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Shakespeare on Stage
American Shakespeare Center, 'Tis Pity She's a Whore. To Jun. 16, 2012.
The Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, The Comedy of Errors. To Jul. 29, 2012.
American Shakespeare Center, The Merchant of Venice. To Nov. 23, 2012.
Folger Shakespeare Library, The Taming of the Shrew. To Jun. 10, 2012.
American Shakespeare Center, The Lion in Winter. To Nov. 24, 2012.
More Performances…
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Hamlet (Quarto 2, 1604)

Author: William Shakespeare
Not Peer Reviewed
Prince of Denmarke.
Importing the surrender of those lands
Lost by his father, with all bands of lawe
To our most valiant brother, so much for him:
205Now for our selfe, and for this time of meeting,
Thus much the busines is, we haue heere writ
To Norway Vncle of young Fortenbrasse
Who impotent and bedred scarcely heares
Of this his Nephewes purpose; to suppresse
210His further gate heerein, in that the leuies,
The lists, and full proportions are all made
Out of his subiect, and we heere dispatch
You good Cornelius, and you Valtemand,
For bearers of this greeting to old Norway,
215Giuing to you no further personall power
To busines with the King, more then the scope
Of these delated articles allowe:
Farwell, and let your hast commend your dutie.
Cor. Vo. In that, and all things will we showe our dutie.
220King. We doubt it nothing, hartely farwell.
And now Laertes whats the newes with you?
You told vs of some sute, what ist Laertes?
You cannot speake of reason to the Dane
225And lose your voyce; what wold'st thou begge Laertes,?
That shall not be my offer, not thy asking,
The head is not more natiue to the hart
The hand more instrumentall to the mouth
Then is the throne of Denmarke to thy father,
230What would'st thou haue Laertes?
Laer. My dread Lord,
Your leaue and fauour to returne to Fraunce,
From whence, though willingly I came to Denmarke,
To showe my dutie in your Coronation;
235Yet now I must confesse, that duty done
My thoughts and wishes bend againe toward Fraunce
And bowe them to your gracious leaue and pardon.
King. Haue you your fathers leaue, what saies Polonius?
240Polo. Hath my Lord wroung from me my slowe leaue
240.1By laboursome petition, and at last
Vpon his will I seald my hard consent,
I