Home > Hamlet Text > Act V, Scene II - Page 3

HAMLET:

I embrace it freely,(245)
And will this brother's wager frankly play.—
Give us the foils. Come on.

HAMLET:

I accept it freely,
And will play this brother's wager honestly.
Give us the swords, come on.

LAERTES:

Come, one for me.

LAERTES:

Come, one for me.

HAMLET:

I'll be your foil, Laertes. In mine ignorance
Your skill shall, like a star i' the darkest night,(250)
Stick fiery off indeed.

HAMLET:

I’ll be your mirror, Laertes. In my ignorance,
Your skill shall, like a star in the darkest night,
be shown to its fiery advantage indeed.

LAERTES:

You mock me, sir.

LAERTES:

You mock me, sir.

HAMLET:

No, by this hand.

HAMLET:

No, honestly.

KING:

Give them the foils, young Osric. Cousin Hamlet,
You know the wager?(255)

KING:

Give them the swords, young Osric. Cousin Hamlet,
You know the wager?

HAMLET:

Very well, my lord.
Your Grace has laid the odds o' the weaker side.

HAMLET:

Very well, my lord,
Your grace has laid the odds of the weaker side

KING:

I do not fear it, I have seen you both;
But since he is better'd, we have therefore odds.

KING:

I don’t fear it. I have seen you both,
But since he's gotten better, we have, therefore, odds.

LAERTES:

This is too heavy; let me see another.(260)

LAERTES:

This one’s too heavy. Let me see another.

HAMLET:

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

HAMLET:

I like this one. All these swords have a length?

OSRIC:

Ay, my good lord.

OSRIC:

Yes, my good lord.

[They prepare to play.]

KING:

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,(265)
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. Give me the cups;(270)
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.(275)

KING:

Set up the goblets of wine for me on that table.
If Hamlet gives the first or second hit,
Or quits in answer of the third exchange,
Let all the battlements fire their ammunition,
The king shall drink to Hamlet's better breath,
And in the cup he shall throw a pearl,
Richer than that which four successive kings
Have worn in Denmark's crown. Give me the cups,
And let the kettle drum speak to the trumpet,
The trumpet to the cannon man outside,
The cannons to the heavens, the heavens to earth,
'Now the king drinks to Hamlet.” Come, begin.
And you, the judges, watch carefully.

HAMLET:

Come on, sir.

HAMLET:

Come on, sir.

LAERTES:

Come, my lord.

LAERTES:

Come, my lord.

HAMLET:

One.

HAMLET:

One.

LAERTES:

No.

LAERTES:

No.

HAMLET:

Judgment!(280)

HAMLET:

Judges?

OSRIC:

A hit, a very palpable hit.

OSRIC:

A hit, a hit that was felt.

LAERTES:

Well, again!

LAERTES:

OK, again.

KING:

Stay, give me drink. Hamlet, this pearl is thine;
Here's to thy health.

Drum, trumpets, and shots. A piece goes off.

Give him the cup.(285)

KING:

Stay, give me drink. Hamlet, this pearl is your,
Here's to your health.

Give him the cup.

HAMLET:

I'll play this bout first; set it by awhile.
Come. Another hit. What say you?

HAMLET:

I’ll play this bout first, put it aside a while.
Come on. Another hit, what do you say?

LAERTES:

A touch, a touch; I do confess.

LAERTES:

A touch, a touch, I do confess.

KING:

Our son shall win.

KING:

Our son shall win.

QUEEN:

He's fat, and scant of breath.(290)
Here, Hamlet, take my napkin, rub thy brows.
The Queen carouses to thy fortune, Hamlet.

QUEEN:

He's fat, and out of breath.
Here, Hamlet, take my napkin. Rub your brows.
The queen drinks to your fortune, Hamlet.

HAMLET:

Good madam!

HAMLET:

Good madam!

KING:

Gertrude, do not drink.

KING:

Gertrude, don’t drink.

QUEEN:

I will, my lord; I pray you pardon me.(295)

QUEEN:

I will, my lord, I beg you to pardon me.

