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HamletPlease see the bottom of the page for full explanatory notes and helpful resources.
Back to Hamlet Scenes __________ Explanatory Notes for Act 5, Scene 2 From Hamlet, prince of Denmark. Ed. K. Deighton. London: Macmillan. _________ 1. So much ... other, enough of this matter; now I will show you how the other turned out. 2. the circumstance, all the details. 4. fighting, struggle as to whether I should let matters take their course or should actively oppose it. 6. Worse ... bilboes, in a more miserable plight than that of the mutineers in chains; for mutines, see note on iii. 4. 83. Of the bilboes, Steevens says, "This is a bar of iron with fetters annexed to it, by which mutinous or disorderly sailors anciently were linked together. The word is derived from Bilboa, a place in Spain ... The bilboes are still shown in the Tower of London among the other spoils of the Spanish Armada." Rashly, — The sentence is continued in 11. 12, etc. 7-9. And praised ... fail, and I thank rashness for the impulse, — for it is well we should recognize that our sudden and apparently unwise impulses often serve us well, when our deep plots come to nothing. Malone defends pall, the reading of the second quarto and later folios, by quoting A. C. ii. 7. 88, "I'll never follow thy pall'd fortunes more," but there is a great difference between fortunes palling and plots palling. Ingleby would read fall; the reading in the text is Pope's. In 1.7 Tyrwhitt conjectured, "And praised be rashness, for it makes us know," — a conjecture made indepedently by myself, which I hesitate to adopt only because it is so easy a way out of a difficulty. 11. Rough-hew ... will, however clumsily we may begin to fashion them. 13. My sea-gown ... me, having hurriedly wrapped myself in my sea-gown. Singer quotes Cotgrave, "Esclavine ... a sea-gowne, or a coarse, high-collered, and short-sleeved gowne. reaching down to the mid-leg, and used most by sea-men and Saylors." 14. find out them, for the transposition of the pronoun, see Abb. § 240. 15. Finger'd, got hold of; put my hand upon by lucky accident. 16. room, cabin. 17. My fears ... manners, I in my fear thinking nothing as to whether I was acting honourably: to unseal, as to, etc., see Abb. § 281. 18. Their grand commission, the commission they were so proud of having entrusted to them. 20. Larded, garnished, tricked out; cp. M. W. iv. 6. 14, "The mirth whereof so larded with my matter." 21. Importing, ... too, those reasons having to do with the well-being of both the king of Denmark and the king of England; the former because Hamlet's death was so necessary to him, the latter because of the vengeance the king of England would provoke by disobeying the commands sent him; see above, iv. 3. 57-64. 22. With, ho! ... life, mentioning the terrible dangers which threatened so long as I was allowed to live; ho! seems to me an exclamation of ridicule, not of horror, as Delius takes it; bugs, bugbears, terrors; as frequently in Shakespeare. 23. on the supervise, immediately upon his reading it: no leisure bated, without any abatement of haste in the way of leisurely proceeding; cp. below, 1. 45. 24. not to stay ... axe, without so much as waiting till the axe could be sharpened. 27. hear me how, for the redundant object, see Abb. § 414. 30, 1. Ere ... play, before I could think the scheme out in all its completeness, my brains were already at work upon its execution; the prologue of a play necessarily involved a knowledge of its scheme, and sometimes declared what that scheme was. Some editors take They as referring to Guildenstern and Rosencrantz. 32. wrote it fair, wrote it out in a clerkly hand. 33. hold, consider: statists, statesmen; Blackstone says that most of the great men of Shakespeare's time whose autographs have been preserved, wrote very bad hands; their secretaries very neat ones. 34. A baseness, a mark of low birth. 36. yeoman's service, right trusty service; the yeomen of old days were among the most serviceable of troops. 37. effect, purport. 38. conjuration, adjuration. 39. As England ... tributary, calling upon the king of England as being a faithful, etc. 40. As love ... flourish, according as he desired that their mutual love should flourish, etc.; the palm being an evergreen and a hardy tree is used as a type of enduring freshness. 41. As peace ... wear, according as he wished that peace should abound between them; wheaten garland, wheat being symbolical of peace and plenty. 