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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, (1) 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.

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A hit or not, 't has alınost 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!

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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.

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 (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 (q):
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

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.

[Dies.

You that look pale, and quiver, quirk, and quake,
And scarce know what of this sad scene to make-
O, I could tell-for there's a great deal in it—
I'm dead,—(r) at least, I shall be in a minute-
But promise me, before I wish good night,
Horatio, that you'll tell my story right.

Horatio.

No, I'll die too-here's poison in the cup-
I'll play the Roman, and I'll drink it up.

Hamlet.

Give me the cup; you shall not have a drop-
For here you must a little longer stop.
If e'er you loved me-live-my tale to tell-
And then-I care not if you go-to h―ll.—

That last cross-buttock dish'd me-Oh!—I can't get

on

Here goes, Horatio,-(s) going-(s) going

(s)

gone.

[Dies

Horatio.

Well, here's a noble fellow gone to pot!
This altogether's been a pretty plot!

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