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 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? [To Horatio.

Osr. Sir. Hor. Is't not possible to understand in another tongue? you will do't, Sir, rarely.

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, 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, has wager'd 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, 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. I knew you must be edified by the margent, ere you had done.

[Aside.

Osr. The carriages, Sir, are the hangers. Ham. The phrase would be more german 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 imponed, as you call it?

Osr. The 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 foiis 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. Ham. Yours, yours: 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 so, Sir, with his dug before he sucked it: thus has he (and many more of the same breed, that, I know, the drossy age doats 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 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 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, 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. Since no man has aught of what he leaves, what is't to leave betimes?

Enter King, Queen, LAERTES and Lords, OSRICK, with other Attendants, with Foils and Gauntlets. A table, and flaggons of wine on it.

King. Come, Hamlet, come and take this hand
from me.
[you wrong;

Ham. Give me your pardon, Sir; I've done But pardon't, as you are a gentleman. [heard, This presence knows, and you must needs have How I am punished with a sore distraction. What I have done,

That might your nature, honour and exception
Roughly awake, I here proclaim was madness:
Was't Hamlet wronged Laertes? never Hamlet.
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 wronged;
His madness is poor Hamlet's enemy.
Let my disclaiming from a purposed evil,
Free me so far in your most generous thoughts,