Ghost (from below). Four! Remember—Four! Six, and no more! and mind the time goes apace. Ten minutes of the thirty gone!
Hamlet (aside). Peace, perturbed spirit! (Aloud.) The foils!
Osric (approaching). My Lord, the weapons!
Ghost (as before). He maketh five! Beware! Six, and no more!
Ham. (aside). Rest, perturbed spirit! (Aloud.) I will take this one!
[HAMLET and LAERTES take the foils and salute.
King. Now will I drink to HAMLET after the first bout. OSRIC, be ready to give him a cup when he is tired! Mind me well. (Aside.) The cup of which HAMLET shall drink contains poison. Ha! ha! ha! A time will come! I triumph!
[HAMLET and LAERTES fence and drop their foils.
Osric.—Let me return them, good Sirs!
[He gives the weapons in such a fashion that they are exchanged.