KING:

It is the poison'd cup; it is too late.

KING:

It is the poisoned cup; it is too late.

HAMLET:

I dare not drink yet, madam—by-and-by.

HAMLET:

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

QUEEN:

Come, let me wipe thy face.

QUEEN:

Come, let me wipe your face.

LAERTES:

My lord, I'll hit him now.

LAERTES:

My lord, I’ll hit him now.

KING:

I do not think't.(300)

KING:

I don’t think so.

LAERTES:

And yet it is almost against my conscience.

LAERTES:

And yet it is almost against my conscience.

HAMLET:

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.

HAMLET:

Come, for the third, Laertes. you only delay,
I beg you, hit me with your best shot.
I’m afraid you make a loose woman of me.

LAERTES:

Say you so? Come on. Play.(305)

LAERTES:

You say so? Come on.

OSRIC:

Nothing, neither way.

OSRIC:

Nothing, neither way.

LAERTES:

Have at you now!

LAERTES:

I’ll attack you now!

[Laertes wounds Hamlet. Then in scuffling, they change rapiers, and Hamlet wounds Laertes.]

KING:

Part them! They are incensed.

KING:

Part them. They are in a rage.

HAMLET:

Nay come! again!

HAMLET:

No, come again!

OSRIC:

Look to the Queen there, ho!(310)

OSRIC:

Look to the queen there, ho!

HORATIO:

They bleed on both sides. How is it, my lord?

HORATIO:

They bleed on both sides. How are you, my lord?

OSRIC:

How is't, Laertes?

OSRIC:

How are you, Laertes?

LAERTES:

Why, as a woodcock to mine own springe, Osric.
I am justly kill'd with mine own treachery.

LAERTES:

Why, as a woodpecker caught in my own trap, Osric.
I am justly killed with my own wickedness.

HAMLET:

How does the Queen?(315)

HAMLET:

How is the Queen?

KING:

She swoons to see them bleed.

KING:

She swoons to see them bleed.

QUEEN:

No, no! the drink, the drink!—O my dear Hamlet!—
The drink, the drink! I am poison'd.

QUEEN:

No, no! the drink, the drink! O my dear Hamlet!
The drink, the drink! I am poisoned.

HAMLET:

O villainy! Ho! let the door be lock'd.
Treachery! Seek it out.(320)

HAMLET:

O villainy! Ho! Let the doors be locked.
Wickedness! Find it!

LAERTES:

It is here, Hamlet. Hamlet, thou art slain;
No medicine in the world can do thee good.
In thee there is not half an hour of life.
The treacherous instrument is in thy hand,
Unbated and envenom'd. The foul practice(325)
Hath turn'd itself on me. Lo, here I lie,
Never to rise again. Thy mother's poison'd.
I can no more. The King, the King's to blame.

LAERTES:

It is here, Hamlet. Hamlet, you are killed,
No medicine in the world can save you.
You don’t even have half an hour of life,
The wicked instrument is in your hand,
Sharp and poisoned. The evil deed
Has turned itself on me. Behold, here I lie,
Never to rise again. Your mother's poisoned.
I can do no more. The King, the King's to blame.

HAMLET:

The point envenom'd too! Then, venom, to thy work.

HAMLET:

The point poisoned too!
Then, venom, do your work.

[Stabs the King.]

ALL:

Treason! treason!(330)

ALL:

Treason! Treason!

KING:

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

KING:

O, still defend me, friends! I am only hurt.

HAMLET:

Here, thou incestuous, murderous, damned Dane,
Drink off this potion! Is thy union here?
Follow my mother.

HAMLET:

Here, you incestuous, murderous, damned Dane,
Drink this potion. Is your marriage here?
Follow my mother.

[King dies.]

LAERTES:

He is justly served.(335)
It is a poison temper'd by himself.
Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Hamlet.
Mine and my father's death come not upon thee,
Nor thine on me!

LAERTES:

He is justly served,
It is a poison tempered by himself.
Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Hamlet.
You are not guilty of my and my father's deaths.
And I am not guilty of yours.

