_Laer._ And so have I a noble father lost;[1850] 25 A sister driven into desperate terms, Whose worth, if praises may go back again,[1851] Stood challenger on mount of all the age[1852] For her perfections: but my revenge will come.[1853] _King._ Break not your sleeps for that: you must not think[1854] 30 That we are made of stuff so flat and dull That we can let our beard be shook with danger[1855] And think it pastime. You shortly shall hear more:[1856] I loved your father, and we love ourself;[1857] And that, I hope, will teach you to imagine--[1858] 35 _Enter a_ Messenger, _with letters_. How now! what news?[1859] _Mess._ Letters, my lord, from Hamlet: This to your majesty; this to the queen.[1860] _King._ From Hamlet! who brought them?[1861] _Mess._ Sailors, my lord, they say; I saw them not: They were given me by Claudio; he received them 40 Of him that brought them. _King._ Laertes, you shall hear them.[1862] Leave us. [_Exit Messenger._[1863] [_Reads_] 'High and mighty, You shall know I am set[1864] naked on your kingdom. To-morrow shall I beg leave[1865] to see your kingly eyes: when I shall, first asking your[1866][1867] 45 pardon thereunto, recount the occasion of my sudden and[1866][1868][1869] more strange return.[1869] 'HAMLET.'[1870] What should this mean? Are all the rest come back? Or is it some abuse, and no such thing?[1871] 50 _Laer._ Know you the hand? _King._ Tis Hamlet's character. 'Naked!'[1872][1873] And in a postscript here, he says 'alone.'[1872][1873] Can you advise me?[1872][1874] _Laer._ I'm lost in it, my lord. But let him come;[1875] 55 It warms the very sickness in my heart, That I shall live and tell him to his teeth,[1876] 'Thus didest thou.'[1877] _King._ If it be so, Laertes,--[1878] As how should it be so? how otherwise?--[1878][1879] Will you be ruled by me?[1878] _Laer._ Ay, my lord;[1880][1881] 60 So you will not o'errule me to a peace.[1880] _King._ To thine own peace. If he be now return'd,[1882] As checking at his voyage, and that he means[1883] No more to undertake it, I will work him To an exploit now ripe in my device,[1884] 65 Under the which he shall not choose but fall: And for his death no wind of blame shall breathe; But even his mother shall uncharge the practice, And call it accident.[1885] _Laer._ My lord, I will be ruled;[1886][1887] The rather, if you could devise it so[1886] 70 That I might be the organ.[1886][1888]