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he good King。  And as they spoke the King's ghost again appeared before Hamlet; but the Queen could not see it。  So when the ghost had gone; they parted。

When the Queen told Claudius what had passed; and how Polonius was dead; he said; 〃This shows plainly that Hamlet is mad; and since he has killed the Chancellor; it is for his own safety that we must carry out our plan; and send him away to England。〃

So Hamlet was sent; under charge of two courtiers who served the King; and these bore letters to the English Court; requiring that Hamlet should be put to death。  But Hamlet had the good sense to get at these letters; and put in others instead; with the names of the two courtiers who were so ready to betray him。  Then; as the vessel went to England; Hamlet escaped on board a pirate ship; and the two wicked courtiers left him to his fate; and went on to meet theirs。

Hamlet hurried home; but in the meantime a dreadful thing had happened。  Poor pretty Ophelia; having lost her lover and her father; lost her wits too; and went in sad madness about the Court; with straws; and weeds; and flowers in her hair; singing strange scraps of songs; and talking poor; foolish; pretty talk with no heart of meaning to it。  And one day; coming to a stream where willows grew; she tried to bang a flowery garland on a willow; and fell into the water with all her flowers; and so died。

And Hamlet had loved her; though his plan of seeming madness had made him hide it; and when he came back; he found the King and Queen; and the Court; weeping at the funeral of his dear love and lady。

Ophelia's brother; Laertes; had also just come to Court to ask justice for the death of his father; old Polonius; and now; wild with grief; he leaped into his sister's grave; to clasp her in his arms once more。

〃I loved her more than forty thousand brothers;〃 cried Hamlet; and leapt into the grave after him; and they fought till they were parted。

Afterwards Hamlet begged Laertes to forgive him。

〃I could not bear;〃 he said; 〃that any; even a brother; should seem to love her more than I。〃

But the wicked Claudius would not let them be friends。  He told Laertes how Hamlet had killed old Polonius; and between them they made a plot to slay Hamlet by treachery。

Laertes challenged him to a fencing match; and all the Court were present。  Hamlet had the blunt foil always used in fencing; but Laertes had prepared for himself a sword; sharp; and tipped with poison。  And the wicked King had made ready a bowl of poisoned wine; which he meant to give poor Hamlet when he should grow warm with the sword play; and should call for drink。

So Laertes and Hamlet fought; and Laertes; after some fencing; gave Hamlet a sharp sword thrust。  Hamlet; angry at this treacheryfor they had been fencing; not as men fight; but as they playclosed with Laertes in a struggle; both dropped their swords; and when they picked them up again; Hamlet; without noticing it; had exchanged his own blunt sword for Laertes' sharp and poisoned one。 And with one thrust of it he pierced Laertes; who fell dead by his own treachery。

At this moment the Queen cried out; 〃The drink; the drink!  Oh; my dear Hamlet!  I am poisoned!〃

She had drunk of the poisoned bowl the King had prepared for Hamlet; and the King saw the Queen; whom; wicked as he was; he really loved; fall dead by his means。

Then Ophelia being dead; and Polonius; and the Queen; and Laertes; and the two courtiers who had been sent to England; Hamlet at last found courage to do the ghost's bidding and avenge his father's murderwhich; if he had braced up his heart to do long before; all these lives had been spared; and none had suffered but the wicked King; who well deserved to die。

Hamlet; his heart at last being great enough to do the deed he ought; turned the poisoned sword on the false King。

〃Thenvenomdo thy work!〃 he cried; and the King died。

So Hamlet in the end kept the promise he had made his father。  And all being now accomplished; he himself died。  And those who stood by saw him die; with prayers and tears; for his friends and his people loved him with their whole hearts。  Thus ends the tragic tale of Hamlet; Prince of Denmark。




CYMBELINE



Cymbeline was the King of Britain。  He had three children。  The two sons were stolen away from him when they were quite little children; and he was left with only one daughter; Imogen。  The King married a second time; and brought up Leonatus; the son of a dear friend; as Imogen's playfellow; and when Leonatus was old enough; Imogen secretly married him。  This made the King and Queen very angry; and the King; to punish Leonatus; banished him from Britain。

