HAMLET, PRINCE OF DENMARK.

Act V.

matter, if we could carry a cannon by our sides; I Ham. The phrase would be more german1? to the would it might be hangers till then. But on: Six

Osr. It is indifferent cold, my lord, indeed. Ham. But yet, methinks it is very sultry and hot; or my complexionOsr. Exceedingly, my lord; it is very sultry,-Barbary horses against six French swords, their asas 'twere,-I cannot tell how--My lord, his majesty bade me signify to you, that he has laid a great wager on your head: Sir, this is the matter,Ham. I beseech you, remember

signs, and three liberal-conceited carriages; that's the French bet against the Danish: Why is this impawned, as you call it?

[Hamlet moves him to put on his hat. passes between yourself and him, he shall not exOsr. The king, sir, hath laid, that in a dozen Osr. Nay, good my lord; for my ease, in good ceed you three hits; he hath laid, on twelve for faith. Sir, here is newly come to court, Laertes: nine; and it would come to immediate trial, if your believe me, an absolute gentleman, full of most || lordship would vouchsafe the answer. excellent differences,2 of very soft society, and great showing: Indeed, to speak feelingly of him, Ham. How, if I answer, no? he is the card3 or calendar of gentry, for you shall find in him the continent of what part a gentleman would see.

person in trial.
Osr. I mean, my lord, the opposition of your

Ham. Sir, I will walk here in the hall: If it with me: let the foils be brought, the gentleman please his majesty, it is the breathing time of day willing, and the king hold his purpose, I will win for him, if I can; if not, I will gain nothing but my

Ham. Sir, this definement suffers no perdition in you;-though, I know, to divide him inventorially, would dizzy the arithmetic of memory; and yet but raw neither, in respect of his quick sail.shame, and the odd hits. 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 him, his umbrage, nothing more.5

Osr. Your lordship speaks most infallibly of him. Ham. The concernancy, sir? why do we wrap the gentleman in our more rawer breath?

Osr. Sir?

Hor. Is't not possible to understand in another tongue? You will do't, sir, really.

Ham. What imports the nomination of this gentleman?

Osr. Of Laertes?

Osr. Shall I deliver you so?

your nature will.
Ham. To this effect, sir; after what flourish

Osr. I commend my duty to your lordship.

it himself; there are no tongues else for's turn. Ham. Yours, yours.-He does well to commend [Exit. Hor. This lapwing runs away with the shell on his head.

Ham. He did comply14 with his dug before he same breed, that, I know, the drossyl age dotes on,) sucked it. Thus has he (and many more of the only got the tune of the time, and outward habit of encounter; a kind of yestyle collection, which car

Hor. His purse is empty already; all his golden ries them through and through the most fond17 and 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. Ösr. 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.

winnowed opinions; and do but blow them to their trial, the bubbles are out.

Enter a Lord.

you by young Osric, who brings back to him, that Lord. My lord, his majesty commended him to your pleasure hold to play with Laertes, or that you you attend him in the hall: He sends to know, if will take longer time.

Osr. I mean, sir, for his weapon; but in the im- the king's pleasure: if his fitness speaks, mine is Ham. I am constant to my purposes, they follow putation laid on him by them, in his meeds he's un-ready; now, or whensoever, provided I be so able fellowed.

Ham. What's his weapon?

Osr. Rapier and dagger.

Ham. That's two of his weapons: but, well.
Osr. The king, sir, hath wagered with him six

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

[Exit Lord.

Ham. She well instructs me.
Hor. You will lose this wager, my lord.

Barbary horses: against the which he has impawn-entertainment to Laertes, before you fall to play. ed, as I take it, six French rapiers and poniards, with their assigns, as girdle, hangers, 10 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.

France, I have been in continual practice; I shall Ham. I do not think so; since he went into win at the odds. But thou would'st not think, how ill all's here about my heart: but it is no

mar-matter.

(4) The country and pattern for imitation.
This speech is a ridicule of the court jargon
that time.

(5)

(6) Mentioning. (8) Praise.

(7) Recommend. (9) Imponed, put down, staked. (10) That part of the belt by which the sword was suspended.

Hor. Nay, good my lord,

Ham. It is but foolery; but it is such a kind of gain-giving, 18 as would, perhaps, trouble a woman. Hor. If your mind dislike any thing, obey it: I

(11) Margin of a book which contains explanatory notes. (12) Akin.

(13) A bird which runs about immediately as it is hatched.

(14) Compliment.
(16) Frothy.
(18) Misgiving.

(15) Worthless.
(17) For fond read fann'd.

will forestall their repair hither, and say, you are not fit.

