Hamlet: Act 4, Scene 7
Enter KING and LAERTES.
KING
1
Now must your conscience my acquittance seal,
1. my acquittance seal: ratify my acquittal; i.e., acknowledge my innocence in Polonius' death.
2
And you must put me in your heart for friend,
3
Sith you have heard, and with a knowing ear,
3. Sith: since. with a knowing ear: i.e., you have become convinced of the truth of what you have heard.
4
That he which hath your noble father slain
4. he which hath your noble father slain: i.e., Hamlet.
5
Pursued my life.
LAERTES
It well appears: but tell me
6
Why you proceeded not against these feats,
6. proceeded not: didn't take legal action. feats: acts.
7
So criminal and so capital in nature,
7. capital: punishable by death.
8
As by your safety, wisdom, all things else,
9
You mainly were stirr'd up.
8-9. As . . . up: i.e., since you were powerfully motived to take action out of regard for your own safety, warned by your wisdom of the danger posed by Hamlet, and urged on by all the other circumstances of Hamlet's murder of Polonius.
KING
O, for two special reasons;
10
Which may to you, perhaps, seem much unsinew'd,
10. unsinew'd: without strong sinews, weak.
11
But yet to me they are strong. The queen his mother
12
Lives almost by his looks; and for myself
13
My virtue or my plague, be it either which
13. either which: one or the other.
14
She's so conjunctive to my life and soul,
14. conjunctive: closely joined.
15
That, as the star moves not but in his sphere,
16
I could not but by her. The other motive,
15-16. as the . . . her: i.e., I can't live without her. ...more
17
Why to a public count I might not go,
17. count: account, reckoning.
18
Is the great love the general gender bear him;
18. the general gender: the common people.
19
Who, dipping all his faults in their affection,
20
Would, like the spring that turneth wood to stone,
20. spring: i.e., a spring of water with such a high concentration of lime that it coats wood with limestone.
21
Convert his gyves to graces; so that my arrows,
21. Convert . . . graces: convert his faults to virtues.
22
Too slightly timber'd for so loud a wind,
22. slightly timber'd: light. loud: strong.
23
Would have reverted to my bow again,
23. Would . . . again: would have reversed course and flown back to my bow. The king is making the point that Hamlet is so popular with the common people that any accusation made by the king against Hamlet would only anger the people against the king, not Hamlet.
24
And not where I had aim'd them.
LAERTES
25
And so have I a noble father lost;
26
A sister driven into desperate terms,
26. desperate terms: madness.
27
Whose worth, if praises may go back again,
28
Stood challenger on mount of all the age
29
For her perfections: but my revenge will come.
27-29. Whose worth . . . her perfections: i.e., whose worth, if she could be praised as she was before she went mad, could rival, as from on high, all the perfections of the age.
KING
30
Break not your sleeps for that: you must not think
30. for that: i.e., for fear of failing to get revenge.
31
That we are made of stuff so flat and dull
31. flat: spiritless.
32
That we can let our beard be shook with danger
32. let our beard be shook: To shake (tweak or pluck) a man's beard was a deadly insult. with: by.
33
And think it pastime. You shortly shall hear more:
33. You shortly shall hear more: i.e., you will soon see how I will make good on my threats against Hamlet.
34
I loved your father, and we love ourself;
35
And that, I hope, will teach you to imagine
Enter a MESSENGER with letters.
36
How now! what news?
Messenger
Letters, my lord, from Hamlet:
37
This to your majesty; this to the queen.
37. this to the queen: This is an intriguing loose end. Hamlet's letter to his mother is never mentioned again.
KING
38
From Hamlet! who brought them?
Messenger
39
Sailors, my lord, they say; I saw them not:
40
They were given me by Claudio; he received them
40. Claudio: This is the only mention of Claudio. Apparently he is an intermediary between the messenger and the sailor/pirate who had the letters from Hamlet.
41
Of him that brought them.
KING
Laertes, you shall hear them.
42
Leave us.
[Exit Messenger.]
