Act V, Scene 2
[Line 239]
[A table is prepared. Enter trumpets, drums, and OFFICERS with cushions, KING CLAUDIUS, QUEEN GERTRUDE, OSRIC, LAERTES, and all the state. Foils, daggers, and flagons of wine are brought.]
KING CLAUDIUS
Come, Hamlet, come and take this hand from me.
[KING CLAUDIUS places LAERTES’ hand into HAMLET’S hand.]
HAMLET
Give me your pardon, sir. I have done you wrong.
But pardon’t as you are a gentleman. This presence knows,
And you must needs have heard, how I am punished
With a sore distraction. What I have done
That might your nature, honor, and exception
Roughly awake, I here proclaim was madness.
Was it Hamlet wronged Laertes? Never Hamlet.
If Hamlet from himself be taken away,
And when he’s not himself does wrong Laertes,
Then Hamlet does it not! Hamlet denies it!
Who does it, then? His madness. If it be so,
Hamlet is of the faction that is wronged.
His madness is poor Hamlet’s enemy.
Sir, in this audience
Let my disclaiming from a purposed evil
Free me so far in your most generous thoughts
That I have shot my arrow o’er the house
And hurt my brother.
LAERTES
I am satisfied in nature,
Whose motive in this case should stir me the most
To my revenge. But in my terms of honor
I stand aloof and will no reconcilement
‘Til by some elder masters of known honor
I have a voice and precedent of peace
To keep my name ungored. But ‘til that time
I do receive your offered love
Like love and will not wrong it.
HAMLET
I embrace it freely
And will this brother’s wager frankly play.
[To COURTIERS]
Give us the foils. Come on.
LAERTES Come, one for me.
HAMLET
I’ll be your foil, Laertes; in mine ignorance
Your skill shall, like a star in the darkest night
Stick fiery off indeed.
LAERTES You mock me, sir.
HAMLET No, by this hand.
KING CLAUDIUS
Give them the foils, young Osric.
Cousin Hamlet, you know the wager?
HAMLET
Very well, my lord.
Your Grace has laid the odds on
The weaker side.
KING CLAUDIUS
I do not fear it; I have seen you both.
But, since he is better, we have therefore odds.
LAERTES
This is too heavy. Let me see another.
HAMLET
This likes me well. These foils have all a length?
OSRIC
Ay, my good lord.
[HAMLET and LAERTES prepare to duel.]
[Line 285]