The Director's Cuts:
Act 4, Scene 7
Another room in the castle.
Enter KING CLAUDIUS and LAERTES
[Opening lines of scenes cut]
KING CLAUDIUS LAERTES And so have I a noble father lost;
A sister driven into desperate terms, KING CLAUDIUS I loved your father, and we love ourself; How now! what news? Reads 'High and mighty, You shall know I am set naked on What should this mean?
Are all the rest come back?
Or is it some abuse, and no such thing? LAERTES Know you the hand? KING CLAUDIUS 'Tis Hamlets character. 'Naked! And in a postscript here, he says 'alone.' Can you advise me? |
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LAERTES If it be so, Laertes--
As how should it be so? how otherwise?-- Will you be ruled by me? So you will not o'errule me to a peace.
KING CLAUDIUS
To thine own peace. If he be now return'd, As checking at his voyage, and that he means No more to undertake it, I will work him To an exploit, now ripe in my device, Under the which he shall not choose but fall: And for his death no wind of blame shall breathe, But even his mother shall uncharge the practise And call it accident. LAERTES My lord, I will be ruled; The rather, if you could devise it so That I might be the organ. KING CLAUDIUS It falls right. You have been talk'd of since your travel much, And that in Hamlet's hearing, for a quality Wherein, they say, you shine: your sum of parts Did not together pluck such envy from him As did that one, and that, in my regard, Of the unworthiest siege. LAERTES What part is that, my lord? KING CLAUDIUS A very riband in the cap of youth, Yet needful too; for youth no less becomes The light and careless livery that it wears Than settled age his sables and his weeds, Importing health and graveness. KING CLAUDIUS Two months since, Here was a gentleman of Normandy:--
I've seen myself, and served against, the French,
And they can well on horseback: but this gallant Had witchcraft in't; he grew unto his seat; And to such wondrous doing brought his horse, As he had been incorpsed and demi-natured With the brave beast: so far he topp'd my thought, That I, in forgery of shapes and tricks, Come short of what he did. LAERTES A Norman was't? KING CLAUDIUS A Norman. |
LAERTES If one could match you:
the scrimers of their nation, LAERTES What out of this, my lord?
KING CLAUDIUS Hamlet comes back: what would you undertake, |
LAERTES To cut his throat i' the church.
KING CLAUDIUS
No place, indeed, should murder sanctuarize; Revenge should have no bounds. But, good Laertes, KING CLAUDIUS Will you do this, keep close within your chamber. So mortal that, if I
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 |
KING CLAUDIUS Let's further think of this;
Weigh what convenience both of time and means When in your motion you are hot and dry-- Enter QUEEN GERTRUDE How now, sweet queen! |
QUEEN GERTRUDE KING CLAUDIUS
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