[Dies.]

HAMLET:

Heaven make thee free of it! I follow thee.(340)
I am dead, Horatio. Wretched Queen, adieu!
You that look pale and tremble at this chance,
That are but mutes or audience to this act,
Had I but time—as this fell sergeant, Death,
Is strict in his arrest—O, I could tell you—(345)
But let it be. Horatio, I am dead;
Thou livest; report me and my cause aright
To the unsatisfied.

HAMLET:

Heaven forgive you for it! I follow you.
I am dead, Horatio. Wretched queen, goodbye!
You that look pale and tremble at this event,
That are only mutes or audience to this act,
If I only had the time, as this dreadful sergeant, death,
Is strict in making his arrest, O, I could tell you. . .
But let it be. Horatio, I am dead.
You live. Tell the story of me and my cause correctly
To those who are not satisfied.

HORATIO:

Never believe it.
I am more an antique Romanthan a Dane.(350)
Here's yet some liquor left.

HORATIO:

Never believe it.
I am more an antique Roman than a Dane.
Here's some poison wine still left.

HAMLET:

As th'art a man,
Give me the cup. Let go! By heaven, I'll have't.
O God, Horatio, what a wounded name,
Things standing thus unknown, shall live behind me!(355)
If thou didst ever hold me in thy heart,
Absent thee from felicity awhile,
And in this harsh world draw thy breath in pain,
To tell my story.

[March far off, and shot within.]

What warlike noise is this?(360)

HAMLET:

As you are a man,
Give me the cup, let it go, by heaven, I’ll have it.
O good Horatio, what a wounded name that is,
Things left unknown like this, shall live after me!
If you ever did hold me in your heart,
Stay away from happy things for a while,
And, in this harsh world, draw your breath in pain
To tell my story.

What warlike noise is this?

OSRIC:

Young Fortinbras, with conquest come from Poland,
To the ambassadors of England gives
This warlike volley.

OSRIC:

Young Fortinbras, after conquering Poland,
Gives this warlike volley
To the ambassadors of England.

HAMLET:

O, I die, Horatio!
The potent poison quite o'er-crows my spirit.(365)
I cannot live to hear the news from England,
But I do prophesy the election lights
On Fortinbras. He has my dying voice.
So tell him, with the occurrents, more and less,
Which have solicited—The rest is silence.(370)

HAMLET:

O, I’m dying, Horatio,
The potent poison quite conquers my soul.
I cannot live to hear the news from England,
But I do predict that the throne belongs
To Fortinbras. He has my dying vote,
Tell him so, with the news, more and less,
Which has been asked for. The rest is silence.

[Dies.]

HORATIO:

Now cracks a noble heart. Good night, sweet prince,
And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest!

[March within.]

Why does the drum come hither?

HORATIO:

Now a noble heart breaks. Good night, sweet prince,
And flights of angels sing you to your rest!

Why does the drum come here?

Enter Fortinbras and the Ambassadors, [with Drum, Colours, and Attendants.]

FORTINBRAS:

Where is this sight?

FORTINBRAS:

Where is this sight?

HORATIO:

What is it you will see?(375)
If aught of woe or wonder, cease your search.

HORATIO:

What do you want to see?
If anything of sorrow or wonder, stop your search.

FORTINBRAS:

This quarry cries on havoc. O proud Death,
What feast is toward in thine eternal cell
That thou so many princes at a shot
So bloodily hast struck?(380)

FORTINBRAS:

This scene is chaotic. O proud death,
What feast is being held in your eternal cell,
That you have killed so many princes
So bloodily all at the same time?

AMBASSADOR:

The sight is dismal;
And our affairs from England come too late.
The ears are senseless that should give us hearing
To tell him his commandment is fulfill'd
That Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead.(385)
Where should we have our thanks?

AMBASSADOR:

The sight is sad,
And our affairs come too late from England.
The ears that should give us hearing can’t hear,
To tell him his order is obeyed,
That Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead.
Who will thank us?