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.

Hamlet.

[To Hamlet and Laertes.

(To 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.

Bring me the gloves

Hamlet.

With all my heart. Come, let's set to.

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, (4) 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.

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.

[Puts 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).

I'll nab him ;-but it goes against my conscience.

Hamlet.

Laertes, you're afraid to hit.

Laertes.

[Aside.

[Aside.

Pooh! nonsense.

They spar again—in the scuffle, they exchange glovesHamlet knocks Laertes down.-The Queen swoons.

Osrick.

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

Laertes.

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

I'm dish'd (~);

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 (0).

Hamlet.

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

Laertes.

O, Hamlet! 'tis all dickey with us both (p)!
I promis'd to die game; but I'll expose
That dirty scamp; for you am I a Nose (9):
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.

[Dies.

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—