Hamlet (Quarto 2, 1604)
Not Peer Reviewed
The Tragedie of Hamlet
1155As they fell out by time, by meanes, and place,
¶All giuen to mine eare.
¶Pol. What doe you thinke of me?
¶King. As of a man faithfull and honorable.
¶When I had seene this hote loue on the wing,
¶As I perceiu'd it (I must tell you that)
¶Before my daughter told me, what might you,
¶Or my deere Maiestie your Queene heere thinke,
1165If I had playd the Deske, or Table booke,
¶Or giuen my hart a working mute and dumbe,
¶Or lookt vppon this loue with idle sight,
¶What might you thinke? no, I went round to worke,
1170Lord Hamlet is a Prince out of thy star,
1175And he repell'd, a short tale to make,
¶Thence to a wath, thence into a weakenes,
¶Thence to lightnes, and by this declension,
¶Into the madnes wherein now he raues,
1180And all we mourne for.
¶King. Doe you thinke this?
¶Quee. It may be very like.
1185When it proou'd otherwise?
¶King. Not that I know.
¶If circumstances leade me, I will finde
¶Where truth is hid, though it were hid indeede
1190Within the Center.
¶King. How may we try it further?
¶Heere in the Lobby.
Quee.
