Hamlet ⟨Act III Scene III⟩: Q1 v Q2 v F1

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

  2271 ============Enter the King.

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  2321 ^^King  O that this wet that falles vpon my face

  2322 Would wash the crime cleere from my conscience!

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  2326 When I looke vp to heauen, I see my trespasse,

  0…- The earth doth still crie out vpon my fact,

  2314 Pay me the murder of a brother and a king,

  0…- And the adulterous fault I haue committed:

  2329 O these are sinnes that are vnpardonable:

  2343 Why say thy sinnes were blacker then is ieat,

  2322-41 Yet may contrition make them as white as snowe:

  2329-32 I but still to perseuer in a sinne,

  0…- It is an act gainst the vniuersall power,

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  2346 Most wretched man, stoope, bend thee to thy prayer,

  2345 Aske grace of heauen to keepe thee from despaire.

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  2349 ===hee kneeles. ===enters Hamlet

  2350 ^^Ham.  I so, come forth and worke thy last,

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  2352 And thus hee dies: and so am I reuenged:

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  2356 No, not so: he tooke my father sleeping, his sins brim full,

  2358 And how his soule stoode to the state of heauen

  2358' Who knowes, saue the immortall powres,

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  2360 And shall I kill him now,

  2361 When he is purging of his soule?

  2355 Making his way for heauen, this is a benefit,

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  2355-63 And not reuenge: no, get thee vp agen, ===========(drunke,

  2364 When hee's at game swaring, taking his carowse, drinking ↑

  2365 Or in the incestuous pleasure of his bed,

  2366-7 Or at some act that hath no relish

  2367-8 Of saluation in't, then trip him

  2368 That his heeles may kicke at heauen,

  2369-70 And fall as lowe as hel: my mother stayes,

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  2371 This phisicke but prolongs thy weary dayes. ===exit Ham.

  2372 ^^King  My wordes fly vp, my sinnes remaine below.

  0…- No King on earth is safe, if Gods his foe. ===exit King.[G2^r

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

  2271 =========Enter King, Rosencraus, and Guyldensterne.

  2272 ^^King.  I like him not, nor stands it safe with vs

  2273 To let his madnes range, therefore prepare you,

  2274 I your commission will forth-with dispatch,

  2275 And he to England shall along with you,

  2276 The termes of our estate may not endure

  2277 Hazerd so neer's as doth hourely grow

  2278 Out of his browes.

  2279 ^^Guyl.  We will our selues prouide,

  2280 Most holy and religious feare it is

  2281 To keepe those many many bodies safe

  2282 That liue and feede vpon your Maiestie.

  2283-4 ^^Ros.  The single and peculier life is bound

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  2285 With all the strength and armour of the mind

  2286 To keepe it selfe from noyance, but much more

  2287 That spirit, vpon whose weale depends and rests

  2288 The liues of many, the cesse of Maiestie

  2289 Dies not alone; but like a gulfe doth draw

  2290 What's neere it, with it, or it is a massie wheele

  2291 Fixt on the somnet of the highest mount,

  2292 To whose hough spokes, tenne thousand lesser things

  2293 Are morteist and adioynd, which when it falls,

  2294 Each small annexment petty consequence[I1^r

  2295 Attends the boystrous raine, neuer alone

  2296 Did the King sigh, but a generall grone.

  2297 ^^King.  Arme you I pray you to this speedy viage,

  2298 For we will fetters put about this feare

  2299 Which now goes too free-footed.

  2300 ^^Ros.  We will hast vs. ===Exeunt Gent.

   

  2301 ==================Enter Polonius.

  2302 ^^Pol.  My Lord, hee's going to his mothers closet,

  2303 Behind the Arras I'le conuay my selfe

  2304 To heare the processe, I'le warrant shee'letax him home,

  2305 And as you sayd, and wisely was it sayd,

  2306 Tis meete that some more audience then a mother,

  2307 Since nature makes them parciall, should ore-heare

  2308 The speech of vantage; farre you well my Leige,

  2309 I'le call vpon you ere you goe to bed.

  2310 And tell you what I knowe. ===Exit.

  2311 ^^King.  Thankes deere my Lord.

