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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    Not Peer Reviewed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)

    Enter Corambis, and Montano.
    890Cor. Montano, here, these letters to my sonne,
    And this same mony with my blessing to him,
    And bid him ply his learning good Montano.
    Mon. I will my lord.
    Cor. You shall do very well Montano, to say thus,
    905I knew the gentleman, or know his father,
    To inquire the manner of his life,
    898.1As thus; being amongst his acquaintance,
    You may say, you saw him at such a time, marke you mee,
    At game, or drincking, swearing, or drabbing,
    You may go so farre.
    Mon. My lord, that will impeach his reputation.
    920Cor. I faith not a whit, no not a whit,
    Now happely hee closeth with you in the consequence,
    As you may bridle it not disparage him a iote.
    What was I a bout to say,
    945Mon. He closeth with him in the consequence.
    Cor. I, you say right, he closeth with him thus,
    D2 This
    The Tragedy of Hamlet
    947.1This will hee say, let mee see what hee will say,
    Mary this, I saw him yesterday, or tother day,
    950Or then, or at such a time, a dicing,
    Or at Tennis, I or drincking drunke, or entring
    Of a howse of lightnes viz. brothell,
    Thus sir do wee that know the world, being men of reach,
    By indirections, finde directions forth,
    And so shall you my sonne; you ha me, ha you not?
    Mon. I haue my lord.
    Cor. Wel, fare you well, commend mee to him.
    965Mon. I will my lord.
    Cor. And bid him ply his musicke
    Mon. My lord I wil. exit.
    Enter, Ofelia.
    Cor. Farewel, how now Ofelia, what's the news with you?
    Ofe. O my deare father, such a change in nature,
    971.1So great an alteration in a Prince,
    So pitifull to him, fearefull to mee,
    978.1A maidens eye ne're looked on.
    970Cor. Why what's the matter my Ofelia?
    Of. O yong Prince Hamlet, the only floure of Denmark,
    974.1Hee is bereft of all the wealth he had,
    The Iewell that ador'nd his feature most
    Is filcht and stolne away, his wit's bereft him,
    Hee found mee walking in the gallery all alone,
    There comes hee to mee, with a distracted looke,
    His garters lagging downe, his shooes vntide,
    And fixt his eyes so stedfast on my face,
    987.1As if they had vow'd, this is their latest obiect.
    Small while he stoode, but gripes me by the wrist,
    984.1And there he holdes my pulse till with a sigh
    He doth vnclaspe his holde, and parts away
    993.1Silent, as is the mid time of the night:
    And as he went, his eie was still on mee,
    For thus his head ouer his shoulder looked,
    995He seemed to finde the way without his eies:
    For
    Prince of Denmarke.
    For out of doores he went without their helpe,
    996.1And so did leaue me.
    Cor. Madde for thy loue,
    What haue you giuen him any crosse wordes of late?
    Ofelia I did repell his letters, deny his gifts,
    1005As you did charge me.
    Cor. Why that hath made him madde:
    By heau'n t'is as proper for our age to cast
    Beyond our selues, as t'is for the yonger sort
    To leaue their wantonnesse. Well, I am sory
    That I was so rash: but what remedy?
    1015Lets to the King, this madnesse may prooue,
    Though wilde a while, yet more true to thy loue. exeunt.