_Ham._ Up from my cabin, My sea-gown scarf'd about me, in the dark[2148] Groped I to find out them; had my desire,[2149] Finger'd their packet, and in fine withdrew 15 To mine own room again; making so bold,[2150][2151] My fears forgetting manners, to unseal[2151][2152] Their grand commission; where I found, Horatio,-- O royal knavery!--an exact command,[2153] Larded with many several sorts of reasons,[2154] 20 Importing Denmark's health and England's too, With, ho! such bugs and goblins in my life,[2155] That, on the supervise, no leisure bated, No, not to stay the grinding of the axe,[2156] My head should be struck off.[2157] _Hor._ Is't possible? 25 _Ham._ Here's the commission: read it at more leisure. But wilt thou hear now how I did proceed?[2158] _Hor._ I beseech you.[2159] _Ham._ Being thus be-netted round with villanies,--[2160][2161] Or I could make a prologue to my brains,[2160][2162] 30 They had begun the play,--I sat me down;[2160][2163] Devised a new commission; wrote it fair: I once did hold it, as our statists do, A baseness to write fair, and labour'd much[2164] How to forget that learning; but, sir, now 35 It did me yeoman's service: wilt thou know[2165] The effect of what I wrote?[2166] _Hor._ Ay, good my lord. _Ham._ An earnest conjuration from the king, As England was his faithful tributary, As love between them like the palm might flourish,[2167] 40 As peace should still her wheaten garland wear And stand a comma 'tween their amities,[2168] And many such-like 'As'es of great charge,[2169] That, on the view and knowing of these contents,[2170] Without debatement further, more or less, 45 He should the bearers put to sudden death,[2171] Not shriving-time allow'd.[2172] _Hor._ How was this seal'd? _Ham._ Why, even in that was heaven ordinant.[2173] I had my father's signet in my purse, Which was the model of that Danish seal: 50 Folded the writ up in the form of the other;[2174] Subscribed it; gave't the impression; placed it safely,[2175] The changeling never known. Now, the next day[2176] Was our sea-fight; and what to this was sequent[2177] Thou know'st already.[2178] 55 _Hor._ So Guildenstern and Rosencrantz go to't.[2179] _Ham._ Why, man, they did make love to this employment;[2180] They are not near my conscience; their defeat[2181] Does by their own insinuation grow:[2182] 'Tis dangerous when the baser nature comes[2183] 60 Between the pass and fell incensed points[2184] Of mighty opposites.