Compare Hamlet: Q1 v Q2 v F1
Actus Primus. Scena Secunda.

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

  ---------------------------

  *00¦ 

  ---------------------------

  0176-7 ====Enter King, Queene, Hamlet, Leartes, Corambis,

  0178 =======and the two Ambassadors, with Attendants.

   

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  0206 **King  Lordes, we here haue writ to Fortenbrasse,

  0207-8 Nephew to olde Norway, who impudent

  0208-9 And bed-rid, scarcely heares of this his

  0209-12  Nephews purpose: and Wee heere dispatch

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  0213 Yong good Cornelia, and you Voltemar

  0214 For bearers of these greetings to olde

  0214-5 Norway, giuing to you no further personall power

  0216 To businesse with the King,

  0216-7 Then those related articles do shew:

  0218 Farewell, and let your haste commend your dutie.

  0219 **Gent.  In this and all things will wee shew our dutie.

  0220 **King.  Wee doubt nothing, hartily farewel:

  000¦

  0222 And now Leartes, what's the news with you?

  0223 You said you had a sute what i'st Leartes?

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  0231-2 **Lea.  My gratious Lord, your fauorable licence,

  0231' Now that the funerall rites are all performed,

  0232 I may haue leaue to go againe to France,[B3^v

  0232'1___For though the fauour of your grace might stay mee,

  0232'2___Yet something is there whispers in my hart,

  0236 Which makes my minde and spirits bend all for France.

  000¦

  0238 **King : Haue you your fathers leaue, Leartes?

  000¦

  0240 **Cor.  He hath, my lord, wrung from me a forced graunt,

  000¦

  000¦

  0241 And I beseech you grant your Highnesse leaue.

  0242 **Kiug  With all our heart, Leartes fare thee well.

  0219 **Lear. I in all loue and dutie take my leaue.

  0244 **King.  And now princely Sonne Hamlet, =====Exit.

  000¦

  0246 What meanes these sad and melancholy moodes?

  0294-5 For your intent going to Wittenberg,

  0296 Wee hold it most vnmeet and vnconuenient,

  0296'1___Being the Ioy and halfe heart of your mother.

  0297 Therefore let mee intreat you stay in Court,

  0299 All Denmarkes hope our coosin and dearest Sonne.

  0258 **Ham.  My lord, ti's not the sable sute I weare:

  0261 No nor the teares that still stand in my eyes,

  0262 Nor the distracted hauiour in the visage,

  0263 Nor all together mixt with outward semblance,

  0263'1___Is equall to the sorrow of my heart,

  0263'2___Him haue I lost I must of force forgoe,

  0267 These but the ornaments and sutes of woe.

  0268-9 **King  This shewes a louing care in you, Sonne Hamlet,

  0271 But you must thinke your father lost a father,

  0272 That father dead, lost his, and so shalbe vntill the

  0272'1___Generall ending. Therefore cease laments,

  0283-4 It is a fault gainst heauen, fault gainst the dead,

  0284-5 A fault gainst nature, and in reasons

  0252 Common course most certaine,

  0252' None liues on earth, but hee is borne to die.

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  0300 **Que.  Let not thy mother loose her praiers Hamlet,

  0301 Stay here with vs, go not to Wittenburg.

  0302-3 **Ham.  I shall in all my best obay you madam.

  000¦

  0304 **King  Spoke like a kinde and a most louing Sonne,

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  0308 And there's no health the King shall drinke to day,

  0309 But the great Canon to the clowdes shall tell[B4^r

  0310 The rowse the King shall drinke vnto Prince Hamlet.

  000¦

  0312 =======Exeunt all but Hamlet.

  0313 **Ham.  O that this too much grieu'd and sallied flesh

  0313-5 Would melt to nothing, or that the vniuersall

  0313' Globe of heauen would turne al to a Chaos!

  0316-35  O God, within two months; no not two: married,

  0330-5 Mine vncle: O let me not thinke of it,

  0336 My fathers brother: but no more like

  0336-7 My father, then I to Hercules.

  0337-8 Within two months, ere yet the salt of most

  0338-9 Vnrighteous teares had left their flushing

  0334-40  In her galled eyes: she married, O God, a beast

  0334 Deuoyd of reason would not haue made

  0330 Such speede: Frailtie, thy name is Woman,

  0327-8 Why she would hang on him, as if increase

  0328-9 Of appetite had growne by what it looked on.

  0340-1 O wicked wicked speede, to make such

  0341 Dexteritie to incestuous sheetes,

  000¦

  000¦

  0331 Ere yet the shooes were olde,

  0332 The which she followed my dead fathers corse

  0333-42  Like Nyobe, all teares: married, well it is not,

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  000¦

  0342 Nor it cannot come to good:

  0343 But breake my heart, for I must holde my tongue.

  0344 =========Enter Horatio and Marcellus.

  0345 **Hor.  Health to your Lordship.

  0346-7 **Ham.  I am very glad to see you, (Horatio) or I much

  0347 forget my selfe.

  0348-9 **Hor.  The same my Lord, and your poore seruant euer.

  000¦

  0350-1 **Ham.  O my good friend, I change that name with you:

  000¦

  0352 but what make you from Wittenberg Horatio?

  0353 Marcellus.

  0354 **Marc.  My good Lord.