[Reads.]
43
"High and mighty, You shall know I am
44
set naked on your kingdom. Tomorrow shall
44. naked: without weapons or followers.
45
I beg leave to see your kingly eyes: when I shall, first
46
asking your pardon thereunto, recount the occasion of
46. pardon thereunto: permission to do so.
47
my sudden and more strange return.
48
HAMLET."
49
What should this mean? Are all the rest come back?
50
Or is it some abuse, and no such thing?
50. abuse: deceit.
LAERTES
51
Know you the hand?
KING
'Tis Hamlet's character. "Naked!"
51. hand, character: In this context, both words mean "handwriting."
52
And in a postscript here, he says "alone."
53
Can you devise me?
53. devise me: explain it to me.
LAERTES
54
I'm lost in it, my lord. But let him come;
55
It warms the very sickness in my heart,
56
That I shall live and tell him to his teeth,
57
"Thus didst thou."
KING
If it be so, Laertes
58
As how should it be so? how otherwise?
59
Will you be ruled by me?
59. be ruled by me: take my advice, follow my lead.
LAERTES
Ay, my lord;
60
So you will not o'errule me to a peace.
60. So: provided that. o'errule me to a peace: i.e., overrule my desire to take revenge on Hamlet.
KING
61
To thine own peace. If he be now return'd,
62
As checking at his voyage, and that he means
62. checking at: turning away from, like a hunting dog who has lost the scent.
63
No more to undertake it, I will work him
64
To an exploit, now ripe in my device,
63-64. I will work him / To an exploit, now ripe in my device: i.e., I will con him into walking into an ambush which is now taking final shape in my imagination.
65
Under the which he shall not choose but fall:
66
And for his death no wind of blame shall breathe,
67
But even his mother shall uncharge the practise
67. uncharge the practise: i.e. hold me innocent of the plot.
68
And call it accident.
LAERTES
My lord, I will be ruled;
68. I will be ruled: i.e., I will follow your lead.
69
The rather, if you could devise it so
70
That I might be the organ.
70. organ: instrument, agent (of Hamlet's death).
KING
It falls right.
70. It falls right: i.e., that would be just right.
71
You have been talk'd of since your travel much,
72
And that in Hamlet's hearing, for a quality
72. quality: skill.
73
Wherein, they say, you shine: your sum of parts
73. Your sum of parts: all your (other) accomplishments put together.
74
Did not together pluck such envy from him
75
As did that one, and that, in my regard,
76
Of the unworthiest siege.
76. Of the unworthiest siege: i.e., least important.
LAERTES
What part is that, my lord?
KING
77
A very riband in the cap of youth,
77. riband: decorative ribbon.
78
Yet needful too; for youth no less becomes
78-79. youth . . . wears: youth looks becoming in the light and carefree clothes that it wears.
79
The light and careless livery that it wears
80
Than settled age his sables and his weeds,
80. his sables and his weeds i.e., its characteristic garments. ...more
81
Importing health and graveness. Two months since,
81. Importing health and graveness: signifying prosperity and dignity.
82
Here was a gentleman of Normandy:
83
I've seen myself, and served against, the French,
84
And they can well on horseback: but this gallant
84. can well on horseback: are excellent riders.
85
Had witchcraft in't; he grew unto his seat;
86
And to such wondrous doing brought his horse,
87
As he had been incorpsed and demi-natured
88
With the brave beast: so far he topp'd my thought,
87-88. As . . . beast: as if he had been joined with the body of, and shared the nature of his magnificent horse. topp'd my thought: surpassed my imagination (of what was possible).
89
That I, in forgery of shapes and tricks,
90
Come short of what he did.
89-90. I . . . did: I, in imagining feats and tricks (of horsemanship) come short of what he did.
LAERTES
A Norman was't?
KING
91
A Norman.
LAERTES
92
Upon my life, Lamond.
KING
The very same.
LAERTES
93
I know him well: he is the brooch indeed
93. brooch: ornament.
94
And gem of all the nation.
