The Tragedie of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark Part 79

Come: Another hit; what say you?

_Laer_. A touch, a touch, I do confesse.[13]

[Sidenote: _Laer_. doe confest.]

_King_. Our Sonne shall win.

[Footnote 1: --to make it look as if he were choosing.]

[Footnote 2: --asked in an offhand way. The fencers must not measure weapons, because how then could the unbated point escape discovery? It is quite like Hamlet to take even Osricke's word for their equal length.]

[Footnote 3: _Not in Q._]

[Footnote 4: 'or be quits with Laertes the third bout':--in any case, whatever the probabilities, even if Hamlet be wounded, the king, who has not perfect confidence in the 'unction,' will fall back on his second line of ambush--in which he has more trust: he will drink to Hamlet, when Hamlet will be bound to drink also.]

[Footnote 5: The Latin _unio_ was a large pearl. The king's _union_ I take to be poison made up like a pearl.]

[Footnote 6: --a well-known one in the crown.]

[Footnote 7: --of whom Osricke was one.]

[Footnote 8: _Not in Q._]

[Footnote 9: --appealing to the judges.]

[Footnote 10: He throws in the _pearl_, and drinks--for it will take some moments to dissolve and make the wine poisonous--then sends the cup to Hamlet.]

[Footnote 11: _Not in Q._]

[Footnote 12: He does not refuse to drink, but puts it by, neither showing nor entertaining suspicion, fearing only the effect of the draught on his play. He is bent on winning the wager--perhaps with further intent.]

[Footnote 13: Laertes has little interest in the match, but much in his own play.]

[Page 268]

[Sidenote: 266] _Qu_. He's fat, and scant of breath.[1]

Heere's a Napkin, rub thy browes, [Sidenote: Heere _Hamlet_ take my napkin]

The Queene Carowses to thy fortune, _Hamlet_.

_Ham_. Good Madam.[2]

_King_. _Gertrude_, do not drinke.

_Qu_. I will my Lord; I pray you pardon me.[3]

[Sidenote: 222]_King_. It is the poyson'd Cup, it is too late.[4]

_Ham_. I dare not drinke yet Madam, By and by.[5]

_Qu_. Come, let me wipe thy face.[6]

_Laer_. My Lord, Ile hit him now.

_King_. I do not thinke't.

_Laer_. And yet 'tis almost 'gainst my conscience.[7]

[Sidenote: it is against]

_Ham_. Come for the third.

_Laertes_, you but dally, [Sidenote: you doe but]

I pray you pa.s.se with your best violence, I am affear'd you make a wanton of me.[8] [Sidenote: I am sure you]

_Laer_. Say you so? Come on. _Play._

_Osr_. Nothing neither way. [Sidenote: _Ostr._]

_Laer_. Haue at you now.[9]

_In scuffling they change Rapiers._[10]

_King_. Part them, they are incens'd.[11]

_Ham_. Nay come, againe.[12]

_Osr_. Looke to the Queene there hoa. [Sidenote: _Ostr._ there howe.]

_Hor_. They bleed on both sides. How is't my [Sidenote: is it]

Lord?

_Osr_. How is't _Laertes_? [Sidenote: _Ostr._]

_Laer_. Why as a Woodc.o.c.ke[13]

To mine Sprindge, _Osricke_, [Sidenote: mine owne sprindge _Ostrick_,]

I am iustly kill'd with mine owne Treacherie.[14]

_Ham_. How does the Queene?

_King_. She sounds[15] to see them bleede.

_Qu_. No, no, the drinke, the drinke[16]

[Footnote 1: She is anxious about him. It may be that this speech, and that of the king before (266), were fitted to the person of the actor who first represented Hamlet.]

[Footnote 2: --a simple acknowledgment of her politeness: he can no more be familiarly loving with his mother.]

[Footnote 3: She drinks, and offers the cup to Hamlet.]

[Footnote 4: He is too much afraid of exposing his villainy to be prompt enough to prevent her.]

[Footnote 5: This is not meant by the Poet to show suspicion: he does not mean Hamlet to die so.]