Hamlet: Act 5, Scene 2
Enter HAMLET and HORATIO.
HAMLET
1. see the other: i.e., hear the other news. — Apparently we catch Hamlet and Horatio in the middle of a conversation about Hamlet's adventures from the time that he left Denmark until he returned.
1 So much for this, sir: now shall you see the other;
2 You do remember all the circumstance?
HORATIO
3 Remember it, my lord?
HAMLET
4 Sir, in my heart there was a kind of fighting,
5 That would not let me sleep: methought I lay
6. the mutines in the bilboes: rebels in shackles. Rashly: on impulse. 7. know: recognize.
6 Worse than the mutines in the bilboes. Rashly—
7 And praised be rashness for it—let us know,
8 Our indiscretion sometimes serves us well,
9. pall: fail. learn: teach.
9 When our deep plots do pall: and that should learn us
10. shapes our ends: gives final shape to the outcomes of our plans. 11. Rough-hew them how we will: i.e., no matter how we make our initial plans.
10 There's a divinity that shapes our ends,
11 Rough-hew them how we will—
HORATIO
11 That is most certain.
HAMLET
12 Up from my cabin,
13 My sea-gown scarf'd about me, in the dark
14. Groped . . . them: I rummaged around to find out what they (Rosencrantz and Guildenstern) were up to. 15. Finger'd: filched. in fine: i.e., wrapping things up.
14 Groped I to find out them; had my desire.
15 Finger'd their packet, and in fine withdrew
16 To mine own room again; making so bold,
17. My fears forgetting manners: i.e., my fears making me forget my manners. ...more 18. Their grand commission: i.e., King Claudius's letter to the King of England, entrusted to Rosencrantz and Guildenstern. 20. Larded: loaded.
17 My fears forgetting manners, to unseal
18 Their grand commission; where I found, Horatio—
19 O royal knavery!—an exact command,
20 Larded with many several sorts of reasons
21. Importing: relating to.
21 Importing Denmark's health and England's too,
22. bugs . . . life: i.e., bugaboos and hobgoblins to be feared if I were permitted to live. 23. supervise: [first] reading. no leisure bated: i.e., no wasted time allowed. 24. stay: wait for.
22 With, ho! such bugs and goblins in my life,
23 That, on the supervise, no leisure bated,
24 No, not to stay the grinding of the axe,
25 My head should be struck off.
HORATIO
25 Is't possible?
HAMLET
26 Here's the commission: read it at more leisure.
27 But wilt thou hear me how I did proceed?
HORATIO
28 I beseech you.
HAMLET
29 Being thus be-netted round with villanies—
30-31. Or . . . play: i.e., before I could consciously pose the problem to my brain, it had started working on a plan.
30 Or I could make a prologue to my brains,
31 They had begun the play—I sat me down,
32. fair: i.e., with clear handwriting (such as a professional scribe would use). 33. statists: statesmen, public officials.
32 Devised a new commission, wrote it fair:
33 I once did hold it, as our statists do,
34. A baseness: i.e., a skill befitting men of low rank.
34 A baseness to write fair and labour'd much
35 How to forget that learning, but, sir, now
36. yeoman's: i.e., workman-like.
36 It did me yeoman's service: wilt thou know
37. effect: purport.
37 The effect of what I wrote?
HORATIO
37 Ay, good my lord.
HAMLET
38 An earnest conjuration from the king,
39 As England was his faithful tributary,
40 As love between them like the palm might flourish,
41-42. peace . . . amities: i.e., peace should always wear her garland of the bountiful harvest and always join together the loving friendship [of the kings]. ...more 43. 'As'es of great charge: i.e., important sounding statements beginning with 'as'.
41 As peace should still her wheaten garland wear
42 And stand a comma 'tween their amities,
43 And many such-like 'As'es of great charge,
44 That, on the view and knowing of these contents,
45 Without debatement further, more or less,
46 He should the bearers put to sudden death,
47. shriving-time: time for confession and absolution. —It was customary for even the worst criminal to have shriving time before his execution.
47 Not shriving-time allow'd.
HORATIO
47 How was this seal'd?
HAMLET
48. ordinant: ordaining the outcome.