Let all the battlements their ordnance fire;
The king shall drink to Hamlet's better breath;
And in the cup an unions 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,
The trumpet to the cannoneer without,
The cannons to the heavens, the heaven to earth,
At-Now the king drinks to Hamlet.-Come, begin;-
And you,
the judges, bear a wary eye.
Ham. Come on, sir.

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, of aught he leaves, knows, what is't to leave betimes? Let be. Enter King, Queen, Laertes, Lords, Osric, and tendants, with foils, &c.

King. Come, Hamlet, come, and take this hand
from me.

[The King puts the hand of Laertes into
that of Hamlet.

Ham. Give me your pardon, sir: I have done you
wrong;

But pardon it, as you are a gentleman.
This presence? knows, and you must needs have

heard,

How I am punish'd 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 wrong'd 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 wrong'd;
His madness is poor Hamlet's enemy.

Sir, in this audience,

Let my disclaiming from a purpos'd evil

Free me so far in your most generous thoughts,
That I have shot my arrow o'er the house,
And hurt my brother.

Laer.

I am satisfied in nature,

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,

To keep my name ungor'd:3 But till that time,
I do receive your offer'd love like love,
And will not wrong it.

Ham.
I embrace it freely;
And will this brother's wager frankly play.--
Give us the foils; come on.

Laer.

Come, one for me.

You know the wager?

Ham.
Very well, my lord;
Your grace hath laid the odds o'the weaker side.
King. I do not fear it: I have seen you both:-
But since he's better'd, we have therefore odds.
Laer. This is too heavy, let me see another.
Ham. This likes me well: these foils have all a
length? [They prepare to play.
Osr. Ay, my good lord.
King. Set me the stoups of wine upon that
table:-

If Hamlet give the first or second hit,
Or quit in answer of the third exchange,

(1) Prevent. (2) The king and queen's presence.
(3) Unwounder. (4) Large jugs.

(5) A precious pearl.

VOL. II.

(6) Handkerchief.

Laer.

Ham.

Laer.

Ham.

Come, my lord. [They play.
One.

No.

Judgment.

Well,-again.

Osr. A hit, a very palpable hit.
Laer.
King. Stay, give me drink: Hamlet, this pearl

is thine;

Here's to thy health.-Give him the cup.

[Trumpets sound; and cannon shot off within.
Ham. I'll play this bout first, set it by a while.
Come.-Another hit; What say you? [They play.
Laer. A touch, a touch, I do confess.
King. Our son shall win.
Queen.
He's fat, and scant of breath.-
Here, Hamlet, take my napkin, rub thy brows:
The queen carouses? to thy fortune, Hamlet.
Ham. Good madam,-

King.

Gertrude, do not drink.
Queen. I will, my lord :-I pray you, pardon me.
King. It is the poison'd cup; it is too late.

[Aside.
Ham. I dare not drink yet, madam; by and by.
Queen. Come, let me wipe thy face.
Laer. My lord, I'll hit him now.
King.

I do not think it. Laer. And yet it is almost against my conscience. [Aside.

Ham. Come, for the third, Laertes: you do but

[Laertes wounds Hamlet; then, in scuffling,
they change rapiers, and Hamlet wounds
Laertes.

King. Part them, they are incens'd.
Ham. Nay, come again. [The Queen falls.
Osr.
Look to the queen there, ho!
Hor. They bleed on both sides:-How is it, my
lord?

Osr. How is't, Laertes?

Laer. Why, as a woodcock to my own springe

Osric;

The drink, the drink ;-I am poison'd! [Dies.
Ham. O villany!-Ho! let the door be lock'd:
Treachery! seek it out.
[Laertes falls.
Laer. 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's life;
The treacherous instrument is in thy hand,
Unbated, and envenom'd: the foul practice

(7) Drinks good luck to you. (8) Boy.
(9) The foil without a button, and poisoned at
the point.

4 A

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.
Ham. The point

Envenom'd too!-Then, venom, to thy work.
[Stabs the King.

Osr.& Lords. Treason! treason!
King. O, yet defend me, friends, I am but hurt.
Ham. Here, thou incestuous, murd'rous, damned
Dane,

Where should we have our thanks?
Hor.

Not from his mouth,

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 Polack10 wars, and you from England,
Are here arriv'd; give order, that these bodies
High on a stage be placed to the view;
And let me speak, to the yet unknowing world,
How these things come about: So shall you hear
Of carnal, bloody, and unnatural acts;
[King dies. Of accidental judgments, casual slaughters;
Of deaths put on by cunning, and forc'd cause;
And, in this upshot, purposes mistook
Fall'n on the inventors' heads: all this can I
Truly deliver.