  0355 **Ham.  I am very glad to see you, good euen sirs:

  0362 But what is your affaire in Elsenoure?

  0363 Weele teach you to drinke deepe ere you depart.

  0357 **Hor.  A trowant disposition, my good Lord.[B4^v

  0359-60  **Ham.  Nor shall you make mee truster

  0360-1 Of your owne report against your selfe:

  0361 Sir, I know you are no trowant:

  0362 But what is your affaire in Elsenoure?

  000¦

  0364 **Hor.  My good Lord, I came to see your fathers funerall.

  0365 **Ham.  O I pre thee do not mocke mee fellow studient,

  0366 I thinke it was to see my mothers wedding.

  0367 **Hor.  Indeede my Lord, it followed hard vpon.

  0368 **Ham.  Thrift, thrift, Horatio, the funerall bak't meates

  0369 Did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables,

  0370 Would I had met my deerest foe in heauen

  0371 Ere euer I had seene that day Horatio;

  0372 O my father, my father, me thinks I see my father.

  0373 **Hor.  Where my Lord?

  0374 **Ham.  Why, in my mindes eye Horatio.

  0375 **Hor.  I saw him once, he was a gallant King.

  0376 **Ham.  He was a man, take him for all in all,

  0377 I shall not looke vpon his like againe.

  0378 **Hor.  My Lord, I thinke I saw him yesternight,

  0379 **Ham.  Saw, who?

  0380 **Hor.  My Lord, the King your father.

  0381 **Ham.  Ha, ha, the King my father ke you.

  0382 **Hor.  Ceasen your admiration for a while

  0383 With an attentiue eare, till I may deliuer,

  0384 Vpon the witnesse of these Gentlemen

  0385 This wonder to you.

  0386 **Ham.  For Gods loue let me heare it.

  0387 **Hor.  Two nights together had these Gentlemen,

  0388 Marcellus and Bernardo, on their watch,

  0389 In the dead vast and middle of the night.

  0390 Beene thus incountered by a figure like your father,

  0391 Armed to poynt, exactly Capapea

  0392-3 Appeeres before them thrise, he walkes

  0394 Before their weake and feare oppressed eies

  0395 Within his tronchions length,

  0395-6 While they distilled almost to gelly.[C1^r

  0396-7 With the act of feare stands dumbe,

  0397 And speake not to him: this to mee

  0398 In dreadfull secresie impart they did.

  0399 And I with them the third night kept the watch,

  0400-1 Where as they had deliuered forme of the thing.

  0401 Each part made true and good,

  0402 The Apparition comes: I knew your father,

  0403 These handes are not more like.

  0414 **Ham.  Tis very strange.

  0415 **Hor.  As I do liue, my honord lord, tis true,

  0416 And wee did thinke it right done,

  0416-7 In our dutie to let you know it.

  0404 **Ham.  Where was this?

  0405 **Mar.  My Lord, vpon the platforme where we watched.

  0406 **Ham.  Did you not speake to it?

  0407-8__-**Hor.  My Lord we did, but answere made it none,

  0408-10  Yet once me thought it was about to speake,

  0409-10  And lifted vp his head to motion,

  0410-1 Like as he would speake, but euen then

  0411 The morning cocke crew lowd, and in all haste,

  0412-3 It shruncke in haste away, and vanished

  0413 Our sight.

  0418 **Ham.  Indeed, indeed sirs, but this troubles me:

  0419 Hold you the watch to night?

  0420 **All  We do my Lord.

  0421 **Ham.  Armed say ye?

  0422 **All  Armed my good Lord.

  0423 **Ham.  From top to toe?

  0424 **All.  My good Lord, from head to foote.

  0425 **Ham.  Why then saw you not his face?

  0426 **Hor.  O yes my Lord, he wore his beuer vp.

  0427 **Ham.  How look't he, frowningly?

  0428 **Hor.  A countenance more in sorrow than in anger.

  0429 **Ham.  Pale, or red?

  0430 **Hor.  Nay, verie pal

  0431 **Ham.  And fixt his eies vpon you.[C1^v

  0432 **Hor.  Most constantly.

  0433 **Ham.  I would I had beene there.

  0434 **Hor.  It would a much amazed you.

  0435 **Ham.  Yea very like, very like, staid it long?

  0436 **Hor.  While one with moderate pace

  0436' Might tell a hundred.

  0437 **Mar.  O longer, longer.

  0439 **Ham.  His beard was grisleld, no.

  0440 **Hor.  It was as I haue seene it in his life,

  0441 A sable siluer.

  0442 **Ham.  I wil watch to night, perchance t'wil walke againe.

  000¦

  0443 **Hor.  I warrant it will.

  0444 **Ham.  If it assume my noble fathers person,

  0445 Ile speake to it, if hell it selfe should gape,

  0446 And bid me hold my peace, Gentlemen,

  0447 If you haue hither consealed this sight,

  0448 Let it be tenible in your silence still,

  0449 And whatsoeuer else shall chance to night,

  0450 Giue it an vnderstanding, but no tongue,

  0451 I will requit your loues, so fare you well,

  0452 Vpon the platforme, twixt eleuen and twelue,

  0453 Ile visit you.

  0454 **All.  Our duties to your honor. ========excunt.

