Reading Help HAMLET, PRINCE OF DENMARK
And that, I hope, will teach you to imagine,-- `
` `
` [Enter a Messenger.] `
` `
` How now! What news? `
` `
` Mess. `
` Letters, my lord, from Hamlet: `
` This to your majesty; this to the queen. `
` `
` King. `
` From Hamlet! Who brought them? `
` `
` Mess. `
` Sailors, my lord, they say; I saw them not: `
` They were given me by Claudio:--he receiv'd them `
` Of him that brought them. `
` `
` King. `
` Laertes, you shall hear them. `
` Leave us. `
` `
` [Exit Messenger.] `
` `
` [Reads]'High and mighty,--You shall know I am set naked on your `
` kingdom. To-morrow shall I beg leave to see your kingly eyes: `
` when I shall, first asking your pardon thereunto, recount the `
` occasions of my sudden and more strange return. HAMLET.' `
` `
` What should this mean? Are all the rest come back? `
` Or is it some abuse, and no such thing? `
` `
` Laer. `
` Know you the hand? `
` `
` King. `
` 'Tis Hamlet's character:--'Naked!'-- `
` And in a postscript here, he says 'alone.' `
` Can you advise me? `
` `
` Laer. `
` I am lost in it, my lord. But let him come; `
` It warms the very sickness in my heart `
` That I shall live and tell him to his teeth, `
` 'Thus didest thou.' `
` `
` King. `
` If it be so, Laertes,-- `
` As how should it be so? how otherwise?-- `
` Will you be rul'd by me? `
` `
` Laer. `
` Ay, my lord; `
` So you will not o'errule me to a peace. `
` `
` King. `
` To thine own peace. If he be now return'd-- `
` As checking at his voyage, and that he means `
` No more to undertake it,--I will work him `
` To exploit, now ripe in my device, `
` Under the which he shall not choose but fall: `
` And for his death no wind shall breathe; `
` But even his mother shall uncharge the practice `
` And call it accident. `
` `
` Laer. `
` My lord, I will be rul'd; `
` The rather if you could devise it so `
` That I might be the organ. `
` `
` King. `
` It falls right. `
` You have been talk'd of since your travel much, `
` And that in Hamlet's hearing, for a quality `
` Wherein they say you shine: your sum of parts `
` Did not together pluck such envy from him `
` As did that one; and that, in my regard, `
` Of the unworthiest siege. `
` `
` Laer. `
` What part is that, my lord? `
` `
` King. `
` A very riband in the cap of youth, `
` Yet needful too; for youth no less becomes `
` The light and careless livery that it wears `
` Than settled age his sables and his weeds, `
` Importing health and graveness.--Two months since, `
` Here was a gentleman of Normandy,-- `
` I've seen myself, and serv'd against, the French, `
` And they can well on horseback: but this gallant `
` Had witchcraft in't: he grew unto his seat; `
` And to such wondrous doing brought his horse, `
` As had he been incorps'd and demi-natur'd `
` With the brave beast: so far he topp'd my thought `
` That I, in forgery of shapes and tricks, `
` Come short of what he did. `
` `
` Laer. `
` A Norman was't? `
` `
` King. `
` A Norman. `
` `
` Laer. `
` Upon my life, Lamond. `
` `
` King. `
` The very same. `
` `
` Laer. `
` I know him well: he is the brooch indeed `
` And gem of all the nation. `
` `
` King. `
` He made confession of you; `
` And gave you such a masterly report `
` For art and exercise in your defence, `
` And for your rapier most especially, `
` That he cried out, 'twould be a sight indeed `
` If one could match you: the scrimers of their nation `
` He swore, had neither motion, guard, nor eye, `
` If you oppos'd them. Sir, this report of his `
` Did Hamlet so envenom with his envy `
` That he could nothing do but wish and beg `
` Your sudden coming o'er, to play with him. `
` Now, out of this,-- `
` `
` Laer. `
` What out of this, my lord? `
` `
` King. `
` Laertes, was your father dear to you? `
` Or are you like the painting of a sorrow, `
` A face without a heart? `
` `
` Laer. `
` Why ask you this? `
` `
` King. `
` Not that I think you did not love your father; `
` But that I know love is begun by time, `
` And that I see, in passages of proof, `
` Time qualifies the spark and fire of it. `
` There lives within the very flame of love `
` A kind of wick or snuff that will abate it; `
` And nothing is at a like goodness still; `
