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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    Not Peer Reviewed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 Tragedy of Hamlet
    Why mai't not be the scull of some Lawyer?
    3289.1Me thinkes he should indite that fellow
    Of an action of Batterie, for knocking
    3290Him about the pate with's shouel: now where is your
    Quirkes and quillets now, your vouchers and
    Double vouchers, your leases and free-holde,
    And tenements? why that same boxe there will scarse
    Holde the conueiance of his land, and must
    The honor lie there? O pittifull transformance!
    3302.1I prethee tell me Horatio,
    3305Is parchment made of sheep-skinnes?
    Hor. I my Lorde, and of calues-skinnes too.
    Ham. Ifaith they prooue themselues sheepe and calues
    That deale with them, or put their trust in them.
    3275There's another, why may not that be such a ones
    Scull, that praised my Lord such a ones horse,
    When he meant to beg him? Horatio, I prethee
    Lets question yonder fellow.
    Now my friend, whose graue is this?
    3310Clowne Mine sir.
    3325Ham. But who must lie in it?
    3325.1Clowne If I should say, I should, I should lie in my throat (sir.
    Ham. What man must be buried here?
    Clowne No man sir.
    Ham. What woman?
    Clowne. No woman neither sir, but indeede
    One that was a woman.
    Ham. An excellent fellow by the Lord Horatio,
    3330This seauen yeares haue I noted it: the toe of the pesant,
    Comes so neere the heele of the courtier,
    That hee gawles his kibe, I prethee tell mee one thing,
    How long will a man lie in the ground before hee rots?
    Clowne I faith sir, if hee be not rotten before
    He be laide in, as we haue many pocky corses,
    He will last you, eight yeares, a tanner
    Will last you eight yeares full out, or nine.
    Ham.