48 Why, even in that was heaven ordinant.
49. signet: signet ring. ...more
49 I had my father's signet in my purse,
50. model: small copy. that Danish seal: i.e., the official royal seal. 51. folded ... other: i.e., folded the fake document in the same way as the official one. 52. Subscrib'd . . . impression: signed and sealed it. 52-53. placed ... known: i.e., put the changeling in the diplomatic pouch without anyone knowing the difference. ...more 54-55. what ... already: what happened afterwards you already know.
50 Which was the model of that Danish seal;
51 Folded the writ up in form of the other,
52 Subscrib'd it, gave't the impression, placed it safely,
53 The changeling never known. Now, the next day
54 Was our sea-fight; and what to this was sequent
55 Thou know'st already.
HORATIO
56. go to't: i.e., are going to their death.
56 So Guildenstern and Rosencrantz go to't.
HAMLET
57 Why, man, they did make love to this employment;
58. defeat: ruin.
58 They are not near my conscience; their defeat
59. insinuation: winding their way into things.
59 Does by their own insinuation grow:
60. baser: inferior.
60 'Tis dangerous when the baser nature comes
61-62. Between the pass and fell incensed points / Of mighty opposites: Between the thrusts of the mortally angry swords of mighty opponents.
61 Between the pass and fell incensed points
62 Of mighty opposites.
HORATIO
62 Why, what a king is this!
HAMLET
63. stand me now upon: i.e., rest upon me [as duty]. —Hamlet's question isn't completed until line 68.
63 Does it not, think'st thee, stand me now upon—
64 He that hath kill'd my king and whored my mother,
65. election: —The King of Denmark was elected. ...more
65 Popp'd in between the election and my hopes,
66. angle: hook and line. proper life: very life.
66 Thrown out his angle for my proper life,
67. cozenage: trickery.
67 And with such cozenage—is't not perfect conscience,
68. quit him: pay him back.
68 To quit him with this arm? and is't not to be damn'd,
69-70. canker of our nature: cancerous sore on human nature. come / In: grow into
69 To let this canker of our nature come
70 In further evil?
HORATIO
71 It must be shortly known to him from England
72 What is the issue of the business there.
HAMLET
73 It will be short: the interim is mine;
74. a man's life's no more than to say "One": i.e., to kill a man takes no more time than to count to "one." ...more
74 And a man's life's no more than to say "One."
75 But I am very sorry, good Horatio,
76 That to Laertes I forgot myself;
77-78. by . . . his: i.e., by thinking about my anger against King Claudius, I can understand Laertes' anger against me. ...more 79. bravery: melodramatic expression.
77 For, by the image of my cause, I see
78 The portraiture of his: I'll court his favours.
79 But, sure, the bravery of his grief did put me
80 Into a towering passion.
HORATIO
80 Peace, who comes here?
Enter [OSRIC,] a courtier.
OSRIC
81 Your lordship is right welcome back to Denmark.
HAMLET
82 I humbly thank you, sir. Dost know this water-fly?
HORATIO
83 No, my good lord.
HAMLET
84. gracious: virtuous.
84 Thy state is the more gracious; for 'tis a vice to
85-87. let a beast . . . mess: i.e., if a beast owned as many cattle as Osric does, the beast could have his feed trough at the king's table. 87. chough: jackdaw. —The jackdaw is a member of the crow family that can be taught a word or two. Hamlet's point about Osric is that Osric talks a lot of nonsense.
85 know him. He hath much land, and fertile: let a
86 beast be lord of beasts, and his crib shall stand at
87 the king's mess: 'tis a chough; but, as I say,
88 spacious in the possession of dirt.
OSRIC
89 Sweet lord, if your lordship were at leisure, I
90 should impart a thing to you from his majesty.
HAMLET
91 I will receive it, sir, with all diligence of
92. bonnet: hat. 
—I'm sure that the rich and silly Osric is trying to make a fashion statement with his hat. Maybe it was a Round Tipped Pleated Hat, which was a popular style about the time Hamlet was first put on stage.
—I'm sure that the rich and silly Osric is trying to make a fashion statement with his hat. Maybe it was a Round Tipped Pleated Hat, which was a popular style about the time Hamlet was first put on stage. 92 spirit. Put your bonnet to his right use; 'tis for
93 the head.