42. And stand ... amities, and continue to be a connecting link of friendship between the two countries. Johnson remarks, "The comma is the note of connection and continuity of sentences; the period is the note of abruption and disjunction." Comma was also used in Shakespeare's day for a clause in a sentence. 43. As'es ... charge, weighty provisos; "a quibble is intended between as the conditional particle and ass, the beast of burthen" (Johnson). He also quotes Chapman's The Widow's Tears, 1612, "Thou must be an ass charg'd with crowns to make way," to show that charge was used for load. I do not believe that any quibble was intended, nor does charge seem to mean more than 'injunction.' 44. on the view ... contents, as soon as he should have made himself master of the contents. 45. Without ... less, without any hesitation, consideration, however slight. 47. Not ... allow'd, without even allowing them to confess their sins to the priest and obtain absolution; to shrive is from A. S. scrifan, to impose a penance or compensation. 48. even ... ordinant, even in that particular heaven had ordained matters to the same end; the fact that I had my father's signet-ring in my purse shows it was heaven's will that things should go as they have gone. 50. model, counterpart, copy; that Danish seal, with which their commission was sealed. 51. the writ, the mandate. 52. Subscribed it, affixed an imitation of the king's signature: impression, sc. of the seal. 53. changeling, usually meaning a child that had been substituted by fairies or witches for one carried off by them. 56. go to 't, i.e. their destined death. 57. they did ... employment, their employment (which involved my death) was one eagerly sought by them, and therefore I need not feel any scruples in sending them to their death. 58. They are ... conscience, their fate does not trouble my conscience. 58, 9. their defeat ... grow, their destruction is due to their having insinuated themselves into the project for killing me. 60. the baser nature, those of inferior courage and address. 61, 2. Between ... opposites, between the weapons of two mighty opponents (such as the king and myself) when they are thrusting at each other with most deadly purpose; for opposites, cp. T. N. iii. 2. 68, "And his opposite, the youth, bears in his visage no great presage of cruelty." 63. Does it ... upon, is it not imperative upon me; see Abb. § 204. 65. Popp'd in ... hopes, suddenly thrust himself in between me and my election to the throne, of which I had good hopes. 66, 7. Thrown out ... cozenage, so cunningly fished for my death: angle, properly the fishing-rod and line, then used figuratively, as in W. T. iv. 2. 52, "The angle that plucks our son thither"; proper, own, my very life; for cozenage, see note on iii. 4. 77. 67, 8. is 't not ... arm? am I not perfectly justified in paying him out with my own hand? 68-70. and is 't not ... evil? and would it not be a sin worthy of damnation to let this plague-spot upon human nature have further opportunities for evil? for canker, see note on i. 3. 39; In, into; for other instances, see Abb. § 159. 71, 2. It must ... there, the king is certain to know very soon what is the result of his commission (and therefore there is no time to be lost in doing whatever you have determined to do). 73. It will ... mine, the time that will elapse before he knows the result will be short; but that short interval is wholly mine, there is nothing to baulk my vengeance. 74. And a man's ... 'One.' and the taking of a man's life is as easy as to count one; short as the interval is, his death is but the affair of a moment. 76. forgot myself, allowed myself to behave with want of courtesy. 77. image, reflection, semblance: cp. K. J. iv. 2. 71, "The image of a wicked, heinous fault." 78. court his favours, endeavour to win him to forgiveness and friendship. 79. Bravery, extravagant display. 82. this water fly, this contemptible insect; "a water-fly skips up and down upon the surface of the water without any apparent purpose or reason, and is thence the proper emblem of a busy trifler" (Johnson). 84. Thy state ... gracious, you are all the better for not knowing him; 'state of grace' was used in theological language for that state of a man's soul which had obtained divine favour; cp. M. N. D. ii. 2. 89. "The more my prayer, the lesser is my grace"; W. T. ii. 1. 122, "this action I now go on Is for my better grace." 85, 6. let a beast ... mess, if a beast (like this fellow) only has plenty of property, he shall eat at the king's table; crib, manger, that from which stalled beasts feed; mess, from O. F. mes, a dish of meat ... that which is set or placed, viz., on the table; pp. of mettre, to place. — Low Lat. mittere, to place; Lat. mittere, to send ... (Skeat, Ety. Dict.). 