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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    Not Peer Reviewed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
    Hath in the skirts of Norway here and there,
    115Sharkt vp a sight of lawlesse Resolutes
    For food and diet to some enterprise,
    That hath a stomacke in't: and this (I take it) is the
    Chiefe head and ground of this our watch.
    125 Enter the Ghost.
    But loe, behold, see where it comes againe,
    Ile crosse it, though it blast me: stay illusion,
    If there be any good thing to be done,
    130That may doe ease to thee, and grace to mee,
    Speake to mee.
    If thou art priuy to thy countries fate,
    Which happly foreknowing may preuent, O speake to me,
    Or if thou hast extorted in thy life,
    Or hoorded treasure in the wombe of earth,
    135For which they say you Spirites oft walke in death, speake
    to me, stay and speake, speake, stoppe it Marcellus.
    2. Tis heere. exit Ghost.
    140Hor. Tis heere.
    Marc. Tis gone, O we doe it wrong, being so maiesti-
    call, to offer it the shew of violence,
    For it is as the ayre invelmorable,
    145And our vaine blowes malitious mockery.
    2. It was about to speake when the Cocke crew.
    Hor. And then it faded like a guilty thing,
    Vpon a fearefull summons: I haue heard
    The Cocke, that is the trumpet to the morning,
    150Doth with his earely and shrill crowing throate,
    Awake the god of day, and at his sound,
    Whether in earth or ayre, in sea or fire,
    The strauagant and erring spirite hies
    To his confines, and of the trueth heereof
    155This present obiect made probation.
    Marc. It faded on the crowing of the Cocke,
    Some say, that euer gainst that season comes,
    Wherein our Sauiours birth is celebrated,
    The