Divinity that shapes our ends,
Rough-hew them how we will."_

King Claudius seeing no other way to get rid of Hamlet, consults his secret
courtiers and brews up the passion existing between Laertes and himself,
proposing that they fence with rapiers for a great prize, the King betting
that in twelve passes of swords Laertes makes not three hits on Hamlet.

The grand contest for excellence in sword-play comes off in the main hall
of the palace, while the King, Queen, lords and courtiers await the
entrance of Hamlet.

The rapier point handed by the King to Laertes, was dipped in deadly
poison, so that it but touch the flesh of Hamlet certain death prevailed,
and even of the wine cups set on the table to quench the thirst of the
artistic fencers, one was poisoned and intended for Hamlet's dissolution.

Laertes was in the poison plot, and Hamlet felt in his soul that foul play
was intended, but in the general scramble and conclusion he hoped to wipe
off the score of his vengeance from the slate of royal iniquity and
slaughter.

Trumpet and cannon sound for beginning the sword contest.

First passes favored Hamlet, and the King, grasping the poison wine cup,
says:

_"Hamlet, this pearl is thine;
Here's to thy health!"_ (Offering him the cup.)

Hamlet replies:

_"Give Laertes the cup,
I'll play this bout first; set it by a while."_

Hamlet makes another pass and touches Laertes, and the Queen grasps the
poison cup in her excitement and drinks to her son.

The King impulsively says:

_"Gertrude, do not drink!"_ (Aside) _"It is the
poisoned cup!"_

The Queen, as God and Fate would have it, says stubbornly:

_"I will, my lord, I pray you pardon me!"_

In the third round Laertes wounds Hamlet with the poisoned-pointed rapier,
and in the struggle Hamlet grasps Laertes' rapier and in turn wounds his
antagonist.

At this moment the Queen falls off her throne, and dying, says to Hamlet:

_"O, my dear Hamlet; the drink, the drink; I
am poisoned!"_

Laertes then falls, and Hamlet, seeing through the plot, exclaims:

_"O, villainy! Ho! let the door be locked;
Treachery! seek it out!"_

Laertes makes the dying confession of his treachery:

_"It is here, Hamlet; Hamlet, thou art slain;
No medicine in the world can do thee good,
In thee there is not half an hour of life;
The treacherous instrument is in thy hand,
Unbated and envenomed; the fo