87. chough, it is doubtful whether here a bird of the jackdaw genus is meant, Osric being compared to it on account of his chattering, or whether chough is only another spelling of chuff, used in i. H. IV. ii. 2. 94. for a wealthy but ill-mannered fellow: spacious ... dirt, possessed of many a broad acre. 88. Sweet, "a common mode of address in the Elizabethan court language" (Mommsen). 90. with all ... spirit, with the greatest readiness; in imitation of Osric's jargon. 90, 1. Put ... head, put your hat on your head, for which it is intended; bonnet, now used only for the headgear of women and Highlander's. 92. it is very hot, i.e. it is on account of the heat that I carry it in my hand. 94. indifferent cold, fairly, moderately, cold. 95, 6. hot ... complexion, hot, as it seems to a man of my temperament; complexion, was formerly used for both temperament and external appearance, as well as the colouring of the face, its only modern sense. 99. on your head, on you. 101. remember — Hamlet was probably about to add 'your courtesy,' a phrase used in bidding a man put on his hat, not put it off, as would be expected; cp. L. L. L., v. 1. 103, "I do beseech thee, remember thy courtesy; I beseech thee, apparel thy head." How the phrase got that meaning has not been discovered; possibly it was originally used when a man had already been bidden to 'apparel his head,' but out of humility had hesitated to do so, being thus guilty of a want of the truest courtesy. 102. for mine ease, I assure you I do it because I find it more comfortable; the phrase was a common one in the ceremonious language of the period. Marston, The Malcontent, Ind. 37, again imitates Shakespeare; "Condell. I beseech you, sir, be covered. Sly. No, in good faith, for mine ease." 103. absolute, perfect in all gentlemanly accomplishments. l04. excellent differences, according to Delius, different excellences; the Cl. Pr. Edd. explain, "distinctions marking him out from the rest of men," which seems to me more satisfactory. 104, 5. of very ... showing, of most refined manners and high-bred courtesy: feelingly, with a due appreciation of his merits. 106. the card ... gentry, the very guide-book of good-breeding; cp. ii. H. vi. iii. 1. 203, "in thy face I see The map of honour, truth and loyalty." 106, 7. you shall ... see, you shall find him to contain in himself every accomplishment that one could wish to see: in continent and part there is a reference to geographical terms, you shall find in him the whole continent of which a gentleman may wish to see a part; with an allusion to the grand tour which in Shakespeare's day it was the custom for well-born young men to make on the continent. 108. his definement ... you, his description suffers nothing at your hands; you describe him in full and adequate terms. 109, 10. to divide ... memory, to specify one by one the innumerable particulars of his excellence would be an effort of arithmetic which would make memory giddy. 110, 1. and yet but ... sail, the only explanation of this passage that seems at all satisfactory is given by Abbott § 128. Remarking that 'neither' for our 'either' is in Shakespeare's manner, after a negative expressed or implied, and that the ellipsis of the negative explains neither here, he paraphrases but yaw neither by "do nothing but lag clumsily behind neither." To yaw is properly to fall off or swerve from the course laid; and so from the vessel not being able to go straight to the point, we may get the sense of lagging behind. But it seems to me that in respect of his quick sail refers to memory (his = its), not to Laertes, and I would explain, 'and yet as regards its quick sailing (i.e. however quick memory might sail), it would not be able to keep its course after him.' It is the speed of memory which is primarily referred to, and though this infers the speed of that which it pursues, the idea is concerned more especially with the pursuer. 111. in the ... extolment, to praise him only according to his deserts. 112. a soul ... article, "one who, if virtues should be specified inventorially, would have many items in the list" (Schmidt). 112, 3. and his ... rareness, and the qualities with which he has been endowed so scarce and rare; Hamlet speaks as though Laertes were a vial into which the finest essences had been poured. 113, 4. his semblance ... mirror, his like could be seen only in a mirror of himself; cp. Tim. iv. 3. 22. "His semblable, yea, himself, Timon disdains"; and Theobald, The Double Falsehood, "None but himself could be his parallel." 114, 5. and who ... more, and anyone who should try to follow in his steps, imitate him, would be but as the shadow to the reality. 