Hamlet Act 5 Scene 7 Shortened

English 12 - Mr. Bustin

[LORD] My lord, his Majesty sends to know if your

pleasure hold to play with Laertes

If the kings fitness speaks, mine is

ready now or whensoever,

[LORD] The Queen desires you to use some gentle

entertainment to Laertes before you fall to play.

She well instructs me. (Lord exits.)

[LORD] You will lose, my lord.

I do not think so. Since he went into France, I

have been in continual practice. I shall win at the

odds.

[LORD] Nay, good my lord—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. Let be.

[CLAUDIUS] Come, Hamlet, come and take this hand from me.

[To Laertes]

Give me your pardon, sir. I have done you wrong;

I am punished with madness.

Was ’t Hamlet wronged Laertes? Never Hamlet.

Who does it, then? His madness.

[LAERTES] I am satisfied in nature, but in my terms of honor

[eyes downcast -> stare at Hamlet unblinking]

I stand aloof and will no reconcilement

But  I do receive your offered love like love

And will not wrong it.

I embrace it freely

Give us the foils. Come on.

[LAERTES] Come, one for me. [wave arrogantly? to __]

I’ll be your foil, Laertes

[LAERTES] You mock me, sir. [point accusingly]

No, by this hand.

[CLAUDIUS] Give them the foils, Osric. Cousin Hamlet,

You know the wager?

Very well, my lord.

Your Grace has laid the odds o’ th’ weaker side.

[LAERTES] This is too heavy. Let me see another.

This likes me well. These foils have all a length?

[CLAUDIUS] Set me the stoups of wine upon that table.—

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. Give me the cups,

“Now the King drinks to Hamlet.” Come, begin.

And you, the judges, bear a wary eye.

Come on, sir.

[LAERTES] Come, my lord. They play.

[HAMLET]

No.

[HAMLET]

One.
-
Judgement!

[CLAUDIUS] Stay, give me drink.—Hamlet, this pearl is thine.

Here’s to thy health.

I’ll play this bout first. Come. 

They play

Another hit. What say you?

[QUEEN] He’s fat and scant of breath.—

Here, Hamlet, take my napkin; rub thy brows.

The Queen carouses to thy fortune, Hamlet.

Good madam.

[QUEEN] I will, my lord; I pray you pardon me .

I dare not drink yet, madam.

[LAERTES] Aside 

And yet it is almost against my conscience

Come, for the third, Laertes.

[CLAUDIUS] Part them.

Nay, come again.

[LAERTES] I am justly killed with mine own treachery.

How does the Queen

[QUEEN] No, no, the drink, the drink! O, my dear Hamlet!

The drink, the drink! I am poisoned. (She dies.)

O villainy! Ho! Let the door be locked.

Treachery! Seek it out.

[LAERTES] It is here, Hamlet, thou art slain.

No med’cine in the world can do thee good.

The foul practice Hath turned itself on me. 

 Thy mother’s poisoned.

I can no more. The King’s to blame.

The point envenomed too! Then, venom, to thy work.

[KING] O, yet defend me, friends! I am but hurt.

Damnèd Dane,

Drink off this potion. Is thy union here?

Forcing him to drink the poison.

Follow my mother.

[LAERTES] He is justly served.

Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Hamlet.

Mine and my father’s death come not upon thee,

Nor thine on me.

Dies.

Heaven make thee free of it. 

I am dead, Horatio.—

Had I but time, O, I could tell you—

But let it be.—

Horatio, thou livest; report me and my cause aright

To the unsatisfied.

[HORATIO] Never believe it.

I am more an antique Roman than a Dane.

Here’s yet some liquor left.

Give me the cup. Let go! 

O God, Horatio,

If thou didst ever hold me in thy heart, tell my story.

[A march afar off and shot within.]

What warlike noise is this?

[Enter Osric.]

[OSRIC] Young Fortinbras, comes from Poland,

To th’ ambassadors of England gives

This warlike volley.

Horatio!

I cannot live to hear the news from England.

But I do prophesy th’ election lights

On Fortinbras; he has my dying voice.

So tell him, with th’ occurrents, more and less,

Which have solicited. The rest is silence.

Dies.