Enter Priests, etc., in procession; the corpse of Ophelia Laertes, and Mourners following; King, Queen, their Trains, etc.

Ham. The queen, the courtiers: Who is this they follow? Sit we awhile, and watch.

Priest.

Her obsequies have been as far enlarg'd
As we have warranty: Her death was doubtful;
And, but that great command o'ersways the order,
She should in ground unsanctified have lodg'd
Till the last trumpet!

Laer.
Priest.

No more be done!

We should profane the service of the dead,
To sing a requiem, and such rest to her, a suicide,
As to peace-parted souls.

Laer.

Lay her i' the earth;

And from her fair and unpolluted flesh

May violets spring! I tell thee, churlish priest,

I hop'd thou should'st have been my Hamlet's wife, sweet

maid.

Laer.

O, treble woe

Fall ten times treble on him

Whose wicked deed drove my sweet sister mad.
-Hold off the earth a while

Till I have caught her once more in my arms:

[Leaps into the grave.

Now pile your dust upon the quick and dead;
Till of this flat a mountain you have made,
To o'ertop the skyish head

Of blue Olympus.

Ham. [Advancing.] What is he, whose grief
Bears such an emphasis? whose phrase of sorrow
Conjures the wand'ring stars, and makes them stand
Like wonder-wounded heroes? this is I,
Hamlet, the Dane.

[Leaps into the grave.

I lov'd Ophelia; forty thousand brothers

Could not, with all their quantity of love,

Make up my sum.— What wilt thou do for her?
King. O, he is mad, Laertes.

Queen.
Ham.

For love of God, forbear him. Dost thou come here to whine? To outface me with leaping in her grave? Be buried quick with her, and so will I:

And, if thou prate of mountains, let them throw

Millions of acres.

Queen.

This is mere madness:

And thus a while the fit will work on him;
Anon, as patient as the female dove,

When that her golden couplets are disclos'd,
His silence will sit drooping.

Ham.

What is the reason that you use me thus?

I lov'd you ever; But it is no matter;
Let Hercules himself do what he may,

The cat will mew, the dog 'll have his day.

Hear you, sir;

It was out of the grief and t..e anger of Laertes, for his father and sister that Hamlet's uncle plotted his destruction. He induced Laertes, under cover of peace and reconciliation, to challenge Hamlet to a friendly trial of skill in fencing.

"We will prepare a poisoned weapon," said the king, which you shall use."

At this match all the court was present; for Laertes and Hamlet were known to excel in this sort of play. Hamlet, honorable, and supposing Laertes to be so, did not notice that the sword Laertes chose was pointed and uncovered.

For a few moments in the contest, Laertes dallied swords and so gave Hamlet some advantage.

"Drink, drink, drink to our son, Hamlet!" shouted the false king, pretending great joy.

Then Laertes made a thrust with his sword, giving

Hamlet a deadly wound. Instantly Hamlet saw the treachery, rushed upon Laertes and wrenching the poisoned sword from his hand plunged it into his side.

"O villainy, villainy!" cried Hamlet. "Let the doors be locked. Treachery. treachery! I will hunt this treachery to the end of the earth."

1

"It is here, Hamlet," cried Laertes; Hamlet, thou art slain;

No medicine in the world can do thee good;

In thee there is not half an hour's life;

The treacherous instrument is in thy hand,
Unbated, and envenom'd: the foul practice
Hath turned itself on me; lo, here I lie,
Never to rise again. Thy mother's poisoned;
I can no more; the king, the king's to blame.
Ham. The point envenomed too!

Then, venom, to thy work.

[Stabs the King.

Laer. Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Hamlet: Mine and my father's death come not upon thee,

Nor thine on me!

[Laertes dies.

Ham. Heaven make me free of it! I follow thee.
I am dying, Horatio :— Wretched queen, adieu !-
Had I but time, O, I could tell you,—

But let it be-Horatio, I am dying,

Thou liv'st: report me and my cause aright

To the unsatisfied.

[Hamlet dies.

Hor. Now cracks a noble heart;- Good-night, sweet prince;

And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest!