The poison'd cup
Shakespeare in hellAttendants 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.--