Page:Hamlet (1917) Yale.djvu/119

Prince of Denmark, IV. iv

We go to gain a little patch of ground

That hath in it no profit but the name.

To pay five ducats, five, I would not farm it;

Nor will it yield to Norway or the Pole

A ranker rate, should it be sold in fee.

Ham. Why, then the Polack never will defend it.

Cap. Yes, 'tis already garrison'd.

Ham. Two thousand souls and twenty thousand ducats

Will not debate the question of this straw:

This is the imposthume of much wealth and peace,

That inward breaks, and shows no cause without

Why the man dies. I humbly thank you, sir.

Cap. God be wi' you, sir.

Ros. Will 't please you go, my lord?

Ham. I'll be with you straight. Go a little before.

How all occasions do inform against me,

And spur my dull revenge! What is a man,

If his chief good and market of his time

Be but to sleep and feed? a beast, no more.

Sure he that made us with such large discourse,

Looking before and after, gave us not

That capability and god-like reason

To fust in us unus'd. Now, whether it be

Bestial oblivion, or some craven scruple

Of thinking too precisely on the event,

A thought, which, quarter'd, hath but one part wisdom,

And ever three parts coward, I do not know

Why yet I live to say 'This thing's to do;'

 22 ranker: richer

sold in fee: sold absolutely

26 debate: bring to a settlement

straw: trifling matter

27 imposthume: abscess

34 market: marketing

36 large discourse: latitude of comprehension

39 fust: become mouldy

40 Bestial oblivion: animal-like forgetfulness

41 event: outcome