117, 8. The concernancy ... breath, what is the object of all this talk? Why do we waste time in so ineffectually trying to describe him whom no words can describe? For the double comparative, see Abb. § 11. 120, 1. Is 't not ... really, Horatio banters Osric about his evident inability to understand Hamlet by saying 'is it possible to you to talk in a language other than your natural one, and yet impossible for you to understand in that other language? You will be able to do so, if you make the effort.' This is nearly Moberly's explanation, only that he takes in another tongue as = on another's tongue. Johnson would read 'in a mother tongue'; Staunton, 'in's mother tongue.' 122. What imports ... gentleman, what was the object of mentioning that gentleman. 124, 5. His purse ... spent, his verbal exchequer is already bankrupt; all his wealth of fine words is ehxhausted; cp. L. L. L. V. 1. 39, 40, "They have been at a great feast of languages, and stolen the scraps." 129. it would ... me, it would not be any great commendation. 131-3. I dare ... himself, "I dare not pretend to know him, lest I should pretend to an equality; no man can completely know another but by knowing himself, which is the utmost extent of human wisdom" (Johnson). 134. for his weapon, as regards his skill in using his weapon. 134, 5. in the ... unfellowed, in the opinion of people generally his merit has no fellow, equal; meed, for merit, as conversely merit is used for meed in R. II. i. 3. 156, "A dearer merit, not so deep a maim ... Have I deserved at your highness' hands." 136. his weapon, the weapon he specially affects. 138. but, well, but never mind, go on. 140. imponed, staked; Dyce supposed this to be Osric's affected pronunciation of 'impawned'; more probably it is an affected coinage from Lat. imponere, to place upon. 141. assigns, belongings, accompaniments. 142. hangers, "under this term were comprehended four graduated straps by which the sword was attached to the girdle. See Chapman's Iliad, xi. 27, "The scaberd was of silver-plate, with golden hangers grac'd" (Steevens): carriages, the hangers, as he afterwards explains. 143. dear to fancy, artistic in their character: very ... hilts, thoroughly in keeping with the hilts. 144. liberal conceit, "elaborate design" (Cl. Pr. Edd.). 146, 7. I knew ... done, I knew that a commentary would be necessary before the whole description could be understood: margent, the only form used by Shakespeare. Furness points out that in old books explanatory comments were printed in the margin. Cp. R. J. i. 3. 86, "And what obscured in this fair volume lies Find written in the margent of his eyes." 149. german, akin, relative: Lat. germanus, fully akin, said of brothers and sisters having the same parents. 150, 1. I would ... then, till we take to carrying cannon at our sides, I should prefer the word 'hangers.' 156, 7. he shall ... nine, A 'pass,' in fencing, is usually a single thrust; here the word seems equivalent to bout, rally, exchange of passes, however many, as in T. N. iii. 4. 102 (cp. below, 1. 254, "Or quit in answer of the third exchange"); and while Laertes wagers that in the twelve exchanges he will hit Hamlet twelve times to his nine, the king wagers that the ratio will not be more than twelve to ten, i.e. will not exceed Hamlet's hits by three. 157, 8. and it ... answer, and the matter might be settled at once if you would condescend to meet him in combat; cp. T. C. 1. 3. 332, "And wake him to the answer, think you?" 163. the breathing ... me, the time at which I usually take my exercise. 164. the gentleman willing, if the gentleman be willing. 165. will gain, on the use of will when we should use shall, see Abb. § 319. 167. re-deliver you, return this as your answer. 168. after ... will, so long as you give that as my answer in effect, I do not care in what affected language you give it. 170. I commend ... lordship, I humbly offer my services, etc.; a complimentary form of taking leave. 171. Yours, yours, said impatiently, your humble servant to command. 172, 3. there are ... turn, there are no other tongues than his own that would serve his turn in that matter, sc. in commending him. 174, 5. This lapwing ... head, this fellow is off on his errand to tell the king of his success in as great a hurry as the lapwing, who when hatched is said to be in such a hurry to see the world that it runs off with part of its shell adhering to it. Steevens quotes Greene's Never Too Late, 1616, "Are you no sooner hatched, with the lapwing, but you will run away with the shell on your head?" 176. He did ... it, he is such a born courtier that we maybe sure that he excused himself to his mother's breast before he sucked it for the liberty he was about to take. Caldecott compares Fulwel's Arte of Flatterie, 1579, "Flatterie hath taken such habit in man's affections, that it is in moste men altera natura; yea, the very sucking babes hath a kind of adulation towards their nurses for the dugge." For comply, be ceremonious, formal, cp. ii. 2. 