No, by this hand. HAMLET. KING. Give them the foils, young Osric. Cousin Hamlet, You know the wager? HAMLET. Very well, my lord; Your grace has laid the odds o' the weaker side. KING. I do not fear it; I have seen you both: But since he is better'd, we have therefore odds. LAERTES. This is too heavy; let me see another. HAMLET. This likes me well. These foils have all a length? (They prepare to play.) OSRIC. Ay, my good lord. KING. Set me the stoups of wine upon that table. cups; Give me the And let the kettle to the trumpet speak, The trumpet to the cannoneer without, The cannons to the heavens, the heaven to earth, "Now the king drinks to Hamlet." Come, begin; And you, the judges, bear a wary eye. Stay; give me drink. Hamlet, this pearl is thine; Here's to thy health. (Trumpets sound, and cannon shot off within.) Give him the cup. HAMLET. I'll play this bout first; set it by a while. LAERTES. A touch, a touch, I do confess. KING. Our son shall win. QUEEN. The queen carouses to thy fortune, Hamlet. HAMLET. Good madam! KING. Gertrude, do not drink. QUEEN. I will, my lord; I pray you, pardon me. It is the poison'd cup; it is too late. LAERTES. My lord, I'll hit him now. KING. I do not think 't. LAERTES. (Aside.) it is almost against my conscience. HAMLET. Come, for the third, Laertes: you but dally; (LAERTES wounds HAMLET; then, in scuffling, they change rapiers, and HAMLET wounds LAERTES.) |