Hamlet ⟨Act IV Scene I⟩: Q1 v Q2 v F1

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

  2586 ============Enter the King and Lordes.

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  2592 ^^King  Now Gertred, what sayes our sonne, how doe you

  2592' finde him?

  2593 ^^Queene  Alas my lord, as raging as the sea:

  0…- Whenas he came, I first bespake him faire,

  0…- But then he throwes and tosses me about,

  2392 As one forgetting that I was his mother:

  0…- At last I call'd for help: and as I cried, Corambis

  2596 Call'd, which Hamlet no sooner heard, but whips me

  2596' Out his rapier, and cries, a Rat, a Rat, and in his rage

  2597-8 The good olde man he killes.

  2600 ^^King  Why this his madnesse will vndoe our state.

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  2624 Lordes goe to him, inquire the body out.

  0…- ^^Gil.  We will my Lord. ==Exeunt Lordes.

  0…- ^^King  Gertred, your sonne shall presently to England,

  2617 His shipping is already furnished,

  0…- And we haue sent by Rossencraft and Gilderstone,

  0…- Our letters to our deare brother of England,

  0…- For Hamlets welfare and his happinesse:

  1828 Happly the aire and climate of the Country

  0…- May please him better than his natiue home:

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

  2586 ====Eenter King, and Queene, with Rosencraus

  2586' ==========and Guyldensterne.

  2587 ^^King.  There's matter in these sighes, these profound heaues,

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  2589 You must translate, tis fit we vnderstand them,

  2590 Where is your sonne?

  2591 ^^Ger.  Bestow this place on vs a little while.

  2591' Ah mine owne Lord, what haue I seene to night?

  2592 ^^King.  What Gertrard, how dooes Hamlet?

  2593 ^^Ger.  Mad as the sea and wind when both contend

  2594 Which is the mightier, in his lawlesse fit,

  2595 Behind the Arras hearing some thing stirre,

  2596 Whyps out his Rapier, cryes a Rat, a Rat,

  2597 And in this brainish apprehension kills

  2598 The vnseene good old man.

  2599 ^^King.  O heauy deede!

  2600 It had beene so with vs had wee been there,

  2601 His libertie is full of threates to all,

  2602 To you your selfe, to vs, to euery one,

  2603 Alas, how shall this bloody deede be answer'd?

  2604 It will be layd to vs, whose prouidence

  2605 Should haue kept short, restraind, and out of haunt

  2606 This mad young man; but so much was our loue,

  2607 We would not vnderstand what was most fit,

  2608 But like the owner of a foule disease

  2609 To keepe it from divulging, let it feede

  2610 Euen on the pith of life: where is he gone?

  2611 ^^Ger.  To draw apart the body he hath kild,

  2612 Ore whom, his very madnes like some ore

  2613 Among a minerall of mettals base,

  2614 Showes it selfe pure, a weepes for what is done.

  2615 ^^King.  O Gertrard, come away,

  2616 The sunne no sooner shall the mountaines touch,[K1^v

  2617 But we will ship him hence, and this vile deede

  2618 We must with all our Maiestie and skill ===Enter Ros. & Guild.

  2619 Both countenaunce and excuse. Ho Guyldensterne,

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  2621 Friends both, goe ioyne you with some further ayde,

  2622 Hamlet in madnes hath Polonius slaine,

  2623 And from his mothers closet hath he dreg'd him,

  2624 Goe seeke him out, speake fayre, and bring the body

  2625 Into the Chappell; I pray you hast in this,

  2626 Come Gertrard, wee'le call vp our wisest friends,

  2627 And let them know both what we meane to doe

  2628 And whats vntimely doone,

  2628+1 Whose whisper ore the worlds dyameter,

  2628+2 As leuell as the Cannon to his blanck,

  2628+3 Transports his poysned shot, may misse our Name,

  2628+4 And hit the woundlesse ayre, ô come away,

  2629 My soule is full of discord and dismay. ===Exeunt.

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

  2586 ==============Enter King.

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  2587 ^^King.  There's matters in these sighes.

  2588 These profound heaues

  2589 You must translate; Tis fit we vnderstand them.

  2590 Where is your Sonne?

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  2591 ^^Qu.  Ah my good Lord, what haue I seene to night?

  2592 ^^King.  What Gertrude? How do's Hamlet?

  2593 ^^Qu.  Mad as the Seas, and winde, when both contend

  2594 Which is the Mightier, in his lawlesse fit

  2595 Behinde the Arras, hearing something stirre,

  2596 He whips his Rapier out, and cries a Rat, a Rat,

  2597 And in his brainish apprehension killes

  2598 The vnseene good old man.

  2599 ^^King.  Oh heauy deed:

  2600 It had bin so with vs had we beene there:

  2601 His Liberty is full of threats to all,

  2602 To you your selfe, to vs, to euery one.

  2603 Alas, how shall this bloody deede be answered?

  2604 It will be laide to vs, whose prouidence

  2605 Should haue kept short, restrain'd, and out of haunt,

  2606 This mad yong man. But so much was our loue,

  2607 We would not vnderstand what was most fit,

  2608 But like the Owner of a foule disease,

  2609 To keepe it from divulging, let's it feede

  2610 Euen on the pith of life. Where is he gone?

  2611 ^^Qu.  To draw apart the body he hath kild,

  2612 O're whom his very madnesse like some Oare

  2613 Among a Minerall of Mettels base

  2614 Shewes it selfe pure. He weepes for what is done.

  2615 ^^King.  Oh Gertrude, come away:

  2616 The Sun no sooner shall the Mountaines touch,

  2617 But we will ship him hence, and this vilde deed,

  2618 We must with all our Maiesty and Skill

  2619 Both countenance, and excuse. ===Enter Ros.& Guild.

  2620 Ho Guildenstern:

  2621 Friends both go ioyne you with some further ayde:

  2622 Hamlet in madnesse hath Polonius slaine,

  2623 And from his Mother Clossets hath he drag'd him.

  2624 Go seeke him out, speake faire, and bring the body

  2625 Into the Chappell. I pray you hast in this. =====Exit Gent.

  2626 Come Gertrude, wee'l call vp our wisest friends,

  2627 To let them know both what we meane to do,

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  2628 And what's vntimely done. Oh come away,

  2629 My soule is full of discord and dismay. =====Exeunt.