351, above. 177. bevy, brood, flock; the word was especially used of larks and quails; and, as Grant White observes, is a more characteristic classification of Osric, who has just been called a lapwing, than the quarto reading, breed. 178. the drossy age, this age which is the mere scum of better days. 178, 9. got the tune ... encounter, caught the note of the times and learnt that veneer of courtesy which is now so much admired. 179-81. a kind ... opinions, a kind of frothy talk, gathered here and there, which carries them safe through even the most carefully sifted opinions, i.e. which makes them look like good grain even to those who most carefully sift their opinions before adopting them; fanned is Warburton's emendation for fond, which many editors retain with the sense of 'alike through the most foolish and the wisest opinions,' or 'alike through the most fondly cherished and the most choice opinions.' Nicholson conjectures vinewed, i.e. musty, mouldy. Cp. T. C. i. 3. 27,8, "Distinction, with a broad and powerful fan, Puffing at all, winnows the light away." [In keeping with Nicholson's vinewed "we have a change that restores the sense -- word not incongruous with, but suggested by -- the metaphorical yesty collection, and a repetition of that Shakespearean expression, a 'mouldy wit.' ... The 'yesty collection' is a frothiness of sour and stale beer, which passes with those of corrupted and vitiated taste; but when tried and blown upon by the more sober judgement flies off, and does not remain like the true head of sound liquor or wit." -- as quoted in Furness Variorum ed. -- Shk Online] 181, 2. and do ... out, and yet you have only to test them by blowing, and the bubbles burst in a moment; the figure of winnowing seems to be carried on in blow, while at the same time it is mixed up with that of blowing soap-bubbles. 183, 5. commended ... hall, young Osric, by whom the king sent you his message, brings back word that you are awaiting him in the hall: to play with, to fence with; to play was a technical term in fencing, and to 'play a prize' (as in T. A. i. 1. 399) was to contend for prizes in a competition in which degrees of Master, Provost, and Scholar, were conferred for proficiency in the art. 186. will ... time, wish to put off the meeting till you have had further time for practice. 187, 8. they follow ... pleasure, my inclinations attend upon the king's will in the matter. 188. if ... ready, if the time seems to him a fitting one, I am ready. 189. so able, in as good condition for the contest. 191. In happy time, they come at the right moment, i.e. I am glad to see them; the French, a la bonne heure. 192. gentle entertainment, conciliatory manner and speech. 197. at the odds, with the odds that have been allowed me; see 11. 155-7. 198. thou ... think, you can have no idea. 201. foolery, a mere silly feeling: gain-giving, misgiving; this gain- in composition, as in gainsay, is the A. S. gegn, against, and thus gain-giving is something that gives against (in the sense in which we speak of a road, door, etc., giving in some direction), goes against the heart. 203. obey it, sc. the prompting of your heart: forestal, anticipate, and so prevent; see note on iii. 3. 49. 204. repair, coming; see note on i. 1. 57. 205. we defy augury, I pay no heed to presentiments. 206-8. If it be ... will come, if one's fate is to come now, there will be nothing to fear in the future; if it be not awaiting one in the future, it will come now; if it does not come now, it will come sooner or later: the readiness is all, everything depends upon being ready to go when death summons; cp. Lear, v. 2. 11. 208, 9. since no man ... betimes, since no man can carry with him to the grave anything that is his, why should we grieve at leaving it when young? Cp. i. Timothy, vi. 7, "For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out," which is part of the Burial Service in the Church of England. 210. take ... me, let me make friends between you by placing his hand in yours. 212. as you are a gentleman, as a gentleman like you should do. 213. This presence, all this noble company; used in this phrase of persons of high rank. 214. punish d, afflicted. 