OSRIC
94 I thank your lordship, it is very hot.
HAMLET
95 No, believe me, 'tis very cold; the wind is
96 northerly.
OSRIC
97. indifferent: somewhat.
97 It is indifferent cold, my lord, indeed.
HAMLET
98 But yet methinks it is very sultry and hot
99. complexion: temperament.
99 for my complexion.
OSRIC
100 Exceedingly, my lord; it is very sultry—as
101 'twere—I cannot tell how. But, my lord, his
102 majesty bade me signify to you that he has laid a
103 great wager on your head: sir, this is the matter—
HAMLET
104 I beseech you, remember—
[Hamlet motions him to put on his hat.]
OSRIC
105. for my ease: i.e., I am really more comfortable with my hat off.
105 Nay, good my lord; for my ease, in good faith.
106 Sir, here is newly come to court Laertes; believe
107. absolute: complete. 107-108. full of . . . showing: i.e., full of attractive distinguishing characteristics and having agreeable manners and a pleasant appearance. 109-110. card or calendar of gentry: chart or register of all gentlemanly qualities. 111. continent . . . see: i.e., the container of every quality a gentleman would admire in another gentleman.
107 me, an absolute gentleman, full of most excellent
108 differences, of very soft society and great showing:
109 indeed, to speak feelingly of him, he is the card or
110 calendar of gentry, for you shall find in him the
111 continent of what part a gentleman would see.
HAMLET
112. definement: definition. no perdition in you: i.e., no loss in your description. ...more 113. divide him inventorially: i.e., enumerate his graces. 114. dozy: make dizzy. yaw: continually wander off course. 115-117. But . . . article: but in the truth of praise, I take him to be a very notable personage. 117-118. his infusion ... rareness: his essential character of such scarceness and rareness. 118. make true diction: speak truly. 118-120. his semblable ... nothing more: his only likeness is to be found in his mirror, and anyone else who tries to be like him is merely his shadow, nothing more.
112 Sir, his definement suffers no perdition in you;
113 though, I know, to divide him inventorially would
114 dozy the arithmetic of memory, and yet but yaw
115 neither, in respect of his quick sail. But, in the
116 verity of extolment, I take him to be a soul of
117 great article; and his infusion of such dearth and
118 rareness, as, to make true diction of him, his
119 semblable is his mirror; and who else would trace
120 him, his umbrage, nothing more.
OSRIC
121 Your lordship speaks most infallibly of him.
HAMLET
122. concernancy: relevance.
122 The concernancy, sir? Why do we wrap the gentleman
123. more rawer breath: i.e., words too crude. —These three words are redundant in both sound and sense.
123 in our more rawer breath?
OSRIC
124 Sir?
HORATIO
125. Is't . . . tongue?: i.e., Is it not possible for you to understand the kind of language you use when someone else speaks it? 126. You ... really: i.e., you can understand what Hamlet is saying if you really try.
125 Is't not possible to understand in another tongue?
126 You will do't, sir, really.
HAMLET
127-128. What imports the nomination of this gentleman?: What is the significance of mentioning this gentleman?
127 What imports the nomination of this
128 gentleman?
OSRIC
129 Of Laertes?
HORATIO
130 His purse is empty already; all's golden words
131 are spent.
HAMLET
132 Of him, sir.
OSRIC
133 I know you are not ignorant—
HAMLET
134-135. I would ... approve me: I wish you did know that I am not ignorant, but if you did know that, it would not be to my credit. ...more
134 I would you did, sir; yet, in faith, if you did,
135 it would not much approve me. Well, sir?
OSRIC
136 You are not ignorant of what excellence
137 Laertes is—
HAMLET
138-139. I should compare with him in excellence: i.e., I might be tempted to compare myself with him. 139-140. but . . . himself: —This is usually explained as meaning, "for, to recognize excellence in another man, one must know oneself." ...more
138 I dare not confess that, lest I should compare
139 with him in excellence; but, to know a man
140 well, were to know himself.
OSRIC
141-142. in the imputation laid on him by them: i.e., in popular opinion.
141 I mean, sir, for his weapon; but in the
142 imputation laid on him by them, in his
143. meed: merit. unfellowed: unmatched.
