King. Give them the foils, young Osrick.— 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. 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 cannons to the heavens, the heaven to earth, 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 a-while. Come.-Another hit; What say you? [They play. Laer. A touch, a touch, I do confess. King. Our son shall win. Queen. He's fat, and scant of breath.— Here, Hamlet, take my napkin, rub thy brows: 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. I do not think it. King. [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 wanton of me. Laer. Say you so? come on. Osr. Nothing neither way. Laer. Have at you now. [They play. [Laertes wounds Hamlet; then, in scuffling, they change rapiers, and Hamlet wounds Laertes. King. 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, Osrick; I am justly kill'd with mine own treachery. King. The drink, the drink;-I am poison'd! [Dies. 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. Osr.& Lords. Treason! treason! [Stabs the King. King. O, yet defend me, friends, I am but hurt. Ham. Here, thou incestuous, murd'rous, damned Dane, [King dies. Drink off this potion:-Is the union here? Follow my mother. He is justly serv'd; It is a poison temper'd by himself.- [Dies. Ham. Heaven make thee free of it! I follow thee. I am dead, Horatio:-Wretched queen, adieu!You that look pale and tremble at this chance, That are but mutes or audience to this act, Had I but time, (as this fell sergeant, death, Is strict in his arrest,) O, I could tell But let it be:-Horatio, I am dead; Thou liv'st; report me and my cause aright To the unsatisfied. Hor. Never believe it; you, I am more an antique Roman than a Dane, Here's yet some liquor left. As thou'rt a man, Ham. 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 spirit; So tell him, with the occurrents, more and less, And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest! 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, That thou so many princes, at a shot, So bloodily hast struck? 1 Amb. The sight is dismal; And our affairs from England come too late: The ears are senseless, that should give us hearing, To tell him, his commandment is fulfill'd, That Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead: Where should we have our thanks? Hor. Not from his mouth, |