216, 7. That might ... awake, that was calculated to exasperate your natural feelings, your instincts of honour, and your resentment of discourtesy; for exception, cp. A. W. i. 2. 40, "his honour ... knew the true minute when Exception bid him speak." 219. If Hamlet ... away, if the real Hamlet, the genuine nature of the man, be absent from himself. 221. denies it, abjures it as his own action. 223. is of the faction, is among those who are, etc. 226-9. Let my ... brother, let my disavowal of having intentionally done you wrong so far obtain pardon of your natural nobility of heart as to make it understand that in shooting my arrow over the house, I have by my carelessness wounded one as dear to me as a brother; o'er the house, as a boy might do, though nothing was farther from his thoughts than that of wounding any one about it. 229. in nature, so far as my natural feelings are concerned. 230, 1. Whose motive ... revenge, though in this case those natural feelings would strongly incite me to demand revenge. 231. in my ... honour, in the matter of my honour; cp. M. V. ii. 1. 13, "In terms of choice I am not solely led By nice direction of a maiden's eye," in both cases little more than a periphrasis. 232. I stand aloof, I hold myself at a distance from you, am not ready to accept your apology: will no reconcilement, refuse all reconciliation. 233. some elder masters, some 'past masters' in the etiquette of such matters. 234. I have ... peace, I receive an authoritative opinion based upon precedents in such matters, that I may make peace with you. 235. ungored, unwounded by the sarcasms of those who would otherwise twit me with having been glad to shirk the combat; cp. T. C. iii. 3. 228, "My fame is shrewdly gored." 235, 6. But ... love, but for the meantime I accept your proffer of love as being what it professes to be. 237. wrong it, sc. by doubting it: I embrace it freely, I readily take you at your word. 238. And will ... play, and will with all the openness of friendship engage with you in this brotherly combat. 240-2. I'll be ... indeed, I'll act as your foil, my ignorance setting off your skill, as the darkness of night sets off the brilliancy of a star; Hamlet takes up the word foil and uses it in the sense of the tinsel placed under gems in rings, etc., to add to their brilliancy; in this sense from Lat. folium, a leaf; Stick fiery off, stand out with additional brilliancy from the contrast. 246. Your grace ... side, your grace by wagering on the weaker side has laid the odds. As the odds are laid on the better horse, etc., the king in backing the less skilful combatant may be said to have laid the odds, instead of taking them (notwithstanding that Laertes was, in order to win, to hit Hamlet twelve times to his nine), if Hamlet, who knew the terms of the wager, means that the points to be conceded by Laertes were not sufficient to put them on an equality. But 'laid the odds' may mean nothing more than 'wagered.' It is very improbable in view of the meaning in which the word is used in 1. 248, and throughout, that odds should here refer to the greater value of the king's stake; and Ritson's calculation that the value of the six Barbary horses as compared with the rapiers, etc., was as twenty to one, must be an imaginary one. 248. But since ... odds, but since he is your superior in fencing we have received odds as to the number of hits in order to make the wager an equal one. 250. have all a length, are all of one length; sec Abb. § 81. 254. or quit, ... exchange, or, at the third exchange of passes, should requite him by delivering a hit. 255. ordnance, cannon; "the same word as ordinance, which is the old spelling. ... It originally meant the bore or size of the cannon, and was thence transferred to the cannon itself" (Skeat, Ety. Dict.). 256. drink ... breath, drink to him as wishing him breath to last out the combat; cp. 1. 272, below. 257. an union, "Mr. King, Natural Hist. of Precious Stones, says; 'As no two pearls were ever found exactly alike, this circumstance gave origin to the name "unio" (unique). But in Low Lat. "Margarita (um)," and "perla" became a generic name, "unio" being restricted to fine spherical specimens'" (Cl. Pr. Edd.). 260. kettle, kettledrum; see note on i. 4. 11: speak, give the signal. 262. the heavens to earth, i.e. by re-echoing the sound to the earth. 264. wary, watchful, so as to make no mistake about the hits. 265. Judgement, i.e. I call upon the umpire to decide. 267. this pearl is thine, "under the pretence of throwing a 'pearl' into the cup, the king may be supposed to drop some poisonous drug into the wine" ... (Steevens). 