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Hamlet:
Does it not, thinks’t thee, stand me now upon,—
He that hath kill’d my king, and whor’d my mother,
Popp’d in between th’election and my hopes,
Thrown out his angle for my proper life,
And with such cozenage—is’t not perfect conscience
To quit him with this arm? And is’t not to be damn’d
To let this canker of our nature come
In further evil?
Horatio:
It must be shortly known to him from England
What is the issue of the business there.
Hamlet:
It will be short. The interim is mine;
And a man’s life’s no more than to say ‘One’.
But I am very sorry, good Horatio,
That to Laertes I forgot myself;
For by the image of my cause I see
The portraiture of his. I’ll court his favours.
But sure the bravery of his grief did put me
Into a tow’ring passion.
Horatio:
Peace, who comes here?
Enter Osric.
Osric:
Your lordship is right welcome back to Denmark.
Hamlet:
I humbly thank you, sir. Dost know this waterfly?
Horatio:
No, my good lord.
Hamlet:
Thy state is the more gracious; for ’tis a vice to know him. He hath much land, and fertile; let a beast be lord of beasts, and his crib shall stand at the king’s mess; ’tis a chough; but, as I say, spacious in the possession of dirt.
Osric:
Sweet lord, if your lordship were at leisure, I should impart a thing to you from his Majesty.
Hamlet:
I will receive it with all diligence of spirit. Put your bonnet to his right use; ’tis for the head.
Osric:
I thank your lordship, ’tis very hot.
Hamlet:
No, believe me, ’tis very cold, the wind is northerly.
Osric:
It is indifferent cold, my lord, indeed.
Hamlet:
Methinks it is very sultry and hot for my complexion.
Osric:
Exceedingly, my lord; it is very sultry,—as ’twere—I cannot tell how. But, my lord, his Majesty bade me signify to you that he has laid a great wager on your head. Sir, this is the matter,—
Hamlet:
I beseech you, remember,—
(Hamlet moves him to put on his hat.)