Act V, Scene 2
HAMLET
So much for this, sir. Now shall you see the other.
You do remember all the circumstance?
HORATIO
Remember it, my lord!
HAMLET
Sir, in my heart there was a kind of fighting
That would not let me sleep. Methought I lay
Worse than the mutines in the bilboes. Rashly—
And praised b rashness for it—let us know;
Our indiscretion sometime serves us well
When our deep plots do pall. And that should learn us
There’s a divinity that shapes our ends,
Rough-hew them how we will…
HORATIO
That is most certain.
HAMLET Up from my cabin,
My sea-gown scarfed about me, in the dark
Groped I to find out them; Had my desire,
Fingered their packet, and in fine withdrew
To mine own room again, making so bold—
My fears forgetting manners—to unfold
Their grand commission; where I found, Horatio,
A royal knavery! An exact command,
Larded with many several sorts of reasons;
Importing Denmark’s health and England’s too;
With (ho!) such bugs and goblins in my life;
That on the supervise, no leisure bated;
No, not to stay the grinding of the axe,
My head should be struck off!
HORATIO
Is it possible?
HAMLET
Here’s the commission! Read it at more leisure.
[HAMLET hands the paper to HORATIO.]
But wilt thou hear now how I did proceed?
HORATIO I beseech you.
HAMLET Being thus benetted round with villanies,
Or I could make a prologue to my brains,
They had begun the play. I sat me down,
Devised a new commission, wrote it fair—
I once did hold it, as our statists do,
A baseness ot write fair, and labored much
How to forget that learning. But, sir, now
It did me yeoman’s service! Wilt thou know
Th’ effect of what I wrote?
HORATIO Ay, my good lord.
HAMLET
An earnest conjuration from the King,
As England was his faithful tributary,
As love between them like the palm might flourish
As peace should still her wheaten garland wear
And stand a comma ‘tween their amities,
And many suchlike ases of great charge,
That, on the view and knowing of these contents,
Without debatement further, more or less,
He should those bearers put to suddent death,
Not shriving time allowed.
HORATIO How was this sealed?
HAMLET
Why, even in that was heaven ordinant.
I had my father’s signet in my purse,
Which was the model of that Danish seal.
Folded the writ up in the form of th’ other,
Subscribed it, gave it the impression, placed it safely.
The changeling never known! Now, the next day
Was our sea-fight; and what to this was sequent
Thou knowst already.
HORATIO
So Guildenstern and Rosencrantz go to it.
HAMLET
Why, man, they did make love to this employment.
They are not near my conscience. Their defeat
Does by their own insinuation grow.
‘Tis dangerous when the baser nature comes
Between the pass and fell incenséd points
Of mighty opposites.
HORATIO Why, what a king is this!
HAMLET
Does it not, think thee, stand me now upon—
He that hath killed my king and whored my mother,
Popped in between th’ election and my hopes,
Thrown out his angle for my proper life,
And with such cozenage—is it not perfect conscience
To quit him with his arm? And is it not to be damned
To let this canker of our nature come
In further evil?
HORATIO
It must be shortly known to him from England
What is the issue of the business there.
HAMLET
It will be short. The interim’s mine,
And a man’s life’s no more than to say “one”.
But I am very sorry, good Horatio,
That to Laertes I forgot myself,
For by the image of my cause I see
The portraiture of his. I’ll court his favors.
But, sure, the bravery of his grief did put me
Into a towering passion.
HORATIO Peace, who comes here?
[Enter OSRIC, a courtier.]
OSRIC Your Lordship is right welcome back to Denmark.
HAMLET I humbly thank you, sir.
[Aside to HORATIO] Dost know this waterfly?
HORATIO [Aside to HAMLET] No, my good lord.
HAMLET [Aside to HORATIO]
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 king’s mess.
‘Tis a chough, but as I say, spacious
In the possession of dirt.
OSRIC
Sweet lord, if your Lordship were at leisure,
I should impart a thing to you from his Majesty.
HAMLET
I will receive it, sir, with all diligence of spirit.
Put your bonnet to his right use: ‘tis for the head.
OSRIC
I thank your Lordship. It is very hot.
HAMLET No, believe me. ‘Tis very cold;
The wind is northerly.
OSRIC
It is indifferent cold, my lord, indeed.
