Subscribed it, gave 't th' 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.
HAMLET
Heaven helped me out with that too. I had my father's
signet ring in my pocket, with the royal seal of Denmark on it. I
folded up the new document, signed it, sealed it, and put it safely
back so that no one noticed any difference. The next day we had our
fight at sea, and you know what happened after that.
HORATIO
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So Guildenstern and Rosencrantz go to 't.
HORATIO
So Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are in for it.
HAMLET
Why, man, they did make love to this employment.
They are not near my conscience. Their defeat
Does by their own insinuation grow.
'Tis dangerous when the baser nature comes
65
Between the pass and fell incensèd points
Of mighty opposites.
HAMLET
Man, they were asking for it. I don't feel guilty about
them at all. They got what they deserved. It's always
dangerous when little people get caught in the crossfire of mighty
opponents.
HORATIO
Why, what a king is this!
HORATIO
What a king Claudius is!
HAMLET
Does it not, think thee, stand me now upon—
He that hath killed my king and whored my mother,
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Popped in between th' 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 this arm? And is 't not to be damned
To let this canker of our nature come
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In further evil?
HAMLET
Don't you think it's my duty now to kill him
with this weapon? This man who killed my king, made my mother a
whore, took the throne that I hoped for, and set a trap to kill me.
Isn't it completely moral to kill him now with this
sword—and an easy conscience? And wouldn't I
be damned if I let this monster live to do more harm?
