I do not fear it--I have seen you both!
But since, he is bettered: we have therefore odds.

'Since'--'_since the time I saw him_.']

[Page 266]

_Laer_. This is too heauy,
Let me see another.[1]

_Ham_. This likes me well,
These Foyles haue all a length.[2] _Prepare to play._[3]

_Osricke_. I my good Lord. [Sidenote: _Ostr._]

_King_. Set me the Stopes of wine vpon that Table:
If _Hamlet_ giue the first, or second hit,
Or quit in answer of the third exchange,[4]
Let all the Battlements their Ordinance fire,
[Sidenote: 268] The King shal drinke to _Hamlets_ better breath,
And in the Cup an vnion[5] shal he throw [Sidenote: an Vince]
Richer then that,[6] which foure successiue Kings
In Denmarkes Crowne haue worne.
Giue me the Cups,
And let the Kettle to the Trumpets speake, [Sidenote: trumpet]
The Trumpet to the Cannoneer without,
The Cannons to the Heauens, the Heauen to Earth,
Now the King drinkes to _Hamlet_. Come, begin,
[Sidenote: _Trumpets the while._]
And you the Iudges[7] beare a wary eye.

_Ham_. Come on sir.

_Laer_. Come on sir. _They play._[8] [Sidenote: Come my Lord.]

_Ham_. One.

_Laer_. No.

_Ham_. Iudgement.[9]

_Osr_. A hit, a very palpable hit. [Sidenote: _Ostrick._]

_Laer_. Well: againe. [Sidenote: _Drum, trumpets and a shot.
Florish, a peece goes off._]

_King_. Stay, giue me drinke.
_Hamlet_, this Pearle is thine,
Here's to thy health. Giue him the cup,[10]

_Trumpets sound, and shot goes off._[11]

_Ham_. Ile play this bout first, set by a-while.[12]
[Sidenote: set it by]
Come: Another hit; what say you?

_Laer_. A touch, a touch, I do confesse.[13]
[Sidenote: _Laer_. | doe confest.]

_King_. Our Sonne shall win.

[Footnote 1: --to make it look as if he were choosing.]

[Footnote 2: --asked in an offhand way. The fencers must not measure
weapons, because how then could the unbated point escape discovery? It
is quite like Hamlet to take even Osricke's word for their equal
length.]

[Footnote 3: _Not in Q._]

[Footnote 4: 'or be quits with Laertes the third bout':--in any case,
whatever the probabilities, even if Hamlet be wounded, the king, who has
not perfect confidence in the 'unction,'