Hamlet (Quarto 1, 1603)
Not Peer Reviewed
Prince of Denmarke
¶The taste of hunger, or a tirants raigne,
¶To grunt and sweate vnder this weary life,
¶When that he may his full Quietus make,
1730With a bare bodkin, who would this indure,
¶But for a hope of something after death?
Which pusles the braine, and doth confound the sence,
1735Which makes vs rather beare those euilles we haue,
¶Than flie to others that we know not of.
¶I that, O this conscience makes cowardes of vs all,
¶Lady in thy orizons, be all my sinnes remembred.
¶I haue, to redeliuer to your worthy handes, a small remem-
brance, such tokens which I haue receiued of you.
1760Ham. Are you faire?
¶Ofel. My Lord.
¶Ofel. What meanes my Lord?
Your beauty should admit no discourse to your honesty.
¶Ofel. My Lord, can beauty haue better priuiledge than
1765with honesty?
Then Honesty can transforme Beauty:
¶This was sometimes a Paradox,
But now the time giues it scope.
¶I neuer gaue you nothing.
¶Ofel. My Lord, you know right well you did,
1754.1But now too true I finde,
¶Rich giftes waxe poore, when giuers grow vnkinde.
¶Ham. I neuer loued you.
¶Ofel. You made me beleeue you did.
E
Ham.
