[_He waves his bâton, and another rock discovers a tableau representing the Burial of OPHELIA._ _Ham._ (_deeply interested_). Why, these must be the maimed rites that were all that was given to my poor lost love--the lady I desired to visit a nunnery--to OPHELIA. And see there are the comic Grave-diggers. Show me more. Show me more! [_The vision fades away like its predecessor._ _Ghost._ I would, did not the decision of statute law limit the time. And now I must away. But mind, my son--six principal characters, and no more! Thou wilt remember! _Ham._ Ay, marry; and yes, I will! (_The Ghost disappears._) And so I have to meet LAERTES at a fencing-bout. I will! _Trumpets. Enter King, Queen, LAERTES, OSRIC and Court._ _King._ HAMLET, all hail! I wish thee joy! May'st thou be the victor at to-day's trial of skill! _Ghost_ (_heard from below_). Remember! Six principal characters. He and thou and I are three. Three! Six, and no more! _Hamlet_ (_aside_). Peace, perturbed spirit! _Laertes_ (_approaching_). My good Lord, I wish thee well, for I do love thee. _Ghost_ (_from below_). Four! Remember--Four! Six, and no more! and mind the time goes apace. Ten minutes of the thirty gone! _Hamlet_ (_aside_). Peace, perturbed spirit! (_Aloud._) The foils! _Osric_ (_approaching_). My Lord, the weapons! _Ghost_ (_as before_). He maketh five! Beware! Six, and no more! _Ham._ (_aside_). Rest, perturbed spirit! (_Aloud._) I will take this one! [_HAMLET and LAERTES take the foils and salute._ _King._ Now will I drink to HAMLET after the first bout. OSRIC, be ready to give him a cup when he is tired! Mind me well. (_Aside._) The cup of which HAMLET shall drink contains poison. Ha! ha! ha! A time will come! I triumph! [_HAMLET and LAERTES fence and drop their foils._ _Osric._--Let me return them, good Sirs! [_He gives the weapons in such a fashion that they are exchanged._ _King._ Now will I drink to HAMLET. Give him the other cup. _Ham._ Nay, your pardon. Sire. I am fat and scant of breath, but I will crush a cup with thee, later! _Queen._ Give me the cup. I will drink to thee, HAMLET! [_Drinks._ _Ghost_ (_as before_). I hear the well-remembered voice of thy mother, boy! That makes six. The limit's reached! _Ham._ (_aside_). Rest, perturbed spirit! (_Aloud._) And now, good LAERTES, I am at thy service. [_They fight. HAMLET is wounded._ _Osric._ A hit, a hit, a palpable hit! _Ham._ (_annoyed_). I am hurt, and by thee! [_Fights fiercely and wounds_ LAERTES. _Queen._ Oh! I am poisoned! [_Dies._ _Ham._ What, treachery! Ah, thou brute! [_Rushes up and kills King with his foil._ _Laertes._ I am dying! Forgive me, HAMLET. It was the doing of the King. [_Dies._ _Ghost_ (_as before_). Twenty and nine minutes have expired! The time is all but up! _Ham._ (_aside, with difficulty_). Rest, perturbed spirit! Farewell, farewell, a long farewell to all my--