that would come to immediate trial, if your lordship would vouchsafe the answer.

Ham. How, if I answer, no?

Osr. I mean, my lord, the opposition of your person in trial.

Ham. Sir, I will walk here in the hall: if it please his Majesty, it is the breathing time of day with me, let the foils be brought, the gentleman willing, and the King hold his purpose, I will win for him, if I can; if not, I'll gain nothing but my shame and the odd hits.

Osr. Shall I redeliver you e'en so?

Ham. To this effect, sir; after what flourish your nature will.

Osr. I commend my duty to your lordship. [Exit. Ham. Yours, yours. He does well to commend it himself; there are no tongues else for's turn. Hor. This lapwing runs away with the shell on his head.

Ham. He did comply with his dug before he suck'd 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 yesty collection, which carries them through and through the most fann'd and winnowed opinions; and do but blow them to their trial, the bubbles are out.

[Enter a Lord.

Lord. My lord, his Majesty commended him to you by young Osric, who brings back to him, that you attend him in the hall: he sends 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 desires you to use some gentle entertainment to Laertes, before you fall to play. She well instructs me.]

Ham. [Exit Lord. Hor. You will lose this wager, my lord.

Ham. I do not think so: since he went into France, I have been in continual practice; I shall win at the odds. But thou wouldest 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 such a kind of gaingiving as would, perhaps, trouble a WO

man.

Hor. If your mind dislike any thing, obey it: I will forestall their repair hither, and say you are not fit.

་

Ham. Not a whit; we defy augury: there is a special providence in the fall of a sparrow. If it be now, 'tis not to come; if it be not to come, it will be now; if it be not now, yet it will come: the readiness is all. Since no man has aught of what he leaves, what is't to leave betimes? [Let be.]

Enter King, Queen, LAERTES, Lords, OSRIC, and Attendants with foils, &c.

King. Come, Hamlet, come, and take this hand

from me.

[The King puts LAERTES' hand into HAMLET's. 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, how I am pun

ish'd

With sore distraction. What I have done,

That might your nature, honour, and exception,
Roughly awake, I here proclaim was madness.
Was't Hamlet wrong'd Laertes? Never Hamlet:
If Hamlet from himself be ta'en away,

And when he's not himself does wrong Laertes,
Then Hamlet does it not; Hamlet denies it.
Who does it then? His madness.

If't be so,

Hamlet is of the faction that is wrong'd;

His madness is poor Hamlet's enemy.

Sir, in this audience,

Let my disclaiming from a purpos'd evil

Free me so far in your most generous thoughts,
That I have shot mine arrow o'er the house,

And hurt my brother.

I am satisfied in nature,

Laer.
Whose motive, in this case, should stir me most
To my revenge: but in my terms of honour,

I stand aloof, and will no reconcilement,
Till by some elder masters, of known honour,

I have a voice and precedent of peace,

To keep my name ungor'd. But till that time,
I do receive your offer'd love like love,

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 igno

rance

Your skill shall, like a star i' th' darkest night,

Stick fiery off indeed.

Laer.

You mock me, sir.

Ham. No, by this hand.

King. Give them the foils, young Osric.

Hamlet,

You know the wager?

Ham.

Very well, my lord;

Cousin

Your Grace hath laid the odds o' th' weaker side. King. I do not fear it: I have seen you both; But since he is 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 stoops of wine upon that

table.

If Hamlet give the first or second hit,

Or quit in answer of the third exchange,

Let all the battlements their ordnance fire;

The King shall drink to Hamlet's better breath:
And in the cup an union shall he throw,
Richer than that which four successive kings

In Denmark's crown have worn. Give me the cups;
And let the kettle to the trumpet speak,

The trumpeter to the cannoneer without,

The cannons to the heavens, the heavens to earth, "Now the King drinks to Hamlet!"

gin;

And you, the judges, bear a wary eye.

Come, be

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. Another hit; what say you?

Come.

Laer. A touch; a touch, I do confess.

King. Our son shall win.

Queen.

[They play.

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. [Aside.] It is the poison'd cup! it is too

late.

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 't.

Laer. [Aside.] And yet it is almost against my

conscience.

Ham. Come, for the third, Laertes. You 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.

[They play.

[LAERTES wounds HAMLET; then, in scuffling they change rapiers, and HAMLET wounds