HAMLET
But yet me thinks it is very sultry and hot
For my complexion.
OSRIC
Exceedingly, my lord. It is very sultry, as ‘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—
HAMLET
I beseech you, remember.
[HAMLET motions to OSRIC to put on his hat.]
OSRIC
Nay, good my lord, for my ease, in good faith.
Sir, here is newly come to court Laertes—
Believe me, an absolute gentleman, full of
Most excellent differences. Of very soft society
And great showing. Indeed, to speak feelingly of him,
He is the card or calendar of gentry. For you shall
Find in him the continent of what part a gentleman would see.
HAMLET
Sir, his definement suffers no perdition
In you, though I know to divide him inventorially
Would dozy the arithmetic of memory.
And yet but yaw neither, in respect of his quick sail.
But, in the verity of extolment, I tak 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.
OSRIC
Your Lordship speaks most infallibly of him.
HAMLET
The concernancy, sir? Why do we wrap the
Gentleman in our more rawer breath?
OSRIC Sir?
HORATIO
Is it not possible to understand in another tongue?
You will to it, sir, really.
HAMLET [to OSRIC]
What imports the nomination of this gentleman?
OSRIC Of Laertes?
HORATIO His purse is empty already; all his
golden words are spent.
HAMLET Of him, sir.
OSRIC I know you are not ignorant…
HAMLET
I would you did, sir. Yet, in faith, id you did,
It would not much approve me. Well, sir?
OSRIC You are not ignorant of what
Excellence Laertes is…
HAMLET
I dare not confess that, lest I should
Compare with him in excellence.
But to know a man well were to know himself.
OSRIC
I mean, sir, for his weapon. But
In the imputation laid on him by them,
In his meed, he’s unfellowed.
HAMLET What’s his weapon?
OSRIC Rapier and dagger.
HAMLET That’s two of his weapons. But, well—
OSRIC
The King, sir, hath wagered with him
Six Barbary horses, against which he has
Impawned, as I take it, six French rapiers
And poniards, with their assigns, as girdle,
Hangers 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.
HAMLET What call you the “carriages”?
HORATIO
I knew you must be edified by the margent
Ere you had done.
OSRIC
The carriages, sir, are the hangers.
HAMLET
The phrase would be more germane to the matter
Ifr we could carry a cannon by our sides.
I would it might be “hangers” ‘til then.
But on! Six Barbary horses against six
French swords, their assigns, and three liberal
Conceited carriages. That’s the French bet
Against the Danish.
Why is this all “impawned”, as you call it?
OSRIC
The King, sir, hath laid, sir, that in
A dozen passes between yourself and him,
He shall not exceed you three hits.
He hath laid on twelve for nine
And it would come to immediate trial
If your Lordship would vouchsafe the answer.
HAMLET How if I answer no?
OSRIC
I mean, my lord, the opposition of your person in trial.
HAMLET
Sir, I will walk here in the hall.
If it please his Majesty, it is the breathing
Time of day for me. Let the foils be brought.
The gentleman willing, and the King hold his purpose;
I will win for him, an I can.
If not, I will gain nothing but my shame
And the odd hits.
OSRIC Shall I deliver even so?
HAMLET
To this effect, sir, after what flourish
Your nature will.
OSRIC
I commend my duty to your Lordship.
HAMLET Yours.
[OSRIC exits.]
He does well to commend it himself. There are no tongues else for his turn.
HORATIO
This lapwing runs away with the shell on his head.
HAMLET
He did comply, sir, with his dug
Before he sucked it.
Thus has he (and many more of the
Same breed that I know the drossy age
Dotes on) only got the tune of the time,
And, out of a habit of encounter,
A kind of yeasty collection, which
Carries them through and through
The most fanned and winnowed opinions.
And do but blow them to their trial,
The bubbles are out.
[Enter a LORD.]”
LORD
My lord, his Majesty commended him
To you by young Osric, who brings back
To him that you attend him in the hall.
He sends to know if your pleasure hold
To play with Laertes,
Or that you will take longer time.
HAMLET
I am constant to my purposes.
They follow the King’s pleasure.
If his fitness speaks, mine is ready
Now or whensoever, provided I be so
Able as now.
LORD
The King and Queen and all are coming down.