KING
95
He made confession of you,
95. made confession of you: acknowledged your superiority.
96
And gave you such a masterly report
97
For art and exercise in your defence
98
And for your rapier most especial,
99
That he cried out, 'twould be a sight indeed,
100
If one could match you: the scrimers of their nation,
101
He swore, had had neither motion, guard, nor eye,
102
If you opposed them. Sir, this report of his
100-102. the scrimers . . . If you opposed them: the fencers of France would have been clumsy, defenseless, and blind if Laertes were fighting against them.
103
Did Hamlet so envenom with his envy
104
That he could nothing do but wish and beg
105
Your sudden coming o'er, to play with him.
105. sudden: speedy. play: fence.
106
Now, out of this
LAERTES
What out of this, my lord?
KING
107
Laertes, was your father dear to you?
108
Or are you like the painting of a sorrow,
109
A face without a heart?
LAERTES
Why ask you this?
KING
110
Not that I think you did not love your father;
111
But that I know love is begun by time;
111. begun by time: i.e., born from a particular set of circumstances.
112
And that I see, in passages of proof,
112. in passages of proof: i.e., by persuasive examples.
113
Time qualifies the spark and fire of it.
113. qualifies: dilutes, weakens.
114
There lives within the very flame of love
115
A kind of wick or snuff that will abate it;
115. snuff: the charred part of a candle wick.
116
And nothing is at a like goodness still;
116. nothing . . . still: nothing stays perfect forever.
117
For goodness, growing to a plurisy,
117. plurisy: excess, plethora.
118
Dies in his own too much. That we would do
118. that: that which.
119
We should do when we would; for this "would" changes
120
And hath abatements and delays as many
120. abatements: diminutions.
121
As there are tongues, are hands, are accidents;
121. accidents: random occurrences.
122
And then this "should" is like a spendthrift sigh,
123
That hurts by easing. But, to the quick o' the ulcer:
122-123. a spendthrift sigh, / That hurts by easing:
quick o' the ulcer: i.e., the heart of the problem. The kind of ulcer referred to is external. A modern (C.E. 2020) example of such an ulcer is a bedsore, which is treated by draining the pus from the center, the "quick."
quick o' the ulcer: i.e., the heart of the problem. The kind of ulcer referred to is external. A modern (C.E. 2020) example of such an ulcer is a bedsore, which is treated by draining the pus from the center, the "quick."
124
Hamlet comes back: what would you undertake,
125
To show yourself your father's son in deed
126
More than in words?
LAERTES
To cut his throat i' the church.
KING
127
No place, indeed, should murder sanctuarize;
127. No place . . . sanctuarize: i.e., no place should offer sanctuary to a murderer.
128
Revenge should have no bounds. But, good Laertes,
129
Will you do this, keep close within your chamber.
129. Will . . . chamber: If you are willing to do this (i.e., take revenge on Hamlet), keep out of sight in your room.
130
Hamlet return'd shall know you are come home:
131
We'll put on those shall praise your excellence
131. put on: put into action.
132
And set a double varnish on the fame
132. double varnish: second coat of varnish.
133
The Frenchman gave you, bring you in fine together
133. in fine: finally.
134
And wager on your heads. He, being remiss,
134. remiss: careless; i.e., overly trusting.
135
Most generous and free from all contriving,
135. generous: noble-minded. free from contriving: free from the inclination to lay plots.
136
Will not peruse the foils; so that, with ease,
136. peruse: examine.
137
Or with a little shuffling, you may choose
138. unbated: having no button, sharp. Foils used in a fencing match were (and still are) fitted with buttons on the tips, so that no one gets seriously hurt. ...more
pass of practise: treacherous thrust.
pass of practise: treacherous thrust.
138
A sword unbated, and in a pass of practise
139
Requite him for your father.
LAERTES
I will do't:
140
And, for that purpose, I'll anoint my sword.
141
I bought an unction of a mountebank,
141. unction: ointment. mountebank: i.e., snake-oil salesman.
