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    Not Peer Reviewed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.
    But called it an honest methode, as wholesome as sweete.
    Come, a speech in it I chiefly remember
    Was AEneas tale to Dido,
    1490And then especially where he talkes of Princes slaughter,
    If it liue in thy memory beginne at this line,
    Let me see.
    The rugged Pyrrus, like th'arganian beast:
    No t'is not so, it begins with Pirrus:
    1493.1O I haue it.
    The rugged Pirrus, he whose sable armes,
    1495Blacke as his purpose did the night resemble,
    When he lay couched in the ominous horse,
    Hath now his blacke and grimme complexion smeered
    With Heraldry more dismall, head to foote,
    Now is he totall guise, horridely tricked
    1500With blood of fathers, mothers, daughters, sonnes,
    Back't and imparched in calagulate gore,
    Rifted in earth and fire, olde grandsire Pryam seekes:
    1503.1So goe on.
    Cor. Afore God, my Lord, well spoke, and with good (accent.
    Play. Anone he finds him striking too short at Greeks,
    1510His antike sword rebellious to his Arme,
    Lies where it falles, vnable to resist.
    Pyrrus at Pryam driues, but all in rage,
    Strikes wide, but with the whiffe and winde
    Of his fell sword, th'unnerued father falles.
    Cor. Enough my friend, t'is too long.
    Ham. It shall to the Barbers with your beard:
    1540A pox, hee's for a Iigge, or a tale of bawdry,
    Or else he sleepes, come on to Hecuba, come.
    Play. But who, O who had seene the mobled Queene?
    Cor. Mobled Queene is good, faith very good.
    1550Play. All in the alarum and feare of death rose vp,
    And o're her weake and all ore-teeming loynes, a blancket
    And a kercher on that head, where late the diademe stoode,
    Who this had seene with tongue inuenom'd speech,
    Would