this reaction of repentance
shows. It was not the first time his pretence had given him liberty to
ease his heart with wild words. Jealous of the boastfulness of Laertes'
affection, he began at once--in keeping with his assumed character of
madman, but not the less in harmony with his feelings--to outrave him.]

[Footnote 3: One of the sort that would gather to such a king--of the
same kind as Rosincrance and Guildensterne.

In the _1st Q. 'Enter a Bragart Gentleman_.']

[Footnote 4: --_to Horatio_.]

[Footnote 5: 'Thou art the more in a state of grace, for it is a vice to
know him.']

[Footnote 6: 'his manger shall stand where the king is served.' Wealth
is always received by Rank--Mammon nowhere better worshipped than in
kings' courts.]

[Footnote 7: '_a bird of the crow-family_'--as a figure, '_always
applied to rich and avaricious people_.' A _chuff_ is a surly _clown_.
In Scotch a _coof_ is 'a silly, dastardly fellow.']

[Footnote 8: land.]

[Footnote 9: 'friendship' is better than 'Lordshippe,' as euphuistic.]

[Footnote 10: 'I thanke your Lordship; (_puts on his hat_) 'tis very
hot.']

[Footnote 11: 'rather cold.']

[Footnote 12: 'and hot--for _my_ temperament.']

[Footnote 13: Not able to go on, he plunges into his message.]

[Footnote 14: --_takes off his hat_.]

[Footnote 15: --making a sign to him again to put on his hat.]

[Page 256]

faith[1]: Sir, [A] you are not ignorant of what excellence
_Laertes_ [B] is at his weapon.[2] [Sidenote: _Laertes_ is.[2]]

_Ham_. What's his weapon?[3]

_Osr_. Rapier and dagger. [Sidenote: _Cour._]

_Ham_. That's two of his weapons: but well.

_Osr_. The sir King ha's wag'd with him six
[Sidenote: _Cour_. The King sir hath wagerd]
Barbary Horses, against the which he impon'd[4] as I
[Sidenote: hee has impaund]
take it, sixe French Rapiers and Poniards, with

[Footnote A: _Here in the Quarto_:--

[5] here is newly com to Court _Laertes_, belieue me an absolute
gentlemen, ful of most excellent differences,[6] of very soft
society,[7] and great
[Sidenote: 234] showing[8]: indeede to speake sellingly[9] of him, hee
is the card or kalender[10] of gentry: for you shall find in him the
continent of what part a Gentleman would see.[11]

[Sidenote: 245] _Ham_.[12] Sir, his definement suffers no perdition[13]
in you, though I know to deuide him inuentorially,[