HAMLET In happy time.
LORD
The Queen desires you to use some gentle
Entertainment to Laertes before you fall to play.
HAMLET
She well instructs me.
HORATIO You will lose, my lord.
HAMLET
I do not think so. Since he went to France,
I have been in continual practice.
I shall win at the odds; but
Thou wouldst not think how ill all’s
Here about my heart.
But it is no matter.
HORATIO Nay, good my lord—
HAMLET
It is but foolery, but it is such a kind of
Gaingiving as would perhaps trouble a woman.
HORATIO
If your mind dislike anything, obey it!
I will forestall their repair hither
And say you are not fit.
HAMLET Not a whit!
We defy augury. There is 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 it to leave betimes? Let be.
[A table is prepared. Enter trumpets, drums, and OFFICERS with cushions, KING CLAUDIUS, QUEEN GERTRUDE, OSRIC, LAERTES, and all the state. Foils, daggers, and flagons of wine are brought.]
KING CLAUDIUS
Come, Hamlet, come and take this hand from me.
[KING CLAUDIUS places LAERTES’ hand into HAMLET’S hand.]
HAMLET
Give me your pardon, sir. I have done you wrong.
But pardon’t as you are a gentleman. This presence knows,
And you must needs have heard, how I am punished
With a sore distraction. What I have done
That might your nature, honor, and exception
Roughly awake, I here proclaim was madness.
Was it Hamlet wronged Laertes? Never Hamlet.
If Hamlet from himself be taken 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 it be so,
Hamlet is of the faction that is wronged.
His madness is poor Hamlet’s enemy.
Sir, in this audience
Let my disclaiming from a purposed evil
Free me so far in your most generous thoughts
That I have shot my arrow o’er the house
And hurt my brother.
LAERTES
I am satisfied in nature,
Whose motive in this case should stir me the most
To my revenge. But in my terms of honor
I stand aloof and will no reconcilement
‘Til by some elder masters of known honor
I have a voice and precedent of peace
To keep my name ungored. But ‘til that time
I do receive your offered love
Like love and will not wrong it.
HAMLET
I embrace it freely
And will this brother’s wager frankly play.
[To COURTIERS]
Give us the foils. Come on.
LAERTES Come, one for me.
HAMLET
I’ll be your foil, Laertes; in mine ignorance
Your skill shall, like a star in the darkest night
Stick fiery off indeed.
LAERTES You mock me, sir.
HAMLET No, by this hand.
KING CLAUDIUS
Give them the foils, young Osric.
Cousin Hamlet, you know the wager?
HAMLET
Very well, my lord.
Your Grace has laid the odds on
The weaker side.
KING CLAUDIUS
I do not fear it; I have seen you both.
But, since he is better, we have therefore odds.
LAERTES
This is too heavy. Let me see another.
HAMLET
This likes me well. These foils have all a length?
OSRIC
Ay, my good lord.
[HAMLET and LAERTES prepare to duel.]
KING CLAUDIUS
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,
Let all the battlements their ordnance fire.
The King shall drink to Hamlet’s better breath,
And in the cup an union 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,
“Now, the King drinks to Hamlet.” Come, begin!
And you, the judges, bear a wary eye.
[Trumpets sound.]
HAMLET Come on, sir.
LAERTES Come, my lord.
[HAMLET and LAERTES play with rapier and dagger.]
HAMLET One!
LAERTES No.
HAMLET Judgement!
OSRIC A hit, a very palpable hit.
LAERTES Well, again!
KING CLAUDIUS
Stay, give me drink.—Hamlet, this pearl is thine!
Here’s to they health.
[CLAUDIUS drinks from the cup and then drops the poisoned pearl into the cup. Drums, trumpets, and cannons sound.]
Give him the cup.
HAMLET I’ll play this bout first. Set it by awhile.
Come! [HAMLET and LAERTES play again.] Another hit!
What say you?
LAERTES A touch, a touch.
I do confess’t.
KING CLAUDIUS
Our son shall win.
QUEEN GERTRUDE
He’s fat and scant of breath.—
Here, Hamlet, take my napkin. Rub thy brows.
The Queen carouses to thy fortune, Hamlet!
[She lifts the cup that holds the poisoned pearl.]
HAMLET Good madam.