143 meed he's unfellowed.
HAMLET
144 What's his weapon?
 | Sword Girdle and Hanger Image Source: Thorsschmiede |
OSRIC
145 Rapier and dagger.
HAMLET
146 That's two of his weapons: but, well.
OSRIC
147 The king, sir, hath wagered with him six Barbary
148. impawn'd: wagered.
148 horses: against the which he has impawn'd, as I take
149. poniards: daggers.
149 it, six French rapiers and poniards, with their
150. assigns: accessories. hangers: —See image above. 151. carriages: —See dialogue below. 151-152. very responsive to: matching well (in color and style) 153. liberal conceit: elegant design.
150 assigns, as girdle, hangers, and so: three of the
151 carriages, in faith, are very dear to fancy, very
152 responsive to the hilts, most delicate carriages,
153 and of very liberal conceit.
HAMLET
154 What call you the carriages?
HORATIO
155. must be edified by the margent: would require enlightenment from a marginal note.
155 I knew you must be edified by the margent ere
156 you had done.
OSRIC
157 The carriages, sir, are the hangers.
 | Cannon and Carriage Image source: nmpproducts.com |
HAMLET
158 The phrase would be more german to the matter,
159 if we could carry cannon by our sides: I would
160 it might be hangers till then. But, on: six Barbary
161 horses against six French swords, their assigns,
162 and three liberal-conceited carriages; that's the
163 French bet against the Danish. Why is this "impawn'd,"
164 as you call it?
OSRIC
165. laid: wagered. passes: rounds. ...more
165 The king, sir, hath laid, that in a dozen passes
166 between yourself and him, he shall not exceed you
167. he hath laid on twelve for nine: he is offering 4-3 odds.
167 three hits: he hath laid on twelve for nine; and it
168 would come to immediate trial, if your lordship
169. the answer: i.e., agreement to accept the offer of a fencing match with Laertes. —However, in his reply ("How if I answer 'no'?") Hamlet uses the word "answer" in its more common sense.
169 would vouchsafe the answer.
HAMLET
170 How if I answer "no"?
OSRIC
171 I mean, my lord, the opposition of your person in
172 trial.
HAMLET
173 Sir, I will walk here in the hall: if it please his
174. breathing time of day with me: my usual hour for exercise.
174 majesty, 'tis the breathing time of day with me.
175 Let the foils be brought, the gentleman willing,
176 and the king hold his purpose, I will win for him
177. an: if.
177 an I can; if not, I will gain nothing but my shame
178 and the odd hits.
OSRIC
179 Shall I re-deliver you e'en so?
HAMLET
180-181. To this effect, sir; after what flourish your nature will: i.e., deliver my message, using whatever flourishes of language that appeal to your nature.
180 To this effect, sir; after what flourish your nature
181 will.
OSRIC
182. commend my duty: —Osric means, "offer my dutiful respects," but Hamlet makes fun of him by misinterpreting his words to mean "praise my own courtesy."
182 I commend my duty to your lordship.
[Exit Osric.]
HAMLET
183 Yours.—He does well to commend it himself;
184. for's turn: for his turn; i.e., that will do him service.
184 there are no tongues else for's turn.
HORATIO
185. lapwing: —The lapwing is a bird that was thought to be so foolish that it would, when it was hatched, run about with its shell still on its head. Apparently Osric's hat looks a lot like an eggshell, as does the one in the picture at line 92.
185 This lapwing runs away with the shell on his
186 head.
HAMLET
187. 'A: he. —This is slangy. comply with his dug: i.e., treat his mother's nipple with ceremonious politeness.
187 'A did comply, sir, with his dug, before 'a sucked it.
188 Thus has he—and many more of the same breed
189. drossy: i.e., worthless, frivolous. ...more 190-193. out . . . opinions: from a certain habitual way of talking to people, [people such as Osric have gotten] a kind of frothy collection [of currently fashionable phrases], which enables them to sail through conversations with those who believe they have the most refined and correct opinions. 193-194. do but blow them to their trial, the bubbles are out: but just blow on them a little bit, to test them, and their bubbles are burst.
189 that I know the drossy age dotes on—only got the
190 tune of the time and, out of an habit of encounter,
191 a kind of yesty collection, which carries them
192 through and through the most fann'd and winnow'd
193 opinions; and do but blow them to their trial,
194 the bubbles are out.
