Page:Hamlet (1917) Yale.djvu/136

124

King. No place, indeed, should murder sanctuarize;

Revenge should have no bounds. But, good Laertes,

Will you do this, keep close within your chamber.

Hamlet return'd shall know you are come home;

We'll put on those shall praise your excellence,

And set a double varnish on the fame

The Frenchman gave you, bring you, in fine, together,

And wager on your heads: he, being remiss,

Most generous and free from all contriving,

Will not peruse the foils; so that, with ease

Or with a little shuffling, you may choose

A sword unbated, and, in a pass of practice

Requite him for your father.

Laer. I will do 't;

And, for that purpose, I'll anoint my sword.

I bought an unction of a mountebank,

So mortal that, but dip a knife in it,

Where it draws blood no cataplasm so rare,

Collected from all simples that have virtue

Under the moon, can save the thing from death

That is but scratch'd withal; I'll touch my point

With this contagion, that, if I gall him slightly,

It may be death.

King. Let's further think of this;

Weigh what convenience both of time and means

May fit us to our shape. If this should fail,

And that our drift look through our bad performance

'Twere better not assay'd; therefore this project

Should have a back or second, that might hold,

 131 put on: instigate

136 peruse: inspect

138 unbated: not blunted

pass of practice; cf. n.

140 anoint: smear

141 mountebank; cf. n.

143 cataplasm: poultice

144 simples: medicinal herbs

145 moon; cf. n.

150 our shape: part we purpose to act