142
So mortal that, but dip a knife in it,
142. mortal: deadly.
143
Where it draws blood no cataplasm so rare,
143. cataplasm: poultice; medicinal dressing.
144
Collected from all simples that have virtue
144. simples: medicinal herbs. virtue: curative power.
145
Under the moon, can save the thing from death
146
That is but scratch'd withal: I'll touch my point
147
With this contagion, that, if I gall him slightly,
147. that: so that. gall: graze, wound.
148
It may be death.
KING
Let's further think of this;
149
Weigh what convenience both of time and means
150
May fit us to our shape: if this should fail,
150. fit us to our shape: i.e., suit our purposes best.
151
And that our drift look through our bad performance,
151. our drift . . . performance: our (evil) intention becomes visible because of our bad execution (of our plot).
152
'Twere better not assay'd: therefore this project
153
Should have a back or second, that might hold,
153. back or second: i.e., a back-up plan. hold: not fail.
154
If this should blast in proof. Soft! let me see:
154. blast in proof: blow up while being tried. Soft! i.e., wait a minute, let me think.
155
We'll make a solemn wager on your cunnings
155. cunnings: i.e., fencing skills.
156
I ha't.
157
When in your motion you are hot and dry
158
As make your bouts more violent to that end
158. As . . . end: i.e., and you should make your bouts of fencing more active to achieve that goal.
159
And that he calls for drink, I'll have prepar'd him
159. And . . . drink: and when he calls for drink.
160
A chalice for the nonce, whereon but sipping,
160. nonce: occasion.
161
If he by chance escape your venom'd stuck,
161. venom'd stuck: poisoned thrust.
162
Our purpose may hold there. But stay, what noise?
Enter QUEEN.
QUEEN
163
One woe doth tread upon another's heel,
164
So fast they follow; your sister's drown'd, Laertes.
LAERTES
165
Drown'd! O, where?
QUEEN
166
There is a willow grows aslant a brook,
166. aslant: sideways over. ...more
167. hoar: grey-white.
167
That shows his hoar leaves in the glassy stream;
168. Therewith: i.e., with willow branches.
168
Therewith fantastic garlands did she make
169. long purples: wild orchids.
169
Of crow-flowers, nettles, daisies, and long purples
170
That liberal shepherds give a grosser name,
170. liberal: free-spoken. a grosser name: ???
171
But our cold maids do dead men's fingers call them:
171. cold: chaste.
172
There, on the pendent boughs her coronet weeds
172. coronet weeds: i.e., weeds woven into a coronet. ...more
173
Clambering to hang, an envious sliver broke;
173. envious sliver: malicious branch.
174
When down her weedy trophies and herself
175
Fell in the weeping brook. Her clothes spread wide;
176
And, mermaid-like, awhile they bore her up:
177
Which time she chanted snatches of old lauds;
177. lauds: hymns.
178
As one incapable of her own distress,
178. incapable: not capable of understanding.
179
Or like a creature native and indued
179. indued: adapted by nature.
180
Unto that element: but long it could not be
180. that element: i.e., water.
181
Till that her garments, heavy with their drink,
182
Pull'd the poor wretch from her melodious lay
183
To muddy death.
LAERTES
Alas, then, she is drown'd?
QUEEN
184
Drown'd, drown'd.
LAERTES
185
Too much of water hast thou, poor Ophelia,
186
And therefore I forbid my tears: but yet
187
It is our trick; nature her custom holds,
187. It is our trick: i.e., weeping is a natural human response.
188
Let shame say what it will: when these are gone,
188. these: these tears.
189
The woman will be out. Adieu, my lord:
189. The . . . out: i.e., I will be done acting like a woman.
190
I have a speech of fire, that fain would blaze,
190. fain would: urgently desires to.
191. this folly: i.e., my own foolish tears.
191
But that this folly drowns it.
Exit.
KING
Let's follow, Gertrude:
192
How much I had to do to calm his rage!
193
Now fear I this will give it start again;
194
Therefore let's follow.
Exeunt.