  2312 O my offence is ranck, it smels to heauen,

  2313 It hath the primall eldest curse vppont,

  2314 A brothers murther, pray can I not,

  2315 Though inclination be as sharp as will,

  2316 My stronger guilt defeats my strong entent,

  2317 And like a man to double bussines bound,

  2318 I stand in pause where I shall first beginne,

  2319 And both neglect, what if this cursed hand

  2320 Were thicker then it selfe with brothers blood,

  2321 Is there not raine enough in the sweete Heauens

  2322 To wash it white as snowe, whereto serues mercy

  2323 But to confront the visage of offence?

  2324 And what's in prayer but this two fold force,

  2325 To be forestalled ere we come to fall,

  2326 Or pardon being downe, then I'le looke vp.

  2327 My fault is past, but oh what forme of prayer

  2328 Can serue my turne, forgiue me my foule murther,

  2329 That cannot be since I am still possest

  2330 Of those effects for which I did the murther;

  2331 My Crowne, mine owne ambition, and my Queene;

  2332 May one be pardond and retaine th'offence?[I1^v

  2333 In the corrupted currents of this world,

  2334 Offences guilded hand may showe by iustice,

  2335 And oft tis seene the wicked prize it selfe

  2336 Buyes out the lawe, but tis not so aboue,

  2337 There is no shufling, there the action lies

  2338 In his true nature, and we our selues compeld

  2339 Euen to the teeth and forhead of our faults

  2340 To giue in euidence, what then, what rests,

  2341 Try what repentance can, what can it not,

  2342 Yet what can it, when one cannot repent?

  2343 O wretched state, ô bosome blacke as death,

  2344 O limed soule, that struggling to be free,

  2345 Art more ingaged; helpe Angels make assay,

  2346 Bowe stubborne knees, and hart with strings of steale,

  2347 Be soft as sinnewes of the new borne babe,

  2348 All may be well.

   

  2349 =============Enter Hamlet.

  2350 ^^Ham.  Now might I doe it , but now a is a praying,

  2351 And now Ile doo't, and so a goes to heauen,

  2352 And so am I reuendge, that would be scand

  2353 A villaine kills my father, and for that,

  2354 I his sole sonne, doe this same villaine send

  2355 To heauen.

  2355' Why, this is base and silly, not reuendge,

  2356 A tooke my father grosly full of bread,

  2357 Withall his crimes braod blowne, as flush as May,

  2358 And how his audit stands who knowes saue heauen,

  2359 But in our circumstance and course of thought,

  2360 Tis heauy with him: and am I then reuendged

  2361 To take him in the purging of his soule,

  2362 When he is fit and seasond for his passage?

  2362' No.

  2363 Vp sword, and knowe thou a more horrid hent,

  2364 When he is drunke, a sleepe, or in his rage,

  2365 Or in th'incestious pleasure of his bed,

  2366 At game a swearing, or about some act

  2367 That has no relish of saluation in't,

  2368 Then trip him that his heels may kick at heauen,[I2^r

  2369 And that his soule may be as damnd and black

  2370 As hell whereto it goes; my mother staies,

  2371 This phisick but prolongs thy sickly daies. ===Exit.

  2372 ^^King.  My words fly vp, my thoughts remaine belowe

  2373 Words without thoughts neuer to heauen goe. ===Exit.

   

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

  2271 =======Enter King, Rosincrance, and Guildensterne  

  2272 ^^King.  I like him not, nor stands it safe with vs,

  2273 To let his madnesse range. Therefore prepare you,

  2274 I your Commission will forthwith dispatch,

  2275 And he to England shall along with you:

  2276 The termes of our estate, may not endure

  2277 Hazard so dangerous as doth hourely grow

  2278 Out of his Lunacies.

  2279 ^^Guild.  We will our selues prouide:

  2280 Most holie and Religious feare it is

  2281 To keepe those many many bodies safe

  2282 That liue and feede vpon your Maiestie.

  2283 **Rosin.  The single

  2284 And peculiar life is bound

  2285 With all the strength and Armour of the minde,

  2286 To keepe it selfe from noyance: but much more,

  2287 That Spirit, vpon whose spirit depends and rests

  2288 The liues of many, the cease of Maiestie

  2289 Dies not alone; but like a Gulfe doth draw

  2290 What's neere it, with it. It is a massie wheele

  2291 Fixt on the Somnet of the highest Mount,

  2292 To whose huge Spoakes, ten thousand lesser things

  2293 Are mortiz'd and adioyn'd: which when it falles,

  2294 Each small annexment, pettie consequence

  2295 Attends the boystrous Ruine. Neuer alone

  2296 Did the King sighe, but with a generall grone.

  2297 ^^King.  Arme you, I pray you to this speedie Voyage;

  2298 For we will Fetters put vpon this feare,

  2299 Which now goes too free-footed.[pp1^v

  2300 ^^Both.  We will haste vs. =====Exeunt Gent.

