sir.
OSRIC	I know you are not ignorant--
HAMLET	I would you did, sir; yet, in faith, if you did,
	it would not much approve me. Well, sir?
OSRIC	You are not ignorant of what excellence Laertes is--	140
HAMLET	I dare not confess that, lest I should compare with
	him in excellence; but, to know a man well, were to
	know himself.
OSRIC	I mean, sir, for his weapon; but in the imputation
	laid on him by them, in his meed he's unfellowed.	145
HAMLET	What's his weapon?
OSRIC	Rapier and dagger.
HAMLET	That's two of his weapons: but, well.
OSRIC	The king, sir, hath wagered with him six Barbary
	horses: against the which he has imponed, as I take	150
	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.	155
HAMLET	What call you the carriages?
HORATIO	I knew you must be edified by the margent ere you had done.
OSRIC	The carriages, sir, are the hangers.
HAMLET	The phrase would be more german to the matter, if we
	could carry cannon by our sides: I would it might	160
	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?
OSRIC	The king, sir, hath laid, that in a dozen passes	165
	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.
HAMLET	How if I answer 'no'?	170
OSRIC	I mean, my lord, the opposition of your person in trial.
HAMLET	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 an I can;	175
	if not, I will gain nothing but my shame and the odd hits.
OSRIC	Shall I re-deliver you e'en so?
HAMLET	To this effect, sir; after what flourish your nature will.
OSRIC	I commend my duty to your lordship.
HAMLET	Yours, yours.	180
	Exit OSRIC
	He does well to commend it himself; there are no
	tongues else for's turn.
HORATIO	This lapwing runs away with the shell on his head.
HAMLET	He did comply with his dug, before he sucked it.
	Thus has he--and many more of the same bevy that I	185
	know the dressy 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.	190
	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.
HAMLET	I am constant to my purpose; they follow the king's	195
	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.
HAMLET	In happy time.
Lord	The queen desires you to use some gentle	200
	entertainment to Laertes before you fall to play.
HAMLET	She well instructs me.
	Exit Lord
HORATIO	You will lose this wager, my lord.
HAMLET	I do not think so: since he went into France, I
	have been in continual practise: I shall win at the	205
	odds. But thou wouldst not think how ill all's here
	about my heart: but it is no matter.
HORATIO	Nay, good my lord,--
HAMLET	It is but foolery; but it is such a kind of
	gain-giving, as would perhaps trouble a woman.	210
HORATIO	If your mind dislike any thing, obey it: I will
	forestall their repair hither, and say you are not
	fit.
HAMLET	Not a whit, we defy augury: there's a special
	providence in the fall of a sparrow. If it be now,	215
	'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 CLAUDIUS, QUEEN GERTRUDE, LAERTES,Lords, OSRIC, and Attendants with foils, &c
KING CLAUDIUS	Come, Hamlet, come, and take this hand from me.	220
	KING CLAUDIUS puts LAERTES' hand into HAMLET's
HAMLET	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 sore distraction. What I have done,	225
	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 ta'en away,
	And when he's not himself does wrong Laertes,	230
	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,	235
	Let my disclaiming from a purposed evil
	Free me so far in your most generous thoughts,
	That I have shot mine arrow o'er the house,
	And hurt my brother.
LAERTES	I am satisfied in nature,	240
	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,	245
	To keep my name ungored. But till that time,
	I do receive your offer'd love like love,
	And will not wrong it.
HAMLET	I embrace it freely;
	And will this brother's wager frankly play.	250
	Give us the foils. Come on.
LAERTES	Come, one for me.
HAMLET	I'll be your foil, Laertes: in mine ignorance
	Your skill shall, like a star i' the darkest night,
	Stick fiery off indeed.	255
LAERTES	You mock me, sir.
HAMLET	No, by this hand.
KING CLAUDIUS	Give them the foils, young Osric. Cousin Hamlet,
	You know the wager?
HAMLET	Very well, my lord	260
	Your grace hath laid the odds o' the weaker side.
KING CLAUDIUS	I do not fear it; I have seen you both:
	But since he is better'd, we have therefore odds.
LAERTES	This is too heavy, let me see another.
HAMLET	This likes me well. These foils have all a length?	265
	They prepare to play
OSRIC	Ay, my good lord.
KING CLAUDIUS	Set me the stoops of wine upon that table.
	If Hamlet give the first or second hit,
	Or quit in answer of the third exchange,
	Let all the battlements their ordnance fire:	270
	The king shall drink to Hamlet's better breath;
	And in the cup an union shall he throw,
	Richer than that which four successive kings
	In Denmark's crown have worn. Give me the cups;
	And let the kettle to the trumpet speak,	275
	The trumpet to the cannoneer without,
	The cannons to the heavens, the heavens to earth,
	'Now the king dunks to Hamlet.' Come, begin:
	And you, the judges, bear a wary eye.
HAMLET	Come on, sir.	280
LAERTES	Come, my lord.
	They play
HAMLET	One.
LAERTES	No.
HAMLET	Judgment.
OSRIC	A hit, a very palpable hit.	285
LAERTES	Well; again.
KING CLAUDIUS	Stay; give me drink. Hamlet, this pearl is thine;
	Here's to thy health.
	Trumpets sound, and cannon shot off within
	Give him the cup.
HAMLET	I'll play this bout first; set it by awhile. Come.	290
	They play
	Another hit; what say you?
LAERTES	A touch, a touch, I do confess.
KING CLAUDIUS	Our son shall win.
QUEEN GERTRUDE	He's fat, and scant of breath.
	Here, Hamlet, take my napkin, rub thy brows;	295
	The queen carouses to thy fortune, Hamlet.
