dotes on) only got the tune of the time, and outward habit of encounter, a kind of yefty collection, which carries them through and through the moft fond and winnowed opinions; and do but blow them to their tryals, the bubbles are out. Enter a Lord. Lord. My lord, his majesty commended him to you by young Ofrick, who brings back to him, that you attend him in the hall; he fends to know if your pleasure hold to play with Laertes, or that you will take longer time? Ham. I am constant to my purposes, they follow the King's pleasure; if his fitness speaks, mine is ready, now or whensoever, provided I be so able as now. Lord. The King and Queen and all are coming down, Ham. In happy time. Lord. The Queen defires you to use some gentle entertainment to Laertes, before you fall to play., Ham. She well inftructs me. Hor. You will lose this wager, my lord. Ham. I do not think fo; fince he went into France, I have been in continual practice; I fhall win at the odds. But thou wouldft not think how ill all's here about my heart--- but it is no matter. Hor. Nay, good my lord. Ham. It is but foolery; but it is fuch a kind of game-giving as would perhaps trouble a woman. Hor. If your mind dislike any thing, obey it. I will forestal their repair hither, and fay you are not fit. Ham. Not a whit, we defy augury; there's special providence in the fall of a fparrow. If it be now, 'tis not to come; if it be not to come, it will be now: ifit be not now, yet it will come: the readiness is all. Since no man has ought of what he leaves, what is't to leave betimes? SCENE Enter King, Queen, Laertes and lords, with other attendants with foils, and gantlets. A table, and flagons of wine on it. King. Come, Hamlet, come, and take this hand from me. Ham. Give me your pardon, Sir, I've done you wrong, But pardon't, as you are a gentleman. This presence knows, and you must needs have heard What I have done That might your nature, honour, and exception And when he's not himself, do's wrong Laertes; b And hurt my brother. Laer. I am fatisfied in nature, Whose motive, in this case, should stir me most To keep my name ungor'd. But 'till that time, And will not wrong it. Ham. Ham. I embrace it freely, And will this brother's wager frankly play. Give us the foils: Laer. Come one for me. Ham. I'll be your foil, Laertes; in mine ignorance Your skill shall like a ftar i'th' darkest night Stick fiery off, indeed. Laer. You mock me, Sir. King. Give them the foils, young Ofrick. Ham. Well, my lord, Your grace hath laid the odds o'th' weaker fide. Ofr. Ay, my good lord. King. Set me the stoops of wine upon that table: Or quit in answer of the third exchange, The King fhall drink to Hamlet's better breath, In Denmark's crown have worn. Give me the cups, The cannons to the heav'ns, the heav'ns to earth. Ham. Come on, Sir. c union. Laer. Here's to thy health. Give him the cup. King. Stay, give me drink. Hamlet, this pearl is thine, [Trumpet found, Shot goes off. Ham. I'll play this bout first, set it by a while. Come- another bit ---- what say you? 1881 Laer. A touch, a touch, I do confefs. Queen. He's fat, and scant of breath. Here, Hamlet, take my napkin, rub thy brows, King. Gertrude, do not drink. [They play. Queen. I will, my lord; I pray you pardon me. [afide. Ham. I dare not drink yet, madam, by and by. Queen. Come, let me wipe thy face. Laer. I'll hit him now. King. I do not think't. Laer. And yet it is almost against my conscience. [afide. Ham. Come, for the third, Laertes, you but dally, I pray you pass with your best violence, I am afraid you make a wanton of me. Laer. Say you fo? come on. [Play. Ofr. Nothing neither way. Laer. Have at you now. [Laertes wounds Hamlet, then in Scuffling they change Nan 2 King. 1 Ofr. Look to the Queen there, ho! Hor. They bleed on both fides. How is't, my lord? Laer. Why, as a woodcock to my own fprindge, Ofrick, Ham. How does the Queen? King. She fwoons to fee them bleed. Queen. No, no, the drink, the drink Oh my dear Hamlet, the drink, the drink,I am poison❜d - 1611 Ham. Oh villany! hoe! let the door be lock'd: Treachery! feek it out--- Laer. It is here. Hamlet, thou art flain, I can no more the King, the King's to blame. [Queen dies. Then venom to thy work. [Stabs the King. All. Treafon, treason. King. O yet defend me, friends, I am but hurt. Ham. Here thou incestuous, murd'rous, damned Dane, Drink off this potion: is the onyx here? Follow my mother. [King dies. Laer. He is justly ferv'd. It is a poison temper'd by himself. Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Hamlet; d the union. Mine |