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  2301 =============Enter Polonius.

  2302 ^^Pol.  My Lord, he's going to his Mothers Closset:

  2303 Behinde the Arras Ile conuey my selfe

  2304 To heare the Processe. Ile warrant shee'l tax him home,

  2305 And as you said, and wisely was it said,

  2306 'Tis meete that some more audience then a Mother,

  2307 Since Nature makes them partiall, should o're-heare

  2308 The speech of vantage. Fare you well my Liege,

  2309 Ile call vpon you ere you go to bed,

  2310 And tell you what I know.

  2311 ^^King.  Thankes deere my Lord.

  2312 Oh my offence is ranke, it smels to heauen,

  2313 It hath the primall eldest curse vpon't,

  2314 A Brothers murther. Pray can I not,

  2315 Though inclination be as sharpe as will:

  2316 My stronger guilt, defeats my strong intent,

  2317 And like a man to double businesse bound,

  2318 I stand in pause where I shall first begin,

  2319 And both neglect; what if this cursed hand

  2320 Were thicker then it selfe with Brothers blood,

  2321 Is there not Raine enough in the sweet Heauens

  2322 To wash it white as Snow? Whereto serues mercy,

  2323 But to confront the visage of Offence?

  2324 And what's in Prayer, but this two-fold force,

  2325 To be fore-stalled ere we come to fall,

  2326 Or pardon'd being downe? Then Ile looke vp,

  2327 My fault is past. But oh, what forme of Prayer

  2328 Can serue my turne? Forgiue me my foule Murther:

  2329 That cannot be, since I am still possest

  2330 Of those effects for which I did the Murther.

  2331 My Crowne, mine owne Ambition, and my Queene:

  2332 May one be pardon'd, and retaine th'offence?

  2333 In the corrupted currants of this world,

  2334 Offences gilded hand may shoue by Iustice,

  2335 And oft 'tis seene, the wicked prize it selfe

  2336 Buyes out the Law; but 'tis not so aboue,

  2337 There is no shuffling, there the Action lyes

  2338 In his true Nature, and we our selues compell'd

  2339 Euen to the teeth and forehead of our faults,

  2340 To giue in euidence. What then? What rests?

  2341 Try what Repentance can. What can it not?

  2342 Yet what can it, when one cannot repent?

  2343 Oh wretched state! Oh bosome, blacke as death!

  2344 Oh limed soule, that strugling to be free,

  2345 Art more ingag'd: Helpe Angels, make assay:

  2346 Bow stubborne knees, and heart with strings of Steele,

  2347 Be soft as sinewes of the new-borne Babe,

  2348 All may be well.

  2349 ============Enter Hamlet.

   

  2350 ^^Ham.  Now might I do it pat, now he is praying,

  2351 And now Ile doo't, and so he goes to Heauen,

  2352 And so am I reueng'd: that would be scann'd,

  2353 A Villaine killes my Father, and for that

  2354 I his foule Sonne, do this same Villaine send

  2355 To heauen. Oh this is hyre and Sallery, not Reuenge.

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  2356 He tooke my Father grossely, full of bread,

  2357 With all his Crimes broad blowne, as fresh as May,

  2358 And how his Audit stands, who knowes, saue Heauen:

  2359 But in our circumstance and course of thought

  2360 'Tis heauie with him: and am I then reueng'd,

  2361 To take him in the purging of his Soule,

  2362 When he is fit and season'd for his passage? No.

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  2363 Vp Sword, and know thou a more horrid hent

  2364 When he is drunke asleepe: or in his Rage,

  2365 Or in th'incestuous pleasure of his bed,

  2366 At gaming, swearing, or about some acte

  2367 That ha's no rellish of Saluation in't,

  2368 Then trip him, that his heeles may kicke at Heauen,

  2369 And that his Soule may be as damn'd and blacke

  2370 As Hell, whereto it goes. My Mother stayes,

  2371 This Physicke but prolongs thy sickly dayes. =====Exit.

  2372 ^^King.  My words flye vp, my thoughts remain below,

  2373 Words without thoughts, neuer to Heauen go. ====Exit.