Internet Shakespeare Editions

Toolbox




Jump to line
Through Line Number
Help on texts
About this text
Print this page

About this text

  • Title: Hamlet (Folio 1, 1623)
  • Editor: David Bevington
  • Textual editor: Eric Rasmussen

    • ISBN: 978-1-55058-434-9

    Copyright David Bevington. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Editor: David Bevington
    Peer Reviewed

    Hamlet (Folio 1, 1623)

    The Tragedie of Hamlet. 155
    Marcellus.
    Mar. My good Lord.
    355Ham. I am very glad to see you: good euen Sir.
    But what in faith make you from Wittemberge?
    Hor. A truant disposition, good my Lord.
    Ham. I would not haue your Enemy say so;
    Nor shall you doe mine eare that violence,
    360To make it truster of your owne report
    Against your selfe. I know you are no Truant:
    But what is your affaire in Elsenour?
    Wee'l teach you to drinke deepe, ere you depart.
    Hor. My Lord, I came to see your Fathers Funerall.
    365Ham. I pray thee doe not mock me (fellow Student)
    I thinke it was to see my Mothers Wedding.
    Hor. Indeed my Lord, it followed hard vpon.
    Ham. Thrift, thrift Horatio: the Funerall Bakt-meats
    Did coldly furnish forth the Marriage Tables;
    370Would I had met my dearest foe in heauen,
    Ere I had euer seene that day Horatio.
    My father, me thinkes I see my father.
    Hor. Oh where my Lord?
    Ham. In my minds eye (Horatio)
    375Hor. I saw him once; he was a goodly King.
    Ham. He was a man, take him for all in all:
    I shall not look vpon his like againe.
    Hor. My Lord, I thinke I saw him yesternight.
    Ham. Saw? Who?
    380Hor. My Lord, the King your Father.
    Ham. The King my Father?
    Hor. Season your admiration for a while
    With an attent eare; till I may deliuer
    Vpon the witnesse of these Gentlemen,
    385This maruell to you.
    Ham. For Heauens loue let me heare.
    Hor. Two nights together, had these Gentlemen
    (Marcellus and Barnardo) on their Watch
    In the dead wast and middle of the night
    390Beene thus encountred. A figure like your Father,
    Arm'd at all points exactly, Cap a Pe,
    Appeares before them, and with sollemne march
    Goes slow and stately: By them thrice he walkt,
    By their opprest and feare-surprized eyes,
    395Within his Truncheons length; whilst they bestil'd
    Almost to Ielly with the Act of feare,
    Stand dumbe and speake not to him. This to me
    In dreadfull secrecie impart they did,
    And I with them the third Night kept the Watch,
    400Whereas they had deliuer'd both in time,
    Forme of the thing; each word made true and good,
    The Apparition comes. I knew your Father:
    These hands are not more like.
    Ham. But where was this?
    405Mar. My Lord, vpon the platforme where we watcht.
    Ham. Did you not speake to it?
    Hor. My Lord, I did;
    But answere made it none: yet once me thought
    It lifted vp it head, and did addresse
    410It selfe to motion, like as it would speake:
    But euen then, the Morning Cocke crew lowd;
    And at the sound it shrunke in hast away,
    And vanisht from our sight.
    Ham. Tis very strange.
    415Hor. As I doe liue my honourd Lord 'tis true;
    And we did thinke it writ downe in our duty
    To let you know of it.
    Ham. Indeed, indeed Sirs; but this troubles me.
    Hold you the watch to Night?
    420Both. We doe my Lord.
    Ham. Arm'd, say you?
    Both. Arm'd, my Lord.
    Ham. From top to toe?
    Both. My Lord, from head to foote.
    425Ham. Then saw you not his face?
    Hor. O yes, my Lord, he wore his Beauer vp.
    Ham. What, lookt he frowningly?
    Hor. A countenance more in sorrow then in anger.
    Ham. Pale, or red?
    430Hor. Nay very pale.
    Ham. And fixt his eyes vpon you?
    Hor. Most constantly.
    Ham. I would I had beene there.
    Hor. It would haue much amaz'd you.
    435Ham. Very like, very like: staid it long?
    Hor. While one with moderate hast might tell a hun-(dred.
    All. Longer, longer.
    Hor. Not when I saw't.
    Ham. His Beard was grisly? no.
    440Hor. It was, as I haue seene it in his life,
    A Sable Siluer'd.
    Ham. Ile watch to Night; perchance 'twill wake a-(gaine.
    Hor. I warrant you it will.
    Ham. If it assume my noble Fathers person,
    445Ile speake to it, though Hell it selfe should gape
    And bid me hold my peace. I pray you all,
    If you haue hitherto conceald this sight;
    Let it bee treble in your silence still:
    And whatsoeuer els shall hap to night,
    450Giue it an vnderstanding but no tongue;
    I will requite your loues; so, fare ye well:
    Vpon the Platforme twixt eleuen and twelue,
    Ile visit you.
    All. Our duty to your Honour. Exeunt.
    455Ham. Your loue, as mine to you: farewell.
    My Fathers Spirit in Armes? All is not well:
    I doubt some foule play: would the Night were come;
    Till then sit still my soule; foule deeds will rise,
    Though all the earth orewhelm them to mens eies. Exit.

    460Scena Tertia.

    Enter Laertes and Ophelia.
    Laer. My necessaries are imbark't; Farewell:
    And Sister, as the Winds giue Benefit,
    And Conuoy is assistant; doe not sleepe,
    465But let me heare from you.
    Ophel. Doe you doubt that?
    Laer. For Hamlet, and the trifling of his fauours,
    Hold it a fashion and a toy in Bloud;
    A Violet in the youth of Primy Nature;
    470Froward, not permanent; sweet not lasting
    The suppliance of a minute? No more.
    Ophel. No more but so.
    Laer. Thinke it no more:
    For nature cressant does not grow alone,
    475In thewes and Bulke: but as his Temple waxes,
    The inward seruice of the Minde and Soule
    Growes wide withall. Perhaps he loues you now,
    And now no soyle nor cautell doth besmerch
    The vertue of his feare: but you must feare
    His
    About
    Contact us
    Content quality
    Site guide
    © Internet Shakespeare Editions
    Copyright details
    Privacy policy
    This site is supported by:
    University of Victoria
    Friends of the ISE
    SSHRC