Hamlet

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 the Kings Messe; 'tis a Chowgh; but as I saw spacious in the possession of dirt Osr. Sweet Lord, if your friendship were at leysure, I should impart a thing to you from his Maiesty Ham. I will receiue it with all diligence of spirit; put your Bonet to his right vse, 'tis for the head Osr. I thanke your Lordship, 'tis very hot Ham. No, beleeue mee 'tis very cold, the winde is Northerly Osr. It is indifferent cold my Lord indeed Ham. Mee thinkes it is very soultry, and hot for my Complexion Osr. Exceedingly, my Lord, it is very soultry, as 'twere I cannot tell how: but my Lord, his Maiesty bad me signifie to you, that he ha's laid a great wager on your head: Sir, this is the matter Ham. I beseech you remember Osr. Nay, in good faith, for mine ease in good faith: Sir, you are not ignorant of what excellence Laertes is at his weapon Ham. What's his weapon? Osr. Rapier and dagger Ham. That's two of his weapons; but well Osr. The sir King ha's wag'd with him six Barbary horses, against the which he impon'd as I take it, sixe French Rapiers and Poniards, with their assignes, as Girdle, Hangers or so: three of the Carriages infaith are very deare to fancy, very responsiue to the hilts, most delicate carriages, and of very liberall conceit Ham. What call you the Carriages? Osr. The Carriages Sir, are the hangers Ham. The phrase would bee more Germaine to the matter: If we could carry Cannon by our sides; I would it might be Hangers till then; but on sixe Barbary Horses against sixe French Swords: their Assignes, and three liberall conceited Carriages, that's the French but against the Danish; why is this impon'd as you call it? Osr. The King Sir, hath laid that in a dozen passes betweene you and him, hee shall not exceed you three hits; He hath one twelue for mine, and that would come to imediate tryall, if your Lordship would vouchsafe the Answere Ham. How if I answere no? Osr. I meane my Lord, the opposition of your person in tryall Ham. Sir, I will walke heere in the Hall; if it please his Maiestie, 'tis the breathing time of day with me; let the Foyles bee brought, the Gentleman willing, and the King hold his purpose; I will win for him if I can: if not, Ile gaine nothing but my shame, and the odde hits Osr. Shall I redeliuer you ee'n so? Ham. To this effect Sir, after what flourish your nature will Osr. I commend my duty to your Lordship Ham. Yours, yours; hee does well to commend it himselfe, there are no tongues else for's tongue Hor. This Lapwing runs away with the shell on his head Ham. He did Complie with his Dugge before hee suck't it: thus had he and mine more of the same Beauty that I know the drossie age dotes on; only got the tune of the time, and outward habite of encounter, a kinde of yesty collection, which carries them through & through the most fond and winnowed opinions; and doe but blow them to their tryalls: the Bubbles are out Hor. You will lose this wager, my Lord Ham. I doe not thinke so, since he went into France, I haue beene in continuall practice; I shall winne at the oddes: but thou wouldest not thinke how all heere about my heart: but it is no matter Hor. Nay, good my Lord Ham. It is but foolery; but it is such a kinde of gain-giuing as would perhaps trouble a woman Hor. If your minde dislike any thing, obey. I will forestall their repaire hither, and say you are not fit Ham. Not a whit, we defie Augury; there's a speciall Prouidence in the fall of a sparrow. If it be now, 'tis not to come: if it bee not to come, it will bee now: if it be not now; yet it will come; the readinesse is all, since no man ha's ought of what he leaues. What is't to leaue betimes? Enter King, Queene, Laertes and Lords, with other Attendants with Foyles, and Gauntlets, a Table and Flagons of Wine on it. Kin. Come Hamlet, come, and take this hand from me Ham. Giue me your pardon Sir, I'ue done you wrong, But pardon't as you are a Gentleman. This presence knowes, And you must needs haue heard how I am punisht With sore distraction? What I haue done That might your nature honour, and exception Roughly awake, I heere proclaime was madnesse: Was't Hamlet wrong'd Laertes? Neuer Hamlet. If Hamlet from himselfe be tane away: And when he's not himselfe, do's wrong Laertes, Then Hamlet does it not, Hamlet denies it: Who does it then? His Madnesse? If't be so, Hamlet is of the Faction that is wrong'd, His madnesse is poore Hamlets Enemy. Sir, in this Audience, Let my disclaiming from a purpos'd euill, Free me so farre in your most generous thoughts, That I haue shot mine Arrow o're the house, And hurt my Mother Laer. I am satisfied in Nature, Whose motiue in this case should stirre me most To my Reuenge. But in my termes of Honor I stand aloofe, and will no reconcilement, Till by some elder Masters of knowne Honor, I haue a voyce, and president of peace To keepe my name vngorg'd. But till that time, I do receiue your offer'd loue like loue, And wil not wrong it Ham. I do embrace it freely, And will this Brothers wager frankely play. Giue vs the Foyles: Come on Laer. Come one for me Ham. Ile be your foile Laertes, in mine ignorance, Your Skill shall like a Starre i'th' darkest night, Sticke fiery off indeede Laer. You mocke me Sir Ham. No by this hand King. Giue them the Foyles yong Osricke, Cousen Hamlet, you know the wager Ham. Verie well my Lord, Your Grace hath laide the oddes a'th' weaker side King. I do not feare it, I haue seene you both: But since he is better'd, we haue therefore oddes Laer. This is too heauy, Let me see another