Lyrics Hamlet: Act 5 - Scene 2 - John Gielgud

HAMLET
So much for this, sir. Now shall you see the
Other. You do remember all the circumstance?
HORATIO
Remember it, my lord?
HAMLET
Sir, in my heart there was a kind of fighting that would not let me
Sleep. Methought I lay worse than the mutines in the bilboes. Rashly-
-And praised be rashness for it!--let us know our indiscretions
Sometimes serve us well when our deep plots do
Pall; and that should learn us there's a divinity
That shapes our ends, rough-hew them how we will
HORATIO
That is most certain
HAMLET
Up from my cabin, my sea-gown scarfed about me, in the dark groped I
To find out them; had my desire, fingered their packet, and, in fine
Withdrew to mine own room again, making so bold--my fears forgetting
Manners--to unseal their grand commission, where I found, Horatio
A royal knavery, an exact command, larded with many
Several sorts of reasons, 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?
HAMLET
Here's the commission, read it at more leisure
But wilt thou hear me how I did proceed?
HORATIO
I beseech you
HAMLET
Being thus benetted round with villanies--or I could make a
Prologue to my brains they had begun the play--I set me down
Devised a new commission, wrote it fair--I once did hold it
As our statists do, a baseness to write fair, and laboured
Much how to forget that learning; but, sir, now it did me
Yeoman's service. Wilt thou know the effect of what I wrote?
HORATIO
Ay, good my lord
HAMLET
An earnest conjuration from the king, as England was his faithful
Tributary, as love between them like the palm might flourish
As peace should still her wheaten garland wear and stand
A comma 'tween their amities; and many such like as's of
Great charge, that on the view and knowing of these contents
Without debatement further, more or less, he should those
Bearers put to sudden death, not shriving-time allowed
HORATIO
How was this sealed?
HAMLET
Why, even in that was heaven-ordinant. I had my father's signet in
My purse, which was the model of that Danish seal, folded the writ
Up in the form of the other, subscribed it, gave't the impression
Placed it safely, the changeling never known. Now, the next day was
Our sea-fight, and what to this was sequent thou know'st already
HORATIO
So Guildenstern and Rosencrantz go to't
HAMLET
Why, man, they did make love to their employment. They are
Not near my conscience. Their defeat does by their own
Insinuation grow. 'Tis dangerous when the baser nature comes
Between the pass and fell incensèd points of mighty opposites
HORATIO
Why, what a king is this!
HAMLET
Does it not, think'st thee, stand me now upon, he that hath killed my
King and whored my mother, popped in between the election and my
Hopes, thrown out his angle for my proper life, and with such
Cozenage? Is't not perfect conscience to quit
Him with his arm? and is't not to be damned to
Let this canker of our nature come in further evil?
HORATIO
It must be shortly known to him from England
What is the issue of the business there
HAMLET
It will be short. The interim is mine, and a man's life no
More than to say one. But I am very sorry, good Horatio, at
Laertes I forgot myself, for by the image of my cause I see
The portraiture of his. I'll court his favours. But, sure
The bravery of his grief did put me into a towering passion
ROSENCRANTZ
My lord!
HAMLET
Peace! Who comes here?