Page:Hamlet (1917) Yale.djvu/133

Prince of Denmark, IV. vii

What should this mean? Are all the rest come back?

Or is it some abuse and no such thing?

Laer. Know you the hand?

King. 'Tis Hamlet's character. 'Naked,'

And in a postscript here, he says, 'alone.'

Can you advise me?

Laer. I'm lost in it, my lord. But let him come:

It warms the very sickness in my heart,

That I shall live and tell him to his teeth,

'Thus didst thou.'

King. If it be so, Laertes,

As how should it be so? how otherwise?

Will you be rul'd by me?

Laer. Ay, my lord;

So you will not o'er-rule me to a peace.

King. To thine own peace. If he be now return'd,

As checking at his voyage, and that he means

No more to undertake it, I will work him

To an exploit, now ripe in my device,

Under the which he shall not choose but fall;

And for his death no wind of blame shall breathe,

But even his mother shall uncharge the practice

And call it accident.

[Laer. My lord, I will be rul'd;

The rather, if you could devise it so

That I might be the organ.

King. It falls right.

You have been talk'd of since your travel much,

And that in Hamlet's hearing, for a quality

Wherein, they say, you shine; your sum of parts

 50 abuse: imposture

51 character: handwriting

62 checking: stopping short

67 uncharge: acquit of guilt

practice: stratagem

70 organ: instrument

falls: happens

