'Laer. You mock me, Sir. Ham. No, by this haud. King. Give them the foils, young Osrick. You know the wager? Cousin Hamlet, 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 length? [They prepare to play. Osr. Ay, my good Lord. King. Set me the stoups of wine upon that table: If Hamlet give the first or second hit, The trumpet to the cannoneer without, The cannons to the heavens, the heaven to earth, Now the King drinks to Hamlet. gin; And you, the judges, bear a wary eye. Ham. Come on, Sir. Laer, Come, my Lord. Ham. One. Laer. No. Ham. Judgment. Osr. A hit, a very palpable hit. Laer. Well, again. Come, be [They play. 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. Come. Another hit; What say you? [They play. Laer. A touch, a touch, 1 do confess. King. Our son shall win. Queen. He's fat, and scant of breath.· Here, Hamlet, take my napkin, rub thy brows! The Queen carouses to thy fortune, Hamlet. 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. Queen. Come, let me wipe thy face. 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; [They play I am afeard, you make a wanton of me. Laer. Have at you now. [LAERTES wounds HAMLET; then, in scuffling, they change rapiers, and HAMLET wounds LAERTES. King. Part them, they are incens'd. Ham. Nay, come again, [The QUEEN falls. Osr. Look to the Queen there, ho! How is it, my Lord? Hor. They bleed on both sides:→ Y. J. Osr. How is't, Laertes? Laer. Why, as a woodcock to my own springe, I am justly kill'd with mine own treachery. King. She swoons to see them bleed. O my [Dies. The drink, the drink;-I am poison'd! Treachery! see it out.. [Laertes falls. Laer. It is here Hamlet: Hamlet, thou art slain; No medicine in the world can do thee good, Envenom'd too! - Then, venom, to thy work." [Stabs the KING. Osr. and Lords. Treason! treason! hurt. Ham. Here, thon incestuous, murd'rous, damhed Dane, Drink off this potion:Is the union here? Follow my mother. Laer. He is justly serv'd; [KING dies. Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Hamlet a Miae and my father's death come not upon thee: Nor thine on me! [Dies. Ham. Heaven make thee free of it! I follow. the. I am dead, Horatio : — Wretched Queen, adieu !— Thou liv'st; report me and my cause aright 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 O God! Horatio, what a wounded name, Things standing thus unknown, shall live behind me? ; If thou didst ever hold me in thy heart, And in this harsh world draw thy breath in pain, [March afar off, and shot within. 'What warlike noise is this? Osr. Young Fortinbras, with conquest come from Poland, To the ambassadors of England gives This warlike volley. Ham. O, I die, Horatio; The potent poison quite o'er-crows my spirits; On Fortinbras; he has my dying voice; So tell him, with the occurrents, more and less, Which have solicited, The rest is silence. [Dies. Hor. Now cracks a noble heart: Good night, - sweet Prince; And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest! Why does the drum come hither? [March within. Enter FORTINBRAS, the English Ambassadors, and Others. Fort. Where is this sight? Hor. What is it, you would see? If aught of woe, or wonder, cease your search. Fort. This quarry cries on havock! -O proud death! What feast is toward in thine eternal cell, So bloodily hast struck? 1. Amb. The sight is dismal; And our affairs from England come too late: Hor. Not from his mouth, Had it the ability of life to thank you; And let me speak, to the yet unknowing world, Of accidental judgements, casual slaughters; |