  0455 **Ham.  O your loues, your loues, as mine to you,

  0455-6 Farewell, my fathers spirit in Armes,

  0456-7 Well, all's not well. I doubt some foule play,

  0457 Would the night were come,

  0458 Till then, sit still my soule, foule deeds will rise

  0459 Though all the world orewhelme them to mens eies. ==Exit.

   

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

  ---------------------------

  000¦ 

  ---------------------------

  0176 ==Florish. Enter Claudius, King of Denmarke, Gertradt he Queene,

  0177 =====Counsaile: as Polonius, and his Sonne Laertes,

  0178 ========== Hamlet, Cum Alijs.

   

  0179 **Claud. Though yet of Hamlet our deare brothers death

  0180 The memorie be greene, and that it vs befitted

  0181 To beare our harts in griefe, and our whole Kingdome,

  0182 To be contracted in one browe of woe

  0183 Yet so farre hath discretion fought with nature,

  0184 That we with wisest sorrowe thinke on him

  0185 Together with remembrance of our selues:

  0186 Therefore our sometime Sister, now our Queene

  0187 Th'imperiall ioyntresse to this warlike state

  0188 Haue we as twere with a defeated ioy

  0189 With an auspitious, and a dropping eye,

  0190 With mirth in funerall, and with dirdge in marriage,

  0191 In equall scale waighing delight and dole

  0192 Taken to wife: nor haue we heerein bard

  0193 Your better wisdomes, which haue freely gone

  0194 With this affaire along (for all our thankes)

  0195 Now followes that you knowe young Fortinbrasse,

  0196 Holding a weake supposall of our worth

  0197 Or thinking by our late deare brothers death

  0198 Our state to be disioynt, and out of frame

  0199 Coleagued with this dreame of his aduantage

  0200 He hath not faild to pestur vs with message

  0201 Importing the surrender of those lands[B4^r

  0202 Lost by his father, with all bands of lawe

  0203 To our most valiant brother, so much for him:

  000¦

  0205 Now for our selfe, and for this time of meeting,

  0206 Thus much the busines is, we haue heere writ

  0207 To Norway Vncle of young Fortenbrasse

  0208 Who impotent and bedred scarcely heares

  0209 Of this his Nephewes purpose; to suppresse

  0210 His further gate heerein, in that the leuies,

  0211 The lists, and full proportions are all made

  0212 Out of his subiect, and we heere dispatch

  0213 You good Cornelius, and you Valtemand,

  0214 For bearers of this greeting to old Norway,

  0215 Giuing to you no further personall power

  0216 To busines with the King, more then the scope

  0217 Of these delated articles allowe:

  0218 Farwell, and let your hast commend your dutie.

  0219 **Cor. Vo.  In that, and all things will we showe our dutie.

  0220 @#King.  We doubt it nothing, hartely farwell.

  000¦

  0222 And now Laertes whats the newes with you?

  0223 You told vs of some sute, what ist Laertes?

  0224 You cannot speake of reason to the Dane

  0225 And lose your voyce; what wold'st thou begge Laertes,?

  0226 That shall not be my offer, not thy asking,

  0227 The head is not more natiue to the hart

  0228 The hand more instrumentall to the mouth

  0229 Then is the throne of Denmarke to thy father,

  0230 What would'st thou haue Laertes?

  0231 @#Laer.  My dread Lord,

  0232 Your leaue and fauour to returne to Fraunce,

  0233 From whence, though willingly I came to Denmarke,

  0234 To showe my dutie in your Coronation;

  0235 Yet now I must confesse, that duty done

  0236 My thoughts and wishes bend againe toward Fraunce

  0237 And bowe them to your gracious leaue and pardon.

  0238 @#King.  Haue you your fathers leaue, what saies Polonius?

  000¦

  0240 @#Polo.  Hath my Lord wroung from me my slowe leaue

  0240+1 By laboursome petition, and at last

  0240+2 Vpon his will I seald my hard consent,

  0241 I doe beseech you giue him leaue to goe.[B4^v

  0242 @#King.  Take thy faire houre Laertes, time be thine

  0243 And thy best graces spend it at thy will:

  0244 But now my Cosin Hamlet, and my sonne.

  0245 @#Ham.  A little more then kin, and lesse then kind.

  0246 @#King.  How is it that the clowdes still hang on you.

  0247 @#Ham.  Not so much my Lord, I am too much in the sonne.

  0248 @#Queene.  Good Hamlet cast thy nighted colour off

  0249 And let thine eye looke like a friend on Denmarke,

  0250 Doe not for euer with thy vailed lids

  0251 Seeke for thy noble Father in the dust,

  0252 Thou know'st tis common all that liues must die,

  0253 Passing through nature to eternitie.

  0254 @#Ham.  I Maddam, it is common.

