Hamlet ⟨Act II Scene I⟩: Q1 v Q2 v F1

• First Quarto (1603)
  The Tragicall Historie of
  HAMLET
  Prince of Denmarke.

   

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  0889 =====Enter Corambis, and Montano.

  0890 **Cor.  Montano, here, these letters to my sonne,

  0890' And this same mony with my blessing to him,

  0966 And bid him ply his learning good Montano.

  0891 **Mon.  I will my lord.

  0892 **Cor.  You shall do very well Montano, to say thus,

  0905 I knew the gentleman, or know his father,

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  0898 To inquire the manner of his life,

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  0905 As thus; being amongst his acquaintance,

  0906-8 You may say, you saw him at such a time, marke you mee,

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  0916-8 At game, or drincking, swearing, or drabbing,

  0918 You may go so farre.

  0919 **Mon.  My lord, that will impeach his reputation.

  0920 **Cor.  I faith not a whit, no not a whit,

  0937 Now happely hee closeth with you in the consequence,

  0920 As you may bridle it not disparage him a iote.

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  0943 What was I a bout to say,

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  0945 **Mon.  He closeth with him in the consequence.

  0947-8 **Cor.  I, you say right, he closeth with him thus,

  0947' This will hee say, let mee see what hee will say,[D2^v

  0947-9 Mary this, I saw him yesterday, or tother day,

  0950-1 Or then, or at such a time, a dicing,

  0952-3 Or at Tennis, I or drincking drunke, or entring

  0953-4 Of a howse of lightnes viz. brothell,

  0956 Thus sir do wee that know the world, being men of reach,

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  0958 By indirections, finde directions forth,

  0959-60  And so shall you my sonne; you ha me, ha you not?

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  0961 **Mon.  I haue my lord.

  0962 **Cor.  Wel, fare you well, commend mee to him.

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  0965 **Mon.  I will my lord.

  0966 **Cor.  And bid him ply his musicke

  0967 **Mon.  My lord I wil. ===exit.

  0968 =====Enter, Ofelia.

  0969-70  **Cor.  Farewel, how now Ofelia, what's the news with you?

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  0971 **Ofe.  O my deare father, such a change in nature,

  0971' So great an alteration in a Prince,

  0978 So pitifull to him, fearefull to mee,

  0978' A maidens eye ne're looked on.

  0970 **Cor.  Why what's the matter my Ofelia?

  0974 **Of.  O yong Prince Hamlet, the only floure of Denmark,

  0974'1 Hee is bereft of all the wealth he had,

  0974'2 The Iewell that ador'nd his feature most

  0974'3 Is filcht and stolne away, his wit's bereft him,

  0973 Hee found mee walking in the gallery all alone,

  0974-80  There comes hee to mee, with a distracted looke,

  0976 His garters lagging downe, his shooes vntide,

  0987 And fixt his eyes so stedfast on my face,

  0987' As if they had vow'd, this is their latest obiect.

  0984 Small while he stoode, but gripes me by the wrist,

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  0991 And there he holdes my pulse till with a sigh

  0993 He doth vnclaspe his holde, and parts away

  0993' Silent, as is the mid time of the night:

  0997 And as he went, his eie was still on mee,

  0994 For thus his head ouer his shoulder looked,

  0995 He seemed to finde the way without his eies:

  0996 For out of doores he went without their helpe,[D3^r

  0996' And so did leaue me.

  0981-99  **Cor.  Madde for thy loue,

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  1004 What haue you giuen him any crosse wordes of late?

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  1006 **Ofelia  I did repell his letters, deny his gifts,

  1005 As you did charge me.

  1008 **Cor.  Why that hath made him madde:

  1012-3 By heau'n t'is as proper for our age to cast

  1013-4 Beyond our selues, as t'is for the yonger sort

  1009-15  To leaue their wantonnesse. Well, I am sory

  1009 That I was so rash: but what remedy?

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  1015 Lets to the King, this madnesse may prooue,

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  1017 Though wilde a while, yet more true to thy loue. ===exeunt.

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• Second Quarto (1605)
  The Tragedie of
  H A M L E T
  Prince of Denmarke.

   

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  0889 =======Enter old Polonius, with his man or two.

  0890 @#Pol.  Giue him this money, and these notes Reynaldo.

  0891 @#Rey.  I will my Lord.

  0892 @#Pol.  You shall doe meruiles wisely good Reynaldo,

  0893 Before you visite him, to make inquire

  0894 Of his behauiour.

  0895 @#Rey.  My Lord, I did intend it.

