The Poison'd Cup

Enter King, Queen, Laertes, Lords, Osric, and
Attendants with
foils &c.]

King.
Come, Hamlet, come, and take this hand from me.

[The King puts Laertes' hand into Hamlet's.]

Ham.
This presence knows, and you must needs have heard,
How I am punish'd with sore distraction.
What I have done I here proclaim was madness.

I pray you pass with our best violence.

King.
Gertrude, do not drink.

Queen.
I will, my lord; I pray you pardon me.

King.
[Aside.] It is the poison'd cup; it is too late.

Queen.
No, no!
The drink, the drink!--I am poison'd.

[Dies.]

Laer.
It is here, Hamlet: Hamlet, thou art slain;
In thee there is not half an hour of life;

Ham.
O villany!--Ho! let the door be lock'd:
Treachery! seek it out.

Laer.
Unbated and envenom'd: the foul practice
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.

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

[Stabs the King.]

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

Laer.
He is justly serv'd;
It is a poison temper'd by himself.--
Mine and my father's death come not upon thee,
Nor thine on me!

[Dies.]

Ham.
Heaven make thee free of it! I follow thee.--