Hamlet Page #24

--only got the tune of the time

and outward habit of encounter...

...a kind of yeasty collection...

...which carries them through and through

the most fanned and winnowed opinions...

...and do but blow them to their trial,

the bubbles are out.

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.

-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.

The king and queen and all

are coming down.

In happy time.

The queen desires you

to some gentle entertainment to Laertes...

...before you fall to play.

She well instructs me.

You will lose this wager, my lord.

I do not think so.

Since he went into France,

I have been in continual practice.

I shall win at the odds.

But thou wouldst not think

how ill all's here about my heart.

[SIGHS]

But it is no matter.

Nay, good my lord.

HAMLET:

It is but foolery.

But it is such a kind of gain-giving

as would perhaps trouble a woman.

If your mind dislike anything, obey it.

I will forestall their repair hither,

and say you are not fit.

Not a whit.

We defy augury.

There is a special providence

in the fall of a sparrow.

If it be now, 'tis not to come.

If it be not to come, it will be now.

If it be not now...

...yet it will come.

The readiness is all.

Since no man knows aught

of what he leaves...

...what is 't to leave betimes?

Let be.

Come, Hamlet, come,

and take this hand from me.

Give me your pardon, sir.

I have done you wrong.

But pardon 't as you're a gentleman.

HAMLET:
This presence knows,

and you must needs have heard...

...how I am punished

with a sore distraction.

What I have done that might your nature,

honor, and exception roughly awake...

...I here proclaim was madness.

Was 't Hamlet wronged Laertes?

Never Hamlet.

If Hamlet from himself be ta'en away, and

when he's not himself does wrong Laertes...

...then Hamlet does it not,

Hamlet denies it.

Who does it, then?

His madness.

If 't be so, Hamlet is of the faction

that is wronged.

His madness is poor Hamlet's enemy.

HAMLET:
Sir, in this audience,

let my disclaiming from a purposed evil...

...free me so far

in your most generous thoughts...

...that I have shot mine arrow

o'er the house...

...and hurt my brother.

I am satisfied in nature...

...whose motive in this case

should stir me most to my revenge.

But in my terms of honor...

... I stand aloof,

and will no reconcilement...

...until by some elder masters

of known honor...

... I have a voice and precedent of peace

to keep my name ungored.

But till that time,

I do receive your offered love like love...

...and will not wrong it.

I do embrace it freely...

...and will this brothers' wager

frankly play.

HAMLET:

Give us the foils. Come on.

-Come, one for me.

-Ill be your foil, Laertes.

In mine ignorance your skill shall,

like a star i' th' darkest night...

...stick fiery off indeed.

-You mock me, sir.

-No, by this hand.

Give them the foils, young Osric.

CLAUDIUS:

Cousin Hamlet, you know the wager?

Very well, my lord. Your grace

has laid the odds o' th' weaker side.

CLAUDIUS:

I do not fear it. I have seen you both.

But since he is bettered,

we have therefore odds.

This one's too heavy.

Let me see another.

This likes me well.

These foils have all a length?

Ay, my good lord.

Set me the stoups of wine

upon that table.

If Hamlet give the first or second hit,

or quit in answer of the third exchange...

...let all the battlements

their ordnance fire.

The king shall drink

to Hamlet's better breath...

...and in the cup

an union shall he throw...

...richer than that

which four successive kings...

...in Denmark's crown have worn.

CLAUDIUS:

Give me the cup...

...and let the kettle to the trumpet speak,

the trumpet to the cannoneer without...

...the cannons to the heavens,

the heaven to earth:

"Now the king drinks to Hamlet."

Come, begin.

And you, the judges...

...bear a wary eye.

-Come on, sir.

-Come, my lord.

[GRUNTING]

[GERTRUDE GASPS]

HAMELT:
One!

-No!

Judgment!

A hit, a very palpable hit.

LAERTES:
Well, again.

-Stay. Give me drink.

Hamlet, this pearl is thine.

Here's to thy health.

-Give him the cup.

-Ill play this bout first.

Set it by a while.

[GRUNTING]

HAMLET:

Come.

[GRUNTING]

Yes.

[LAERTES ROARS]

[LAERTES YELLS]

[CROWD MUMBLING]

[LAERTES SHOUTING]

Another hit. What say you?

A touch, a touch, I do confess.

[CROWD CHEERS]

Our son shall win.

He's fat and scant of breath.

Here, Hamlet, take my napkin.

Rub thy brows.

The queen carouses

to thy fortune, Hamlet.

Good madam.

[SHOUTS]

Gertrude!

Do not drink.

[GERTRUDE LAUGHS]

I will, my lord. I pray you, pardon me.

CLAUDIUS:

It is the poisoned cup.

It is too late.

I dare not drink yet, madam. By and by.

Come, let me wipe thy face.

My lord, Ill hit him now.

I do not think 't.

And yet 'tis almost

against my conscience.

Attack--!

[GUARD GRUNTS]

Come for the third, Laertes,

you but dally.

I pray you, pass with your best violence.

I am afeard you make a wanton of me.

[LAUGHTER]

Say you so?

Come on.

LAERTES:

Have at you now.

[HAMLET GRUNTS]

[HAMLET ROARING

AND THEN CROWD MURMURING]

[GRUNTING]

-Nothing neither way.

-Part them, they are incensed.

Nay, come again!

Look to the queen there, ho!

HORATIO:

They bleed on both sides.

[LAERTES SHOUTS

AND THEN SCREAMS]

[LAERTES GASPING]

How is 't, Laertes?

Why, as a woodcock

to mine own springe, Osric.

I am justly killed

with mine own treachery.

[HAMLET PANTING]

How does the queen?

She swoons to see them bleed.

GERTRUDE:

No, no...

...the drink.

GERTRUDE:

The drink.

O my dear Hamlet.

The drink, the drink.

I am poisoned.

Villainy.

Let the doors be locked!

-Treachery! Seek it out!

-It is here, Hamlet.

LAERTES:

Hamlet, thou art slain.

No med'cine in the world

can do thee good.

ln thee there is no haIf an hour of life.

The treacherous instrument

is in thy hand...

...unbated and envenomed.

The foul practice

hath turned itself on me.

LAERTES:

Lo, here I lie, never to rise again.

Thy mother's poisoned.

I can no more.

[CHOKING]

The king...

...the king's to blame.

Treason!

[THUD AND THEN OSRlC GROANS]

The point envenomed too?

Then, venom, to thy work.

Unh! O yet defend me, friends.

l am but hurt.

[CLAUDIUS SCREAMING]

[CLAUDIUS GRUNTING

AND THEN GAGGING]

Here, thou incestuous, murd'rous,

damned Dane...

...drink off this potion.

Is thy union here? Follow my mother.

He is justly serv'd.

It is a poison tempered by himself.

Exchange forgiveness with me,

noble Hamlet.

Mine and my father's death

come not upon thee...

...nor thine on me.

Heaven make thee free of it.

I follow thee.

I am dead, Horatio.

[HAMLET GROANING]

Wretched queen, adieu.

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