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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    Not Peer Reviewed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.
    2510And euery part that should assist reuenge,
    Forgoe their proper powers, and fall to pitty.
    2490Ghost Hamlet, I once againe appeare to thee,
    To put thee in remembrance of my death:
    2491.1Doe not neglect, nor long time put it off.
    But I perceiue by thy distracted lookes,
    Thy mother's fearefull, and she stands amazde:
    Speake to her Hamlet, for her sex is weake,
    Comfort thy mother, Hamlet, thinke on me.
    Ham. How i'st with you Lady?
    Queene Nay, how i'st with you
    That thus you bend your eyes on vacancie,
    And holde discourse with nothing but with ayre?
    2515Ham. Why doe you nothing heare?
    Queene Not I.
    Ham. Nor doe you nothing see?
    Queene No neither.
    Ham. No, why see the king my father, my father, in the (habite
    As he liued, looke you how pale he lookes,
    See how he steales away out of the Portall,
    Looke, there he goes. exit ghost.
    2520Queene Alas, it is the weakenesse of thy braine,
    2520.1Which makes thy tongue to blazon thy hearts griefe:
    But as I haue a soule, I sweare by heauen,
    I neuer knew of this most horride murder:
    But Hamlet, this is onely fantasie,
    2521.1And for my loue forget these idle fits.
    Ham. Idle, no mother, my pulse doth beate like yours,
    It is not madnesse that possesseth Hamlet.
    O mother, if euer you did my deare father loue,
    Forbeare the adulterous bed to night,
    2545And win your selfe by little as you may,
    2545.1In time it may be you wil lothe him quite:
    And mother, but assist mee in reuenge,
    And in his death your infamy shall die.
    Queene Hamlet, I vow by that maiesty,
    G3 That