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Title: The Works of William Shakespeare [Cambridge Edition] [Vol. 8 of 9]

Author: William Shakespeare

Editor: William George Clark

William Aldis Wright

Release date: May 21, 2015 [eBook #49008]

Most recently updated: August 24, 2025

Language: English

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*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK THE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE [CAMBRIDGE EDITION] [VOL. 8 OF 9] ***

THE WORKS

OF

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

THE WORKS

OF

WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

EDITED BY

WILLIAM GEORGE CLARK, M.A.

FELLOW AND TUTOR OF TRINITY COLLEGE, AND PUBLIC ORATOR IN THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE;

AND WILLIAM ALDIS WRIGHT, M.A.

LIBRARIAN OF TRINITY COLLEGE, CAMBRIDGE.

VOLUME VIII.

London and Cambridge:

MACMILLAN AND CO.

1866.

CAMBRIDGE:

PRINTED BY C. J. CLAY, M.A.

AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS.

CONTENTS.

PAGE

THE Preface

vii

HAMLET

3

Notes to Hamlet

185

The Tragicall Historie of Hamlet Prince of Denmarke

197

KING LEAR

249

Notes to King Lear

427

OTHELLO

437

Notes to Othello

593

PREFACE.

1. The earliest edition of HAMLET appeared in 1603, with the following title-page:

THE | Tragicall Historie of | HAMLET | Prince of Denmarke | By William Shake-speare. | As it hath beene diuerse times acted by his Highnesse ser-| uants in the Cittie of London: as also in the two V-| niuersities of Cambridge and Oxford, and else-where | At London printed for N: L. and Iohn Trundell. | 1603.

We refer to it as (Q_1).

A copy of this edition belonged to Sir Thomas Hanmer, though he does not appear to have mentioned it in his notes to Shakespeare or in his correspondence, and its existence was not known till his library came into the possession of Sir E. H. Bunbury in 1821. In a copy of the Reprint of 1825, now at Barton, Sir E. H. Bunbury wrote the following note:

'The only copy of this edition of Hamlet (1603) which is known to be in existence was found by me in the Library at Barton when it came into my possession in 1821. The Hamlet was bound up with ten others of the small 4to editions of Shakespeare's Plays (1598 to 1603) and with The Two Noble Kinsmen (1634). Most of these were complete. I sold the volume in Dec. 1824 for £180 to Messrs Payne and Foss, who resold it to the Duke of Devonshire for £230.'

This copy wanted the last leaf containing the 22 concluding lines. A second copy, wanting the title-page but otherwise perfect, was discovered in 1856 by Mr W. H. Rooney of Dublin. 'It was bought,' says Mr Timmins, 'by Mr Rooney from a student of Trinity College, Dublin, who had brought it from Nottinghamshire with his other books. After reprinting the last leaf, Mr Rooney sold the pamphlet to Mr Boone for £70, from whom Mr J. O. Halliwell bought it for £120, and it is now in the British Museum.'

We have reprinted this edition, and recorded in foot-notes the few discrepancies which are found between the two copies.

An extremely accurate reprint was made from the Devonshire copy in 1825, and it was lithographed in facsimile, with the addition of the missing leaf, in 1858, under the direction of Mr Collier and at the expense of the Duke. In 1860 Mr J. Allen, Junr., reprinted this edition and the Quarto of 1604, placing the corresponding passages as nearly as possible on opposite pages, with a preface by Mr Samuel Timmins.

The edition of 1603 is obviously a very imperfect reproduction of the play, and there is every reason to believe that it was printed from a manuscript surreptitiously obtained. This manuscript may have been compiled in the first instance from short hand notes taken during the representation, but there are many errors in the printed text which seem like errors of a copyist rather than of a hearer. Compare for example lines 37, 38 of Scene III. of our Reprint, p. 205, with the corresponding lines of the more perfect drama as it was printed in the Quarto of 1604, Act I. Scene 3, lines 73, 74, p. 26.

