The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark by George MacDonald (big ebook reader TXT) 📕

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 associates 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 fashion, let his honesty go; still, so complex is human nature, he holds his speech declining thorough reconciliation as a shield to shelter his treachery from his own contempt: he has taken care not to profess absolute friendship, 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] Come: Another hit; what say you?

Laer . A touch, a touch, I do confesse.[13]
[Sidenote: Laer . | doe confest.]

King . Our Sonne shall win.

[Footnote 1: -to make it look as if he were choosing.]

[Footnote 2: -asked in an offhand way. The fencers must not measure weapons, because how then could the unbated point escape discovery? It is quite like Hamlet to take even Osricke's word for their equal length.]

[Footnote 3: Not in Q. ]

[Footnote 4: 'or be quits with Laertes the third bout':-in any case, whatever the probabilities, even if Hamlet be wounded, the king, who has not perfect confidence in the 'unction,' will fall back on his second line of ambush-in which he has more trust: he will drink to Hamlet, when Hamlet will be bound to drink also.]

[Footnote 5: The Latin unio was a large pearl. The king's union I take to be poison made up like a pearl.]

[Footnote 6: -a well-known one in the crown.]

[Footnote 7: -of whom Osricke was one.]

[Footnote 8: Not in Q. ]

[Footnote 9: -appealing to the judges.]

[Footnote 10: He throws in the pearl , and drinks-for it will take some moments to dissolve and make the wine poisonous-then sends the cup to Hamlet.]

[Footnote 11: Not in Q. ]

[Footnote 12: He does not refuse to drink, but puts it by, neither showing nor entertaining suspicion, fearing only the effect of the draught on his play. He is bent on winning the wager-perhaps with further intent.]

[Footnote 13: Laertes has little interest in the match, but much