  0255 @#Quee.  If it be

  0256 Why seemes it so perticuler with thee.

  0257 @#Ham.  Seemes Maddam, nay it is, I know not seemes,

  0258 Tis not alone my incky cloake coold mother

  0259 Nor customary suites of solembe blacke

  0260 Nor windie suspiration of forst breath

  0261 No, nor the fruitfull riuer in the eye,

  0262 Nor the deiected hauior of the visage

  0263 Together with all formes, moodes, chapes of griefe

  0264 That can deuote me truely, these indeede seeme,

  0265 For they are actions that a man might play

  0266 But I haue that within which passes showe

  0267 These but the trappings and the suites of woe.

  0268 @#King.  Tis sweete and commendable in your nature Hamlet,

  000¦

  0270 To giue these mourning duties to your father

  0271 But you must knowe your father lost a father,

  0272 That father lost, lost his, and the suruiuer bound

  0273 In filliall obligation for some tearme

  0274 To doe obsequious sorrowe, but to perseuer

  0275 In obstinate condolement, is a course

  0276 Of impious stubbornes, tis vnmanly griefe,

  0277 It showes a will most incorrect to heauen

  0278 A hart vnfortified, or minde impatient

  0279 An vnderstanding simple and vnschoold

  0280 For what we knowe must be, and is as common

  0281 As any the most vulgar thing to sence,[C1^r

  0282 Why should we in our peuish opposition

  0283 Take it to hart, fie, tis a fault to heauen,

  0284 A fault against the dead, a fault to nature,

  0285 To reason most absurd, whose common theame

  0286 Is death of fathers, and who still hath cryed

  0287 From the first course, till he that died to day

  0288 This must be so: we pray you throw to earth

  0289 This vnpreuailing woe, and thinke of vs

  0290 As of a father, for let the world take note

  0291 You are the most imediate to our throne,

  0292 And with no lesse nobilitie of loue

  0293 Then that which dearest father beares his sonne,

  0294 Doe I impart toward you for your intent

  0295 In going back to schoole in Wittenberg,

  0296 It is most retrogard to our desire,

  0297 And we beseech you bend you to remaine

  0298 Heere in the cheare and comfort of our eye,

  0299 Our chiefest courtier, cosin, and our sonne.

  0300 @#Quee.  Let not thy mother loose her prayers Hamlet,

  0301 I pray thee stay with vs, goe not to Wittenberg.

  0302 @#Ham.  I shall in all my best obay you Madam.

  000¦

  0304 @#King.  Why tis a louing and a faire reply,

  0305 Be as our selfe in Denmarke, Madam come,

  0306 This gentle and vnforc'd accord of Hamlet

  0307 Sits smiling to my hart, in grace whereof,

  0308 No iocond health that Denmarke drinkes to day,

  0309 But the great Cannon to the cloudes shall tell.

  0310 And the Kings rowse the heauen shall brute againe,

  0311 Respeaking earthly thunder; come away. ==Florish. =Exeunt all,

  0313 @#Ham.  O that this too too sallied flesh would melt, ==but Hamlet.

  000¦

  0314 Thaw and resolue it selfe into a dewe,

  0315 Or that the euerlasting had not fixt

  0316 His cannon gainst seale slaughter, ô God, God,

  0317 How wary, stale, flat, and vnprofitable

  0318 Seeme to me all the vses of this world?

  0319 Fie on't, ah fie, tis an vnweeded garden

  0320 That growes to seede, things rancke and grose in nature,

  0321 Possesse it meerely that it should come thus

  0322 But two months dead, nay not so much, not two,[C1^v

  0323 So excellent a King, that was to this

  0324 Hiperion to a satire, so louing to my mother,

  0325 That he might not beteeme the winds of heauen

  0326 Visite her face too roughly, heauen and earth

  0327 Must I remember, why she should hang on him

  0328 As if increase of appetite had growne

  0329 By what it fed on, and yet within a month,

  0330 Let me not thinke on't; frailty thy name is woman

  0331 A little month or ere those shooes were old

  0332 With which she followed my poore fathers bodie

  0333 Like Niobe all teares, why she

  0334 O God, a beast that wants discourse of reason

  0335 Would haue mourn'd longer, married with my Vncle,

  0336 My fathers brother, but no more like my father

  0337 Then I to Hercules, within a month,

  0338 Ere yet the salt of most vnrighteous teares,

  0339 Had left the flushing in her gauled eyes

  0340 She married, ô most wicked speede; to post

  0341 With such dexteritie to incestious sheets,

  0342 It is not, nor it cannot come to good,

  0343 But breake my hart, for I must hold my tongue.

  0344 =====Enter Horatio, Marcellus, and Bernardo.

  0345 @#Hora.  Haile to your Lordship.

  0346 @#Ham.  I am glad to see you well; Horatio, or I do forget my selfe.

  000¦

  0348 @#Hora.  The same my Lord, and your poore seruant euer.

  000¦

  0350 @#Ham.  Sir my good friend, Ile change that name with you,

  000¦

  0352 And what make you from Wittenberg Horatio?

  0353 Marcellus.

  0354 @#Mar.  My good Lord.

  0355 @#Ham.  I am very glad to see you, (good euen sir)

  0356 But what in faith make you from Wittenberg?

  0357 @#Hora.  A truant disposition good my Lord.

  0358 @#Ham.  I would not heare your enimie say so,

  0359 Nor shall you doe my eare that violence

  0360 To make it truster of your owne report

  0361 Against your selfe, I knowe you are no truant,

  0362 But what is your affaire in Elsonoure?

  0363 Weele teach you for to drinke ere you depart.

  0364 @#Hora.  My Lord, I came to see your fathers funerall.[C2^r

  0365 @#Ham.  I prethee doe not mocke me fellowe studient,

  0366 I thinke it was to my mothers wedding.

  0367 @#Hora.  Indeede my Lord it followed hard vppon.

  0368 @#Ham.  Thrift, thrift, Horatio, the funerall bak't meates

  0369 Did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables,

  0370 Would I had met my dearest foe in heauen

  0371 Or euer I had seene that day Horatio,

  0372 My father, me thinkes I see my father.

  0373 @#Hora.  Where my Lord?

  0374 @#Ham.  In my mindes eye Horatio.

  0375 @#Hora.  I saw him once, a was a goodly King.

  0376 @#Ham.  A was a man take him for all in all

  0377 I shall not looke vppon his like againe.

  0378 @#Hora.  My Lord I thinke I saw him yesternight.

  0379 @#Ham.  saw, who?

  0380 @#Hora.  My Lord the King your father.

  0381 @#Ham.  The King my father?

  0382 @#Hora.  Season your admiration for a while

  0383 With an attent eare till I may deliuer

  0384 Vppon the witnes of these gentlemen

  0385 This maruile to you.

  0386 @#Ham.  For Gods loue let me heare?

  0387 @#Hora.  Two nights together had these gentlemen

  0388 Marcellus, and Barnardo, on their watch

  0389 In the dead wast and middle of the night

  0390 Beene thus incountred, a figure like your father

  0391 Armed at poynt, exaƈtly Capapea

  0392 Appeares before them, and with solemne march,

  0393 Goes slowe and stately by them; thrice he walkt

  0394 By their opprest and feare surprised eyes

  0395 Within his tronchions length, whil'st they distil'd

  0396 Almost to gelly, with the aƈt of feare

  0397 Stand dumbe and speake not to him; this to me

  0398 In dreadfull secresie impart they did,

  0399 And I with them the third night kept the watch,

  0400 Whereas they had deliuered both in time

  0401 Forme of the thing, each word made true and good,

  0402 The Apparision comes: I knewe your father,

  0403 These hands are not more like.[C2^v

  0404 @#Ham.  But where was this?

  0405 **Mar.  My Lord vppon the platforme where we watch.

  0406 @#Ham.  Did you not speake to it?

  0407 @#Hora.  My Lord I did,

  0408 But answere made it none, yet once me thought

  0409 It lifted vp it head, and did addresse

  0410 It selfe to motion like as it would speake:

  0411 But euen then the morning Cock crewe loude,

  0412 And at the sound it shrunk in hast away

  0413 And vanisht from our sight.

  0414 @#Ham.  Tis very strange.

  0415 @#Hora.  As I doe liue my honor'd Lord tis true

  0416 And we did thinke it writ downe in our dutie

  0417 To let you knowe of it.

  0418 @#Ham.  Indeede Sirs but this troubles me,

  0419 Hold you the watch to night?

  0420 **All.  We doe my Lord.

  0421 @#Ham.  Arm'd say you?

  0422 **All.  Arm'd my Lord.

  0423 @#Ham.  From top to toe?

  0424 **All.  My Lord from head to foote.

  0425 @#Ham.  Then sawe you not his face.

  0426 @#Hora.  O yes my Lord, he wore his beauer vp.

  0427 @#Ham.  What look't he frowningly?

  0428 @#Hora.  A countenance more in sorrow then in anger.

  0429 @#Ham.  Pale, or red?

  0430 @#Hora.  Nay very pale.

  0431 @#Ham.  And fixt his eyes vpon you?

  0432 @#Hora.  Most constantly.

  0433 @#Ham.  I would I had beene there.

  0434 @#Hora.  It would haue much a maz'd you.

  0435 @#Ham.  Very like, stayd it long?

  0436 @#Hora.  While one with moderate hast might tell a hundreth.

  0437 **Both.  Longer, longer.

  0438 @#Hora.  Not when I saw't.

  0439 @#Ham.  His beard was grissl'd, no.

  0440 @#Hora.  It was as I haue seene it in his life

  0441 A sable siluer'd.

  0442 @#Ham.  I will watch to nigh [C3^r

  0442' Perchaunce twill walke againe.

  0443 @#Hora.  I warn't it will.

  0444 @#Ham.  If it assume my noble fathers person,

  0445 Ile speake to it though hell it selfe should gape

  0446 And bid me hold my peace; I pray you all

  0447 If you haue hetherto conceald this sight

  0448 Let it be tenable in your silence still,

  0449 And what someuer els shall hap to night,

  0450 Giue it an vnderstanding but no tongue,

  0451 I will requite your loues, so farre you well:

  0452 Vppon the platforme twixt a leauen and twelfe

  0453 Ile visite you.

  0454 **All.  Our dutie to your honor. =====Exeunt.

  0455 @#Ham.  Your loues, as mine to you, farwell.

  0456 My fathers spirit (in armes) all is not well,

  0457 I doubt some foule play, would the night were come,

  000¦

  0458 Till then sit still my soule, fonde deedes will rise

  0459 Though all the earth ore-whelme them to mens eyes. ===Exit.

   

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

  +++++————————————————————

  0175 ======Scena Secunda.

  +++++————————————————————

  0176 ===Enter Claudius King of Denmarke, Gertrude the Queene,

  0177 =======Hamlet, Polonius, Laertes, and his Sister O-

  0178 ============phelia, Lords Attendant.