` For goodness, growing to a plurisy, `
` Dies in his own too much: that we would do, `
` We should do when we would; for this 'would' changes, `
` And hath abatements and delays as many `
` As there are tongues, are hands, are accidents; `
` And then this 'should' is like a spendthrift sigh, `
` That hurts by easing. But to the quick o' the ulcer:-- `
` Hamlet comes back: what would you undertake `
` To show yourself your father's son in deed `
` More than in words? `
` `
` Laer. `
` To cut his throat i' the church. `
` `
` King. `
` No place, indeed, should murder sanctuarize; `
` Revenge should have no bounds. But, good Laertes, `
` Will you do this, keep close within your chamber. `
` Hamlet return'd shall know you are come home: `
` We'll put on those shall praise your excellence `
` And set a double varnish on the fame `
` The Frenchman gave you; bring you in fine together `
` And wager on your heads: he, being remiss, `
` Most generous, and free from all contriving, `
` Will not peruse the foils; so that with ease, `
` Or with a little shuffling, you may choose `
` A sword unbated, and, in a pass of practice, `
` Requite him for your father. `
` `
` Laer. `
` I will do't: `
` And for that purpose I'll anoint my sword. `
` I bought an unction of a mountebank, `
` So mortal that, but dip a knife in it, `
` Where it draws blood no cataplasm so rare, `
` Collected from all simples that have virtue `
` Under the moon, can save the thing from death `
` This is but scratch'd withal: I'll touch my point `
` With this contagion, that, if I gall him slightly, `
` It may be death. `
` `
` King. `
` Let's further think of this; `
` Weigh what convenience both of time and means `
` May fit us to our shape: if this should fail, `
` And that our drift look through our bad performance. `
` 'Twere better not assay'd: therefore this project `
` Should have a back or second, that might hold `
` If this did blast in proof. Soft! let me see:-- `
` We'll make a solemn wager on your cunnings,-- `
` I ha't: `
` When in your motion you are hot and dry,-- `
` As make your bouts more violent to that end,-- `
` And that he calls for drink, I'll have prepar'd him `
`
` `
` [Enter a Messenger.] `
` `
` How now! What news? `
` `
` Mess. `
` Letters, my lord, from Hamlet: `
` This to your majesty; this to the queen. `
` `
` King. `
` From Hamlet! Who brought them? `
` `
` Mess. `
` Sailors, my lord, they say; I saw them not: `
` They were given me by Claudio:--he receiv'd them `
` Of him that brought them. `
` `
` King. `
` Laertes, you shall hear them. `
` Leave us. `
` `
` [Exit Messenger.] `
` `
` [Reads]'High and mighty,--You shall know I am set naked on your `
` kingdom. To-morrow shall I beg leave to see your kingly eyes: `
` when I shall, first asking your pardon thereunto, recount the `
` occasions of my sudden and more strange return. HAMLET.' `
` `
` What should this mean? Are all the rest come back? `
` Or is it some abuse, and no such thing? `
` `
` Laer. `
` Know you the hand? `
` `
` King. `
` 'Tis Hamlet's character:--'Naked!'-- `
` And in a postscript here, he says 'alone.' `
` Can you advise me? `
` `
` Laer. `
` I am lost in it, my lord. But let him come; `
` It warms the very sickness in my heart `
` That I shall live and tell him to his teeth, `
` 'Thus didest thou.' `
` `
` King. `
` If it be so, Laertes,-- `
` As how should it be so? how otherwise?-- `
` Will you be rul'd by me? `
` `
` Laer. `
` Ay, my lord; `
` So you will not o'errule me to a peace. `
` `
` King. `
` To thine own peace. If he be now return'd-- `
` As checking at his voyage, and that he means `
` No more to undertake it,--I will work him `
` To exploit, now ripe in my device, `
` Under the which he shall not choose but fall: `
` And for his death no wind shall breathe; `
` But even his mother shall uncharge the practice `
` And call it accident. `
` `
` Laer. `
` My lord, I will be rul'd; `
` The rather if you could devise it so `
` That I might be the organ. `
` `
` King. `
` It falls right. `
` You have been talk'd of since your travel much, `
` And that in Hamlet's hearing, for a quality `
` Wherein they say you shine: your sum of parts `
` Did not together pluck such envy from him `
` As did that one; and that, in my regard, `