  0896 @#Pol.  Mary well said, very well said; looke you sir,

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  0898 Enquire me first what Danskers are in Parris,

  0899 And how, and who, what meanes, and where they keepe,

  0900 What companie, at what expence, and finding

  0901 By this encompasment, and drift of question

  0902 That they doe know my sonne, come you more neerer

  0903 Then your perticuler demaunds will tuch it,

  0904 Take you as t'were some distant knowledge of him,

  0905 As thus, I know his father, and his friends,

  0906 And in part him, doe you marke this Reynaldo?

  0907 @#Rey.  I, very well my Lord.

  0908 @#Pol.  And in part him, but you may say, not well,

  0909 But y'ft be he I meane, hee's very wilde,

  0910 Adicted so and so, and there put on him

  0911 What forgeries you please, marry none so ranck

  0912 As may dishonour him, take heede of that,

  0913 But sir, such wanton, wild, and vsuall slips,

  0914 As are companions noted and most knowne

  0915 To youth and libertie.

  0916 @#Rey.  As gaming my Lord.

  0917 @#Pol.  I, or drinking, fencing, swearing,

  0918 Quarrelling, drabbing, you may goe so far.

  0919 @#Rey.  My Lord, that would dishonour him.

  0920 @#Pol.  Fayth as you may season it in the charge.

  0921 You must not put another scandell on him,[E1^v

  0922 That he is open to incontinencie,

  0923 That's not my meaning, but breath his faults so quently

  0924 That they may seeme the taints of libertie,

  0925 The flash and out-breake of a fierie mind,

  0926 A sauagenes in vnreclamed blood,

  0926' Of generall assault.

  0927 @#Rey.  But my good Lord.

  0928 @#Pol.  Wherefore should you doe this?

  0929 @#Rey.  I my Lord, I would know that.

  0930 @#Pol.  Marry sir, heer's my drift,

  0931 And I belieue it is a fetch of wit,

  0932 You laying these slight sallies on my sonne

  0933 As t'were a thing a little soyld with working,

  0934 Marke you, your partie in conuerse, him you would sound

  0935 Hauing euer seene in the prenominat crimes

  0936 The youth you breath of guiltie, be assur'd

  0937 He closes with you in this consequence,

  0938 Good sir, (or so,) or friend, or gentleman,

  0939 According to the phrase, or the addistion

  0940 Of man and country.

  0941 @#Rey.  Very good my Lord.

  0942 @#Pol.  And then sir doos a this, a doos, what was I about to say?

  0944 By the masse I was about to say something,

  0944' Where did I leaue?

  0945 @#Rey.  At closes in the consequence.

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  0947 @#Pol.  At closes in the consequence, I marry,

  0948 He closes thus, I know the gentleman,

  0949 I saw him yesterday, or th'other day,

  0950 Or then, or then, with such or such, and as you say,

  0951 There was a gaming there, or tooke in's rowse,

  0952 There falling out at Tennis, or perchance

  0953 I saw him enter such a house of sale,

  0954 Videlizet, a brothell, or so foorth, see you now,

  0955 Your bait of falshood take this carpe of truth,

  0956 And thus doe we of wisedome, and of reach,

  0957 With windlesses, and with assaies of bias,

  0958 By indirections find directions out,

  0959 So by my former lecture and aduise

  0960 Shall you my sonne; you haue me, haue you not? [E2^r

  0961 @#Rey.  My Lord, I haue.

  0962 @#Pol.  God buy ye, far ye well.

  0963 @#Rey.  Good my Lord.

  0964 @#Pol.  Obserue his inclination in your selfe.

  0965 @#Rey.  I shall my Lord.

  0966 @#Pol.  And let him ply his musique.

  0967 @#Rey.  Well my Lord. ========Exit Rey.

  0968 ============Enter Ophelia.

  0969 @#Pol.  Farewell. How now Ophelia, whats the matter?

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  0971 @#Oph.  O my Lord, my Lord, I haue beene so affrighted,

  0972 @#Pol.  With what i'th name of God ?

  0973 @#Ophe.  My Lord, as I was sowing in my closset,

  0974 Lord Hamlet with his doublet all vnbrac'd,

  0975 No hat vpon his head, his stockins fouled,

  0976 Vngartred, and downe gyued to his ancle,

  0977 Pale as his shirt, his knees knocking each other,

  0978 And with a looke so pittious in purport

  0979 As if he had been loosed out of hell

  0980 To speake of horrors, he comes before me.

  0981 @#Pol.  Mad for thy loue?

