TEXT:
HAMLET
The phrase would be more german to the matter, if we
could carry cannon by our sides; I would it might
be hangers till then. But, on: six Barbary horses
against six French swords, their assigns, and three
liberal-conceited carriages; that's the French bet
against the Danish. Why is this 'imponed,' as you call it?
OSRIC
The king, sir, hath laid, that in a dozen passes
between yourself and him, he shall not exceed you
three hits: he hath laid on twelve for nine; and it
would come to immediate trial, if your lordship
would vouchsafe the answer.
HAMLET
How if I answer no?
OSRIC
I mean, my lord, the opposition of your person in trial.
HAMLET
Sir, I will walk here in the hall: if it please his
majesty, 'tis the breathing time of day with me;
let the foils be brought, the gentleman willing, and the
king hold his purpose, I will win for him an I can;
if not, I will gain nothing but my shame and the odd hits.
OSRIC
Shall I re-deliver you e'en so?
HAMLET
To this effect, sir; after what flourish your nature will.
OSRIC
I commend my duty to your lordship.
HAMLET
Yours, yours.
Exit Osric
NOTES:
The Wager
Claudius is betting twelve-to-nine that Hamlet will beat Laertes in this fencing match. More specifically, that across twelve passes (or rounds) “he shall not exceed you three hits”. One article attempts to explain the odds and how Claudius stacks the decks, but it focuses more on the gambling than the fencing. You can read it here. Essentially - for Laertes to win he has to hit Hamlet three times more than Hamlet hits him. We’ve been hearing non-stop about how talented a swordsman Laertes is, so it seems fair enough to give Hamlet a bit of a handicap. But, of course, we haven’t heard anything about the skills that Hamlet might have…