What I have done, That might your nature, honour, and exception, And, when he's not himself, does wrong Laertes, Let my disclaiming from a purpos'd evil Free me so far in your most generous thoughts, And hurt my brother. Laer. To keep my name ungor'd:7 But till that time, And will not wrong it. Ham. I embrace it freely; And will this brother's wager frankly play. Give us the foils; come on. Laer. Come, one for me. Ham. I'll be your foil, Laertes; in mine ignorance Your skill shall, like a star i'the darkest night, Stick fiery off indeed. 7 Unwounded. Laer. You mock me, sir. Ham. No, by this hand. King. Give them the foils, young Osric.-Cousin Hamlet, You know the wager? Ham. Very well, my lord; Your grace hath laid the odds o'the weaker side. King. I do not fear it: I have seen you both:But since he's better'd, we have therefore odds. Laer. This is too heavy, let me see another. Ham..This likes me well: These foils have all a [They prepare to play. length? Osr. Ay, my good lord. 8 King. Set me the stoups of wine upon that table: If Hamlet give the first or second hit, Or quit in answer of the third exchange, ; The king shall drink to Hamlet's better breath; The trumpet to the cannoneer without, The cannons to the heavens, the heaven to earth, Now the king drinks to Hamlet.-Come, begin;And you, the judges, bear a wary eye. Ham. Osr. A hit, a very palpable hit. Laer. Judgment. Well,-again. King. Stay, give me drink: Hamlet, this pearl is thine; Here's to thy health.-Give him the cup. [Trumpets sound; and Cannon shot off within. Ham. I'll play this bout first, set it by awhile. Laer. A touch, a touch, I do confess. Queen. [They play. He's fat, and scant of breath. Here, Hamlet, take my napkin,' 'rub thy brows: Ham. Good madam, King. Gertrude, do not drink. Queen. I will, my lord;-I pray you, pardon me. King. It is the poison'd cup; it is too late. [Aside. Ham. I dare not drink yet, madam; by and by. Laer. My lord, I'll hit him now. King. I do not think it. Laer. And yet it is almost against my conscience. [Aside. Ham. Come, for the third, Laertes: You do but dally; I pray you, pass with your best violence; I am afeard, you make a wanton3 of me. Laer. Say you so? come on. [They play. I Handkerchief. 2 Drinks good luck to you. 3 Boy. Osr. Nothing neither way. Laer. Have at you now. King. [LAERTES wounds HAMLET; then, in scuf fling, they change Rapiers, and HAMLET wounds LAERTES. Part them, they are incens'd. Ham. Nay, come again. Osr. [The Queen falls. Look to the queen there, ho! Hor. They bleed on both sides:-How is it, my lord? Osr. How is't, Laertes? Laer. Why, as a woodcock to my own springe, Osric; I am justly kill'd with mine own treachery. Ham. How does the queen? King. She swoons to see them bleed. Queen. No, no, the drink, the drink,-O my dear Hamlet! The drink, the drink;-I am poison'd! [Dies Ham. O villainy!-Ho! let the door be lock'd: Treachery! seek it out. [LAERTES falls. Laer. It is here, Hamlet: Hamlet, thou art slain; No medicine in the world can do thee good, The treacherous instrument is in thy hand, 4 Hath turn'd itself on me; lo, here I lie, 4 The foil without a button, and poisoned point. Envenom'd too!-Then, venom, to thy work. [Stabs the King. Osr.& Lords. Treason! treason! Dane, Drink off this potion :-Is the union here? Follow my mother. Laer. [King dies. He is justly serv'd; -- It is a poison temper'd by himself.- [Dies. Ham. Heaven make thee free of it! I follow thee. 6 I am dead, Horatio:-Wretched queen, adieu!- Hor. Never believe it; I am more an antique Roman than a Dane, Ham. As thou'rt a man, Give me the cup; let go; by heaven I'll have it.— Absent thee from felicity awhile, 5 Mixed, A sergeant is a sheriff's officer. |