  0982 @#Oph.  My lord I doe not know,

  0982' But truly I doe feare it.

  0983 @#Pol.  What said he?

  0984 @#Oph.  He tooke me by the wrist, and held me hard,

  0985 Then goes he to the length of all his arme,

  0986 And with his other hand thus ore his brow,

  0987 He falls to such perusall of my face

  0988 As a would draw it, long stayd he so,

  0989 At last, a little shaking of mine arme,

  0990 And thrice his head thus wauing vp and downe,

  0991 He raisd a sigh so pittious and profound

  0992 As it did seeme to shatter all his bulke,

  0993 And end his beeing; that done, he lets me goe,

  0994 And with his head ouer his shoulder turn'd

  0995 Hee seem'd to find his way without his eyes,

  0996 For out adoores he went without theyr helps,

  0997 And to the last bended their light on me.

  0998 @#Pol.  Come, goe with mee, I will goe seeke the King,[E2^v

  0999 This is the very extacie of loue,

  1000 Whose violent propertie fordoos it selfe,

  1001 And leades the will to desperat vndertakings

  1002 As oft as any passions vnder heauen

  1003 That dooes afflict our natures: I am sorry,

  1004 What, haue you giuen him any hard words of late?

  1005 @#Oph.  No my good Lord, but as you did commaund

  1006 I did repell his letters, and denied

  1007 His accesse to me.

  1008 @#Pol.  That hath made him mad.

  1009 I am sorry, that with better heede and iudgement

  1010 I had not coted him, I fear'd he did but trifle

  1011 And meant to wrack thee, but beshrow my Ielousie:

  1012 By heauen it is as proper to our age

  1013 To cast beyond our selues in our opinions,

  1014 As it is common for the younger sort

  1015 To lack discretion; come, goe we to the King,

  1016 This must be knowne, which beeing kept close, might moue

  1017 More griefe to hide, then hate to vtter loue,

  1017+1 Come. =======Exeunt.

   

• First Folio (1623)
   
  THE TRAGEDIE OF
  H A M L E T, Prince of Denmarke.

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  0888 =======Actus Secundus.

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  0889 =======Enter Polonius, and Reynoldo.

  0890 @#Polon.  Giue him his money, and these notes Reynoldo.

  0891 @#Reynol.  I will my Lord.

  0892 @#Polon.  You shall doe maruels wisely: good Reynoldo,

  0893 Before you visite him you make inquiry

  0894 Of his behauiour.

  0895 @#Reynol.  My Lord, I did intend it.

  0896 @#Polon.  Marry, well said;

  0897 Very well said. Looke you Sir,

  0898 Enquire me first what Danskers are in Paris;

  0899 And how, and who; what meanes; and where they keepe:

  0900 What company, at what expence: and finding

  0901 By this encompassement and drift of question,

  0902 That they doe know my sonne: Come you more neerer

  0903 Then your particular demands will touch it,

  0904 Take you as 'twere some distant knowledge of him,

  0905 And thus I know his father and his friends,

  0906 And in part him. Doe you marke this Reynoldo?

  0907 @#Reynol.  I, very well my Lord.

  0908 @#Polon.  And in part him, but you may say not well;

  0909 But if't be hee I meane, hees very wilde;

  0910 Addicted so and so; and there put on him

  0911 What forgeries you please: marry, none so ranke,

  0912 As may dishonour him; take heed of that:

  0913 But Sir, such wanton, wild, and vsuall slips,

  0914 As are Companions noted and most knowne

  0915 To youth and liberty.

  0916 @#Reynol.  As gaming my Lord.

  0917 @#Polon.  I, or drinking, fencing, swearing,

  0918 Quarelling, drabbing. You may goe so farre.

  0919 @#Reynol.  My Lord that would dishonour him.

  0920 @#Polon.  Faith no, as you may season it in the charge;

  0921 You must not put another scandall on him,

  0922 That hee is open to Incontinencie;

  0923 That's not my meaning: but breath his faults so quaintly,

  0924 That they may seeme the taints of liberty;

  0925 The flash and out-breake of a fiery minde,

  0926 A sauagenes in vnreclaim'd bloud of generall assault.

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  0927 @#Reynol.  But my good Lord.

  0928 @#Polon.  Wherefore should you doe this?

  0929 @#Reynol.  I my Lord, I would know that.

