3605Osr. Exceedingly, my Lord, it is very soultry, as 'twere

3606I cannot tell how: but my Lord, his Maiesty bad me sig-

3607nifie to you, that he ha's laid a great wager on your head:

3608Sir, this is the matter.

3609Ham. I beseech you remember.

3610Osr. Nay, in good faith, for mine ease in good faith:

3611Sir, you are not ignorant of what excellence Laertes is at

3612his weapon.

3613Ham. What's his weapon?

3614Osr. Rapier and dagger.

3615Ham. That's two of his weapons; but well.

3616Osr. The sir King ha's wag'd with him six Barbary Hor-

3617ses, against the which he impon'd as I take it, sixe French

3618Rapiers and Poniards, with their assignes, as Girdle,

3619Hangers or so: three of the Carriages infaith are very

3620deare to fancy, very responsiue to the hilts, most delicate

3621carriages, and of very liberall conceit.

3622Ham. What call you the Carriages?

3623Osr. The Carriages Sir, are the hangers.

3624Ham. The phrase would bee more Germaine to the

3625matter: If we could carry Cannon by our sides; I would

3626it might be Hangers till then; but on sixe Barbary Hor-

3627ses against sixe French Swords: their Assignes, and three

3628liberall conceited Carriages, that's the French but a-

3629gainst the Danish; why is this impon'd as you call it?

3630Osr. The King Sir, hath laid that in a dozen passes be-

3631tweene you and him, hee shall not exceed you three hits;

3632He hath one twelue for mine, and that would come to

3633imediate tryall, if your Lordship would vouchsafe the

3634Answere.

3635Ham. How if I answere no?

3636Osr. I meane my Lord, the opposition of your person

3637in tryall.

3638Ham. Sir, I will walke heere in the Hall; if it please

3639his Maiestie, 'tis the breathing time of day with me; let

3640the Foyles bee brought, the Gentleman willing, and the

3641King hold his purpose; I will win for him if I can: if

3642not, Ile gaine nothing but my shame, and the odde hits.

3643Osr. Shall I redeliuer you ee'n so?

3644Ham. To this effect Sir, after what flourish your na-

3645ture will.

3646Osr. I commend my duty to your Lordship.

3647Ham. Yours, yours; hee does well to commend it

3648himselfe, there are no tongues else for's tongue.

3649Hor. This Lapwing runs away with the shell on his

3650head.

3651Ham. He did Complie with his Dugge before hee

3652suck't it: thus had he and mine more of the same Beauy

3653that I know the drossie age dotes on; only got the tune of

3654the time, and outward habite of encounter, a kinde of

3655yesty collection, which carries them through & through

3656the most fond and winnowed opinions; and doe but blow

3657them to their tryalls: the Bubbles are out.

3658Hor. You will lose this wager, my Lord.

3659Ham. I doe not thinke so, since he went into France,

3660I haue beene in continuall practice; I shall winne at the

3661oddes: but thou wouldest not thinke how all heere a-

3662bout my heart: but it is no matter.

3663Hor. Nay, good my Lord.

3664Ham. It is but foolery; but it is such a kinde of

3665gain-giuing as would perhaps trouble a woman.

3666Hor. If your minde dislike any thing, obey. I will fore-

3667stall their repaire hither, and say you are not fit.

3668Ham. Not a whit, we defie Augury; there's a speciall

3669Prouidence in the fall of a sparrow. If it be now, 'tis not

3670to come: if it bee not to come, it will bee now: if it

3671be not now; yet it will come; the readinesse is all, since no

3672man ha's ought of what he leaues. What is't to leaue be-

3673times?

3677Kin. Come Hamlet, come, and take this hand from me.

3678Ham. Giue me your pardon Sir, I'ue done you wrong,

3679But pardon't as you are a Gentleman.

3680This presence knowes,

3681And you must needs haue heard how I am punisht

3682With sore distraction? What I haue done

3683That might your nature honour, and exception

3684Roughly awake, I heere proclaime was madnesse:

3685Was't Hamlet wrong'd Laertes? Neuer Hamlet.

3686If Hamlet from himselfe be tane away:

3687And when he's not himselfe, do's wrong Laertes,

3688Then Hamlet does it not, Hamlet denies it:

3689Who does it then? His Madnesse? If't be so,

3690Hamlet is of the Faction that is wrong'd,

3691His madnesse is poore Hamlets Enemy.

3692Sir, in this Audience,

3693Let my disclaiming from a purpos'd euill,

3694Free me so farre in your most generous thoughts,

3695That I haue shot mine Arrow o're the house,

3696And hurt my Mother.

3697Laer. I am satisfied in Nature,

3698Whose motiue in this case should stirre me most

3699To my Reuenge. But in my termes of Honor

3700I stand aloofe, and will no reconcilement,

3701Till by some elder Masters of knowne Honor,

3702I haue a voyce, and president of peace

3703To keepe my name vngorg'd. But till that time,

3704I do receiue your offer'd loue like loue,

3705And wil not wrong it.

3706Ham. I do embrace it freely,

3707And will this Brothers wager frankely play.

3708Giue vs the Foyles: Come on.

3709Laer. Come one for me.

3710Ham. Ile be your foile Laertes, in mine ignorance,

3711Your Skill shall like a Starre i'th'darkest night,

3712Sticke fiery off indeede.

3713Laer. You mocke me Sir.

3714Ham. No by this hand.

3715King. Giue them the Foyles yong Osricke,

3716Cousen Hamlet, you know the wager.

3717Ham. Verie well my Lord,

3718Your Grace hath laide the oddes a'th'weaker side.

3719King. I do not feare it,

3720I haue seene you both:

3721But since he is better'd, we haue therefore oddes.

3722Laer. This is too heauy,

3723Let me see another.

3724Ham. This likes me well,

3725These Foyles haue all a length. Prepare to play.

3726Osricke. I my good Lord.

3727King. Set me the Stopes of wine vpon that Table:

3728If Hamlet giue the first, or second hit,

3729Or quit in answer of the third exchange,

3730Let all the Battlements their Ordinance fire,

3731The King shal drinke to Hamlets better breath,

3732And in the Cup an vnion shal he throw

3733Richer then that, which foure successiue Kings

3734In Denmarkes Crowne haue worne.