Ofr. Rapier and dagger.

Ham. That's two of his weapons; but well. Ofr. The King, Sir, has wage'd with him fix Barbary horfes, against the which he has impon'd, as I take it, fix French rapiers and poniards, with their affigns, as girdle, hangers, and fo: three of the carriages, in faith, are very dear to fancy, very refponfive to the hilts, most delicate carriages, and of very liberal conceit.

Ham. What call you the carriages?

Hor. I knew you must be edified by the margent, ere you had done.

[Afide. Ofr. The carriages, Sir, are the hangers. Ham. The phrafe would be more germane to the matter, if we could carry cannon by our fides; I would it might be hangers till then, But, on; fix Barbary horfes against fix French fwords, their affigns, and three liberal-conceited carriages; that's the French bet against the Danish; why is this impon'd, as you call it?

Ofr. The King, Sir, hath laid, that in a dozen paffes between you and him, he fhall not exceed you three hits; he hath laid on twelve for nine; and it would come to immediate trial, if your Lordship would vouchsafe the answer.

Ham. How if I anfwer no?

Ofr. I mean, my Lord, the oppofition of your perfon in trial.

Ham. Sir, I will walk here in the hall; if it pleafe his Majefty, 'tis 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 fhame, and the odd hits. Ofr. Shall I deliver you fo?

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

Ofr. I commend my duty to your Lordship. [Exit. Ham. Your's, your's; he does well to commend it himself, there are no tongues elfe for's turn.

Hor. This lapwing runs away with the fhell on his leid.

Ham. He did compliment with his dug before he fuck'd it. Thus has he (and many more of the fame

breed,

breed, that I know the droffy age doats 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 trials, the bubbles are out.

Enter a Lord.

Lord. My Lord, his Majefty 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 pleafure hold to play with Laertes, or that you will take longer time?

Ham. I am conftant to my purpofes, they follow the King's pleasure; if his fitnefs fpeaks, mine is ready, now, or whenfoever, provided I be fo able as now. Lord. The King and Queen, and all, are coming down.

Ham. In happy time.

Lord. The Queen defires you to use fome gentle entertainment to Laertes, before you fall to play. Ham. She well inftructs me.

[Exit Lord. Hor. You will lofe 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 wouldst not think how ill all's here about my heart,- -but it is no matter.

Hor. Nay, my good Lord.

Ham. It is but foolery; but it is fuch a kind of gain-giving as would perhaps trouble a woman.

Hor. If your mind diflike any thing, obey it I will foreftal their repair hither, and fay you are not fit.

Ham. Not a whit, we defy augury; there is a fpecial 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, of ought he leaves, knows, what is't to leave betimes? Let be.

Enter King, Queen, Laertes, and Lords, Ofrick, with other attendants with foils and gauntlets. A table, and flaggons of wine on it.

King. Come, Hamlet, come, and take this hand from me. [Gives him the hand of Laertes. Ham. Give me your pardon, Sir; I've done you But pardon't, as you are a gentleman. [wrong; This prefence knows, and you must needs have heard, How I am punifh'd with a fore distraction.

What I have done,

That might your nature, honour, and exception,
Roughly awake, I here proclaim was madnefs:
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 fo,
Hamlet is of the faction that is wrong'd;
His madness is poor Hamlet's enemy.
Let my difclaiming from a purpos'd evil,
Free me fo far in your most generous thoughts,
That I have shot mine arrow o'er the house,
And hurt my brother.

Laer. I am fatisfied in nature,

Whose motive, in this cafe, fhould ftir me moft
To my revenge: but in my terms of honour
I ftand aloof, and will no reconcilement;
Till by fome elder masters of known honour
I have a voice, and prefident 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.

Laer. Come, one for me.

Ham. I'll be your foil, Laertes; in mine ignorance

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

Stick fiery off, indeed.

Laer.

Laer. You mock me, Sir.

Ham. No, by this hand.

King. Give them the foils, young Ofrick. Hamlet, you know the wager.

Ham. Well, my Lord;

Your Grace hath laid the odds o' th' weaker fide.
King. I do not fear it, I have feen you both:
But fince he's better'd, we have therefore odds.
Laer. This is too heavy, let me fee another.
Ham. This likes me well; thefe foils have all a length.
[Prepares to play.

Ofr. Ay, my good Lord.

King. Set me the ftoops of wine upon that table: If Hamlet gives the first or fecond hit, Or quit in anfwer of the third exchange, Let all the battlements their ordnance fire; The King fhall drink to Hamlet's better breath : And in the cup an union * fhall he throw, Richer than that which four fucceffive Kings In Denmark's crown have worn. Give me the cups: And let the kettle to the trumpets fpeak,

The trumpets to the canoneer without,

Come, begin,

The cannons to the heav'ns, the heav'ns to earth :
Now the King drinks to Hamlet.---
And you the judges bear a wary eye.

Ham. Come on, Sir.

Laer. Come, my Lord.

-again

[They play

King. Stay, give me drink. Hamlet, this pearl is

thine,

Here's to thy health. Give him the cup.

[Trumpets found, hot goes off. Ham. I'll play this bout firft, fet it by a while.

Come

another hit-what fay you?

Laer. A touch, a touch, I do confefs.

[They play.

* Union hath been a name in all times given to one of the richeft

forts of pearls, See Plin. nat. hift.

King. Our fon fhall win.

Queen. He's fat, and feant of breath.

Here, Hamlet, take my napkin, rub thy brows;
The Queen caroufes to thy fortune, Hamlet.
Ham. Good Madam,-

King, Gertrude, do not drink.

Queen. I will, my Lord: I pray you pardon me.

[Drinks. King. It is the poifon'd cup, it is too late. [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 almoft againft my confcience..

[Afide.

Ham. Come, for the third, Laertes, you but dally;

I pray you pafs with your best violence;

I am afraid you make a wanton of me.

Laer. Say you fo? come on.

Ofr. Nothing neither way.

Laer. Have at you now.

[Play.

[Laertes wounds Hamlet; then, in fcuffing they change rapiers, and Hamlet wounds Laertes.

King. Part them, they are incens'd.

Ham. Nay, come again

Ofr. Look to the Queen there, ho!

Hor. They bleed on both fides. How is't, my Lord? Ofr. How is't, Laertes?

Laer. Why, as a woodcock to my own fpringe, Of

I'm juftly kill'd with mine own treachery.

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 poifon'd-

[rick,

[Queen dies. Ham. Oh villany! ho! let the door be lock'd : Treachery feek it out

Laer. It is here. Hamlet, thou art flain; No medicine in the world can do thee good. In thee there is not half an hour of life; The treach'rous inftrument is in thy hand, Unbated and invenom'd; the foul practice Hath turn'd itself on me. Lo, here I lie,