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OSR. Sir?

HOR. Is't not possible to understand in another tongue? You will do't, sir, really.

HAM. What imports the nomination of this tleman ?b

OSR. Of Laertes?

gen

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; yet, in faith, if you did, it would not much approve me :-Well, sir.] OSR. Sir, you are not ignorant of what excellence Laertes is at his weapon?

HAM. [I dare not confess that, lest I should compare with him in excellence: but, to know a man well, were to know himself.d

all this blazon of character? Why do we clothe this gentleman's perfections in our humble and imperfect language? make him the subject of our rude discussion?

Is't not possible-you will do't] Seeing the facility with which Hamlet caught the knack and gibberish of this affected phraseology, Horatio asks, "Is it not possible to understand even in another, a different tongue from one's own; in a language also, as well as a dialect, not one's own? He then instantly adds, answering his own question: since, as Seymour says, you have so aptly answered the jargon of this fellow I really think, you will do't, you will effect it: you will be, or are, possessed of this talent or faculty. I cease to wonder or make question of the possibility. I see you really have done it."

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b What imports the nomination, &c.] i. e. what is the object of the introduction of this gentleman's name?

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c if you did, it would not much approve me] i. e. yet if you knew I was not ignorant, your judgment would not much advance my reputation." To approve is to recommend to approbaJOHNSON.

tion.

d I dare not-lest I should compare-were to know himself] i. e. " no one can have a perfect conception of the measure of another's excellence, unless he shall himself come up to that standard." Johnson says, I dare not pretend to know him, lest I should pretend to an equality: no man can completely know

OSR. I mean, sir, for this 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.

4tos.

OSR. The king, sir, hath wag'd with him six⚫ wagered. Barbary horses against the which he has im- 4tos. poned,(48)+ as I take it, six French rapiers and po-timpawn'd. niards, with their assigns, as girdle, hangers, (49) 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,(50) ere you had done.]

OSR. The carriages, sir, are the hangers.

1603.

HAM. The phrase would be more german to cosin the matter, if we could carry cannon by our sides; german. I would it might be hangers till then. But on six Barbary horses against six French swords, their

another, but by knowing himself, which is the utmost extent of human wisdom. See a similar turn of thought and expression in As you &c. V. 2. Ros.

a in the imputation laid on him by them in his meed, &c.] There is here nothing to refer to, no antecedent, to " them." It must mean, "the qualities ascribed or assigned to him by the public voice."

"Our imputation shall be oddly pois'd

In this wild action." Tr. & Cr. I. 3. Nest.

Meed, merces, i. e. " reward or recompence," seems here used fantastically for that which challenges it merendo, i. e. " merit," and is," in this his particular faculty, or branch of science, he is excellent and matchless." See III. H. VI. II. 1. Edw. & Tim. I. 1. 2 Lord.

b very dear to fancy-very liberal conceit] i. e. of exquisite invention, well adapted to their hilts, and in their conception rich and high fashioned.

e more german] i. e. a-kin. that are german to him, though under the hangman." Wint. T.

Germain, Fr. brother.
"Those
removed fifty times, shall come
STEEVENS.

French,

• So 4tos. assigns, and three liberal-conceited carriages; that's the French bet* against the Danish.(51) Why is this imponed, as you call it?

but. 1623, 32.

+ So 4tos.

32.

OSR. The king, sir, hath laid, that in a dozen you. 1623, passes between yourself and him, he shall not exceed you three hits; he hath laid on twelve for nine; (52) and that§ would come to immediate trial, if your lordship would vouchsafe the answer.

So 4tos. hath one

twelve for mine. 1623,32.

§ it. 4tos.

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:(53) 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 hits.

OSR. Shall I re-deliver you e'en so?

HAM. To this effect, sir; after what flourish your nature will.

OSR. I commend my duty to your lordship.

[Exit. HAM. Yours, yours.-He does well, to commend So 4tos. it himself; there are no tongues else for's turn.§

tongue. 1623, 32.

a In a dozen passes between yourself and him, he shall not exceed you three hits] So the folios and all the quartos, except that of 1603, which reads, "that young Laertes in twelve venies at rapier and dagger do not get three odds of you."

And in the concert between the King and Laertes (which answers to what we read here in IV. 7.) it is stated in this quarto, though it appears no where else, that the King says you shall give the odds that in twelve venies you gain

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not three of him."

b vouchsafe the answer] i. e. condescend to answer, or meet, his wishes.

How, if I answer, no] i. e. reply.

d re-deliver] i. e. report, or in return make such representation on your behalf. "Brings back to him." Lord, infra.

HOR. This lapwing runs away with the shell on his head.(54)

* So 4tos.

HAM. He did comply with his dug, before he mine. 1623. sucked it.(55) Thus has he (and many* more of the nine. 1632. same bevy, that I know, the drossy age dotes on,) † breed. only got the tune of the time, and outward habit 4tos. of encounter; a kind of yesty collection, which carries them through and through the most fond and trennowwinnowed opinions; and do but blow them to nowned. their trial, the bubbles are out."

[Enter a Lord.

LORD. My lord, his majesty commended him to you by young Osric, (56) 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

Thus has he-the bubbles are out] i. e. thus has he-only got the tune of the time and outward habit of encounter (i. e. the turn of character, and exterior carriage or address), a kind of yesty collection (i. e. a frothy mass, compounded of modern phrase and manner) which carries them (i. e. enables them to pass current) through and through the most fond and winnowed opinions; (i. e. all judgments, not the simplest only, but the most sifted and wisest) and do but blow them to their trial, (i. e. prove them by how slight soever a breath of enquiry or examination) the bubbles are out (i. e. burst) the imposition is detected. We have "winnowed purity." Tr. & Cr. III. 2. Tr.

bif his fitness speaks] i. e. if it suits the king, and he calls for it or it may be, if Laertes announces or admits his aptness or sufficiency.

M

ed, tren

4tos.

gentle entertainment to Laertes, before you fall to play.

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; I shall win at the odds. But thou would'st not think, * So 4tos. how ill* all's here about my heart: but it is no matter.

how all

here. 1623, 32.

nate. 1603.

HOR. Nay, good my lord.

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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 any thing, obey it: I :" will forestall their repair hither, and say, you are not fit.

If it

HAM. Not a whit, we defy augury; there is a + So o. c. special+ providence in the fall of a sparrow. predesti- 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.(57)]

Enter King, Queen, LAERTES, Lords, OSRIC, 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.

use some gentle entertainment] i. e. conciliating address or behaviour.

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b I shall win at the odds] i. e. at the vantage stated. gain-giving] i. e. misgiving: internal sense of revolt; a giving against, says Johnson in his dictionary: and adds, that the word is formed upon the same principle as which is to say against.

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gainsay;"

If your mind, &c.] i. e. if you have any presentiment of evi

yield to its suggestion,

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