HAMLET	Good madam!
KING CLAUDIUS	Gertrude, do not drink.
QUEEN GERTRUDE	I will, my lord; I pray you, pardon me.
KING CLAUDIUS	Aside
HAMLET	I dare not drink yet, madam; by and by.	300
QUEEN GERTRUDE	Come, let me wipe thy face.
LAERTES	My lord, I'll hit him now.
KING CLAUDIUS	I do not think't.
LAERTES	Aside
HAMLET	Come, for the third, Laertes: you but dally;
	I pray you, pass with your best violence;	305
	I am afeard you make a wanton of me.
LAERTES	Say you so? come on.
	They play
OSRIC	Nothing, neither way.
LAERTES	Have at you now!
	LAERTES wounds HAMLET; then in scuffling, theychange rapiers, and HAMLET wounds LAERTES
KING CLAUDIUS	Part them; they are incensed.	310
HAMLET	Nay, come, again.
	QUEEN GERTRUDE falls
OSRIC	Look to the queen there, ho!
HORATIO	They bleed on both sides. How is it, my lord?
OSRIC	How is't, Laertes?
LAERTES	Why, as a woodcock to mine own springe, Osric;	315
	I am justly kill'd with mine own treachery.
HAMLET	How does the queen?
KING CLAUDIUS	She swounds to see them bleed.
QUEEN GERTRUDE	No, no, the drink, the drink,--O my dear Hamlet,--
	The drink, the drink! I am poison'd.	320
	Dies
HAMLET	O villany! Ho! let the door be lock'd:
	Treachery! Seek it out.
LAERTES	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;	325
	The treacherous instrument is in thy hand,
	Unbated and envenom'd: the foul practise
	Hath turn'd itself on me lo, here I lie,
	Never to rise again: thy mother's poison'd:
	I can no more: the king, the king's to blame.	330
HAMLET	The point!--envenom'd too!
	Then, venom, to thy work.
	Stabs KING CLAUDIUS
All	Treason! treason!
KING CLAUDIUS	O, yet defend me, friends; I am but hurt.
HAMLET	Here, thou incestuous, murderous, damned Dane,	335
	Drink off this potion. Is thy union here?
	Follow my mother.
	KING CLAUDIUS dies
LAERTES	He is justly served;
	It is a poison temper'd by himself.
	Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Hamlet:	340
	Mine and my father's death come not upon thee,
	Nor thine on me.
	Dies
HAMLET	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,	345
	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 livest; report me and my cause aright	350
	To the unsatisfied.
HORATIO	Never believe it:
	I am more an antique Roman than a Dane:
	Here's yet some liquor left.
HAMLET	As thou'rt a man,	355
	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 behind me!
	If thou didst ever hold me in thy heart
	Absent thee from felicity awhile,	360
	And in this harsh world draw thy breath in pain,
	To tell my story.
	March afar off, and shot within
	What warlike noise is this?
OSRIC	Young Fortinbras, with conquest come from Poland,
	To the ambassadors of England gives	365
	This warlike volley.
HAMLET	O, I die, Horatio;
	The potent poison quite o'er-crows my spirit:
	I cannot live to hear the news from England;
	But I do prophesy the election lights	370
	On Fortinbras: he has my dying voice;
	So tell him, with the occurrents, more and less,
	Which have solicited. The rest is silence.
	Dies
HORATIO	Now cracks a noble heart. Good night sweet prince:
	And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest!	375
	Why does the drum come hither?
	March within
	Enter FORTINBRAS, the English Ambassadors,and others
PRINCE FORTINBRAS	Where is this sight?
HORATIO	What is it ye would see?
	If aught of woe or wonder, cease your search.
PRINCE FORTINBRAS	This quarry cries on havoc. O proud death,	380
	What feast is toward in thine eternal cell,
	That thou so many princes at a shot
	So bloodily hast struck?
First Ambassador	The sight is dismal;
	And our affairs from England come too late:	385
	The ears are senseless that should give us hearing,
	To tell him his commandment is fulfill'd,
	That Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead:
	Where should we have our thanks?
HORATIO	Not from his mouth,	390
	Had it the ability of life to thank you:
	He never gave commandment for their death.
	But since, so jump upon this bloody question,
	You from the Polack wars, and you from England,
	Are here arrived give order that these bodies	395
	High on a stage be placed to the view;
	And let me speak to the yet unknowing world
	How these things came about: so shall you hear
	Of carnal, bloody, and unnatural acts,
	Of accidental judgments, casual slaughters,	400
	Of deaths put on by cunning and forced cause,
	And, in this upshot, purposes mistook
	Fall'n on the inventors' reads: all this can I
	Truly deliver.
PRINCE FORTINBRAS	Let us haste to hear it,	405
	And call the noblest to the audience.
	For me, with sorrow I embrace my fortune:
	I have some rights of memory in this kingdom,
	Which now to claim my vantage doth invite me.
HORATIO	Of that I shall have also cause to speak,	410
	And from his mouth whose voice will draw on more;
	But let this same be presently perform'd,
	Even while men's minds are wild; lest more mischance
	On plots and errors, happen.
PRINCE FORTINBRAS	Let four captains	415
	Bear Hamlet, like a soldier, to the stage;
	For he was likely, had he been put on,
	To have proved most royally: and, for his passage,
	The soldiers' music and the rites of war
	Speak loudly for him.	420
	Take up the bodies: such a sight as this
	Becomes the field, but here shows much amiss.
	Go, bid the soldiers shoot.
	A dead march. Exeunt, bearing off the dead bodies; after which a peal of ordnance is shot off