HAMLET The phrase would be more germane to the matter if we could carry a cannon by our sides. I would it might be ‘hangers’ till then. But on. Six Barbary horses against six French swords, their assigns and three liberal-conceited carriages – that’s the French bet against the Danish. Why, is this all you call it?
OSRIC The King, sir, hath laid, sir, that in a dozen passes between yourself and him he shall not exceed you three hits. He hath laid on twelve for nine, and it would come to immediate trial if your lordship would vouchsafe the answer.
HAMLET How if I answer no?
OSRIC I mean, my lord, the opposition of your person in trial. (5.2.140-153)
Hamlet can’t resist quibbling about words; here it’s the affectation of calling the hangers of swords carriages; swords hang, he’s pointing out, they’re not carried, the phrase would be more germane to the matter, more appropriate and sensible, if we could carry a cannon by our sides (because carriage implies wheels, such as would be needed for the big guns) I would it might be ‘hangers’ (and he’s allowed to do scare quotes here) till then. Let’s stick with the generally agreed terms, yes? But on. As you were saying. Six Barbary horses against six French swords, their assigns and three liberal-conceited carriages. It’s a lot, those amazing horses on one side, being bet by my uncle, against those smart French blades with all their accessories, including those flashy new hanger things, whatever you want to call them. That’s the French bet against the Danish, Laertes the Frenchified dandy with his newfangled weapons, versus the horses from the Danish royal stable? Why, is this all you call it? Is that it?
Osric comes to the detail of the actual wager, having set out what’s—apparently—at stake: the King, sir, hath laid, sir, that in a dozen passes between yourself and him he shall not exceed you three hits. What matters is that this is set up as a formal fencing bout, not a duel, each pass a separate movement, continuing until there is a hit, a touch—and Claudius is betting that it’ll be close, but that Laertes will still win; he’s flattering Hamlet by suggesting that he will largely hold his own. He hath laid on twelve for nine—that’s what he thinks it’ll end up being, specifically—and it would come to immediate trial if your lordship would vouchsafe the answer. That’s it, that’s the crucial bit. Claudius and Laertes are waiting; they want to do this right now. They’re waiting to see how Hamlet responds.
How if I answer no? this isn’t just, what if I say I can’t come right away, it’s, what if I refuse the challenge? Osric clarifies, to remove any ambiguity, yes, this is what they’re waiting to hear, will you accept? I mean, my lord, the opposition of your person in trial? Well? This is the crux of Osric’s mission—and the audience know what’s really at stake, what Hamlet (and Horatio) can only suspect.