In the Quarto of 1603 the passage runs thus:

And they of France of the chiefe rancke and station

Are of a most select and generall chiefe in that:

In that of 1604:

'And they in Fraunce of the best ranck and station,

Or of a most select and generous, chiefe in that:'

It is clear that the corruption in both passages is due to an error in the transcript from which both were copied. Probably the author had originally written:

'And they in France of the best rank and station

Are most select and generous in that:'

and then given between the lines or in the margin, 'of,' 'chief', meaning these as alternative readings for 'in' and 'best' in the first line. The transcriber by mistake inserted them in the second line. A few lines above both Quartos give 'courage' for 'comrade,' a mistake due undoubtedly to the eye and not to the ear.

We believe then that the defects of the manuscript from which the Quarto of 1603 was printed had been in part at least supplemented by a reference to the authentic copy in the library of the theatre. Very probably the man employed for this purpose was some inferior actor or servant, who would necessarily work in haste and by stealth, and in any case would not be likely to work very conscientiously for the printer or bookseller who was paying him to deceive his masters.

The Quarto of 1604, which we call Q_2, has the following title-page:

THE | Tragicall Historie of | HAMLET, | Prince of Denmarke. | By William Shakespeare. | Newly imprinted and enlarged to almost as much | againe as it was, according to the true and perfect | Coppie. | AT LONDON, | Printed by I. R. for N. L. and are to be sold at his | shoppe vnder Saint Dunstons Church in | Fleetstreet. 1604.

The printer 'I. R.' was no doubt, as Mr Collier says, James Roberts, who had made an entry in the books of the Stationers' company as early as July 26, 1602, of 'A booke, The Revenge of Hamlett prince of Denmarke, as yt was latelie acted by the Lord Chamberleyn his servantes.'

For some unknown reason the projected edition was delayed, and in the mean time the popularity of the play encouraged N. L., i.e. Nicholas Ling, and the other publisher, Trundell, to undertake a surreptitious edition.

In the interval between the two editions Shakespeare seems to have changed the names of some of his Dramatis Personæ, substituting 'Polonius' for 'Corambis' and 'Reynaldo' for 'Montano.' He may also have changed the order of one or two scenes, and here and there erased or inserted a few lines, but we think that no substantial change was made, and that the chief differences between (Q_1) and Q_2 are only such as might be expected between a bona fide, and a mala fide, transcription.

The Quarto of 1605, which we call Q_3, is not, properly speaking, a new edition, being printed from the same forms as Q_2, and differing from it no more than one copy of the same edition may differ from another. The title-page differs only in the date, where 1605 is substituted for 1604.

Another Quarto, our Q_4, printed in 1611, bears a title-page which does not substantially differ from that of Q_3, except that it is said to be:

'Printed for Iohn Smethwicke, and are to be sold at his shoppe | in Saint Dunstons Church-yeard in Fleetstreet. | Under the Diall. 1611. |'

Another Quarto, without date, is said on the title-page to be 'Newly imprinted and inlarged, according to the true | and perfect Copy lastly Printed,' and to be 'Printed by W. S. for Iohn Smethwicke.' Otherwise the title-page is identical with that of Q_4. Mr Collier supposes this undated Quarto to have been printed in 1607, because there is an entry in the Stationers' books of that year and no edition with that date is known to exist. We are convinced however that the undated Quarto was printed from that of 1611, and we have therefore called it Q_5.

Another Quarto, printed 'by R. Young for John Smethwicke,' was published in 1637. This we call Q_6. It is printed from Q_5, though the spelling is considerably modernized and the punctuation amended.

The symbol Qq signifies the agreement of Q_2, Q_3, Q_4, Q_5 and Q_6.

Besides these, several editions, usually known as Players' Quartos, were printed at the end of the seventeenth and beginning of the following century. Of these we have had before us during our collation, editions of 1676, 1685, 1695 and 1703. These we call respectively Q(1676), Q(1685), Q(1695) and Q(1703). We have given all readings which seemed in any way remarkable, though we need scarcely say that the changes made in these editions have no authority whatever. It is however worthy of notice that many emendations usually attributed to Rowe and Pope are really derived from one or other of these Players' Quartos. When we give a reading as belonging to one of these Quartos, it is to be understood that it occurs there for the first time and that all the subsequent Quartos adopt it.

