Page 360 - Hamlet: The Cambridge Dover Wilson Shakespeare

5.2. N O T E S 253

to be self-willed, but are rather to take counsail and aduise
both of their freends and experienced men, and if there be
cause to iudge this course necessarie in anye matter, it ought
cheefelye to bee in such cases, wherein a mans life and honour
is touched, for we see that euen the wisest sorte to study and
endeuour by all meanes possible to furnish themselues with
men experienced and seene in chiualrye and armes, that they
maye bee counsailed and aduised by them, and may in such
sort wish them to the field, as may best stand with reason,
which office may onely be executed by learned men and
gentlemen, wherof the first are tearmed counsailors and the
second Padrini.
247. voice and precedent i.e. 'authoritative pro-
nouncement, justified by precedent' (Dowden).
253. your foil A quibble, v. G. 'foil.' There is
dramatic irony too; the two men are 'foils' to each other.
257.* Give them... Osric I assume from 1. 304 that
Osric is an accomplice in the plot, the arrangements of
which were, I think, as follows: the poisoned and un-
bated sword was brought in with the bated foils, from
which it was indistinguishable except on close scrutiny,
and placed upon a side-table; at the K.'s command Osric
then brings forward a few of the latter and the fencers
take their choice; whereupon the K. engages Ham. in
conversation, while Laer., complaining of the foil he has
selected, goes to the table and picks up the fatal weapon.
It was the duty of the judges to see that everything was
in order, so that the unbated sword could not have been
introduced without the knowledge of one of them—
a point the Eliz. audience would appreciate, while
significant glances on the part of the K., Laer. and Osric
while the scheme went forward would make everything
clear.
259. laid... side = stipulated that the weaker should
have odds, i.e. you were well-advised to secure me a
good handicap.
261. bettered(Fi) Q2 'better.' v.G. 'Notnaturally
superior, trained by Parisian fencers,' Dowden (cf.