_Osr._ Exceedingly, my Lord, it is very soultry, [Sidenote: _Cour._]
as "twere I cannot tell how: but my Lord,[13] his [Sidenote: how: my Lord]
Maiesty bad me signifie to you, that he ha"s laid a [Sidenote: that a had]
[Sidenote: 244] great wager on your head: Sir, this is the matter.[14]
_Ham._ I beseech you remember.[15]
_Osr._ Nay, in good faith, for mine ease in good [Sidenote: Cour. Nay good my Lord for my ease]
[Footnote 1: the great show; bravado.]
[Footnote 2: --with which fell in well the forms of his pretended madness. But that the pa.s.sion was real, this reaction of repentance shows. It was not the first time his pretence had given him liberty to ease his heart with wild words. Jealous of the boastfulness of Laertes"
affection, he began at once--in keeping with his a.s.sumed character of madman, but not the less in harmony with his feelings--to outrave him.]
[Footnote 3: One of the sort that would gather to such a king--of the same kind as Rosincrance and Guildensterne.
In the _1st Q. "Enter a Bragart Gentleman_."]
[Footnote 4: --_to Horatio_.]
[Footnote 5: "Thou art the more in a state of grace, for it is a vice to know him."]
[Footnote 6: "his manger shall stand where the king is served." Wealth is always received by Rank--Mammon nowhere better worshipped than in kings" courts.]
[Footnote 7: "_a bird of the crow-family_"--as a figure, "_always applied to rich and avaricious people_." A _chuff_ is a surly _clown_.
In Scotch a _coof_ is "a silly, dastardly fellow."]
[Footnote 8: land.]
[Footnote 9: "friendship" is better than "Lordshippe," as euphuistic.]
[Footnote 10: "I thanke your Lordship; (_puts on his hat_) "tis very hot."]
[Footnote 11: "rather cold."]
[Footnote 12: "and hot--for _my_ temperament."]
[Footnote 13: Not able to go on, he plunges into his message.]
[Footnote 14: --_takes off his hat_.]
[Footnote 15: --making a sign to him again to put on his hat.]
[Page 256]
faith[1]: Sir, [A] you are not ignorant of what excellence _Laertes_ [B] is at his weapon.[2] [Sidenote: _Laertes_ is.[2]]
_Ham_. What"s his weapon?[3]
_Osr_. Rapier and dagger. [Sidenote: _Cour._]
_Ham_. That"s two of his weapons: but well.
_Osr_. The sir King ha"s wag"d with him six [Sidenote: _Cour_. The King sir hath wagerd]
Barbary Horses, against the which he impon"d[4] as I [Sidenote: hee has impaund]
take it, sixe French Rapiers and Poniards, with
[Footnote A: _Here in the Quarto_:--
[5] here is newly com to Court _Laertes_, belieue me an absolute gentlemen, ful of most excellent differences,[6] of very soft society,[7] and great [Sidenote: 234] showing[8]: indeede to speake sellingly[9] of him, hee is the card or kalender[10] of gentry: for you shall find in him the continent of what part a Gentleman would see.[11]
[Sidenote: 245] _Ham_.[12] Sir, his definement suffers no perdition[13]
in you, though I know to deuide him inuentorially,[14] would dosie[15]
th"arithmaticke of memory, and yet but yaw[16] neither in respect of his quick saile, but in the veritie of extolment, I take him to be a soule of great article,[17] & his infusion[18] of such dearth[19] and rarenesse, as to make true dixion of him, his semblable is his mirrour,[20] & who els would trace him, his vmbrage, nothing more.[21]
_Cour_. Your Lordship speakes most infallibly of him.[22]
_Ham_. The concernancy[23] sir, why doe we wrap the gentleman in our more rawer breath?[24]
_Cour_. Sir.[25]
_Hora_. Ist not possible to vnderstand in another tongue,[26] you will too"t sir really.[27]
_Ham_. What imports the nomination of this gentleman.
_Cour_. Of _Laertes_.[28]
_Hora_. His purse is empty already, all"s golden words are spent.
_Ham_. Of him sir.[29]
_Cour_. I know you are not ignorant.[30]
_Ham_. I would you did sir, yet in faith if you did, it would not much approoue me,[31] well sir.
_Cour_.]
[Footnote B: _Here in the Quarto_:--
_Ham_. I dare not confesse that, least I should compare with him in excellence, but to know a man wel, were to knowe himselfe.[32]
_Cour_. I meane sir for this weapon, but in the imputation laide on him,[33] by them in his meed, hee"s vnfellowed.[34]]
[Footnote 1: "in good faith, it is not for manners, but for my comfort I take it off." Perhaps the hat was intended only to be carried, and would not really go on his head.]
[Footnote 2: The _Quarto_ has not "at his weapon," which is inserted to take the place of the pa.s.sage omitted, and connect the edges of the gap.]
[Footnote 3: So far from having envied Laertes" reputation for fencing, as the king a.s.serts, Hamlet seems not even to have known which was Laertes" weapon.]