Page:Ham-1603-22275x-hun-c01-031.jpg

From Wikisource
Jump to navigation Jump to search
This page needs to be proofread.

The Tragedy of Hamlet Which once vnhearsed, then the world shall heare

Leartes had a father he held deere.

king No more of that, ere many dayes be done,

You shall heare that you do not dreame vpon. exeunt om.


Enter Horatio and the Queene. Hor. Madame, your sonne is safe arriv'de in Denmarke,

This letter I euen now receiv'd of him,

Whereas he writes how he escap't the danger,

And subtle treason that the king had plotted,

Being crossed by the contention of the windes,

He found the Packet sent to the king of England,

Wherein he saw himselfe betray'd to death,

As at his next conuersion with your grace,

He will relate the circumstance at full.

Queene Then I perceiue there's treason in his lookes

That seem'd to sugar o're his villanie:

But I will soothe and please him for a time,

For murderous mindes are alwayes jealous,

But know not you Horatio where he is?

Hor. Yes Madame, and he hath appoynted me

To meete him on the east side of the Cittie

To morrow morning.

Queene O faile not, good Horatio, and withall, com­ (mend me

A mothers care to him, bid him a while

Be wary of his presence, lest that he

Faile in that he goes about.

Hor. Madam, neuer make doubt of that:

I thinke by this the news be come to court:

He is arriv'de, obserue the king, and you shall

Quickely finde, Hamlet being here,

Things fell not to his minde.

Queene But what became of Gilderstone and Rossencraft?

Hor. He being set ashore, they went for England,

And in the Packet there writ down that doome

To be perform'd on them poynted for him:

And by great chance he had his fathers Seale,

So

Prince of Denmarke. So all was done without discouerie.

Queene Thankes be to heauen for blessing of the prince,

Horatio once againe I take my leaue,

With thowsand mothers blessings to my sonne.

Horat. Madam adue.


Enter King and Leartes. King. Hamlet from England! is it possible?

What chance is this? they are gone, and he come home.

Lear. O he is welcome, by my soule he is:

At it my iocund heart doth leape for ioy,

That I shall liue to tell him, thus he dies.

king Leartes, content your selfe, be rulde by me,

And you shall haue no let for your reuenge.

Lear. My will, not all the world.

King Nay but Leartes, marke the plot I haue layde,

I haue heard him often with a greedy wish,

Vpon some praise that he hath heard of you

Touching your weapon, which with all his heart,

He might be once tasked for to try your cunning.

Lea. And how for this?

King Mary Leartes thus: I'le lay a wager,

Shalbe on Hamlets side, and you shall giue the oddes,

The which will draw him with a more desire,

To try the maistry, that in twelue venies

You gaine not three of him: now this being granted,

When you are hot in midst of all your play,

Among the foyles shall a keene rapier lie,

Steeped in a mixtur_ of deadly poyson,

That if it drawes but the least dramme of blood,

In any part of him, he cannot liue:

This being done will free you from suspition,

And not the deerest friend that Hamlet lov'de

Will euer haue Leartes in suspect.

Lear. My lord, I like it well:

But say lord Hamlet should refuse this match.

King I'le warrant you, wee'le put on you54

H3 Such