   

  0179 @#King.  Though yet of Hamlet our deere Brothers death

  0180 The memory be greene: and that it vs befitted

  0181 To beare our hearts in greefe, and our whole Kingdome

  0182 To be contracted in one brow of woe:

  0183 Yet so farre hath Discretion fought with Nature,

  0184 That we with wisest sorrow thinke on him,

  0185 Together with remembrance of our selues.

  0186 Therefore our sometimes Sister, now our Queen,

  0187 Th'Imperiall Ioyntresse of this warlike State,

  0188 Haue we, as 'twere, with a defeated ioy,

  0189 With one Auspicious, and one Dropping eye,

  0190 With mirth in Funerall, and with Dirge in Marriage,

  0191 In equall Scale weighing Delight and Dole

  0192 Taken to Wife; nor haue we heerein barr'd

  0193 Your better Wisedomes, which haue freely gone

  0194 With this affaire along, for all our Thankes.

  0195 Now followes, that you know young Fortinbras,

  0196 Holding a weake supposall of our worth;

  0197 Or thinking by our late deere Brothers death,

  0198 Our State to be disioynt, and out of Frame,

  0199 Colleagued with the dreame of his Aduantage;

  0200 He hath not fayl'd to pester vs with Message,

  0201 Importing the surrender of those Lands

  0202 Lost by his Father: with all Bonds of Law

  0203 To our most valiant Brother. So much for him.

  0204 =========Enter Voltemand and Cornelius.

  0205 Now for our selfe, and for this time of meeting

  0206 Thus much the businesse is. We haue heere writ

  0207 To Norway, Vncle of young Fortinbras,

  0208 Who Impotent and Bedrid, scarsely heares

  0209 Of this his Nephewes purpose, to suppresse

  0210 His further gate heerein. In that the Leuies,

  0211 The Lists, and full proportions are all made

  0212 Out of his subiect: and we heere dispatch

  0213 You good Cornelius, and you Voltemand,

  0214 For bearing of this greeting to old Norway,

  0215 Giuing to you no further personall power

  0216 To businesse with the King, more then the scope

  0217 Of these dilated Articles allow:

  0218 Farewell and let your hast commend your duty.

  0219 **Volt.  In that, and all things, will we shew our duty.

  0220 @#King.  We doubt it nothing, heartily farewell.

  0221 ==================Exit Voltemand and Cornelius.

  0222 And now Laertes, what's the newes with you?

  0223 You told vs of some suite. What is't Laertes?[nn5^v

  0224 You cannot speake of Reason to the Dane,

  0225 And loose your voyce. What would'st thou beg Laertes,

  0226 That shall not be my Offer, not thy Asking?

  0227 The Head is not more Natiue to the Heart,

  0228 The Hand more Instrumentall to the Mouth,

  0229 Then is the Throne of Denmarke to thy Father.

  0230 What would'st thou haue Laertes?

  0231 @#Laer.  Dread my Lord,

  0232 Your leaue and fauour to returne to France,

  0233 From whence, though willingly I came to Denmarke

  0234 To shew my duty in your Coronation,

  0235 Yet now I must confesse, that duty done,

  0236 My thoughts and wishes bend againe towards France,

  0237 And bow them to your gracious leaue and pardon.

  0238 @#King.  Haue you your Fathers leaue?

  0239 What sayes Pollonius?

  0240 @#Pol.  He hath my Lord:

  000¦

  000¦

  0241 I do beseech you giue him leaue to go.

  0242 @#King.  Take thy faire houre Laertes, time be thine,

  0243 And thy best graces spend it at thy will:

  0244 But now my Cosin Hamlet, and my Sonne?

  0245 @#Ham.  A little more then kin, and lesse then kinde.

  0246 @#King.  How is it that the Clouds still hang on you?

  0247 @#Ham.  Not so my Lord, I am too much i'th'Sun.

  0248 **Queen.  Good Hamlet cast thy nightly colour off,

  0249 And let thine eye looke like a Friend on Denmarke.

  0250 Do not for euer with thy veyled lids

  0251 Seeke for thy Noble Father in the dust;

  0252 Thou know'st 'tis common, all that liues must dye,

  0253 Passing through Nature, to Eternity.

  0254 @#Ham.  I Madam, it is common.

  0255 **Queen.  If it be;

  0256 Why seemes it so particular with thee.

  0257 @#Ham.  Seemes Madam? Nay, it is: I know not Seemes:

  0258 'Tis not alone my Inky Cloake (good Mother)

