CLAUDIUS                  He being remiss,

Most generous and free from all contriving,

Will not peruse the foils, so that with ease,

Or with a little shuffling, you may choose

A sword unbated and in a pass of practice

Requite him for your father.

LAERTES                    I will do’t.

And for that purpose I’ll anoint my sword. (4.7.132-138)

He being remiss—and because Hamlet’s a bit of a dreamer, a bit casual (Claudius is back to not referring to Hamlet by name), most generous and free from all contriving—an interesting qualification, Hamlet isn’t paranoid, he wouldn’t think of doing something like this and so he wouldn’t expect anyone else to, either (does Claudius actually believe this? Hamlet is suspicious of EVERYONE; maybe Claudius just wants to push Laertes on, to think that this is entirely straightforward?)—anyway, Hamlet will not peruse the foils. He won’t check them, look them over properly, so that with ease, or with a little shuffling, you may choose a sword unbated. When it comes to choosing your weapons from a selection—as would be the custom for this sort of formal fencing competition—you’ll easily be able to choose one that has a sharp point, a deadly weapon, not with the button end that would be used for a fencing match; a bit of sleight of hand will do it, if needed! And so, in a pass of practice—in something that looks like a trial, not serious at all (or, conversely, something totally underhand) you will requite him for your father. You’ll settle the score. I will do’t. Yeah, I will, I’m in, that’ll work, confirms Laertes. But there’s more: and for that purpose I’ll anoint my sword. Just to make sure, I’ll poison the blade!