Act Five
Act
Five Scene Two
Sub
Scene Five
The
foil shall determine.
France,
Spain, and Italy all claim to be responsible for modern fencing, but in truth,
the sport developed across Europe in a similar time frame, so no one can say
that they are the true first fencers. Fencing was used by the military in
Spain, and they carried it with them all over the world during their conquests.
We can see this in the legacy of fencing in the Americas and elsewhere around
the world.
Rapiers
started as military swords that slashed and thrust into opponents, but they
were used by non-military citizens for duels and self-defense. The tip of the
blade, as opposed to the edge of the blade, was the primary mode of attack. These
swords were lightweight and airy, very much recognizable as the weapons we know
today. French schools of fencing offered complexity that is still seen in our
fencing. The le fleuret, as it was known and is still called in
French, was used in the same way as the foil is now.
People
were afraid of being arrested or of committing a murder that would get them
executed as laws and culture changed in Europe. Though dueling as a form of
settling disputes dropped off, fencing gained in popularity. The epee de
terrain developed as a version of the le fleuret that had no
edge at all, so duelers poked each other with less damage.
Hamlet took swings with his foil.
He pierced a red apple with the sharpened end and took a bite of the fruit.
“Tasty, crunchy, and ….without any
poison.” Hamlet smiled, and the guests there all laughed. “Laertes, you shall
try it this way. It’s got the length and sharpness to do a clean thrust.”
“No, thanks.” Laertes looked at the
foil that was given to him. He saw the stain at the sharpened end. It was his
gift to the duel; a deadly potion to complete the vengeance.
“I’ll be your foil, Laertes; in
mine ignorance, your skill shall, like a star i’ th’ darkest night, stick fiery
off indeed,” Hamlet said to Laertes.
“You mock me, sir.” Laertes smiled.
“No, by this hand.” Hamlet returned
the smile. It was then Claudius called for the duel to begin.
“Given them the foils, now the
space to duel please, young Osric.” Claudius roared out in excitement. He then
turned to Hamlet. “You know the wager?”
“Very well, my lord. Your Grace has
laid the odds o’ th’ weaker side.” Hamlet commented.
“I do not fear it; I have seen you
both. But, since he is better, we have therefore odds.” Claudius smiled.
“For better or for worse, the duel
shall decide.” Hamlet smiled.
“This
is too long a delay. Shall we duel?” Laertes took his position. He took the
required stance with the front foot straight forward, with the back foot at an angle.
Both his legs bent at the knees, to enable the
fencer to readily move speedily to make an attack or defend. The sword arm
should be bent at also at an angle in front of the fencer, and the other arm
should be kept behind the fencer.
When moving forward in fencing, the front foot
should move first, and then be followed by the back foot. When moving backward,
the back foot should move first and then be followed by the front foot.
It was like dancing moves, with precision upon
training.
“Speech! Speech!” The guest called
out. Claudius decided to set the mood for the duel for his guests.
“Set
me the stoups of wine upon that table.— If Hamlet gives the first or second hit
or quits in answer to the third exchange. Let all the battlements their
ordnance fire. The King shall drink to Hamlet’s better breath, and in the
cup, a union shall he throw, richer than that which any successive kings to
Norway crowns to be worn.”
“Give me the cups,” Claudius called
out. “And let the kettle to the trumpet speak, the trumpet to the cannoneer
without, the cannons to the heavens, the heaven to earth,”
“Come, begin. And you, the judges,
bear a wary eye. These are my sons.”
Trumpets the while.
“Come on, sir,” Hamlet called on
Laertes.
“Come,
my lord.” Laertes moved in with a low inside; an attack to the top of the
opponent made closer to the waist. Hamlet stepped back and deflected the
strike. He reciprocated with a high inside; the inside of the blade, in the
middle of the chest to the shoulder.
“Ah..
A fine move, but I was ready for it.” Laertes had retreated with the fine steps
to the rear. His words were soon drowned by the cheers of the guests when
Hamlet took first cut on the left forearm. It struck on the sleeves and not the
flesh.
“One,”
Hamlet called out.
“No.”
Laertes protested.
“Judgment?”
Hamlet called to the judge, Lampard.
“A
hit, ze was a very palpable hit.” Lampard made his call.
“Well,
again shall we?” Laertes accepted the call.
“Stay,
give me a drink.—” Claudius halted the duel and held up a glass of wine. “Hamlet,
this pearl is thine. Here’s to thy health.”
Claudius
drank the wine and soon after dropped the pearl in the cup.
“Drum,
trumpets, and shot,” Claudius called out. “Give him the cup.”
“I’ll
play this bout first. Set it by awhile the wine.” Hamlet called on Laertes to
duel. “
They
duel, move by moves, strike, and deflected the other. play.
“Alas,
I am hit.” Hamlet cursed out. “A flesh wound but a hit it was. A hit. What say
you?”
“A
touch, a touch. I do confess ’t.”
Laertes replied. “Does it burn?”
“A
little, but that scratch will not stop me.” Hamlet smiled.
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