Enter a LORD.
Lord
195 My lord, his majesty commended him to you by
196 young Osric, who brings back to him that you attend
197 him in the hall: he sends to know if your pleasure
198 hold to play with Laertes, or that you will take longer
199 time.
HAMLET
200. I am constant to my purposes: I'm sticking to my intentions. 201-202. If his fitness speaks, mine is ready: i.e., if he's asking because this is a good time for him, it's a good time for me.
200 I am constant to my purposes; they follow the
201 king's pleasure: if his fitness speaks, mine is
202 ready; now or whensoever, provided I be so
203 able as now.
Lord
204 The king and queen and all are coming down.
HAMLET
205. In happy time: i.e., I'm glad of it.
205 In happy time.
Lord
206-207. use some gentle entertainment to Laertes before you fall to play: i.e., speak a few courteous words to Laertes before you begin the fencing match.
206 The queen desires you to use some gentle
207 entertainment to Laertes before you fall to play.
HAMLET
208 She well instructs me.
[Exit Lord.]
HORATIO
209 You will lose, my lord.
HAMLET
210 I do not think so: since he went into France, I
211 have been in continual practice: I shall win at the
212 odds. But thou wouldst not think how ill all's here
213 about my heart: but it is no matter.
HORATIO
214 Nay, good my lord—
HAMLET
215 It is but foolery; but it is such a kind of
216. gain-giving: misgiving.
216 gain-giving, as would perhaps trouble a woman.
HORATIO
217 If your mind dislike any thing, obey it: I will
218 forestall their repair hither, and say you are not fit.
HAMLET
219-220. special providence in the fall of a sparrow: Jesus, encouraging his disciples to fear nothing in their evangelism, said, "Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not fall on the ground without your Father." (Matthew 10:29) 223-224. Since no man of aught he leaves knows what is't to leave betimes: i.e. since no man knows, by looking back on his life, what is the best time to leave his life.
219 Not a whit, we defy augury: there's a special
220 providence in the fall of a sparrow. If it be now,
221 'tis not to come; if it be not to come, it will be
222 now; if it be not now, yet it will come. The
223 readiness is all. Since no man of aught he leaves
224 knows what is't to leave betimes, let be.
A table prepar'd, Trumpets, Drums, and
Officers: high-ranking servants.
Officers with cushions, foils, daggers;
KING, QUEEN, LAERTES, [OSRIC,]
State: nobles.
and all the State.
KING
225 Come, Hamlet, come, and take this hand from me.
[The King puts Laertes' hand into Hamlet's.]
HAMLET
226 Give me your pardon, sir: I've done you wrong;
227 But pardon't, as you are a gentleman.
228. presence: assembled court.
228 This presence knows,
229 And you must needs have heard, how I am punish'd
230. sore distraction: i.e., madness.
230 With a sore distraction. What I have done,
231. exception: disapproval, objection.
231 That might your nature, honour and exception
232 Roughly awake, I here proclaim was madness.
233 Was't Hamlet wrong'd Laertes? Never Hamlet:
234 If Hamlet from himself be ta'en away,
235 And when he's not himself does wrong Laertes,
236 Then Hamlet does it not, Hamlet denies it.
237 Who does it, then? His madness: if't be so,
238 Hamlet is of the faction that is wrong'd;
239 His madness is poor Hamlet's enemy.
240. in this audience: i.e., before everyone here.
240 Sir, in this audience,
241. my disclaiming from a purposed evil: my declaration that I intended no harm. 242. Free: absolve.
241 Let my disclaiming from a purposed evil
242 Free me so far in your most generous thoughts,
243 That I have shot mine arrow o'er the house,
244 And hurt my brother.
LAERTES
244-246. I . . . revenge: i.e., your apology has satisfied my personal feelings, whose urgings, in this case (of Hamlet's killing of Laertes' father), should stir me the most to take revenge. 246. in my terms of honour: i.e., as a man who wants to be regarded as honorable. 247. will no reconcilement: i.e., am determined to deny any reconciliation. 248-250. Till . . . ungored: until by [the advice and example of] some experts [in the code of honor], who are widely acknowledged to be honorable, I have an authoritative opinion and precedent [which assure me that] I can keep my name free of injury.
