Shakespeare In Hell

The Poison'd Cup

Shakespeare In Hell


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.--