Act Four
Act
Four Scene Seven
Sub
Scene Three
The foul deed planned
“No
place indeed should murder sanctuaries; revenge should have no bounds,”
Claudius said well. He had differentiated murder from revenge. One is an act to
take a life, and the other was to offer redemption to the death whose life was
taken.
“There
was a play recently here in the castle.” Claudius told Laertes.
“I
heard. Ophelia was there.” Laertes knew of the play.
“A
mockery of our art. It was by those amateurs who were given the script by Hamlet. He made a mockery also of the great
play. He made it so … scandalous. It would seem that the King was killed as
assumed by many based on the malicious play by a person that resembled me.” Claudius drew
on the pained expression; an act he had perfected as Brutus.
“I
for one loved the King. I was his companion when we were younger. I took him
for my brother.” Claudius looked into his repertoire of words. “Before I loved thee as a brother, John, But now, I do
respect thee as my soul.”
“Henry
IV, Part 1, Act 5 Scene 4.” Laertes nodded.
“I
was to the King, yet he …mock me with those words. I had known the King for
many years; it was not an easy journey to be at the top. We were ….
Unknowingly, or forced to some foul deeds that could have warranted revenge from
his victims but it may not have taken place, thankfully or due to several
factors; the inability to do it, or the payment of wealth to offset the desire
like in the case of Fortinbras; wounded to be bed stricken, his vengeance was
offset by the ducats paid to his son who in turn took it to war with the
Polacks.”
“Yes,
I heard. A costly price for two streets.” Laertes nodded.
“It’s
the way today? Not everyone tolerated …other peers like your father had then.
If your father was around, he would have met both and carved a truce but the
Great Chamberlian exists no more.” Claudius added praise to the dead man.
“Will
the Polacks turn to vengeance; it may happen out of desperation or when the
means were available remains to be seen.”
Claudius
sighed. “Revenge should have no bounds.”
“I
agreed,” Laertes concluded the needed action.
“But,
good Laertes,” Claudius looked Laertes. “Will you do this? Vengeance is
…personal.”
“For
vengeance?” Laertes replied. “Ues.”
“Let
us …plan. It must be …scripted like the play. Your role, mine, and the
others'.” Claudius smiled.
“When
Hamlet, returned, shall know you are home too. It will be a grand feast to
welcome his safe return. His mother will insist.” Claudius gave out his plan. “We’ll
put on those who shall praise your excellence and set a double varnish on the
fame.”
“The
Frenchman; an associate of mine will be there. He is a fencing judge himself.
And a man of the dice. I will place a wager on your heads for a bout of skills
with the foil, and he is the judge. He will take the foil, arranged by me for
the bout. He, being remiss, most generous, and free in his drinks, may not peruse
the foil, so that with ease, or with a little shuffling, you may choose a
sword unabated, and in a pass of practice requite Hamlet for your father.” A
lengthy explanation of the plan he had in mind to use Laertes as the vengeful
son, of his adopted son.
“An
unabated foil is blunt at the tip,” Laertes said. “You …”
“It
will be done. Hamlet will hold that while you will get the sharpened end to the
bout. With your skills and moves, I am sure your foil will stuck at Hamlet
mortally. My Frenchman will judge it as an accident or a mishap of the bout.
You will gain your vengeance then.” Claudius explained.
“For
your father, for Ophelia, and for …Norway.”
“I
will do ’t,”Laertes smiled. “And for that purpose, I’ll anoint my sword added. I
bought an unction of a potion.
So mortal that, 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 “ Laertes shared his plan. “I got it from the traveling
gypsies. “That is but scratched withal. I’ll touch on my point with this
contagion, that, if I gall him slightly,
It may be death.”
“You had rehearsed the play
before?’ Claudius laughed.
“Now I revealed my true intentions.
I had planned it to be done in secrecy, maybe unknowingly by Ophelia. It was
like getting rid of pests in the wall.” Laertes said.
“Pests in the walls? Yes, they were
but it’s …” Claudius knew of the peek holes, and almost to tell more about it
but he held his words back.
“Let’s further think of this,”
Claudius was always meticulous in his rehearsals. “We cannot go wrong or more
faults will be on ….me.”
“Weigh what convenience both of
time and means that may fit us to our shape. If this should fail, and our drift
looks through our bad performance,” Claudius gave deep thought to the plan. “We
should have contingency plans. “Should have a back or second that might
hold if this did blast in proof. Soft, let me see.”
“We’ll make a solemn wager on your cunnings—
I ha ’t!” Claudius reviews the plan. “When in your motion you are hot and dry, your
bouts more violent to that end, and that he calls for a drink, I’ll have
prepared him
a chalice for the nonce, whereon but sipping, if he by chance escapes your venomed
stuck, our purpose may hold there.”
It was then another shadow was seen
approaching the library.
“Who’s there?” Claudius called.
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