Page 356 - Shakespeare - Vol. 3

HAMLET

Sir, in my heart there was a kind of fighting
That would not let me sleep. Methought I lay [5]
Worse than the mutines in the bilboes. Rashly −

And prais’d be rashness for it: let us know
Our indiscretion sometime serves us well
When our deep plots do pall; and that should learn us
There’s a divinity that shapes our ends, [10]
Rough-hew them how we will −

HORATIO

That is most certain.

HAMLET

Up from my cabin,
My sea-gown scarf’d about me, in the dark
Grop’d I to find out them, had my desire,

Finger’d their packet, and in fine withdrew [15]
To mine own room again, making so bold,
My fears forgetting manners, to unseal
Their grand commission; where I found, Horatio −
Ah, royal knavery! − an exact command,

Larded with many several sorts of reasons [20]
Importing Denmark’s health, and England’s too,
With ho! such bugs and goblins in my life,

That on the supervise, no leisure bated,
No, not to stay the grinding of the axe,
My head should be struck off.

HORATIO
Is’t possible?[25]

HAMLET
Here’s the commission, read it at more leisure.
But wilt thou hear now how I did proceed?

HORATIO

I beseech you.