KING CLAUDIUS [To no avail]
Gertrude, do not drink.
QUEEN GERTRUDE
I will, my lord; I pray you pardon me.
[QUEEN GERTRUDE drinks from the poisoned cup.]
KING CLAUDIUS [aside]
It is the poisoned cup. It is too late!
HAMLET
I dare not drink yet, madam—by and by.
QUEEN GERTRUDE [to HAMLET]
Come, let me wipe they face.
LAERTES [To KING]
My lord, I’ll hit him now.
KING CLAUDIUS I do not think it.
LAERTES [aside]
And yet it is almost against my conscience.
HAMLET
Come, for the third, Laertes. You do but dally.
I pray you pass with your best violence.
I am afeard you make a wanton of me.
LAERTES Say you so? Come on!
OSRIC Nothing neither way.
LAERTES Have at you now!
[LAERTES wounds HAMLET with the envenomed rapier. Then, they scuffle and exchange rapiers. HAMLET wounds LAERTES back with the same envenomed rapier.]
KING CLAUDIUS Part them, they are incensed!
HAMLET Nay, come again!
[QUEEN GERTRUDE falls.]
OSRIC
Look to the Queen there, ho!
HORATIO
They bleed on both sides.—How is it, my lord?
OSRIC How is’t, Laertes?
LAERTES
Why, as a woodcock to my own springe, Osric!
[LAERTES falls.]
I am justly killed with mine own treachery.
HAMLET
How does the Queen?
KING CLAUDIUS
She swoons to see them bleed.
QUEEN GERTRUDE
No, no, the drink, the drink! O, my dear Hamlet!
The drink, the drink! I am poisoned.
[QUEEN GERTRUDE dies.]
HAMLET
O villainy! Ho! Let the door be locked!
Treachery! Seek it out.
[OSRIC exits.]
LAERTES
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 envenomed. The foul practice
Hath turned itself on me. Lo, here I lie,
Never to rise again. Thy mother’s poisoned.
I can no more. The King, the King’s to blame.
HAMLET
The point envenomed too! Then, venom, to thy work!
[HAMLET stabs CLAUDIUS with the envenomed rapier.]
ALL Treason, treason!
KING CLAUDIUS
O, yet defend me, friends! I am but hurt.
HAMLET
Here, thou incestuous, murderous, damnéd Dane.
Drink off this potion! Is thy union here?!
[HAMLET forces CLAUDIUS to drink from the poisoned cup.]
Follow my mother.
[KING CLAUDIUS dies.]
LAERTES
He is justly served.o
It is a poison tempered by himself.
Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Hamlet.
Mine and my father’s death come not upon thee;
Nor thine on me.
HAMLET
Heaven make thee free of it. I follow thee.—
I am dead, Horatio.—Wretched queen, adieu.—
You that look pale and tremble at this chance,
There are but mutes or audience to this act,
Had I but time (as this fell sergeant, Death,
Is strict in his arrest). O, I could tell you—
But let it be.—Horatio, I am dead.
Thou livest; report me and my cause aright
To the unsatisfied.
HORATIO
Never believe it! I am more more
An antique Roman than a Dane.
Here’s some liquor yet!
[HORATIO picks up the poisoned cup.]
HAMLET
As thou art 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 I leave behind me!
If thou didst ever hold me in thy heart,
Absent thee from felicity awhile
And in this harsh world draw thy breath in pain
To tell my story.
[A trumpeting march sounds from afar and shots are fired offstage.]
What warlike noise is this?
[Enter OSRIC.]
OSRIC
Young Fortinbras, with conquest come from Poland…
[Line 387 needs to be filled in]
HAMLET
O, I die, Horatio!
The potent poison quite o’ercrows my spirit.
I cannot live to hear the news from England.
But I do prophesy th’ election lights
On Fortinbras. He has my dying voice.
So tell him, with the occurents, more and less,
Which have solicited—the rest is silence.
O, O, O, O!
[HAMLET dies]
HORATIO
Now cracks a noble heart.
Good night, sweet prince,
And flights of angels
Sing thee to thy rest.
[Trumpets and sounds of an army. More shots fired, closer to the stage.]
What warlike noise is this?
LINE 385
“op = OSRIC “lp = HAMLET “wp = HORATIO