Hamlet Act 4 Document

(Claudius and Ferdinand, a servant, standing inside a room in the castle).

CLAUDIUS: Good day Ferdinand.
FERDINAND: As ever, my lord.
CLAUDIUS: Well, Ferdinand, I have the utmost important news to tell you.
FERDINAND: What is it, my lord?
CLAUDIUS: With Hamlet’s arrival back in Denmark, I cannot be rest assured that I am out of harm’s way. So I have devised a plan with Laertes to kill him.
FERDINAND: Laertes?
CLADIUS: Of course! Once the news hath spread round that Hamlet slain Polonius, Laertes was ready to fight.
FERDINAND: I see…
CLAUDIUS: I have arranged for a fencing match between Laertes and Hamlet. Laertes’ sword shall be poisoned, so when he hath scratch Hamlet, Hamlet shall die…If not, the cup he hath drink from will be poisoned.
FERDINAND: Fie my lord! How shall Gertrude be feeling?
CLAUDIUS: The thought upsets me much. Gertrude will be most perturbed. She shall be the utmost saddened. This I have thought of, but Hamlet is a menace to this castle.
FERDINAND: Do you think this wise?
CLAUDIUS: Of course! It’s pure brilliancy! What could go wrong? Hamlet shall die at my hand, and this castle shall be at ease once again. We shall now sleep at night, knowing harm shall not befall us.
FERDINAND: Thou is’t sure?
CLAUDIUS: There is no other way. Hamlet must be ta’en care of. This is the only way I can assure his death.
FERDINAND: My lord, if’t pleases, and thou believes there to be no other way…but how should Gertrude react if she discovers you hath done this awful deed?
CLAUDIUS: You shan’t speak of it! Gertrude shall not find out, and so I needn’t be troubled by this.
FERDINAND: Is thou not afraid of sin?
CLAUDIUS: ‘Tis not a sin! Hamlet endangers the kingdom at whole! I shan’t be sent to the deepest of hell for saving the country!
FERDINAND: Suppose things go astray...?
CLAUDIUS: Ferdinand, what could go wrong? Hamlet shall be struck by Laertes’ poisoned sword, or he shall drink from thy poisoned cup. Hamlet shall die none the less. What else matters? Nothing shall go astray…I shall see to it. The poison is intended for Hamlet. None other shall drink from the cup, nor should Laertes stab another, unless he is Hamlet. I assure you, nothing wrong shall take place!
FERDINAND: Yes, my lord.
CLAUDIUS: Now, I am in need of a rest. You are excused. And shall you speak one word of this, the consequences shall be severe.
FERDINAND: Yes, my lord.

(Exeunt Claudius and Ferdinand).