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Hor. You will lofe this wager, my Lord.

Ham. I do not think fo. Since he went into France, I have been in continual practice; I fhall win at the odds. But thou wouldst not think how ill all's here about my heart. But it is no matter. Hor. Nay, my good Lord.

heart.

Ham. It is but foolery; but it is fuch a kind of gain-giving as would, perhaps, trouble a woman.

Hor. If your mind diflike any thing, obey it. I will foreftal their repair hither, and fay you are not fit.

Ham. Not a whit, we defy augury; there is a fpecial providence in the fall of a fparrow. 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 readinefs is all. 9 Since no man knows aught of what he leaves, what is't to leave betimes?

• Since no man HAS OUGHT

OF WHAT he leaves, what is't to Leave betimes?] This the editors called reafoning. I fhould have thought the premises concluded juft otherwife: For fince death ftrips a man of every thing, it is but fit he fhould fhun and avoid `the defpoiler. The old Quarto reads, Since no man, of ought he leaves, KNOWS, what is't to leave betimes. Let be. This is the true reading. Here the premises conclude right, and the argument drawn out at length is to this effect. It is true, that, by death, we lofe all the goods of life; yet feeing this lofs is no otherwife an evil than as we are fenfible of it; and fince death removes all fenfe of it, ubat matters it how foon we afe them: Therefore come what

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Enter King, Queen, Laertes and lords, Ofrick, with other attendants with foils, and gantlets. A table, to and flaggons of wine on it.

King. Come, Hamlet, come, and take this hand from me.

[King puts the band of Laertes into the band of Hamlet. Ham. Give me your pardon, Sir. I've done

wrong;

But pardon't, as you are a gentleman.

you

This prefence knows, and you muft needs have heard,
How I am punish'd with a fore distraction.
What I have done,

That might your Nature, Honour, and Exception
Roughly awake, I here proclaim was madness:
Was't Hamlet wrong'd 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 fo,
Hamlet is of the faction that is wrong'd;

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His madness is poor Hamlet's enemy.
Let my disclaiming from a purpos'd evil,
Free me fo far in your most generous thoughts,
That I have fhot mine arrow o'er the house,
And hurt my brother.

Laer. I am fatisfied in nature,

Whofe motive, in this cafe, fhould ftir me most.
To my revenge: but in my terms of honour
I ftand aloof, and will no reconcilement,
'Till by fome elder mafters of known honour
I have a voice, and precedent of peace,
To keep my name ungor'd. But till that time,
I do receive your offer'd love like love,
And will not wrong it.

Ham. I embrace it freely,

And will this brother's wager frankly play.
Give us the foils.

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Ham. I'll be your foil, Laertes; in mine ignorance Your fkill fhall, like a star i' th' darkest night,

Stick fiery off indeed.

Laer. You mock me, Sir.

Ham. No, by this hand.

King. Give them the foils, young Ofrick. Hamlet, you know the wager.

2

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Ham. Well, my Lord;

Your Grace hath laid upon the weaker fide. King. I do not fear it, I have seen you both; But fince he's better'd, we have therefore odds. Laer. This is too heavy, let me see another. Ham. This likes me well.

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These foils have all a [Prepares to play.

When the odds were on the fide of Laertes, who was to hit Hamlet twelve times to nine, it was perhaps the authour's flip.

Ofr.

Ofr. Ay, my good Lord.

King. Set me the ftoups of wine upon that table. If Hamlet give the first, or fecond Hit,

Or quit in answer of the third exchange,
Let all the battlements their ordnance fire;
The King fhall drink to Hamlet's better breath,
3 And in the cup an Union fhall he throw,
Richer than that which four fucceffive Kings
In Denmark's Crown have worn. Give me the cups
And let the kettle to the trumpets fpeak,
The trumpets to the cannoneer without,

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The cannons to the heav'ns, the heav'ns to earth:
Now the King drinks to Hamlet.Come. Begin,
And you the Judges bear a wary eye.

Ham. Come on, Sir,

Laer. Come, my Lord.

Ham. One.

Laer. No.

Ham. Judgment.

Ofr. A hit, a very palpable hit.

Laer. Well

again

[They play

King. Stay, give me Drink. Hamlet, this Pearl is

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Here's to thy health. Give him the cup.

[Trumpets found, Shot goes off.

Ham. I'll play this bout first. Set it by awhile.

Come. Another hit. What fay you?

[They play.

Laer. A touch, a touch, I do confess.
King. Our fon fhall win.

Queen. He's fat, and scant of breath.

Here, Hamlet, take my napkin, rub thy brows.
The Queen caroufes to thy fortune, Hamlet.
Ham. Good Madam,-

King. Gertrude, do not drink.

Queen. I will, my Lord. I pray you, pardon me. King. It is the poifon'd cup. It is too late. [Afide. Ham. I dare not drink yet, Madam. By and by. Queen. Come, let me wipe thy face.

Laer. I'll hit him now.

King. I do not think't.

Laer. And yet it is almost against my conscience.

[Afide. Ham. Come, for the third, Laertes. You but dally;

I pray you, pass with your best violence;

4

I am afraid, you make a Wanton of me.

Laer. Say you fo? come on.

Ofr. Nothing neither way.

Laer. Have at you now.

[Play.

[Laertes wounds Hamlet; then, in fcuffling, they change rapiers, and Hamlet wounds Laertes.

King. Part them, they are incens'd.

Ham. Nay, come again.

Ofr. Look to the Queen there, ho!

Hor. They bleed on both fides. How is't, my

Lord?

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