Drink off this potion:-Is the union here?
Follow my mother.
Laer.

He is justly serv'd;
It is a poison temper'd' by himself.-
Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Hamlet:
Mine and my father's death come not upon thee;
Nor thine on me!

[Dies.

Fort.
Let us haste to hear it,
And call the noblest to the audience.

Ham. Heaven make thee free of it! I follow thee.
I am dead, Horatio:-Wretched queen, adieu!-For me, with sorrow I embrace my fortune;

You that look pale and tremble at this chance,
That are but mutes or audience to this act,
Had I but time (as this fell sergeant,2 death,
Is strict in his arrest,) O, I could tell you,-
But let it be:-Horatio, I am dead;
Thou liv'st; report me and my cause aright
To the unsatisfied.

Hor.
Never believe it;
I am more an antique Roman than a Dane,
Here's yet some liquor left.

Ham.
As thou'rt a man,-
Give me the cup; let go; by heaven I'll have it.-
O God!-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 a while,

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?

Osr. Young Fortinbras, with conquest come
from Poland,

To the ambassadors of England gives
This warlike volley.

Ham.

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
On Fortinbras; he has my dying voice;
So tell him, with the occurrents,4 more or less,
Which have solicited,The rest is silence. [Dies.
Hor. Now cracks a noble heart;-Good night,
sweet prince;

And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest!
Why does the drum come hither? [March within.
Enter Fortinbras, the English Ambassadors, and

others.

Fort. Where is this sight?
Hor.
What is it, you would see?
If aught of wo, or wonder, cease your search.
Fort. This quarry cries on havoc !7-O proud
death!

What feast is toward in thine eternal cell,
That thou so many princes, at a shot,
So bloodily hast struck?

1 Amb.
The sight is dismal;
And our affairs from England come too late:
The ears are senseless, that should give us hearing,
To tell him, his commandment is fulfill'd,
That Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead:

I have some rights of memory in this kingdom,
Which now to claim my vantage doth invite me.

Hor. Of that I shall have also cause to speak,
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 mis-
chance,

On plots and errors, happen.
Fort.
Let four captains
Bear Hamlet, like a soldier, to the stage;
For he was likely, had he been put on,
To have prov'd most royally: and, for his passage,
The soldier's music, and the rites of war,
Speak loudly for him.-

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 bodies; after which,
a peal of ordnance is shot off.

If the dramas of Shakspeare were to be characterised, each by the particular excellence which distinguishes it from the rest, we must allow to the tragedy of Hamlet the praise of variety. The incidents are so numerous, that the argument of the play would make a long tale. The scenes are interchangeably diversified with merriment and solemnity: with merriment that includes judicious and instructive observations; and solemnity not strained by poetical violence above the natural sentiments of man. New characters appear from time to time in continual succession, exhibiting various The pretended madness of Hamlet causes much forms of life, and particular modes of conversation. mirth, the mournful distraction of Ophelia fills the heart with tenderness, and every personage produces the effect intended, from the apparition that, in the first act, chills the blood with horror, to the fop in the last, that exposes affectation to just contempt.

The conduct is, perhaps, not wholly secure against objections. The action is, indeed, for the most part, in continual progression; but there are some scenes which neither forward nor retard it. Of the feigned madness of Hamlet there appears no adequate cause, for he does nothing which he might not have done with the reputation of sanity. He plays the

(7) A word of censure when more game was (1) Mixed. (2) A sergeant is a sheriff's officer.destroyed than was reasonable. (3) O'ercomes. (4) Incidents. (5) Incited. (8) i. e. The king's. (10) Polish.

(6) Heap of dead game.

(9) By chance.

easily be formed, to kill Hamlet with the dagger, and Laertes with the bowl.

madman most, when he treats Ophelia with so much rudeness, which seems to be useless and wanton cruelty. The poet is accused of having shown little reHamlet is, through the whole piece, rather an in-gard to poetical justice, and may be charged with strument than an agent. After he has, by the strat-equal neglect of poetical probability. The appariagem of the play, convicted the king, he makes no attempt to punish him; and his death is at last effected by an incident which Hamlet had no part in producing.

tion left the regions of the dead to little purpose: the revenge which he demands is not obtained, but by the death of him that was required to take it; and the gratification, which would arise from the The catastrophe is not very happily produced; destruction of a usurper and a murderer, is abated the exchange of weapons is rather an expedient of by the untimely death of Ophelia, the young, the necessity, than a stroke of art. A scheme might|| beautiful, the harmless, and the pious. JOHNSON.