` Of the unworthiest siege. `
` `
` Laer. `
` What part is that, my lord? `
` `
` King. `
` A very riband in the cap of youth, `
` Yet needful too; for youth no less becomes `
` The light and careless livery that it wears `
` Than settled age his sables and his weeds, `
` Importing health and graveness.--Two months since, `
` Here was a gentleman of Normandy,-- `
` I've seen myself, and serv'd against, the French, `
` And they can well on horseback: but this gallant `
` Had witchcraft in't: he grew unto his seat; `
` And to such wondrous doing brought his horse, `
` As had he been incorps'd and demi-natur'd `
` With the brave beast: so far he topp'd my thought `
` That I, in forgery of shapes and tricks, `
` Come short of what he did. `
` `
` Laer. `
` A Norman was't? `
` `
` King. `
` A Norman. `
` `
` Laer. `
` Upon my life, Lamond. `
` `
` King. `
` The very same. `
` `
` Laer. `
` I know him well: he is the brooch indeed `
` And gem of all the nation. `
` `
` King. `
` He made confession of you; `
` And gave you such a masterly report `
` For art and exercise in your defence, `
` And for your rapier most especially, `
` That he cried out, 'twould be a sight indeed `
` If one could match you: the scrimers of their nation `
` He swore, had neither motion, guard, nor eye, `
` If you oppos'd them. Sir, this report of his `
` Did Hamlet so envenom with his envy `
` That he could nothing do but wish and beg `
` Your sudden coming o'er, to play with him. `
` Now, out of this,-- `
` `
` Laer. `
` What out of this, my lord? `
` `
` King. `
` Laertes, was your father dear to you? `
` Or are you like the painting of a sorrow, `
` A face without a heart? `
` `
` Laer. `
` Why ask you this? `
` `
` King. `
` Not that I think you did not love your father; `
` But that I know love is begun by time, `
` And that I see, in passages of proof, `
` Time qualifies the spark and fire of it. `
` There lives within the very flame of love `
` A kind of wick or snuff that will abate it; `
` And nothing is at a like goodness still; `
` For goodness, growing to a plurisy, `
` Dies in his own too much: that we would do, `
` We should do when we would; for this 'would' changes, `
` And hath abatements and delays as many `
` As there are tongues, are hands, are accidents; `
` And then this 'should' is like a spendthrift sigh, `
` That hurts by easing. But to the quick o' the ulcer:-- `
` Hamlet comes back: what would you undertake `
` To show yourself your father's son in deed `
` More than in words? `
` `
` Laer. `
` To cut his throat i' the church. `
` `
` King. `
` No place, indeed, should murder sanctuarize; `
` Revenge should have no bounds. But, good Laertes, `
` Will you do this, keep close within your chamber. `
` Hamlet return'd shall know you are come home: `
` We'll put on those shall praise your excellence `
` And set a double varnish on the fame `
` The Frenchman gave you; bring you in fine together `
` And wager on your heads: he, being remiss, `
` Most generous, and free from all contriving, `
` Will not peruse the foils; so that with ease, `
` Or with a little shuffling, you may choose `
` A sword unbated, and, in a pass of practice, `
` Requite him for your father. `
` `
` Laer. `
` I will do't: `
` And for that purpose I'll anoint my sword. `
` I bought an unction of a mountebank, `
` So mortal that, but dip a knife in it, `
` Where it draws blood no cataplasm so rare, `
` Collected from all simples that have virtue `
` Under the moon, can save the thing from death `
` This is but scratch'd withal: I'll touch my point `
` With this contagion, that, if I gall him slightly, `
` It may be death. `
` `
` King. `
` Let's further think of this; `
` Weigh what convenience both of time and means `
` May fit us to our shape: if this should fail, `
` And that our drift look through our bad performance. `
` 'Twere better not assay'd: therefore this project `
` Should have a back or second, that might hold `
` If this did blast in proof. Soft! let me see:-- `
` We'll make a solemn wager on your cunnings,-- `
` I ha't: `
` When in your motion you are hot and dry,-- `
` As make your bouts more violent to that end,-- `
` And that he calls for drink, I'll have prepar'd him `
`