King. No place indeed should murder sanctuarize;[1918]
Revenge should have no bounds. But, good Laertes,
Will you do this, keep close within your chamber.[1919] 130
Hamlet return'd shall know you are come home:
We'll put on those shall praise your excellence
And set a double varnish on the fame[1920]
The Frenchman gave you; bring you in fine together[1921]
And wager on your heads: he, being remiss,[1922] 135
Most generous and free from all contriving,
Will not peruse the foils, so that with ease,[1923]
Or with a little shuffling, you may choose
A sword unbated, and in a pass of practice[1924]
Requite him for your father.
Laer. I will do't 140
And for that purpose I'll anoint my sword.[1925]
I bought an unction of a mountebank,
So mortal that but dip a knife in it,[1926]
Where it draws blood no cataplasm so rare,
Collected from all simples that have virtue 145
Under the moon, can save the thing from death
That is but scratch'd withal: I'll touch my point
With this contagion, that, if I gall him slightly,[1927][1928]
It may be death.[1927]
King. Let's further think of this;
Weigh what convenience both of time and means[1929] 150
May fit us to our shape: if this should fail,[1930]
And that our drift look through our bad performance,[1931]
'Twere better not assay'd: therefore this project
Should have a back or second, that might hold
If this did blast in proof. Soft! let me see:[1932] 155
We'll make a solemn wager on your cunnings:[1933]
I ha't:[1934][1935]
When in your motion you are hot and dry—[1935][1936]
As make your bouts more violent to that end—[1937]
And that he calls for drink, I'll have prepared him[1938] 160
A chalice for the nonce; whereon but sipping,[1939]
If he by chance escape your venom'd stuck,[1940]
Our purpose may hold there. But stay, what noise?
Enter Queen.[1941]
How now, sweet queen![1942]
Queen. One woe doth tread upon another's heel,[1943] 165
So fast they follow: your sister's drown'd, Laertes.[1944]
Laer. Drown'd! O, where?
Queen. There is a willow grows aslant a brook,[1945]
That shows his hoar leaves in the glassy stream;[1946]
There with fantastic garlands did she come[1947] 170
Of crow-flowers, nettles, daisies, and long purples,
That liberal shepherds give a grosser name,[1948]
But our cold maids do dead men's fingers call them:[1949]
There, on the pendent boughs her coronet weeds[1950]
Clambering to hang, an envious sliver broke;[1951] 175
When down her weedy trophies and herself[1952]
Fell in the weeping brook. Her clothes spread wide,
And mermaid-like awhile they bore her up:[1953]
Which time she chanted snatches of old tunes,[1954]
As one incapable of her own distress, 180
Or like a creature native and indued[1955]
Unto that element: but long it could not be
Till that her garments, heavy with their drink,[1956]
Pull'd the poor wretch from her melodious lay[1957]
To muddy death.
Laer. Alas, then she is drown'd![1958] 185
Queen. Drown'd, drown'd.