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"sheep and calves"
Metaphor
Act 5,
Scene 1
Lines 106-109

An explanation of Hamlet’s “sheep and calves” metaphor in Act 5, Scene 1 of myShakespeare’s Hamlet.

Hamlet

Is not parchment made of sheepskins?

Horatio

Ay, my lord, and of calves' skins too.

Hamlet

They are sheep and calves which seek out assurance in that. –    
I will speak to this fellow.

Sheep and calf skin provide the parchment on which assurances (land transfers) are written. So, in this metaphor, Hamlet is saying that people who seek assurance (security) in paper documents are as stupid as sheep or calves.