  0259 Nor Customary suites of solemne Blacke,

  0260 Nor windy suspiration of forc'd breath,

  0261 No, nor the fruitfull Riuer in the Eye,

  0262 Nor the deiected hauiour of the Visage,

  0263 Together with all Formes, Moods, shewes of Griefe,

  0264 That can denote me truly. These indeed Seeme,

  0265 For they are actions that a man might play:

  0266 But I haue that Within, which passeth show;

  0267 These, but the Trappings, and the Suites of woe.

  0268 @#King.  'Tis sweet and commendable

  0269 In your Nature Hamlet,

  0270 To giue these mourning duties to your Father:

  0271 But you must know, your Father lost a Father,

  0272 That Father lost, lost his, and the Suruiuer bound

  0273 In filiall Obligation, for some terme

  0274 To do obsequious Sorrow. But to perseu er

  0275 In obstinate Condolement, is a course

  0276 Of impious stubbornnesse. 'Tis vnmanly greefe,

  0277 It shewes a will most incorrect to Heauen,

  0278 A Heart vnfortified, a Minde impatient,

  0279 An Vnderstanding simple, and vnschool'd:

  0280 For, what we know must be, and is as common

  0281 As any the most vulgar thing to sence,

  0282 Why should we in our peeuish Opposition

  0283 Take it to heart? Fye, 'tis a fault to Heauen,

  0284 A fault against the Dead, a fault to Nature,

  0285 To Reason most absurd, whose common Theame

  0286 Is death of Fathers, and who still hath cried,

  0287 From the first Coarse, till he that dyed to day,

  0288 This must be so. We pray you throw to earth

  0289 This vnpreuayling woe, and thinke of vs

  0290 As of a Father; For let the world take note,

  0291 You are the most immediate to our Throne,

  0292 And with no lesse Nobility of Loue,

  0293 Then that which deerest Father beares his Sonne,

  0294 Do I impart towards you. For your intent

  0295 In going backe to Schoole in Wittenberg,

  0296 It is most retrograde to our desire:

  0297 And we beseech you, bend you to remaine

  0298 Heere in the cheere and comfort of our eye,

  0299 Our cheefest Courtier Cosin, and our Sonne.

  0300 @#Qu.  Let not thy Mother lose her Prayers Hamlet:

  0301 I prythee stay with vs, go not to Wittenberg.

  0302 @#Ham.  I shall in all my best

  0303 Obey you Madam.

  0304 @#King.  Why 'tis a louing, and a faire Reply,

  0305 Be as our selfe in Denmarke. Madam come,

  0306 This gentle and vnforc'd accord of Hamlet

  0307 Sits smiling to my heart; in grace whereof,

  0308 No iocond health that Denmarke drinkes to day,

  0309 But the great Cannon to the Clowds shall tell,

  0310 And the Kings Rouce, the Heauens shall bruite againe,

  0311 Respeaking earthly Thunder. Come away. =====Exeunt

  0312 ================Manet Hamlet.

  0313 @#Ham.  Oh that this too too solid Flesh, would melt,

  0314 Thaw, and resolue it selfe into a Dew:

  0315 Or that the Euerlasting had not fixt

  0316 His Cannon 'gainst Selfe-slaughter. O God, O God!

  0317 How weary, stale, flat, and vnprofitable

  0318 Seemes to me all the vses of this world?

  0319 Fie on't? Oh fie, fie, 'tis an vnweeded Garden

  0320 That growes to Seed: Things rank, and grosse in Nature

  0321 Possesse it meerely. That it should come to this:

  0322 But two months dead: Nay, not so much; not two,

  0323 So excellent a King, that was to this

  0324 Hiperion to a Satyre: so louing to my Mother,

  0325 That he might not beteene the windes of heauen

  0326 Visit her face too roughly. Heauen and Earth

  0327 Must I remember: why she would hang on him,

  0328 As if encrease of Appetite had growne

  0329 By what it fed on; and yet within a month?

  0330 Let me not thinke on't: Frailty, thy name is woman.

  0331 A little Month, or ere those shooes were old,

  0332 With which she followed my poore Fathers body

  0333 Like Niobe, all teares. Why she, euen she.

  0334 (O Heauen! A beast that wants discourse of Reason

  0335 Would haue mourn'd longer) married with mine Vnkle,

  0336 My Fathers Brother: but no more like my Father,

  0337 Then I to Hercules. Within a Moneth?

  0338 Ere yet the salt of most vnrighteous Teares

  0339 Had left the flushing of her gauled eyes,

  0340 She married. O most wicked speed, to post

  0341 With such dexterity to Incestuous sheets:

  0342 It is not, nor it cannot come to good.

  0343 But breake my heart, for I must hold my tongue.

  0344 ==========Enter Horatio, Barnard, and Marcellus.

  0345 @#Hor.  Haile to your Lordship.

  0346 @#Ham.  I am glad to see you well:

  0347 Horatio, or I do forget my selfe.

  0348 @#Hor.  The same my Lord,

  0349 And your poore Seruant euer.

  0350 @#Ham.  Sir my good friend,

  0351 Ile change that name with you:

  0352 And what make you from Wittenberg Horatio?

  0353 ##Marcellus.[nn6^r

  0354 @#Mar.  My good Lord.

  0355 @#Ham.  I am very glad to see you: good euen Sir.

  0356 But what in faith make you from Wittemberge?

  0357 @#Hor.  A truant disposition, good my Lord.

  0358 @#Ham.  I would not haue your Enemy say so;

  0359 Nor shall you doe mine eare that violence,

  0360 To make it truster of your owne report

  0361 Against your selfe. I know you are no Truant:

  0362 But what is your affaire in Elsenour?

  0363 Wee'l teach you to drinke deepe, ere you depart.

  0364 @#Hor.  My Lord, I came to see your Fathers Funerall.

