Hamlet (Quarto 2, 1604)

Introduction
Texts of this edition
1. Hamlet (Editor's Choice)
3. Editor's choice
4. Hamlet (First Quarto)
6. Modern
8. Old-spelling transcription
9. Hamlet (Second Quarto)
11. Modern
13. Old-spelling transcription
14. Hamlet (First Folio)
16. Modern
18. Old-spelling transcription
Contextual materials
Facsimiles

1.0.12586[4.1]
1.0.22470Enter King, and Queen, with Rosencrantz 2586.12471and Guildenstern.
1.125872472King
 There's matter in these sighs, these profound heaves.
1.225892473You must translate; 'tis fit we understand them.
1.325902474Where is your son?
1.42590.12475Queen
 [To Rosencrantz and Guildenstern] Bestow this place on us a little while.
1.4.1[Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.]
1.525912476Ah, mine own lord, what have I seen tonight!
1.625922477King
 What, Gertrude? How does Hamlet?
1.725932478Queen
 Mad as the sea and wind when both contend
1.825942479Which is the mightier. In his lawless fit,
1.925952480Behind the arras hearing something stir,
1.1025962481Whips out his rapier, cries, "A rat, a rat!"
1.1125972482And in this brainish apprehension kills
1.1225982483The unseen good old man.
 25992484King
 The unseen good old man.  Oh, heavy deed!
1.1326002485It had been so with us had we been there.
1.1426012486His liberty is full of threats to all--
1.1526022487To you yourself, to us, to everyone.
1.1626032488Alas, how shall this bloody deed be answered?
1.1726042489It will be laid to us, whose providence
1.1826052490Should have kept short, restrained, and out of haunt
1.1926062491This mad young man. But so much was our love,
1.2026072492We would not understand what was most fit,
1.2126082493But like the owner of a foul disease,
1.2226092494To keep it from divulging, let it feed
1.2326102495Even on the pith of life. Where is he gone?
1.2426112496Queen
 To draw apart the body he hath killed,
1.2526122497O'er whom his very madness, like some ore
1.2626132498Among a mineral of metals base,
1.2726142499Shows itself pure: 'a weeps for what is done.
1.2826152500King
 Oh, Gertrude, come away!
1.2926162501The sun no sooner shall the mountains touch
1.3026172502But we will ship him hence, and this vile deed
1.3126182503We must with all our majesty and skill
1.3226192504Both countenance and excuse.--Ho, Guildenstern!
1.32.1Enter Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.
1.3326212505Friends both, go join you with some further aid.
1.3426222506Hamlet in madness hath Polonius slain,
1.3526232507And from his mother's closet hath he dragged him.
1.3626242508Go seek him out, speak fair, and bring the body
1.3726252509Into the chapel. I pray you haste in this.
1.37.1[Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.]
1.3826262510Come, Gertrude, we'll call up our wisest friends
1.3926272511And let them know both what we mean to do
1.4026282512And what's untimely done. [ ]
1.412628.12513Whose whisper o'er the world's diameter,
1.422628.22514As level as the cannon to his blank,
1.432628.32515Transports his poisoned shot, may miss our name
1.442628.42516And hit the woundless air. Oh, come away!
 26292517My soul is full of discord and dismay.
1.44.1Exeunt.

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Hamlet (Quarto 2, 1604)