Internet Shakespeare Editions

Author: William Shakespeare
Not Peer Reviewed

Hamlet (Quarto 1, 1603)

The Tragedie of Hamlet
Such a report of singularitie,
Will bring him on, although against his will.
3123.1And lest that all should misse,
3150I'le haue a potion that shall ready stand,
In all his heate when that he calles for drinke,
3148.1Shall be his period and our happinesse.
Lear. T'is excellent, O would the time were come!
Here comes the Queene. enter the Queene.
king How now Gertred, why looke you heauily?
3153.1Queene O my Lord, the yong Ofelia
3160Hauing made a garland of sundry sortes of floures,
Sitting vpon a willow by a brooke,
3165The enuious sprig broke, into the brooke she fell,
And for a while her clothes spread wide abroade,
Bore the yong Lady vp: and there she sate smiling,
Euen Mermaide-like, twixt heauen and earth,
Chaunting olde sundry tunes vncapable
3170As it were of her distresse, but long it could not be,
Till that her clothes, being heauy with their drinke,
Dragg'd the sweete wretch to death.
Lear. So, she is drownde:
Too much of water hast thou Ofelia,
Therefore I will not drowne thee in my teares,
3179.1Reuenge it is must yeeld this heart releefe,
For woe begets woe, and griefe hangs on griefe. exeunt.
enter Clowne and an other.
3190Clowne I say no, she ought not to be buried
In christian buriall.
3191.12. Why sir?
3195Clowne Mary because shee's drownd.
3195.12. But she did not drowne her selfe.
Clowne No, that's certaine, the water drown'd her.
2. Yea but it was against her will.
Clowne No, I deny that, for looke you sir, I stand here,
If the water come to me, I drowne not my selfe:
3205But if I goe to the water, and am there drown'd,
Ergo