244 I am satisfied in nature,
245 Whose motive, in this case, should stir me most
246 To my revenge: but in my terms of honour
247 I stand aloof; and will no reconcilement,
248 Till by some elder masters, of known honour,
249 I have a voice and precedent of peace,
250 To keep my name ungored. But till that time,
251 I do receive your offer'd love like love,
252 And will not wrong it.
HAMLET
252 I embrace it freely;
253. brothers' wager: friendly match. frankly: freely; i.e., without any suspicions or reservations.
253 And will this brothers' wager frankly play.
254 Give us the foils. Come on.
LAERTES
254 Come, one for me.
HAMLET
255. foil: shiny sheet of metal placed behind a candle to make it shine brighter and give more light. in mine ignorance: i.e., in comparison to my lack of skill in fencing. 257. Stick fiery off: blaze out in contrast.
255 I'll be your foil, Laertes: in mine ignorance
256 Your skill shall, like a star i' the darkest night,
257 Stick fiery off indeed.
LAERTES
257 You mock me, sir.
HAMLET
258 No, by this hand.
KING
259 Give them the foils, young Osric. Cousin Hamlet,
260 You know the wager?
HAMLET
260 Very well, my lord
261. laid the odds: i.e. wagered a higher stake.
261 Your grace hath laid the odds o' th' weaker side.
KING
262 I do not fear it; I have seen you both:
263. is better'd: has improved with practice.(?)
263 But since he is better'd, we have therefore odds.
LAERTES
264. This is too heavy, let me see another: —I believe this must be Laertes' excuse to pick his own foil, the one that has a sharp point and is treated with poison.
264 This is too heavy, let me see another.
HAMLET
265. likes: pleases. a length: the same length.
265 This likes me well. These foils have all a length?
[They prepare to play.]
OSRIC
266 Ay, my good lord.
KING
267. stoups: tankards.
267 Set me the stoups of wine upon that table.
268 If Hamlet give the first or second hit,
269. quit in answer of the third exchange: pay back Laertes' win in the third round ...more
269 Or quit in answer of the third exchange,
270 Let all the battlements their ordnance fire:
271 The king shall drink to Hamlet's better breath;
272. union: pearl.
272 And in the cup an union shall he throw,
273 Richer than that which four successive kings
274 In Denmark's crown have worn. Give me the cups;
275. kettle: kettle-drum.
275 And let the kettle to the trumpet speak,
276 The trumpet to the cannoneer without,
277 The cannons to the heavens, the heavens to earth,
278 "Now the king drinks to Hamlet." Come, begin:
Trumpets the while.
279 And you, the judges, bear a wary eye.
HAMLET
280 Come on, sir.
LAERTES
280 Come, my lord.
[They play and Hamlet scores a hit.]
HAMLET
280 One.
LAERTES
280 No.
HAMLET
280 Judgment.
OSRIC
281 A hit, a very palpable hit.
LAERTES
281 Well; again.
KING
282 Stay; give me drink. Hamlet, this pearl is thine;
[He drops the pearl into Hamlet's cup.]
283 Here's to thy health. Give him the cup.
piece: cannon.
Drum, trumpets [sound a] flourish. A piece
goes off.
HAMLET
284 I'll play this bout first; set it by awhile. Come.
[They play again.]
285 Another hit; what say you?
LAERTES
286 A touch, a touch, I do confess.
KING
287 Our son shall win.
QUEEN
287. fat: sweaty.
287 He's fat, and scant of breath.
288. napkin: handkerchief.
288 Here, Hamlet, take my napkin, rub thy brows;
289. carouses: drinks a toast. thy fortune: your good luck.
289 The queen carouses to thy fortune, Hamlet.
HAMLET
290 Good madam!
KING
290 Gertrude, do not drink.
QUEEN
291 I will, my lord; I pray you, pardon me.
KING [Aside.]
292 It is the poison'd cup: it is too late.
HAMLET
293 I dare not drink yet, madam; by and by.
QUEEN
294 Come, let me wipe thy face.
LAERTES
295 My lord, I'll hit him now.
KING
295 I do not think't.
LAERTES [Aside.]
