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All Site ContentHamletAct 5Scene 2
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"as'es of great charge"
Language
Act 5,
Scene 2
Lines 38-47a

An explanation of wordplay in Act 5, Scene 2 of myShakespeare’s Hamlet.

Hamlet

An earnest conjuration from the king:
As England was his faithful tributary,
As love between them, like the palm, should flourish,
As peace should still her wheaten garland wear
(And stand a comma 'tween their amities 
And many such like “as’s” of great charge)    
That on the view and know of these contents,
Without debatement further more or less,
He should the bearers put to sudden death,
Not shriving time allowed.

Horatio

Hamlet

Horatio

Hamlet

Horatio 

Hamlet

Horatio

Hamlet

Horatio

[Enter young Osric, a courtier.]

Osric

Hamlet

Horatio

Hamlet 

Osric   

[With his hat in his hand]

Hamlet

Osric   

Hamlet

Osric

Hamlet

Osric

Hamlet   

[Motioning for Osric to put on his hat.] 

Osric

Hamlet   

Osric   

Hamlet   

Osric

Hamlet   

Horatio

Osric   

Hamlet

Osric

Hamlet   

Osric

Hamlet

Osric   

Hamlet

Osric   

Hamlet   

[Exit Osric.] 

Horatio

Hamlet

Horatio   

Hamlet

Horatio   

Hamlet

Horatio

Hamlet

This line refers to the fact that important sounding phrases starting with “as”. But it can also refer to asses, or mules, bearing heavy loads (charges).