The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark Part 75

[Footnote 4: laid down--staked.]

[Footnote 5: This and the following pa.s.sages seem omitted for curtailment, and perhaps in part because they were less amusing when the fashion of euphuism had pa.s.sed. The good of holding up the mirror to folly was gone when it was no more the 'form and pressure' of 'the very age and body of the time.']

[Footnote 6: of great variety of excellence.]

[Footnote 7: gentle manners.]

[Footnote 8: fine presence.]

[Footnote 9: Is this a stupid attempt at wit on the part of Osricke--'to praise him as if you wanted to sell him'--stupid because it acknowledges exaggeration?]

[Footnote 10: 'the chart or book of reference.' 234.]

[Footnote 11: I think _part_ here should be plural; then the pa.s.sage would paraphrase thus:--'you shall find in him the sum of what parts (_endowments_) a gentleman would wish to see.']

[Footnote 12: Hamlet answers the fool according to his folly, but outdoes him, to his discomfiture.]

[Footnote 13: 'his description suffers no loss in your mouth.']

[Footnote 14: 'to a.n.a.lyze him into all and each of his qualities.']

[Footnote 15: dizzy.]

[Footnote 16: 'and yet _would_ but yaw neither' _Yaw_, 'the movement by which a ship deviates from the line of her course towards the right or left in steering.' Falconer's _Marine Dictionary_. The meaning seems to be that the inventorial description could not overtake his merits, because it would _yaw_--keep turning out of the direct line of their quick sail. But Hamlet is set on using far-fetched and absurd forms and phrases to the non-plussing of Osricke, nor cares much to be _correct_.]

[Footnote 17: I take this use of the word _article_ to be merely for the occasion; it uas never surely in _use_ for _substance_.]

[Footnote 18: '--the infusion of his soul into his body,' 'his soul's embodiment.' The _Sh. Lex._ explains _infusion_ as 'endowments, qualities,' and it may be right.]

[Footnote 19: scarcity.]

[Footnote 20: '--it alone can show his likeness.']

[Footnote 21: 'whoever would follow in his footsteps--copy him--is only his shadow.']

[Footnote 22: Here a pause, I think.]

[Footnote 23: 'To the matter in hand!'--recalling the attention of Osricke to the purport of his visit.]

[Footnote 24: 'why do we presume to talk about him with our less refined breath?']

[Footnote 25: The Courtier is now thoroughly bewildered.]

[Footnote 26: 'Can you only _speak_ in another tongue? Is it not possible to _understand_ in it as well?']

[Footnote 27: 'It is your own fault; you _will_ court your fate! you _will_ go and be made a fool of!']

[Footnote 28: He catches at the word he understands. The actor must here supply the meaning, with the baffled, disconcerted look of a fool who has failed in the attempt to seem knowing.]

[Footnote 29:--answering the Courtier.]

[Footnote 30: He pauses, looking for some out-of-the-way mode wherein to continue. Hamlet takes him up.]

[Footnote 31: 'your witness to my knowledge would not be of much avail.']

[Footnote 32: Paraphrase: 'for merely to know a man well, implies that you yourself _know_.' To know a man well, you must know his knowledge: a man, to judge his neighbour, must be at least his equal.]

[Footnote 33: faculty attributed to him.]

[Footnote 34: _Point thus_: 'laide on him by them, in his meed hee's unfellowed.' 'in his merit he is peerless.']

[Page 258]

their a.s.signes,[1] as Girdle, Hangers or so[2]: three of [Sidenote: hanger and so.]

the Carriages infaith are very deare to fancy,[3] very responsiue[4] to the hilts, most delicate carriages and of very liberall conceit.[5]

_Ham_. What call you the Carriages?[6]

[A]

_Osr_. The Carriages Sir, are the hangers.

[Sidenote: _Cour_. The carriage]

_Ham_. The phrase would bee more Germaine[7] to the matter: If we could carry Cannon by our sides; [Sidenote: carry a cannon]

I would it might be Hangers till then; but on sixe [Sidenote: it be then, but on, six]

Barbary Horses against sixe French Swords: their a.s.signes, and three liberall conceited Carriages,[8]

that's the French but against the Danish; why is [Sidenote: French bet]

this impon'd as you call it[9]? [Sidenote: this all you[9]]

_Osr_. The King Sir, hath laid that in a dozen [Sidenote: _Cour_. layd sir, that]

pa.s.ses betweene you and him, hee shall not exceed [Sidenote: your selfe and him,]

you three hits;[10] He hath one twelue for mine,[11]

[Sidenote: hath layd on twelue for nine,]

and that would come to imediate tryall, if your [Sidenote: and it would]

Lordship would vouchsafe the Answere.[12]

_Ham_. How if I answere no?[13]

_Osr_. I meane my Lord,[14] the opposition of your [Sidenote: _Cour_.]

person in tryall.

_Ham_. Sir, I will walke heere in the Hall; if it please his Maiestie, 'tis the breathing time of day [Sidenote: it is]

with me[15]; let the Foyles bee brought, the Gentleman willing, and the King hold his purpose; I will win for him if I can: if not, Ile gaine nothing but [Sidenote: him and I I will]

my shame, and the odde hits.[16]

_Osr_. Shall I redeliuer you ee'n so?[17]

[Sidenote: _Cour_. Shall I deliuer you so?]

_Ham_. To this effect Sir, after what flourish your nature will.