English History

  • Poets
    • Byron
      • Letters
      • Poems
    • Keats
      • Letters
      • Poetry
    • Shakespeare
      • Poetry
      • Plays
    • Tennyson
  • Middle Ages
  • Vikings
  • Romans
  • Kings and Queens
    • Stuarts
    • Tudor
  • About
    • History of English Art
    • Privacy & Cookie Policy
    • Contact
    • The Right to Display Public Domain Images
    • Author & Reference Information For Students

Osric

Osric is a minor yet important character in Hamlet.

Osric first appears in Act V, Scene ii. He was sent by the king, to invite Hamlet to a duel with Laertes, during which the conspirators plan to murder Hamlet.

Osric presides over the duel and acts as referee. During the course of the play all of the people who have been brought into King Claudius’ plot against Hamlet die.

Osric is the sole survivor.

Osric’s Lines in Hamlet

#Act, Scene, LineSpeech text
1V,2,3737Your lordship is right welcome back to Denmark.
2V,2,3745Sweet lord, if your lordship were at leisure, I should impart
a thing to you from his Majesty.
3V,2,3749I thank your lordship, it is very hot.
4V,2,3751It is indifferent cold, my lord, indeed.
5V,2,3753Exceedingly, my lord; it is very sultry, as ’twere- I cannot
tell how. But, my lord, his Majesty bade me signify to you that
he has laid a great wager on your head. Sir, this is the matter-
6V,2,3758Nay, good my lord; for mine ease, in good faith. Sir, here is
newly come to court Laertes; believe me, an absolute gentleman,
full of most excellent differences, of very soft society and
great showing. Indeed, to speak feelingly of him, he is the card
or calendar of gentry; for you shall find in him the continent of
what part a gentleman would see.
7V,2,3770Your lordship speaks most infallibly of him.
8V,2,3773Sir?
9V,2,3777Of Laertes?
10V,2,3781I know you are not ignorant-
11V,2,3784You are not ignorant of what excellence Laertes is-
12V,2,3787I mean, sir, for his weapon; but in the imputation laid on him
by them, in his meed he’s unfellowed.
13V,2,3790Rapier and dagger.
14V,2,3792The King, sir, hath wager’d with him six Barbary horses;
against the which he has impon’d, as I take it, six French
rapiers and poniards, with their assigns, as girdle, hangers, and
so. Three of the carriages, in faith, are very dear to fancy,
very responsive to the hilts, most delicate carriages, and of
very liberal conceit.
15V,2,3801The carriages, sir, are the hangers.
16V,2,3807The King, sir, hath laid 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.
17V,2,3812I mean, my lord, the opposition of your person in trial.
18V,2,3818Shall I redeliver you e’en so?
19V,2,3820I commend my duty to your lordship.
20V,2,3909Ay, my good lord.
21V,2,3928A hit, a very palpable hit.
22V,2,3954Nothing neither way.
23V,2,3959Look to the Queen there, ho!
24V,2,3961How is’t, Laertes?
25V,2,4011Young Fortinbras, with conquest come from Poland,
To the ambassadors of England gives
This warlike volley.

Link/cite this page

If you use any of the content on this page in your own work, please use the code below to cite this page as the source of the content.

Link will appear as Hanson, Marilee. "Osric" https://englishhistory.net/shakespeare/character/osric/, February 24, 2022

Search English History

Learn About Shakespeare

  • William Shakespeare
  • Shakespeare Biography
  • Shakespeare Plays
  • Shakespeare Sonnets
  • Shakespeare Quotes
  • Elizabethan Theatre
  • Queen Elizabeth I

Popular Posts

The Destruction of Sennacherib – Lord Byron Poem
John Keats Letters To Fanny Brawne, May 1820 collection
Quiz 2: Mary, queen of Scots
Letters From Joseph Severn to William Haslam
When I have fears that I may cease to be by John Keats
William Blake
Medieval Food and Drink
Plantagenet Queens
Thomas Percy
King James I (1603 – 1625): The First King of the United Kingdom

The Tudors

Lord Byron

John Keats

shakespeare

Copyright © 1999-2025 All Rights Reserved.
English History
Other Sites: Make A Website Hub