OSRICYou are not ignorant of what excellence Laertes is—HAMLETI dare not confess that， lest I should compare with him in excellence； but， to know a man well， were to know himself.
OSRICI mean， sir， for his weapon； but in the imputation laid on him by them， in his meed he’s unfellowed.
HAMLETWhat’s his weapon？
OSRICRapier and dagger.
HAMLETThat’s two of his weapons； but， well.
OSRICThe king， sir， hath wagered with him six Barbary horses； against the which he has imponed， 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.
HAMLETWhat call you the carriages？
HORATIOI knew you must be edified by the margent， ere you had done.
OSRICThe carriages， sir， are the hangers.
HAMLETThe phrase would be more german to the matter， if we could carry cannon by our sides； I would it might be hangers till 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 ‘imponed， ’ as you call it？
OSRICThe king， sir， hath laid， 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.
HAMLETHow if I answer ‘no’？
OSRICI mean， my lord， the opposition of your person in trial.
HAMLETSir， I will walk here in the hall； if it please his majesty， ’tis the breathing time of day with 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.
OSRICShall I re-deliver you so？
HAMLETTo this effect， sir； after what flourish your nature will.
OSRICI commend my duty to your lordship.
HAMLETYours， yours.
［Exit OSRIC.］He does well to commend it himself； there are no tongues else for’s turn.
HORATIOThis lapwing runs away with the shell on his head.
HAMLETHe did comply with his dug before he sucked it.
Thus has he—and many more of the same bevy， that I know the dressy age dotes on—only got the tune of the time and outward habit of encounter， a kind of yesty collection which carries them through and through the most fond and winnowed opinions； and do but blow them to their trial， the bubbles are out.
Enter a Lord.
LORDMy lord， his majesty commended him， to you by young Osric， who brings back to him that you attend him in the hall； he sends toknow if your pleasure hold to play with Laertes， or that you will take longer time.
HAMLETI am constant to my purpose； they follow the king’s pleasure： if his fitness speaks， mine is ready； now or whensoever， provided I be so able as now.
LORDThe king， and queen and all are coming down.
HAMLETIn happy time.
LORDThe queen desires you to use some gentle entertainment to Laertes before you fall to play.
HAMLETShe well instructs me. ［Exit Lord.］HORATIO
You will lose this wager， my lord.
HAMLETI do not think so； since he went into France， I have been in continual practise； I shall win at the odds. But thou wouldst not think how ill all’s here about my heart； but it is no matter.
HORATIONay， good my lord， —
HAMLETIt is but foolery； but it is such a kind of gain-giving as would perhaps trouble a woman.
HORATIOIf your mind dislike any thing， obey it； I will forestall their repair hither， and say you are not fit.
HAMLETNot a whit， we defy augury； there’s a special providence inthe 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 has aught of what he leaves， what is’t to leave betimes？ Let be.
Enter KING， QUEEN， LAERTES， Lords， OSRIC， and Attendants with foils， & c.
KINGCome， Hamlet， come， and take this hand from me.
［The KING CLAUDIUS puts the hand of LAERTES into that of HAMLET.］ HAMLETGive me your pardon， sir； I’ve done you wrong；But pardon’t， as you are a gentleman. This presence knows，And you must needs have heard， how I am punish’dWith 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 mine arrow o’er the house， And hurt my brother.
LAERTESI am satisfied in nature，
Whose motive， in this case， should stir me most To my revenge； but in my terms of honourI 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. But till that time， I do receive your offer’d love like love，And will not wrong it.
HAMLETI embrace it freely；
And will this brother’s wager frankly play. Give us the foils. Come on.
LAERTESCome， one for me.
HAMLETI’ll be your foil， Laertes； in mine ignorance Your skill shall， like a star i’ the darkest night， Stick fiery off indeed.
LAERTESYou mock me， sir.
HAMLETNo， by this hand.
KINGGive them the foils， young Osric. Cousin Hamlet， You know the wager？
HAMLETVery well， my lord；
Your grace hath laid the odds o’ the weaker side.
KINGI do not fear it； I have seen you both；But since he is better’d， we have therefore odds.
LAERTESThis is too heavy； let me see another.
HAMLETThis likes me well. These foils have all a length？
OSRICAy， my good lord.
［They prepare to play.］
KINGSet me the stoops of wine upon that table.