HORATIO.

How is it, my lord?

OSRIC.

How is 't, Laertes?

LAERTES.

Why, as a woodcock to mine own springe, Osric; I am justly kill'd with mine own treachery.

No, no, the drink, the drink,-O my dear Ham

let,

The drink, the drink! I am poison'd.

HAMLET.

(Dies.)

(LAERTES falls.)

O villany! Ho! let the door be lock'd:
Treachery! seek it out.

LAERTES.

It is here, Hamlet: Hamlet, thou art slain;
No medicine in the world can do thee good,
In thee there is not half an hour of life;
The treacherous instrument is in thy hand,
Unbated and envenom'd: the foul practice
Hath turn'd itself on me; lo, here I lie,
Never to rise again: thy mother's poisoned:
I can no more: the king, the king's to blame.
HAMLET.

The point envenom'd too!

Then, venom, to thy work.
ALL.

(Stabs the KING.)

Treason! treason!

KING.

O, yet defend me, friends; I am but hurt.

HAMLET.

Here, thou incestuous, murderous, damned Dane, Drink off this potion:

Follow my mother.

LAERTES.

(KING dies.)

He is justly served,

Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Hamlet:
Mine and my father's death come not upon thee,
Nor thine on me!
(Dies.)

HAMLET.

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 you-
But let it be. Horatio, I am dead;

Thou livest; report me and my cause aright
To the unsatisfied.

HORATIO.

Never believe it:

I am more an antique Roman than a Dane:
Here's yet some liquor left.

HAMLET.

As thou 'rt a man,

Give me the cup: let go; by heaven, I'll have 't. O good Horatio, what a wounded name,

Things standing thus unknown, shall live behind

me!

If thou didst ever hold me in thy heart,
Absent thee from felicity a while,

"BEAR HAMLET, LIKE A SOLDIER, TO THE STAGE."

And in this harsh world draw thy breath in pain, To tell my story.

(March afar off, and shot within.) What warlike noise is this?

OSRIC.

Young Fortinbras, with conquest come from

Poland.

HAMLET.

O, I die, Horatio;

The potent poison quite o'er-crows my spirit:
But I do prophesy the election lights

On Fortinbras: he has my dying voice.
The rest is silence.

HORATIO.

(Dies.)

Now cracks a noble heart. Good night, sweet

prince,

And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest!

(March within.)

Enter FORTINBRAS, and the ENGLISH AMBASSADORS, with drum, colours, and Attendants.

FORTINBRAS.

Where is this sight?

HORATIO.

What is it you would see?

If aught of woe or wonder, cease your search. And let me speak to the yet unknowing world How these things came about.

FORTINBRAS.

Let us haste to hear it,

And call the noblest to the audience.

For me, with sorrow I embrace my fortune:

I have some rights of memory in this kingdom,