Hor. I beseech you.[2159]
Ham. Being thus be-netted round with villanies,—[2160][2161]
Or I could make a prologue to my brains,[2160][2162] 30
They had begun the play,—I sat me down;[2160][2163]
Devised a new commission; wrote it fair:
I once did hold it, as our statists do,
A baseness to write fair, and labour'd much[2164]
How to forget that learning; but, sir, now 35
It did me yeoman's service: wilt thou know[2165]
The effect of what I wrote?[2166]
Hor. Ay, good my lord.
Ham. An earnest conjuration from the king,
As England was his faithful tributary,
As love between them like the palm might flourish,[2167] 40
As peace should still her wheaten garland wear
And stand a comma 'tween their amities,[2168]
And many such-like 'As'es of great charge,[2169]
That, on the view and knowing of these contents,[2170]
Without debatement further, more or less, 45
He should the bearers put to sudden death,[2171]
Not shriving-time allow'd.[2172]
Hor. How was this seal'd?
Ham. Why, even in that was heaven ordinant.[2173]
I had my father's signet in my purse,
Which was the model of that Danish seal: 50
Folded the writ up in the form of the other;[2174]
Subscribed it; gave't the impression; placed it safely,[2175]
The changeling never known. Now, the next day[2176]
Was our sea-fight; and what to this was sequent[2177]
Thou know'st already.[2178] 55
Hor. So Guildenstern and Rosencrantz go to't.[2179]
Ham. Why, man, they did make love to this employment;[2180]
They are not near my conscience; their defeat[2181]
Does by their own insinuation grow:[2182]
'Tis dangerous when the baser nature comes[2183] 60
Between the pass and fell incensed points[2184]
Of mighty opposites.
Hor. Why, what a king is this!
Ham. Does it not, thinks't thee, stand me now upon—[2185]
He that hath kill'd my king, and whored my mother;[2186]
Popp'd in between the election and my hopes;[2187] 65
Thrown out his angle for my proper life,[2188]
And with such cozenage—is't not perfect conscience,[2189]
To quit him with this arm? and is't not to be damn'd,[2190][2191]
To let this canker of our nature come[2190]
In further evil?[2190][2192] 70