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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    Not Peer Reviewed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)

    Prince of Denmarke.
    Mar. Is it not like the King?
    75Hor. As thou art to thy selfe,
    Such was the very armor he had on,
    When he the ambitious Norway combated.
    So frownd he once, when in an angry parle
    He smot the sleaded pollax on the yce,
    80Tis strange.
    Mar. Thus twice before, and iump at this dead hower,
    With Marshall stalke he passed through our watch.
    Hor. In what particular to worke, I know not,
    But in the thought and scope of my opinion,
    85This bodes some strange eruption to the state.
    Mar. Good, now sit downe, and tell me he that knowes
    Why this same strikt and most obseruant watch,
    So nightly toyles the subiect of the land,
    And why such dayly cost of brazen Cannon
    90And forraine marte, for implements of warre,
    Why such impresse of ship-writes, whose sore taske
    Does not diuide the sunday from the weeke:
    What might be toward that this sweaty march
    Doth make the night ioynt labourer with the day,
    95Who is't that can informe me?
    Hor. Mary that can I, at least the whisper goes so,
    Our late King, who as you know was by Forten-
    Brasse of Norway,
    100Thereto prickt on by a most emulous cause, dared to
    The combate, in which our valiant Hamlet,
    For so this side of our knowne world esteemed him,
    Did slay this Fortenbrasse,
    Who by a seale compact well ratified, by law
    And heraldrie, did forfeit with his life all those
    105His lands which he stoode seazed of by the conqueror,
    Against the which a moity competent,
    Was gaged by our King:
    Now sir, yong Fortenbrasse,
    Of inapproued mettle hot and full,
    B2 Hath