  0930 @#Polon.  Marry Sir, heere's my drift,

  0931 And I belieue it is a fetch of warrant:

  0932 You laying these slight sulleyes on my Sonne,

  0933 As 'twere a thing a little soil'd i'th' working: ====(sound,

  0934 Marke you your party in conuerse; him you would ↑

  0935 Hauing euer seene. In the prenominate crimes,

  0936 The youth you breath of guilty, be assur'd

  0937 He closes with you in this consequence:

  0938 Good sir, or so, or friend, or Gentleman.

  0939 According to the Phrase and the Addition,

  0940 Of man and Country.

  0941 @#Reynol.  Very good my Lord.

  0942 @#Polon.  And then Sir does he this?

  0943 He does: what was I about to say?

  0944 I was about to say somthing: where did I leaue?

  0945 @#Reynol.  At closes in the consequence:

  0946 At friend, or so, and Gentleman.

  0947 @#Polon.  At closes in the consequence, I marry,

  0948 He closes with you thus. I know the Gentleman,

  0949 I saw him yesterday, or tother day;

  0950 Or then or then, with such and such; and as you say,

  0951 There was he gaming, there o'retooke in's Rouse,

  0952 There falling out at Tennis; or perchance,

  0953 I saw him enter such a house of saile;

  0954 Videlicet, a Brothell, or so forth. See you now;

  0955 Your bait of falshood, takes this Cape of truth;

  0956 And thus doe we of wisedome and of reach

  0957 With windlesses, and with assaies of Bias,

  0958 By indirections finde directions out:

  0959 So by my former Lecture and aduice

  0960 Shall you my Sonne; you haue me, haue you not?

  0961 @#Reynol.  My Lord I haue.

  0962 @#Polon.  God buy you; fare you well.

  0963 @#Reynol.  Good my Lord.

  0964 @#Polon.  Obserue his inclination in your selfe.

  0965 @#Reynol.  I shall my Lord.

  0966 @#Polon.  And let him plye his Musicke.

  0967 @#Reynol.  Well, my Lord. ========Exit.

  0968 =========Enter Ophelia.

  0969 @#Polon.  Farewell:

  0970 How now Ophelia, what's the matter?

  0971 @#Ophe.  Alas my Lord, I haue beene so affrighted.

  0972 @#Polon.  With what, in the name of Heauen?

  0973 @#Ophe.  My Lord, as I was sowing in my Chamber,

  0974 Lord Hamlet with his doublet all vnbrac'd,

  0975 No hat vpon his head, his stockings foul'd,

  0976 Vngartred, and downe giued to his Anckle,

  0977 Pale as his shirt, his knees knocking each other,

  0978 And with a looke so pitious in purport,

  0979 As if he had been loosed out of hell,

  0980 To speake of horrors: he comes before me.

  0981 @#Polon.  Mad for thy Loue?

  0982 @#Ophe.  My Lord, I doe not know: but truly I do feare it.

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  0983 @#Polon.  What said he?

  0984 @#Ophe.  He tooke me by the wrist, and held me hard;

  0985 Then goes he to the length of all his arme;

  0986 And with his other hand thus o're his brow,

  0987 He fals to such perusall of my face,

  0988 As he would draw it. Long staid he so,

  0989 At last, a little shaking of mine Arme:

  0990 And thrice his head thus wauing vp and downe;

  0991 He rais'd a sigh, so pittious and profound,

  0992 That it did seeme to shatter all his bulke,

  0993 And end his being. That done, he lets me goe,

  0994 And with his head ouer his shoulders turn'd,

  0995 He seem'd to finde his way without his eyes,

  0996 For out adores he went without their helpe;

  0997 And to the last, bended their light on me.

  0998 @#Polon.  Goe with me, I will goe seeke the King,

  0999 This is the very extasie of Loue,

  1000 Whose violent property foredoes it selfe,

  1001 And leads the will to desperate Vndertakings, [oo2^v

  1002 As oft as any passion vnder Heauen,

  1003 That does afflict our Natures. I am sorrie,

  1004 What haue you giuen him any hard words of late?

  1005 @#Ophe.  No my good Lord: but as you did command,

  1006 I did repell his Letters, and deny'de

  1007 His accesse to me.

  1008 @#Pol.  That hath made him mad.

  1009 I am sorrie that with better speed and iudgement

  1010 I had not quoted him. I feare he did but trifle,

  1011 And meant to wracke thee: but beshrew my iealousie:

  1012 It seemes it is as proper to our Age,

  1013 To cast beyond our selues in our Opinions,

  1014 As it is common for the yonger sort

  1015 To lacke discretion. Come, go we to the King,

  1016 This must be knowne, being kept close might moue

  1017 More greefe to hide, then hate to vtter loue. ===Exeunt.

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