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For art and exercise in your defence,
And for your rapier most especial,

That he cried out, 'twould be a sight indeed
If one could match you.

Sir, this report of his

Did Hamlet so envenom with his envy
That he could nothing do but wish and beg
Your sudden coming o'er, to play with him.
Now, out of this-

LAERTES.

What out of this, my lord?

KING.

Hamlet return'd shall know you are come home: We'll put on those shall praise your excellence And set a double varnish on the fame

The Frenchman gave you; bring you in fine together

And wager on your heads: he, being remiss,
Most generous and free from all contriving,
Will not peruse the foils, so that with ease,
Or with a little shuffling, you may choose
A sword unbated, and in a pass of practice
Requite him for your father.

LAERTES.

I will do 't;

And for that purpose I'll anoint my sword.
I bought an unction of a mountebank,
So mortal that but dip a knife in it,
Where it draws blood no cataplasm so rare,
Collected from all simples that have virtue
Under the moon, can save the thing from death
That is but scratch'd withal: I'll touch my

point

With this contagion, that, if I gall him slightly, It may be death.

[graphic]

THERE, ON THE PENDENT BOUGHS HER CORONET WEEDS CLAMBERING TO HANG, AN ENVIOUS SLIVER BROKE;

WHEN DOWN HER WEEDY TROPHIES AND HERSELF FELL IN THE WEEPING BROOK."

KING.

Let's further think of this We'll make a solemn wager on your cunnings: I ha't:

When in your motion you are hot and dry-
As make your bouts more violent to that end-
And that he calls for drink, I'll have prepared him
A chalice for the nonce; whereon but sipping,
If he by chance escape your venom'd stuck,
purpose may hold there.

Our

Enter QUEEN.

QUEEN.

One woe doth tread upon another's heel,
So fast they follow: your sister's drown'd, Laertes.

LAERTES.

Drown'd! O, where?

QUEEN.

There is a willow grows aslant a brook,

That shows his hoar leaves in the glassy stream;
There with fantastic garlands did she come
Of crow-flowers, nettles, daisies, and long purples;
There, on the pendent boughs her coronet weeds
Clambering to hang, an envious sliver broke;
When down her weedy trophies and herself
Fell in the weeping brook.

Enter MARCELLUS and a SOLDIER, bearing the body of OPHELIA and followed by ladies and courtiers. LAERTES.

I forbid my tears: but yet

It is our trick; nature her custom holds,

Let shame say what it will.

Adieu, my lord:

I have a speech of fire that fain would blaze,
But that this folly doubts it.

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