SCENE VI.

The Court of Denmark.

Flourish of trumpets and drums.

King and Queen seated — Laertes, Osrick, Marcellus,

BERNARDO, GENTLEMEN, and Ladies, discovered.

Enter Hamlet and Horatio.

King.
To put an end to squabble, strife, and noise,
Shake hands and make it up, my jolly boys.

[To Hamlet and Laertes.

Hamlet. (T. Laertes) Sir, I have done you wrong, and sorely

rue it, But, on my word, I didn't go to do it ; Therefore, let's make it up ;-come, don't be hard on

Laertes.
Enough ; no man can do more than beg pardon.-
We're friends.

Hamlet.

With all my heart. Come, let's set to. Bring me the gloves

Laertes.
And bring me a pair too.

King.

Hamlet, you know the wager.

Hamlet.

Aye, my Lord; You've back'd the worser man tho', on my word.

King.
I'm not afraid ; I'm sure you'll not fight shy;
If you don't win, I know at least you'll try.

Laertes.

These gloves are much too tight-another pair

Hamlet. Mine fit.- Are his as soft as mine?

Osrick.

All's fair.

King

If i'th' two first rounds Hamlet hit most blows,
Or 'scape the third without a bloody nose,
Let all the guns we've got make the discovery ;-
The King shall drink to Hamlet's quick recovery;
And in the beer this nutmeg shall he pound,
The largest that in Denmark could be found.--
Give me the mug: now drum a loud tattoo ;
The drum shall tell the trumpet what to do;
The trumpet's tantarara, post, () shall set off,
And tell the cannoneer the guns to let off ;
The cannoneer shall fire 'em, and then-stop-
I think I've said enough-I'll drink a drop.

Here's Hamlet's health! (Drums, trumpets, and cannon)

Come, now begin the bout;
And you, the judges, keep a sharp look-out.

Hamlet and Laertes spar.

Hamlet.

A hit.

Laertes,

No hit.

Osrick.
A hit, I'll bet a crown.

Hamlet.

A hit or not, 't has almost knock'd him down.

Drums, trumpets, and cannon.

King.

Give me the beer : this nutmeg is for you.

[Puis poison into the drink. Hamlet, your health (pretends to drink). You'd better

drink some too.

Hamlet.
Let's have this round; when I want drink I'll ask it.

(They spar again.)

Egad, I had him there in the bread-basket (m).

The poison'd cup, by jingo!

[ Aside. Laertes. I'll nab him ;—but it goes against my conscience.

[ Aside. Hamlet. Laertes, you're afraid to hit.

Laertes.

Pooh! nonsense.

They spar again — in the scuffle, they exchange gloves —

Hamlet knocks Laertes down.-The Queen swoons.

Osrick.
Look to the Queen. (To Laertes) How is't, my lord ?

Laertes.

dish'd (n);

I'm I'm caught as neatly as I could have wish’d.

Hamlet.

How does the Queen ?

King.

To see your bloody noses, Her stomach-royal slightly indisposes.

Queen.
No, no ; I'm poison'd: your damn'd uncle, here,
Has mix'd a deadly poison with the beer.-
'Tis now too late—I've had a precious swig-
If I'm not a dead woman-dash my wig (6).

[Dies.

Hamlet.
O, treachery! I'll smoke it, on my oath.

Laertes.
0, Hamlet! 'tis all dickey with us both (0)!
I promis'd to die game; but I'll expose
That dirty scamp; for you am I a Nose (7):
You've done my business by a blow, 'tis true ;
But I-Oh! I have done the same for you.
You're mother's poison'd;—dying, here I lie-
The King's to blame

Hamlet.
Die, damn'd old murd'rer, die.

[Kills the King.

Laertes.
You've serv'd him right. Hamlet, let's square accounts-
Tho' there's some little diff'rence in amounts-