exceed you three hits: he hath laid, on twelve | it be now, 'tis not to come; if it be not to come, for nine; and it 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 will gain nothing but my shame, and the odd hits. Osr. Shall I deliver you 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 sucked it. Thus has he (and many more of the same breed, 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 fond 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. it will be now; if it be not now, yet it will come the readiness is all: Since no man, of aught he leaves, knows, 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 the hand of Laertes into that of Hamlet. Ham. Give me your pardon, sir: I have done you wrong; But pardon it, as you are a gentleman. How I am punish'd with a sore distraction. That might your nature, honour, and exception, Let my disclaiming from a purpos'd evil Laer. I am satisfied in nature, 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 ig Osr. Ay, my good lord. King. Set me the stoups of wine upon that If Hamlet give the first or second hit, And let the kettle to the trumpet speak, And you, the judges, bear a wary eye. Ham. Come on, sir. Laer. Come, my lord. Ham. One. Laer. No. Ham. Judgment. Osr. A hit, a very palpable hit. The drink, the drink ;-I am poison'd! [Dies. No medicine in the world can do thee good, 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 Ham. I'll play this bout first, set it by awhile. They play. Laer. A touch, a touch, I do confess. Queen. He's fat, and scant of breath.- King. Gertrude, do not drink. Queen. I will, my lord ;-I pray you, pardon Envenom'd too!-Then, venom, to thy work. Ham. Here, thou incestuous, murd'rous, damn- Drink off this potion :-Is the union here? Laer. He is justly serv'd; [King dies. It is a poison temper'd by himself.- Ham. Heaven make thee free of it! I follow I am dead, Horatio:-Wretched queen, adieu:- Hor. Never believe it; I am more an antique Roman than a Dane, Ham. As thou'rt a man, Give me the cup; let go; by heaven I'll have it.— If thou didst ever hold me in thy heart, March afar off, and shot within. Fort. Where is this sight? Hor. What is it, you would see? If aught of woe, or wonder, cease your search. Fort. This quarry cries on havock !-O proud death! What feast is toward in thine eternal cell, 1 Amb. The sight is dismal; And our affairs from England come too late : The ears are senseless, that should give us hearing, To tell him, his commandment is fulfill'd, That Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead: Where should we have our thanks? Hor. Not from his mouth, Had it the ability of life to thank you; He never gave commandment for their death. But since, so jump upon this bloody question, Are here arriv'd; give order, that these bodies High on a stage be placed to the view; And let me speak, to the yet unknowing world, Of accidental judgments, casual slaughters; Fort. Let us haste to hear it, And call the noblest to the audience. Hor. Of that I shall have also cause to speak, And from his mouth whose voice will draw on SCENE,—for the first Act, in Venice; during the rest of the Play, at a Sea-port in Cyprus. SCENE I.-Venice. A street. Enter RODERIGO and IAGO. ACT I. Rod. Tush, never tell me, I take it much un- That thou, lago,-who hast had my purse, Iago. 'Sblood, but you will not hear me :- Abhor me. Iago. Despise me, if I do not. Three great In personal suit to make me his lieutenant, Rod. Thou told'st me, thou didst hold him in Forsooth, a great arithmetician, One Michael Cassio, a Florentine, A fellow almost damn'd in a fair wife; As masterly as he mere prattle, without practice, Is all his soldiership. But he, sir, had the elec tion: And I,-of whom his eyes had seen the proof, At Rhodes, at Cyprus; and on other grounds, Christian and heathen,-must be be-lee'd and calm'd By debitor and creditor, this counter-caster ; ancient. Rod. By heaven, I rather would have been his hangman. Iago. But there's no remedy, 'tis the curse of service; Preferment goes by letter, and affection, Whether I in any just term am affin'd Rod. I would not follow him then. I follow him to serve my turn upon him: Whip me such honest knaves: Others there are, Do themselves homage: these fellows have some soul; And such a one do I profess myself. It is as sure as you are Roderigo, And, though he in a fertile climate dwell, Plague him with flies: though that his joy be joy, Yet throw such changes of vexation on't, Rod. Here is her father's house; I'll call aloud. Iago. Do; with like timorous accent, and dire yell, As when, by night and negligence, the fire Rod. What, ho! Brabantio! signior Brabantio, ho! Iago. Awake! what, ho! Brabantio! thieves! thieves! thieves! Look to your house, your daughter, and your bags! Thieves! thieves! BRABANTIO, above, at a window. Bra. What is the reason of this terrible summons? What is the matter there? Rod. Signior, is all your family within? Bra. Why? wherefore ask you this? Bra. What, have you lost your wits? Bra. Not I; What are you? I have charg'd thee not to haunt about my doors: Rod. Sir, sir, sir, sir, Bra. But thou must needs be sure, My spirit, and my place, have in them power To make this bitter to thee. Rod. Patience, good sir. Bra. What tell'st thou me of robbing? this is Venice; My house is not a grange. Rod. Most grave Brabantio, Iago. 'Zounds, sir, you are one of those, that will not serve God, if the devil bid you. Because we come to do you service, you think we are ruffians: You'll have your daughter covered with a Barbary horse; you'll have your nephews neigh to you; you'll have coursers for cousins, and gennets for germans. |