Poor Imogen was nearly heart…broken at parting from Leonatus; and he was not less unhappy。  For they were not only lovers and husband and wife; but they had been friends and comrades ever since they were quite little children。  With many tears and kisses they said 〃Good…bye。〃  They promised never to forget each other; and that they would never care for anyone else as long as they lived。

〃This diamond was my mother's; love;〃 said Imogen; 〃take it; my heart; and keep it as long as you love me。〃

〃Sweetest; fairest;〃 answered Leonatus; 〃wear this bracelet for my sake。〃

〃Ah!〃 cried Imogen; weeping; 〃when shall we meet again?〃

And while they were still in each other's arms; the King came in; and Leonatus had to leave without more farewell。

When he was come to Rome; where he had gone to stay with an old friend of his father's; he spent his days still in thinking of his dear Imogen; and his nights in dreaming of her。  One day at a feast some Italian and French noblemen were talking of their sweethearts; and swearing that they were the most faithful and honorable and beautiful ladies in the world。  And a Frenchman reminded Leonatus how he had said many times that his wife Imogen was more fair; wise; and constant than any of the ladies in France。

〃I say so still;〃 said Leonatus。

〃She is not so good but that she would deceive;〃 said Iachimo; one of the Italian nobles。

〃She never would deceive;〃 said Leonatus。

〃I wager;〃 said Iachimo; 〃that; if I go to Britain; I can persuade your wife to do whatever I wish; even if it should be against your wishes。〃

〃That you will never do;〃 said Leonatus。  〃I wager this ring upon my finger;〃 which was the very ring Imogen had given him at parting; 〃that my wife will keep all her vows to me; and that you will never persuade her to do otherwise。〃

So Iachimo wagered half his estate against the ring on Leonatus's finger; and started forthwith for Britain; with a letter of introduction to Leonatus's wife。  When he reached there he was received with all kindness; but he was still determined to win his wager。

He told Imogen that her husband thought no more of her; and went on to tell many cruel lies about him。  Imogen listened at first; but presently perceived what a wicked person Iachimo was; and ordered him to leave her。  Then he said

〃Pardon me; fair lady; all that I have said is untrue。  I only told you this to see whether you would believe me; or whether you were as much to be trusted as your husband thinks。  Will you forgive me?〃

〃I forgive you freely;〃 said Imogen。

〃Then;〃 went on Iachimo; 〃perhaps you will prove it by taking charge of a trunk; containing a number of jewels which your husband and I and some other gentlemen have bought as a present for the Emperor of Rome。〃

〃I will indeed;〃 said Imogen; 〃do anything for my husband and a friend of my husband's。  Have the jewels sent into my room; and I will take care of them。〃

〃It is only for one night;〃 said Iachimo; 〃for I leave Britain again to…morrow。〃

So the trunk was carried into Imogen's room; and that night she went to bed and to sleep。  When she was fast asleep; the lid of the trunk opened and a man got out。  It was Iachimo。  The story about the jewels was as untrue as the rest of the things he had said。  He had only wished to get into her room to win his wicked wager。  He looked about him and noticed the furniture; and then crept to the side of the bed where Imogen was asleep and took from her arm the gold bracelet which had been the parting gift of her husband。  Then he crept back to the trunk; and next morning sailed for Rome。

When he met Leonatus; he said

〃I have been to Britain and I have won the wager; for your wife no longer thinks about you。  She stayed talking with me all one night in her room; which is hung with tapestry and has a carved chimney…piece; and silver andirons in the shape of two winking Cupids。〃

〃I do not believe she has forgotten me; I do not believe she stayed talking with you in her room。  You have heard her room described by the servants。〃

〃Ah!〃 said Iachimo; 〃but she gave me this bracelet。  She took it from her arm。  I see her yet。  Her pretty action did outsell her gift; and yet enriched it too。  She gave it me; and said she prized it once。〃

〃Take the ring;〃 cried Leonatus; 〃you have won; and you might have won my life as well; for I care nothing for it now I know my lady has forgotten me。〃

And mad with anger; he wrote letters to Britain to his old servant; Pisanio; ordering him to take Imogen to Milford Haven; and to murder her; because she

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