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"This lapwing runs away"
Metaphor
Act 5,
Scene 2
Lines 139-148

An explanation of the “lapwing” metaphor in Act 5, Scene 2 of myShakespeare’s Hamlet.

Hamlet   

He does well to commend it himself; there are no
tongues else for's turn.    

Horatio

This lapwing runs away with the shell on his head.    

Hamlet

He did comply with his dug before he sucked it.
Thus has he — and many more of the same bevy that I
know the drossy age dotes on — only got the tune of the time
and outward habit of encounter, a kind of yeasty
collection, which carries them through and through
the most fanned and winnowed opinions.
And do but blow them to their trials, the bubbles are out.

In this metaphor, Osric’s scurrying away is compared to a lapwing chick, famous for running around frantically as soon as they are hatched.