The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark Part 78

[Footnote 14: 'so far as this in your generous judgment--that you regard me as having shot &c.']

[Footnote 15: _Brother_ is much easier to accept, though _Mother_ might be in the simile.

To do justice to the speech we must remember that Hamlet has no quarrel whatever with Laertes, that he has expressed admiration of him, and that he is inclined to love him for Ophelia's sake. His apology has no reference to the fate of his father or his sister; Hamlet is not aware that Laertes a.s.sociates him with either, and plainly the public did not know Hamlet killed Polonius; while Laertes could have no intention of alluding to the fact, seeing it would frustrate his scheme of treachery.]

[Page 264]

_Laer_. I am satisfied in Nature,[1]

Whose motiue in this case should stirre me most To my Reuenge. But in my termes of Honor I stand aloofe, and will no reconcilement, Till by some elder Masters of knowne Honor, I haue a voyce, and president of peace To keepe my name vngorg'd.[2] But till that time, [Sidenote: To my name vngord: but all that]

I do receiue your offer'd loue like loue, And wil not wrong it.

_Ham_. I do embrace it freely, [Sidenote: I embrace]

And will this Brothers wager frankely play.

Giue vs the Foyles: Come on.[3]

_Laer_. Come one for me.[4]

_Ham_. Ile be your foile[5] _Laertes_, in mine ignorance, [Sidenote: 218] Your Skill shall like a Starre i'th'darkest night,[6]

Sticke fiery off indeede.

_Laer_. You mocke me Sir.

_Ham_. No by this hand.[7]

_King_. Giue them the Foyles yong _Osricke_,[8]

[Sidenote: _Ostricke_,[8]]

Cousen _Hamlet_, you know the wager.

_Ham_. Verie well my Lord, Your Grace hath laide the oddes a'th'weaker side, [Sidenote: has]

_King._ I do not feare it, I haue seene you both:[9]

But since he is better'd, we haue therefore oddes.[10]

[Sidenote: better, we]

[Footnote 1: 'in my own feelings and person.' Laertes does not refer to his father or sister. He professes to be satisfied in his heart with Hamlet's apology for his behaviour at the funeral, but not to be sure whether in the opinion of others, and by the laws of honour, he can accept it as amends, and forbear to challenge him. But the words 'Whose motiue in this case should stirre me most to my Reuenge' may refer to his father and sister, and, if so taken, should be spoken aside. To accept apology for them and not for his honour would surely be too barefaced! The point concerning them has not been started.

But why not receive the apology as quite satisfactory? That he would not seems to show a lingering regard to _real_ honour. A downright villain, like the king, would have pretended its _thorough_ acceptance--especially as they were just going to fence like friends; but he, as regards his honour, will not accept it until justified in doing so by the opinion of 'some elder masters,' receiving from them 'a voice and precedent of peace'--counsel to, and justification, or example of peace. He keeps the door of quarrel open--will not profess to be _altogether_ friends with him, though he does not hint at his real ground of offence: that mooted, the match of skill, with its immense advantages for villainy, would have been impossible. He means treachery all the time; careful of his honour, he can, like most apes of fas.h.i.+on, let his honesty go; still, so complex is human nature, he holds his speech declining thorough reconciliation as a s.h.i.+eld to shelter his treachery from his own contempt: he has taken care not to profess absolute friends.h.i.+p, and so left room for absolute villainy! He has had regard to his word! Relieved perhaps by the demoniacal quibble, he follows it immediately with an utterance of full-blown perfidy.]

[Footnote 2: Perhaps _ungorg'd_ might mean _unthrottled_.]

[Footnote 3: 'Come on' _is not in the Q._--I suspect this _Come on_ but a misplaced shadow from the '_Come one_' immediately below, and better omitted. Hamlet could not say '_Come on_' before Laertes was ready, and '_Come one_' after 'Give us the foils,' would be very awkward. But it may be said to the attendant courtiers.]

[Footnote 4: He says this while Hamlet is still choosing, in order that a second bundle of foils, in which is the unbated and poisoned one, may be brought him. So 'generous and free from all contriving' is Hamlet, (220) that, even with the presentiment in his heart, he has no fear of treachery.]

[Footnote 5: As persons of the drama, the Poet means Laertes to be foil to Hamlet.--With the play upon the word before us, we can hardly help thinking of the _third_ signification of the word _foil_.]

[Footnote 6: 'My ignorance will be the foil of darkest night to the burning star of your skill.' This is no flattery; Hamlet believes Laertes, to whose praises he has listened (218)--though not with the envy his uncle attributes to him--the better fencer: he expects to win only 'at the odds.' 260.]

[Footnote 7: --not '_by these pickers and stealers_,' his oath to his false friends. 154.]

[Footnote 8: Plainly a favourite with the king.--He is _Ostricke_ always in the _Q_.]

[Footnote 9: 'seen you both play'--though not together.]

[Footnote 10: _Point thus_:

I do not fear it--I have seen you both!

But since, he is bettered: we have therefore odds.

'Since'--'_since the time I saw him_.']

[Page 266]

_Laer_. This is too heauy, Let me see another.[1]

_Ham_. This likes me well, These Foyles haue all a length.[2] _Prepare to play._[3]

_Osricke_. I my good Lord. [Sidenote: _Ostr._]

_King_. Set me the Stopes of wine vpon that Table: If _Hamlet_ giue the first, or second hit, Or quit in answer of the third exchange,[4]

Let all the Battlements their Ordinance fire, [Sidenote: 268] The King shal drinke to _Hamlets_ better breath, And in the Cup an vnion[5] shal he throw [Sidenote: an Vince]

Richer then that,[6] which foure successiue Kings In Denmarkes Crowne haue worne.

Giue me the Cups, And let the Kettle to the Trumpets speake, [Sidenote: trumpet]

The Trumpet to the Cannoneer without, The Cannons to the Heauens, the Heauen to Earth, Now the King drinkes to _Hamlet_. Come, begin, [Sidenote: _Trumpets the while._]

And you the Iudges[7] beare a wary eye.

_Ham_. Come on sir.

_Laer_. Come on sir. _They play._[8] [Sidenote: Come my Lord.]

_Ham_. One.

_Laer_. No.

_Ham_. Iudgement.[9]

_Osr_. A hit, a very palpable hit. [Sidenote: _Ostrick._]

_Laer_. Well: againe. [Sidenote: _Drum, trumpets and a shot.

Florish, a peece goes off._]

_King_. Stay, giue me drinke.

_Hamlet_, this Pearle is thine, Here's to thy health. Giue him the cup,[10]

_Trumpets sound, and shot goes off._[11]

_Ham_. Ile play this bout first, set by a-while.[12]

[Sidenote: set it by]