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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    Not Peer Reviewed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.
    But the great Canon to the clowdes shall tell
    310The rowse the King shall drinke vnto Prince Hamlet.
    Exeunt all but Hamlet.
    Ham. O that this too much grieu'd and sallied flesh
    Would melt to nothing, or that the vniuersall
    313.1Globe of heauen would turne al to a Chaos!
    O God, within two months; no not two: married,
    330Mine vncle: O let me not thinke of it,
    My fathers brother: but no more like
    My father, then I to Hercules.
    Within two months, ere yet the salt of most
    Vnrighteous teares had left their flushing
    In her galled eyes: she married, O God, a beast
    Deuoyd of reason would not haue made
    Such speede: Frailtie, thy name is Woman,
    Why she would hang on him, as if increase
    Of appetite had growne by what it looked on.
    340O wicked wicked speede, to make such
    Dexteritie to incestuous sheetes,
    Ere yet the shooes were olde,
    The which she followed my dead fathers corse
    Like Nyobe, all teares: married, well it is not,
    Nor it cannot come to good:
    But breake my heart, for I must holde my tongue.
    Enter Horatio and Marcellus.
    345Hor. Health to your Lordship.
    Ham. I am very glad to see
    you, (Horatio) or I much
    forget my selfe.
    Hor. The same my Lord, and your poore seruant euer.
    350Ham. O my good friend, I change that name with you:
    but what make you from Wittenberg Horatio?
    Marcellus.
    Marc. My good Lord.
    355Ham. I am very glad to see you, good euen sirs:
    But what is your affaire in Elsenoure?
    Weele teach you to drinke deepe ere you depart.
    Hor.