Which was the model of that Danish seal;
Folded the writ up in form of the other;
Subscrib'd it; gave't th' impression; plac'd it
safely,

[day

he has laid a great wager on your head: Sir, this is the matter,

Ham. I beseech you, remember

[Hamlet moves him to put on his hat. The changeling never known. Now, the next Osr. Nay, in good faith; for mine ease, in Was our sea-fight; and what to this was good faith. Sir, here is newly come to court, Thou know'st already. [sequent Laertes; believe me, an absolute gentleman, Hor. So Guildenstern and Rosencrantz go full of most excellent differences, of very soft to't. [this employment; society, and great showing: indeed, to speak Ham. Why, man, they did make love to feelingly of him, he is the card or calendar of They are not near my conscience; their defeat gentry; for you shall find in him the continent Does by their own insinuation grow: of what part a gentleman would see. 'Tis dangerous, when the baser nature comes Between the pass and fell incensed points Of mighty opposites.

Hor.

Why, what a king is this!
Ham. Does it not, think'st thee, stand me
now upon-
[mother;
He that hath kill'd my king, and whor'd my
Popp'd in between the election and my hopes;
Thrown out his angle for my proper life,
And with such cozenage-is't not perfect con-
science,

[damn'd,
To quit him with this arm? and is't not to be
To let this canker of our nature come
In further evil?

[England,

Hor. It must be shortly known to him from
What is the issue of the business there.
Ham. It will be short: the interim is 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 count his favours:
But, sure, the bravery of his grief did put me
Into a towering passion.

Hor.

Peace! who comes here?
Enter Osrick.

Or. Your lordship is right welcome back
to Denmark.

Ham. I humbly thank you, sir.-Dost know this water-fly?

Hor. No, my good lord.

Ham. 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 posses

sion of dirt.

Osr. Sweet lord, if your lordship were at leisure, I should impart a thing to you from his majesty.

Ham. I will receive it, sir, with all diligence of spirit. Your bonnet to its right use; 'tis for the head.

Osr. I thank your lordship, 'tis very hot. Ham. No, believe me, 'tis very cold; the wind is northerly.

Osr. It is indifferent cold, my lord, indeed. Ham. But yet, methinks, it is very sultry, and hot; or my complexion

Ham. Sir, his 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. 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.

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?

Ham. 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 ? Hor. His purse is empty already; all his golden words are spent. Ham. Of him, sir. Osr. I know you are not ignorant

Ham. I would you did, sir; in faith, if you did, it would not much approve me. Well, sir. Osr. 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.

Osr. I mean, sir, for his weapon; but in the imputation laid on him by them, in his meed he's unfellowed. 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 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.

Ham. What call you the carriages?

Hor. I knew you must be edified by the margent, ere you had done.

Osr. The carriages, sir, are the hangers. Ham. The phrase would be more german to the matter, if we could carry cannon by our sides: I would it might be hangers till then. Osr. Exceedingly, my lord; it is very sultry, But, on six Barbary horses against six French as 'twere,-I cannot tell how.-But, my swords, their assigns, and three liberal-conlord, his majesty bade me signify to you, that ceited carriages; that's the French bet against

the Danish. Why is this imponed, as you If it be now, 'tis not to come; if it be not to call it? 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.

Osr. The 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 im mediate trial, if your lordship would vouchsafe the answer. Ham. How, if I answer, no? Osr. I mean, my lord, the opposition of your person in trial.

Ham. Sir, I will walk here in the hall: if it please his majesty, it is 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, if I can; if not, I will gain nothing but my shame, and the odd Osr. Shall I deliver you so? [hits. Ham. To this effect, sir: after what flourish your nature will.

Osr. I commend my duty to your lordship. Ham. Yours, yours.[Exit Osrick.] He does well to commend it himself; there are no tongues else for's turn.

Hor. This lapwing runs away with the shell on his head.

Ham. He did comply 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 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.

Lord. My lord, his majesty commended him to you by young Osrick, 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.

Ham. 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. Ham. In happy time. Lord. The queen desires you to use some gentle entertainment to Laertes, before you fall to play.

I

Ham. She well instructs me. [Exit Lord. Hor. You will lose this wager, my lord. Ham. I do not think so; since he went into France, I have been in continual practice; shall win at the odds. But thou wouldst not think, how ill all's here about my heart: but it is no matter. Hor. Nay, good my lord,Ham. It is but foolery; but it is such a kind of gain-giving, as would perhaps trouble a

woman.

Hor. If your mind dislike anything, obey it: I will forestall their repair hither, and say you are not fit.

Ham. Not a whit, we defy augury: there is a special providence in the fall of a sparrow.

Enter King, Queen, Laertes, Lords, Osrick,
and Attendants, 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'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'd with a sore distraction.
What I have done,

tion,
That might your nature, honour, and excep-
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.

Laer.
I am satisfied in nature,
Whose motive, in this case, should stir me

Osr. Ay, my good lord.

[They prepare to play. King. Set me the stoops of wine upon that If Hamlet give the first or second hit, [table: 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 heavens to
earth,
(begin;

Now the king drinks to Hamlet !"-Come,
And you, the judges, bear a wary eye.
Ham. Come on, sir.

Laer.

Ham.

Laer.

Ham.

One.

Laer. Why, as a woodcock to mine own
springe, Osrick ;

I am justly kill'd with mine own treachery.
Ham. How does the queen?

King.

She swoons to see them bleed. Queen. No, no, the drink, the drink,-O my dear Hamlet !-

The drink, the drink ;-I am poison'd. [Dies.
Ham. O villainy !-Ho! let the door be
lock'd :
[Laertes falls.

Treachery! seek it out.

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 of life;
The treacherous instrument is in thy hand,
Unbated, and envenom'd: the foul practice
Hath turn'd itself on me; lo, here I lie,
Never to rise again: thy mother's poison'd:

Come, my lord. [They play. I can no more :-the king, the king's to blame.
Ham. The point, envenom'd too!-
Then, venom, do thy work. [Stabs the King.
All. Treason! treason!
[hurt.

Osr. A hit, a very palpable hit.
Laer.

No.
Judgment.

Well ;-again. 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.

King. O, yet defend me, friends; I am but
Ham. Here, thou incestuous, murderous,
damned Dane,

Drink off this potion :-is thy union here?
Follow my mother.

[King dies.
Laer.
He is justly serv'd;
It is a poison temper'd by himself. [let:
Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Ham-
[you? Mine and my father's death come not upon

Ham. I'll play this bout first; set it by a
while.
Come.-[They play] Another hit; what say
Laer. A touch, a touch, I do confess.
King. Our son shall win.
Qucen. 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
[too late.
King. [Aside. It is the poison'd cup; it is
Ham. I dare not drink yet, madam; by
and by.

me.

Queen. Come, let me wipe thy face.
Laer. My lord, I'll hit him now.
King.

I do not think it.

thee;
Nor thine on me!

[Dies.

Ham. 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,
That 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 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,

Laer. [Aside.] And yet it is almost against Give me the cup: let go; by heaven, I'll my conscience.

ROMEO AND JULIET.

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.

[Prince. Sampson, Servants to Capulet.

Paris, a young Nobleman, Kinsman to the Gregory,

Montague, Heads of two Houses at variance Peter, another Servant to Capulet.
Capulet,

Benvolio, Nephew to Montague, and Friend Lady Capulet, Wife to Capulet.

Juliet, Daughter to Capulet.
Nurse to Juliet.

Citizens of Verona; male and female Rela-
tions to both Houses; Maskers, Guards,
Watchmen, and Attendants.

SCENE.-Verona: Once, (in the Fifth Act) at Mantua.