271. A touch, a touch, but so slight as not to count for a hit. 272. shall, is certain to. 273. napkin, handkerchief; the ordinary sense of the word in those days. 278. by and by, presently: dare not, i.e. because it would excite him too much. 281. And yet ... conscience, sc. to do so with my poisoned rapier. 282. dally, are but playing with me; are not in earnest in your attempts to hit me. 284. afeard ... me, treat me as something too delicate, tender, to be made the mark of your skill. 286. neither, we should now say 'either.' 287. Have at you now! Laertes, now really irritated at being foiled, is determined to use all his skill. Stage Direction. scuffling, how the exchange of rapiers takes place is much disputed. 287. they are incensed, their blood is up, and they will now if not stopped fight in real earnest. 288. come again, return to the struggle. 291. as a ... springe, "This bird [the woodcock] is trained to decoy other birds, and sometimes, while strutting incautiously too near the springe, it becomes itself entangled" (F. J. V., Notes and Queries, 8 Aug. 1874); cp. Marston, The Malcontent, ii. 1.1, "He's caught, The woodcock's head is i' the noose." 292. with, by, as a result of. 293. She swounds ... bleed, she swoons, faints, at the sight of their blood. 302. the foul practice, my treacherous plot. 303. Hath ... me, cp. iii. 4. 199, 200. 311. thy union, the pearl you spoke of; perhaps with a play upon the word in its ordinary sense in reference to his union in death with the queen. 312. He ... served, the retribution that has fallen upon him is a just one. 313. temper'd, compounded; cp. Cymb. v. 5. 250. 315. Mine ... thee, may not the guilt of my death and my father's rest upon you! 319. chance, mischance. 320. That are ... act, who have had no part in this catastrophe, but are only as dumb spectators at a play. 321, 2. as this ... arrest, which I have not, for this cruel serjeant, death, allows neither escape nor delay when he has once laid his hand upon your shoulder; cp. H. V. iv. 1. 178. "war is his beadle": K. J. ii. 1. I88, "Her injury the beadle to her sin"; and Sonn. lxxii. 1. 2. 324, 5. report ... unsatisfied, explain to those who shall blame my action what good cause I had for it: it, sc. that I will outlive you. 326. an antique Roman, one who, like the Romans of old, would choose death rather than a life which would be a disgrace, i.e. in surviving so noble a friend. 330. Things ... me, unless the real facts are made known, my name will live behind me stained with guilt. Staunton compares M. A. iii. 110, "No glory lives behind the back of such." 332. Absent ... awhile, forgo for a time the joys of heaven. 336, 7. gives ... volley, fires this salute. 338. o'ercrows, triumphs over; as a cock crows over a beaten antagonist. 340. the election lights, the choice of king will fall. 342, 3. with the ... solicited, together with the events, great and small, which have incited me to what I have done; cp. R. II. i. 2. 2, "Alas, the part I had in Woodstock's blood Doth more solicit me than your exclaims." 345. And flights ... rest, and may angels accompany your soul in its flight to heaven, and, etc. 348. cease your search, i.e. you need not go further, for woe and subject of wonder are present here in abundance. 349. This ... havoc, "this pile of corpses urges to merciless slaughter where no quarter is given"... (Cl. Pr. Edd.). For cries on, cp. Oth. v. 1. 48, "whose noise is this that cries on murder?" R. III. v. 3. 231, 'Came to my tent and cried on victory." 350. is toward, is in preparation; cp. A. C. ii. 6. 75, "four feasts are toward." 351. at a shot, with one shot. 353. our affairs, the narration of what occurred in England in our embassy. 355. To tell, in telling. 357. Where ... thanks? by whom may we expect to be thanked for our trouble? his, sc. the king's. 360. jump, so exactly at the moment; see i. 1. 65: bloody question, bloody occurrences. 362. give order, said to one of the attendants. 363. stage, raised platform. 366. carnal, referring to the marriage of the king and queen. 367. Of accidental ... slaughters, sc. Polonius's death. 368. Of deaths ... cause, of deaths instigated by, and so resulting from cunning and the force of circumstances: the cunning was that which Rosencrantz and Guildenstern employed at the king's bidding to bring about Hamlet's death; the forced cause, the circumstances in which Hamlet was thus placed, and which forced him to send Rosencrantz and Guildenstern to their death. 369. upshot, conclusion: purposes mistook, plots clumsily executed, as in the murder of Hamlet. 370. Fall'n ... heads, recoiling upon their inventors. 371. deliver, narrate. 373. embrace my fortune, i.e. accession to the throne. 