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  • 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    Not Peer Reviewed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)

    The Tragedie of Hamlet
    Since happy time ioyn'd both our hearts as one:
    2028.1And now the blood that fill'd my youthfull veines,
    Runnes weakely in their pipes, and all the straines
    Of musicke, which whilome pleasde mine eare,
    Is now a burthen that Age cannot beare:
    2028.5And therefore sweete Nature must pay his due,
    2040To heauen must I, and leaue the earth with you.
    2040.1Dutchesse O say not so, lest that you kill my heart,
    When death takes you, let life from me depart.
    Duke Content thy selfe, when ended is my date,
    Thon maist (perchance) haue a more noble mate,
    2043.1More wise, more youthfull, and one.
    2045Dutchesse O speake no more for then I am accurst,
    None weds the second, but she kils the first:
    A second time I kill my Lord that's dead,
    When second husband kisses me in bed.
    Ham. O wormewood, wormewood!
    Duke I doe beleeue you sweete, what now you speake,
    2055But what we doe determine oft we breake,
    2080For our demises stil are ouerthrowne,
    Our thoughts are ours, their end's none of our owne:
    So thinke you will no second husband wed,
    But die thy thoughts, when thy first Lord is dead.
    Dutchesse Both here and there pursue me lasting strife,
    If once a widdow, euer I be wife.
    2090Ham. If she should breake now.
    Duke T'is deepely sworne, sweete leaue me here a while,
    My spirites growe dull, and faine I would beguile the tedi-
    ous time with sleepe.
    2095Dutchesse Sleepe rocke thy braine,
    And neuer come mischance betweene vs twaine. exit Lady
    Ham. Madam, how do you like this play?
    Queene The Lady protests too much.
    Ham. O but shee'le keepe her word.
    2100King Haue you heard the argument, is there no offence
    in it?
    Ham.