  0365 @#Ham.  I pray thee doe not mock me (fellow Student)

  0366 I thinke it was to see my Mothers Wedding.

  0367 @#Hor.  Indeed my Lord, it followed hard vpon.

  0368 @#Ham.  Thrift, thrift Horatio: the Funerall Bakt-meats

  0369 Did coldly furnish forth the Marriage Tables;

  0370 Would I had met my dearest foe in heauen,

  0371 Ere I had euer seene that day Horatio.

  0372 My father, me thinkes I see my father.

  0373 @#Hor.  Oh where my Lord?

  0374 @#Ham.  In my minds eye (Horatio)

  0375 @#Hor.  I saw him once; he was a goodly King.

  0376 @#Ham.  He was a man, take him for all in all:

  0377 I shall not look vpon his like againe.

  0378 @#Hor.  My Lord, I thinke I saw him yesternight.

  0379 @#Ham.  Saw? Who?

  0380 @#Hor.  My Lord, the King your Father.

  0381 @#Ham.  The King my Father?

  0382 @#Hor.  Season your admiration for a while

  0383 With an attent eare; till I may deliuer

  0384 Vpon the witnesse of these Gentlemen,

  0385 This maruell to you.

  0386 @#Ham.  For Heauens loue let me heare.

  0387 @#Hor.  Two nights together, had these Gentlemen

  0388 (Marcellus and Barnardo) on their Watch

  0389 In the dead wast and middle of the night

  0390 Beene thus encountred. A figure like your Father,

  0391 Arm'd at all points exactly, Cap a Pe,

  0392 Appeares before them, and with sollemne march

  0393 Goes slow and stately: By them thrice he walkt,

  0394 By their opprest and feare-surprized eyes,

  0395 Within his Truncheons length; whilst they bestil'd

  0396 Almost to Ielly with the Act of feare,

  0397 Stand dumbe and speake not to him. This to me

  0398 In dreadfull secrecie impart they did,

  0399 And I with them the third Night kept the Watch,

  0400 Whereas they had deliuer'd both in time,

  0401 Forme of the thing; each word made true and good,

  0402 The Apparition comes. I knew your Father:

  0403 These hands are not more like.

  0404 @#Ham.  But where was this?

  0405 @#Mar.  My Lord, vpon the platforme where we watcht.

  0406 @#Ham.  Did you not speake to it?

  0407 @#Hor.  My Lord, I did;

  0408 But answere made it none: yet once me thought

  0409 It lifted vp it head, and did addresse

  0410 It selfe to motion, like as it would speake:

  0411 But euen then, the Morning Cocke crew lowd;

  0412 And at the sound it shrunke in hast away,

  0413 And vanisht from our sight.

  0414 @#Ham.  Tis very strange.

  0415 @#Hor.  As I doe liue my honourd Lord 'tis true;

  0416 And we did thinke it writ downe in our duty

  0417 To let you know of it.

  0418 @#Ham.  Indeed, indeed Sirs; but this troubles me.

  0419 Hold you the watch to Night?

  0420 **Both.  We doe my Lord.

  0421 @#Ham.  Arm'd, say you?

  0422 **Both.  Arm'd, my Lord.

  0423 @#Ham.  From top to toe?

  0424 **Both.  My Lord, from head to foote.

  0425 @#Ham.  Then saw you not his face?

  0426 @#Hor.  O yes, my Lord, he wore his Beauer vp.

  0427 @#Ham.  What, lookt he frowningly?

  0428 @#Hor.  A countenance more in sorrow then in anger.

  0429 @#Ham.  Pale, or red?

  0430 @#Hor.  Nay very pale.

  0431 @#Ham.  And fixt his eyes vpon you?

  0432 @#Hor.  Most constantly.

  0433 @#Ham.  I would I had beene there.

  0434 @#Hor.  It would haue much amaz'd you.

  0435 @#Ham.  Very like, very like: staid it long? tell a hun-(dred.

  0436 @#Hor.  While one with moderate hast might tell a hun- ↑

  0437 **All.  Longer, longer.

  0438 @#Hor.  Not when I saw't.

  0439 @#Ham.  His Beard was grisly? no.

  0440 @#Hor.  It was, as I haue seene it in his life,

  0441 A Sable Siluer'd. Night; perchance 'twill wake a-(gaine.

  0442 @#Ham.  Ile watch to Night; perchance 'twill wake a- ↑

  000¦

  0443 @#Hor.  I warrant you it will.

  0444 @#Ham.  If it assume my noble Fathers person,

  0445 Ile speake to it, though Hell it selfe should gape

  0446 And bid me hold my peace. I pray you all,

  0447 If you haue hitherto conceald this sight;

  0448 Let it bee treble in your silence still:

  0449 And whatsoeuer els shall hap to night,

  0450 Giue it an vnderstanding but no tongue;

  0451 I will requite your loues; so, fare ye well:

  0452 Vpon the Platforme twixt eleuen and twelue,

  0453 Ile visit you.

  0454 **All.  Our duty to your Honour. ===Exeunt.

  0455 @#Ham.  Your loue, as mine to you: farewell.

  0456 My Fathers Spirit in Armes? All is not well:

  0457 I doubt some foule play: would the Night were come;

  000¦

  0458 Till then sit still my soule; foule deeds will rise,

  0459 Though all the earth orewhelm them to mens eies. ==Exit.