296 And yet 'tis almost 'gainst my conscience.
HAMLET
297 Come, for the third, Laertes: you but dally;
298 I pray you, pass with your best violence;
299. make a wanton of me: make a spoiled child of me. —Hamlet is telling Laertes that he is sure that Laertes is coddling him.
299 I am afeard you make a wanton of me.
LAERTES
300 Say you so? come on.
[They play to a draw.]
OSRIC
301 Nothing, neither way.
[Hamlet turns back to his mother.]
LAERTES
302 Have at you now!
[Laertes wounds Hamlet; Hamlet
knocks Laertes' rapier from his hand
and picks it up.]
KING
302 Part them; they are incensed.
HAMLET
303 Nay, come, again.
[Hamlet wounds Laertes. The Queen falls.]
OSRIC
303 Look to the queen there, ho!
HORATIO
304 They bleed on both sides. How is it, my lord?
OSRIC
305 How is't, Laertes?
LAERTES
306. woodcock: a bird which was reputed to be very stupid. springe: trap.
306 Why, as a woodcock to mine own springe, Osric;
307 I am justly kill'd with mine own treachery.
HAMLET
308 How does the queen?
KING
308 She swoons to see them bleed.
QUEEN
309 No, no, the drink, the drink—O my dear Hamlet—
310 The drink, the drink! I am poison'd.
[Dies.]
HAMLET
311 O villany! Ho! let the door be lock'd:
312 Treachery! Seek it out.
LAERTES
313 It is here, Hamlet: Hamlet, thou art slain;
314 No medicine in the world can do thee good;
315 In thee there is not half an hour of life;
316 The treacherous instrument is in thy hand,
317. Unbated: not blunted, sharp. foul practise: vile plot.
317 Unbated and envenom'd: the foul practise
318 Hath turn'd itself on me. Lo, here I lie,
319 Never to rise again: thy mother's poison'd:
320. I can no more: I can do or say nothing more.
320 I can no more: the king, the king's to blame.
HAMLET
321 The point envenom'd too!
322 Then, venom, to thy work.
[Stabs the King.]
All
323 Treason! treason!
KING
324 O, yet defend me, friends; I am but hurt.
HAMLET
325 Here, thou incestuous, murderous, damned Dane,
326 Drink off this potion. Is thy union here?
[Forces the poisoned drink down the
King's throat.]
327 Follow my mother.
[King dies.]
LAERTES
327 He is justly served;
328. temper'd: mixed.
328 It is a poison temper'd by himself.
329 Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Hamlet:
330 Mine and my father's death come not upon thee,
331 Nor thine on me.
[Dies.]
HAMLET
332. make thee free: absolve you.
332 Heaven make thee free of it! I follow thee.
333 I am dead, Horatio. Wretched queen, adieu!
334 You that look pale and tremble at this chance,
335. mutes: silent spectators.
335 That are but mutes or audience to this act,
336. fell: cruel. sergeant: sheriff's officer.
336 Had I but time—as this fell sergeant, death,
337 Is strict in his arrest—O, I could tell you—
338 But let it be. Horatio, I am dead;
339 Thou livest. Report me and my cause aright
340. the unsatisfied: i.e., those who want satisfactory answers to questions about what has just happened. —I'm guessing that Hamlet doesn't want to leave behind a reputation as a treasonous murderer.
340 To the unsatisfied.
HORATIO
340 Never believe it:
341. antique Roman: i.e., one who will commit suicide on such an occasion. (It was thought that Roman servants would commit suicide to follow their masters in death).
341 I am more an antique Roman than a Dane:
342 Here's yet some liquor left.
HAMLET
342 As thou'rt a man,
343 Give me the cup: let go; by heaven, I'll have't.
344 O good Horatio, what a wounded name,
345 Things standing thus unknown, shall live behind me!
346 If thou didst ever hold me in thy heart
347 Absent thee from felicity awhile,
348 And in this harsh world draw thy breath in pain,
349 To tell my story.
March afar off [and a shot within].
349 What warlike noise is this?
OSRIC
350 Young Fortinbras, with conquest come from Poland,
351 To the ambassadors of England gives
352 This warlike volley.
HAMLET
352 O, I die, Horatio;
353. o'er-crows: triumphs over. —The term is derived from cockfighting.
