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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    Not Peer Reviewed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.
    Which let thy wisedome feare, holde off thy hand:
    I lou'de Ofelia as deere as twenty brothers could:
    Shew me what thou wilt doe for her:
    Wilt fight, wilt fast, wilt pray,
    Wilt drinke vp vessels, eate a crocadile? Ile doot:
    Com'st thou here to whine?
    And where thou talk'st of burying thee a liue,
    Here let vs stand: and let them them throw on vs,
    Whole hills of earth, till with the heighth therof,
    3480Make Oosell as a Wart.
    King. Forbeare Leartes, now is hee mad, as is the sea,
    Anone as milde and gentle as a Doue:
    3484.1Therfore a while giue his wilde humour scope.
    Ham. What is the reason sir that you wrong mee thus?
    I neuer gaue you cause: but stand away,
    A Cat will meaw, a Dog will haue a day.
    Exit Hamlet and Horatio.
    Queene. Alas, it is his madnes makes him thus,
    3482.1And not his heart, Leartes.
    King. My lord, t'is so: but wee'le no longer trifle,
    This very day shall Hamlet drinke his last,
    3496.1For presently we meane to send to him,
    Therfore Leartes be in readynes.
    3498.1Lear. My lord, till then my soule will not bee quiet.
    King. Come Gertred, wee'l haue Leartes, and our sonne,
    Made friends and Louers, as befittes them both,
    Euen as they tender vs, and loue their countrie.
    3498.5Queene God grant they may. exeunt omnes.
    Enter Hamlet and Horatio
    Ham. beleeue mee, it greeues mee much Horatio,
    3580That to Leartes I forgot my selfe:
    For by my selfe me thinkes I feele his griefe,
    3581.1Though there's a difference in each others wrong.
    Enter a Bragart Gentleman.
    Horatio, but you marke yon water-flie,
    3588.1The Court knowes him, but hee knowes not the Court.
    I2 Gen.