We go to gain a little patch of ground
That hath in it no profit but the name.
To pay five ducats, five, I would not farm it; 20
Nor will it yield to Norway or the Pole
A ranker rate, should it be sold in fee.
Ham. Why, then the Polack never will defend it.
Cap. Yes, 'tis already garrison'd. 24
Ham. Two thousand souls and twenty thousand ducats
Will not debate the question of this straw:
This is the imposthume of much wealth and peace,
That inward breaks, and shows no cause without 28
Why the man dies. I humbly thank you, sir.
Cap. God be wi' you, sir. [Exit.]
Ros. Will 't please you go, my lord?
Ham. I'll be with you straight. Go a little before.
[Exeunt all except Hamlet.]
How all occasions do inform against me, 32
And spur my dull revenge! What is a man,
If his chief good and market of his time
Be but to sleep and feed? a beast, no more.
Sure he that made us with such large discourse, 36
Looking before and after, gave us not
That capability and god-like reason
To fust in us unus'd. Now, whether it be
Bestial oblivion, or some craven scruple 40
Of thinking too precisely on the event,
A thought, which, quarter'd, hath but one part wisdom,
And ever three parts coward, I do not know
Why yet I live to say 'This thing's to do;' 44
22 ranker: richer
sold in fee: sold absolutely
26 debate: bring to a settlement
straw: trifling matter
27 imposthume: abscess
34 market: marketing
36 large discourse: latitude of comprehension
39 fust: become mouldy
40 Bestial oblivion: animal-like forgetfulness
41 event: outcome
