HAMLET         The concernancy, sir – why do we wrap the gentleman in our more rawer breath?

OSRIC  Sir?

HORATIO        Is’t not possible to understand in another tongue? You will do’t, sir, really.

HAMLET         What imports the nomination of this gentleman?

OSRIC  Of Laertes.

HORATIO        His purse is empty already – all’s golden words are spent.

HAMLET         Of him, sir.

OSRIC  I know you are not ignorant –

HAMLET         I would you did, sir. Yet, in faith, if you did, it would not much approve me. Well, sir?       (5.2.107-120)

The concernancy, sir—what’s the matter, what’s the point of all this? how is this relevant? why do we wrap the gentleman in our more rawer breath? why are we even talking about Laertes, when it’s clear that we are not worthy to utter his name? Um, sir?? Horatio joins in, trying to hurry things along: is’t not possible to understand in another tongue? could you translate yourself, try to explain in words of one syllable, perhaps? you will do’t, sir, really—go on, just try! you can do it? Hamlet’s not giving up yet, quite, though: what imports the nomination of this gentleman? why have you come here to talk about Laertes? Of Laertes, yes, Osric confirms. (Some editors add a question mark.) He’s run out of nice things to say now, suggests Horatio, can’t cope with a simple question; his purse is empty already—all’s golden words are spent. But Hamlet’s now being the patient one, yes, of him, sir. Osric has recovered a little, perhaps: I know you are not ignorant—let me stop you right there, Hamlet more or less says. I would you did, sir; yeah, right, enough of the elaborate courtesies, you don’t think much of me at all. Yet, in faith, if you did (think I were ignorant) it would not much approve me. What you think of me is makes no difference at all; your opinion counts for nothing. (Hamlet is still the prince, as capable of rudely pulling rank with a put-down as he is of rhetorical sparring.) Well, sir? Out with it. What’s the big deal with Laertes?