Internet Shakespeare Editions

Toolbox




Jump to line
Help on texts

About this text

  • Title: Hamlet (Quarto 1, 1603)
  • Textual editor: Eric Rasmussen
  • ISBN: 978-1-55058-434-9

    Copyright Internet Shakespeare Editions. This text may be freely used for educational, non-proift purposes; for all other uses contact the Coordinating Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Not Peer Reviewed

    Hamlet (Quarto 1, 1603)

    Prince of Denmarke.
    Speakes from his heart, but yet take heed my sister,
    The Chariest maide is prodigall enough,
    500If she vnmaske hir beautie to the Moone.
    Vertue it selfe scapes not calumnious thoughts,
    Belieu't Ofelia, therefore keepe a loofe
    496.1Lest that he trip thy honor and thy fame.
    Ofel. Brother, to this I haue lent attentiue eare,
    And doubt not but to keepe my honour firme,
    But my deere brother, do not you
    510Like to a cunning Sophister,
    Teach me the path and ready way to heauen,
    511.1While you forgetting what is said to me,
    Your selfe, like to a carelesse libertine
    512.1Doth giue his heart, his appetite at ful,
    And little recks how that his honour dies.
    515Lear. No, feare it not my deere Ofelia,
    Here comes my father, occasion smiles vpon a second leaue.
    Enter Corambis.
    520Cor. Yet here Leartes? aboord, aboord, for shame,
    The winde sits in the shoulder of your saile,
    And you are staid for, there my blessing with thee
    And these few precepts in thy memory.
    "Be thou familiar, but by no meanes vulgare;
    "Those friends thou hast, and their adoptions tried,
    "Graple them to thee with a hoope of steele,
    "But do not dull the palme with entertaine,
    530"Of euery new vnfleg'd courage,
    "Beware of entrance into a quarrell; but being in,
    "Beare it that the opposed may beware of thee,
    535"Costly thy apparrell, as thy purse can buy.
    "But not exprest in fashion,
    "For the apparrell oft proclaimes the man.
    And they of France of the chiefe rancke and station
    Are of a most select and generall chiefe in that:
    "This aboue all, to thy owne selfe be true,
    And it must follow as the night the day,
    C2 Thou