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  • Title: Hamlet (Modern, Quarto 1)
  • Editor: David Bevington

    • ISBN: 978-1-55058-434-9

    Copyright David Bevington. This text may be freely used for educational, non-profit purposes; for all other uses contact the Editor.
    Author: William Shakespeare
    Editor: David Bevington
    Not Peer Reviewed

    Hamlet (Modern, Quarto 1)

    1645.1[Scene 8]
    Enter the King, Queen, and Lords [Corambis, Rossencraft, and Gilderstone].
    King
    Lords, can you by no means find
    The cause of our son Hamlet's lunacy?
    You being so near in love, even from his youth,
    1031.1Methinks should gain more than a stranger should.
    Gilderstone
    My lord, we have done all the best we could
    To wring from him the cause of all his grief,
    But still he puts us off, and by no means
    Would make an answer to that we exposed.
    Rossencraft
    Yet was he something more inclined to mirth
    Before we left him, and, I take it,
    He hath given order for a play tonight,
    At which he craves your highness' company.
    King
    With all our heart; it likes us very well.
    Gentlemen, seek still to increase his mirth.
    1674.1Spare for no cost, our coffers shall be open,
    And we unto yourselves will still be thankful.
    Both
    In all we can, be sure you shall command.
    Queen
    Thanks, gentlemen, and what the Queen of Denmark
    1045May pleasure you, be sure you shall not want.
    1045.1Gilderstone
    We'll once again unto the noble prince.
    King
    Thanks to you both.
    [Exeunt Rossencraft and Gilderstone.]
    Gertred, you'll see this play?
    Queen
    My lord, I will, and it joys me at the soul
    He is inclined to any kind of mirth.
    Corambis
    Madam, I pray be ruled by me,
    And, my good sovereign, give me leave to speak.
    We cannot yet find out the very ground
    Of his distemperance. Therefore
    1674.5I hold it meet, if so it please you,
    Else they shall not meet, and thus it is--
    King
    What is't, Corambis?
    Corambis
    Marry, my good lord, this: soon, when the sports are done,
    Madam, send you in haste to speak with him,
    And I myself will stand behind the arras.
    There question you the cause of all his grief,
    1839.1And then, in love and nature unto you, he'll tell you all.
    My lord, how think you on't?
    1845King
    It likes us well. Gertred, what say you?
    1845.1Queen
    With all my heart. Soon will I send for him.
    Corambis
    Myself will be that happy messenger,
    Who hopes his grief will be revealed to her.
    Exeunt omnes.
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