King. No place, indeed, should murder sanctuarize;
Revenge should have no bounds. But, good Laertes, 128
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 132
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 136
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. 140
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 144
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; 148
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 151
'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
