Hamlet (Quarto 1, 1603)
Not Peer Reviewed
¶
Enter Corambis, and Montano.
And this same mony with my blessing to him,
¶And bid him ply his learning good Montano.
¶Mon. I will my lord.
905I knew the gentleman, or know his father,
¶To inquire the manner of his life,
898.1As thus; being amongst his acquaintance,
¶At game, or drincking, swearing, or drabbing,
¶You may go so farre.
¶Mon. My lord, that will impeach his reputation.
920Cor. I faith not a whit, no not a whit,
As you may bridle it not disparage him a iote.
¶What was I a bout to say,
Mary this, I saw him yesterday, or tother day,
950Or then, or at such a time, a dicing,
¶Or at Tennis, I or drincking drunke, or entring
¶Of a howse of lightnes viz. brothell,
¶Thus sir do wee that know the world, being men of reach,
¶By indirections, finde directions forth,
¶Mon. I haue my lord.
¶Cor. Wel, fare you well, commend mee to him.
965Mon. I will my lord.
Cor. And bid him ply his musicke
¶
Enter, Ofelia.
¶Cor. Farewel, how now Ofelia, what's the news with you?
971.1So great an alteration in a Prince,
¶So pitifull to him, fearefull to mee,
978.1A maidens eye ne're looked on.
970Cor. Why what's the matter my Ofelia?
¶Of. O yong Prince Hamlet, the only floure of Denmark,
974.1Hee is bereft of all the wealth he had,
¶The Iewell that ador'nd his feature most
¶Is filcht and stolne away, his wit's bereft him,
¶Hee found mee walking in the gallery all alone,
There comes hee to mee, with a distracted looke,
¶His garters lagging downe, his shooes vntide,
987.1As if they had vow'd, this is their latest obiect.
¶He doth vnclaspe his holde, and parts away
993.1Silent, as is the mid time of the night:
¶And as he went, his eie was still on mee,
¶For thus his head ouer his shoulder looked,
995He seemed to finde the way without his eies:
¶For out of doores he went without their helpe,
996.1And so did leaue me.
¶Cor. Madde for thy loue,
¶Ofelia I did repell his letters, deny his gifts,
1005As you did charge me.
¶Cor. Why that hath made him madde:
¶By heau'n t'is as proper for our age to cast
That I was so rash: but what remedy?
¶Though wilde a while, yet more true to thy loue.
exeunt.