353 The potent poison quite o'er-crows my spirit:
354 I cannot live to hear the news from England;
355 But I do prophesy the election lights
356. voice: support, vote.
356 On Fortinbras: he has my dying voice;
357-358. the occurrents, more and less, / Which have solicited: the occurrences, big and small, which have motivated [what just happened]. —Hamlet is urging Horatio to tell the whole story, and I suppose that to Hamlet the most important element is the fact that King Claudius murdered Hamlet's father.
357 So tell him, with the occurrents, more and less,
358 Which have solicited. The rest is silence.
[Dies.]
HORATIO
359 Now cracks a noble heart. Good night sweet prince:
360 And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest!
[March within.]
361 Why does the drum come hither?
Enter FORTINBRAS with the
[English] Ambassadors.
FORTINBRAS
362 Where is this sight?
HORATIO
362 What is it ye would see?
363 If aught of woe or wonder, cease your search.
FORTINBRAS
364. This quarry cries on havoc: this heap of corpses proclaims a massacre. 365. toward: in preparation.
364 This quarry cries on havoc. O proud death,
365 What feast is toward in thine eternal cell,
366 That thou so many princes at a shot
367 So bloodily hast struck?
Ambassador
367 The sight is dismal;
368 And our affairs from England come too late:
369. senseless: i.e., deaf.
369 The ears are senseless that should give us hearing,
370 To tell him his commandment is fulfill'd,
371 That Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead:
372 Where should we have our thanks?
HORATIO
372. his: i.e., the King's.
372 Not from his mouth,
373 Had it the ability of life to thank you:
374 He never gave commandment for their death.
375. jump: precisely. this bloody question: this bloody dispute.
375 But since, so jump upon this bloody question,
376 You from the Polack wars, and you from England,
377 Are here arriv'd, give order that these bodies
378. stage: platform.
378 High on a stage be placed to the view;
379 And let me speak to the yet unknowing world
380 How these things came about. So shall you hear
381 Of carnal, bloody, and unnatural acts,
382. judgments: retributions. casual: happening by chance.
382 Of accidental judgments, casual slaughters,
383. put on: instigated. forced cause: pretended justification. 384-385. purposes mistook / Fall'n on th' inventors' heads: i.e., plots misfiring and blowing up in the faces of the plotters. —An example of what Horatio is talking about is that Laertes died from the poison that he put on his own sword.
383 Of deaths put on by cunning and forced cause,
384 And, in this upshot, purposes mistook
385 Fall'n on th' inventors' heads: all this can I
386 Truly deliver.
FORTINBRAS
386 Let us haste to hear it,
387. And call the noblest to the audience: and ask the most noble people to listen. ...more
387 And call the noblest to the audience.
388 For me, with sorrow I embrace my fortune:
389. of memory: still living within men's memory.
389 I have some rights of memory in this kingdom,
390. vantage: i.e., best legal claim to the throne of Denmark.
390 Which now to claim my vantage doth invite me.
HORATIO
391-392. Of . . . more: i.e., I will also have reason to speak of the justice of Fortinbras' claim to the throne, and strengthen that claim with the support of Hamlet, whose support will garner the support of others. 393. let this same be presently perform'd: i.e., the honor to be done to Hamlet's body, and the delivery of Horatio's speech should be immediately performed. 394. wild: distraught, full of confusion.
391 Of that I shall have also cause to speak,
392 And from his mouth whose voice will draw on more;
393 But let this same be presently perform'd,
394 Even while men's minds are wild; lest more mischance
395 On plots and errors, happen.
FORTINBRAS
395 Let four captains
396 Bear Hamlet, like a soldier, to the stage;
397. been put on: been put to the test (by becoming king).
397 For he was likely, had he been put on,
398. prov'd: proved to be. passage: death.
398 To have prov'd most royal: and, for his passage,
399 The soldiers' music and the rites of war
400 Speak loudly for him.
401 Take up the bodies: such a sight as this
402. Becomes the field, but here shows much amiss: befits the battlefield, but here is out of place.
402 Becomes the field, but here shows much amiss.
403 Go, bid the soldiers shoot.
Exeunt.