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). Queen. Hamlet, your health! (drinks.) Ha! this is famous stingo! Don't drink. King Queen. I have. King. The poison'd cup, by jingo! Laertes. I'll nab him ;-but it goes against my conscience. Hamlet. Laertes, you're afraid to hit. Laertes. Pooh! nonsense. [Aside. [Aside. 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 dish'd (n); I'm caught as neatly as I could have wish'd. F 2 How does the Queen? Hamlet. King. To see your bloody noses, Her stomach-royal slightly indisposes. Queen. No, no; I'm poison'd: your damn'd uncle, here, Hamlet. O, treachery! I'll smoke it, on my oath. Laertes. O, Hamlet! 'tis all dickey with us both (p)! 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 Mine, and my father's death, 'gainst your's be rec kon'd Now then, I'm off.— Hamlet. I'll follow in a second. You that look pale, and quiver, quirk, and quake, Horatio. No, I'll die too-here's poison in the cup- Hamlet. Give me the cup; you shall not have a drop- [Dies. That last cross-buttock dish'd me-Oh!-I can't get on Here goes, Horatio,-(s) going-(s) going gone. (s) [Dies. Horatio. Well, here's a noble fellow gone to pot! This altogether's been a pretty plot! |