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Line 3806, etc. - Commentary Note (CN) More Information

Notes for lines 2951-end ed. Hardin A. Aasand
For explanation of sigla, such as jen, see the editions bib.
3806 King. O yet defend me friends, I am but hurt.5.2.324
3807-8 Ham. Heare thou incestious <murdrous,>| damned Dane,
1855 Wade
Wade
3807-09 Wade (1855, p. 32): <p. 32> “Thus exclaiming, and enraged beyond the possibility of the occurrence of even a momentary thought to deter him from the deed, he, in the phrensy of his passion, stabs and crams the rest of the envenomed drink down the throat of the infamous king, to whom ‘even-handed justice’ thus ‘Commends the ingredients of his poison’d chalice To his own lips’— and Hamlet, thus, as we have said, fulfils his great mission as by accident—himself perishing under the circumstances attendant upon its impulsive fulfilment: an act which, in the very manner of its accomplishment, ‘loses the name of action.’” </p. 32>
1870 Miles
Miles
3805-6 Miles (1870, p. 84): <p. 84>“They find their voices at last, these lords, attendants, guards and soldiers. But to what purpose? They dare not cross the path of that solitary champion of the grave,—not though invoked by the piteous appeal of their bleeding king!—’O, yet defend me, friends; I am but hurt.’ An instant more, and the hand of Hamlet is on his throat. If the archangel of judgment stood amongst them, they could not crouch more helplessly paralyzed beneath the lifted sword of fire, than before this awful incarnation of doom! [cites 3807-10].” </p. 84>
1877 v1877
v1877=rohrbach
3806 but hurt] Rohrbach (apud Furness, ed. 1877): “Claudius’s last words are characteristic; he says that he is merely wounded, although he knows that the sword which has stabbed him is poisoned. Thus tenacious is he of that which he has, this present life, until Ham. forces down his throat the poisoned drink. To his latest breath he is the type of strength and quick decision. Even his death, his last step, is quick and decided, as had always been his style of action.”
[Ed. HLA: This is Carl Rohrbach’s Shakespeare’s Hamlet published in 1859.]
1882 elze2
elze2
3807 incestious] Elze (ed. 1882): “See note on §23 [341] (Incestuous sheets).”
1934 Wilson
Wilson
3807-08 incestious] Wilson (1934, 2:248) characterizes the Q2 omission of this F1 variant as “certainly omitted.” </p. 248>
1934 cam3
cam3
3806 but hurt] Wilson (ed. 1934): “only wounded.”
1939 kit2
kit2cam3 w/o attribution
3806 hurt
3806 hurt] Kittredge (ed. 1936, Glossary):
1980 pen2
pen2 ≈ standard +
3806 but hurt] Spencer (ed. 1980): “Perhaps he is intended to suppose that the poison on the sword-point has been used up on Hamlet and Laertes.”
1985 cam4
cam4
3805 Edwards (ed. 1985): “This reaction is some indication of what Hamlet has all along had to face in planning to kill the king for a crime unknown to the people. Notice also his concern (([3830-1])) at not having been able to explain the reasons for his action.”
1993 dent
dentoxf4
3805 Andrews (ed. 1993): "What the onlookers appear to mean is that Hamlet is committing treason in attacking the King. Only Hamlet and Horatio know how Claudius obtained his throne and maintained his hold on it. And, apart from Horatio, there is no one else in the Castle with any reason to feel loyal to Hamlet rather than to the man they regard as their duly anointed Sovereign."
3806 3807 3808