374. 5. I have ... me, I have some rights in this kingdom which still live in the remembrance of men... 377. And from ... more, and the words I shall have to speak will come from him (sc. Hamlet) whose wish thus signified will find an echo in the voices of others. 378. this same, i.e. the placing of the bodies on the raised platform: presently, without delay. 379, 80. Even ... happen, without waiting for men's minds to grow calm, lest in the interval, while they are still excited, other calamities, due to intention or mistake, be added to the present ones. 382. had he ... on, had circumstances occurred to prompt him to action. 353. To have ... royally, to have shown himself worthy of his royal descent. 384. rites of war, the firing of cannon, etc. 387. Becomes the field, is suitable to the field of battle. Stage Direction. A dead march, music such as accompanies the funeral of a soldier. Additional Note to I. 5. 21, 2. "To blazon," says Guillin, "is to express what the shapes, kinds, and colours of things born in Armes are, together with their apt significations." To portray armorial hearings in colour is to 'display'...to draw them without colour is to 'trick' them (Sir H. Maxwell in Ed. Rev., July, 1905)." So Addison, 'to explain in proper terms the figures on ensigns armorial.' ________ How to cite the explanatory notes: How to cite the scene review questions: |
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Gertrude's Account of Ophelia's Death Ophelia's Burial and Christian Rituals The Baker's Daughter: Ophelia's Nursery Rhymes Hamlet as National Hero Analysis of the Characters in Hamlet Introduction to Hamlet The Hamlet and Ophelia Subplot The Norway (Fortinbras) Subplot Deception in Hamlet
Hamlet: Problem Play and Revenge Tragedy Plot Summary of Hamlet The Elder Hamlet: The Kingship of Hamlet's Father Hamlet's Relationship with the Ghost Hamlet's Humor: The Wit of Shakespeare's Prince of Denmark All About Yorick Hamlet's Melancholy: The Transformation of the Prince Hamlet's Antic Disposition: Is Hamlet's Madness Real? Quotations from Hamlet (with commentary) Hamlet Study Quiz (with detailed answers) Analysis of I am sick at heart (1.1) Hamlet: Q & A Soliloquy Analysis: O this too too... (1.2) Soliloquy Analysis: O, what a rogue and peasant slave am I!... (2.2) Soliloquy
Analysis: To be, or not to be... (3.1) Soliloquy Analysis: Tis now the very witching time of night... (3.2) Soliloquy Analysis: Now might I do it pat... (3.3) Soliloquy Analysis: How all occasions do inform against me... (4.4) Claudius and the Dumb-Show: Why Does he Stay? Claudius and the Mousetrap In Secret Conference: The Meeting Between Claudius and Laertes Defending Claudius - The Charges Against the King O Jephthah - Toying with Polonius The Death of Polonius and its Impact on Hamlet's Character Blank Verse and Diction in Shakespeare's Hamlet The Significance of Ophelia's Flowers Ophelia and Laertes Mistrusted Love: Ophelia and Polonius The Significance of the Ghost in Armor Shakespeare's View of the Child Actors Through Hamlet Divine Providence in Hamlet What is Tragic Irony? Seneca's Tragedies and the Elizabethan Drama Shakespeare's Sources for Hamlet Characteristics of Elizabethan Tragedy
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It is said the murder of Rosencrantz and Guildenstern proved Hamlet's "intellectual sharpness, his clear brain; proved that he was a man not of impulsive but of calculating action. I only see in it the cunning almost of a madman. That action of his -- an
action of treachery and of mean treachery -- is so apart from the rest of his magnanimous character, that, if ever Hamlet passed the limit between feigned and real madness, he seems to me to have passed it then. The punishment he inflicted on Rosencrantz and Guildenstern was far too heavy for their guilt -- the sort of punishment
which just reasoning would not have imposed. The event does not prove Hamlet's clearness of intellect, but on the contrary. At no other point of the play does he act in this unintelligent, unmoral way. It is said in excuse of Hamlet's conduct here, that the age in which he lived was savage, and human life of no importance. That is
true; but Hamlet, as Shakespeare made him, was not of that age. He is not naturally fond of blood or war, of drink or feasting, of such treachery, for ambition's sake,
as the King's. He does not belong to this crew" (Stopford A. Brooke). 
1. Do you feel Hamlet was justified in forging the King's order? Did Hamlet need to substitute someone else's death warrant for his own in order to survive?©1999-2021 Shakespeare Online. All Rights Reserved.