The text of Hamlet given in the Folio of 1623 is not derived from any of the previously existing Quartos, but from an independent manuscript. Many passages are found in the Folio which do not appear in any of the Quartos. On the other hand many passages found in the Quartos are not found in the Folio. It is to be remarked that several of those which appear in the Folio and not in the Quarto of 1604 or its successors, are found in an imperfect form in the Quarto of 1603, and therefore are not subsequent additions. Both the Quarto text of 1604 and the Folio text of 1623 seem to have been derived from manuscripts of the play curtailed, and curtailed differently, for purposes of representation. Therefore in giving in our text all the passages from both Folio and Quarto we are reproducing, as near as may be, the work as it was originally written by Shakespeare, or rather as finally retouched by him after the spurious edition of 1603.

We have been unable to procure a copy of the Quarto edition of this play, edited in 1703 by 'the accurate Mr John Hughs' (Theobald's Shakespeare Restored, p. 26), and have therefore quoted the readings of it on Theobald's authority. It is different from the Players' Quarto of 1703, and is not mentioned in Bohn's edition of Lowndes's Bibliographer's Manual. No copy of it exists in the British Museum, the Bodleian, the library of the Duke of Devonshire, the Capell collection, or any other to which we have had access.

We have to thank Dr C. M. Ingleby for the loan of several editions of Hamlet which we should otherwise have had difficulty in procuring.

2. KING LEAR first appeared in 1608. In this year there were two editions in Quarto. One bears the following title:

M. William Shakespeare, | HIS | True Chronicle History of the life | and death of King Lear, and his | three Daughters. | With the unfortunate life of EDGAR, | sonne and heire to the Earle of Glocester, and | his sullen and assumed humour of TOM | of Bedlam. | As it was plaid before the Kings Maiesty at White-Hall, vp- | on S. Stephens night, in Christmas Hollidaies. | By his Maiesties Seruants, playing vsually at the | Globe on the Banck-side. | Printed for Nathaniel Butter. | 1608. |

The printer's device is that of J. Roberts.

This we have called Q_1. In the few instances in which there are differences between Capell's copy and that in the Duke of Devonshire's library, we have distinguished the readings as those of Q_1 (Cap.) and Q_1 (Dev.) respectively. Through the kindness of Sir S. Morton Peto and Mr Lilly, we have been enabled to collate two other copies, but without discovering any variations from that in the Capell collection.

In the same year another Quarto edition of this play was issued by the same publisher. Its title is as follows:

M. William Shak-speare: | HIS | True Chronicle Historie of the life and | death of King LEAR and his three | Daughters. | With the vnfortunate life of Edgar, sonne | and heire to the Earle of Gloster, and his | sullen and assumed humor of | TOM of Bedlam: | As it was played before the Kings Maiestie at Whitehall vpon | S. Stephans night in Christmas Hollidayes. | By his Maiesties seruants playing vsually at the Gloabe | on the Bancke-side. | LONDON,| Printed for Nathaniel Butter, and are to be sold at his shop in Pauls | Church-yard at the signe of the Pide Bull neere | St. Austins Gate. 1608. |

We have called this Q_2. In the six copies we have collated there are a large number of very curious and important variations. To distinguish them we have made use of the following notation.

1. Q_2 (Cap.) The copy in Capell's collection.

2. Q_2 (Dev.) The copy in the Library of the Duke of Devonshire.

3. Q_2 (Mus. per.) A perfect copy in the British Museum (C. 34. K. 18).

4. Q_2 (Mus. imp.) An imperfect copy (wanting title) in the British Museum (C. 34. K. 17); formerly in the possession of Mr Halliwell.

5. Q_2 (Bodl. 1). A copy in the Bodleian Library (Malone 35), with the title, but wanting the last leaf.

6. Q_2 (Bodl. 2). A copy in the Bodleian Library (Malone 37), wanting title but having the last leaf.

It has been supposed in consequence of statements made by Malone and Boswell that a third edition of King Lear was published in 1608. We shall show that there is no evidence for this. In the Variorum Shakespeare (II. 652), edited by Boswell in 1821, three Quartos are described, which are distinguished in the notes to the play by the letters A, B, C, respectively. The first of these is a copy of Q_2, quoted by us as Q_2 (Bodl. 1); the second is a copy of Q_1; and the third, which is in reality another copy of Q_2 and is quoted by us as Q_2 (Bodl. 2), is described as follows:

"Title the same as the two former, except that like the first it begins at signature B: and like the second, has no reference to the place of sale."

This statement of Boswell's is taken from a note in Malone's handwriting prefixed to the copy in question, which we transcribe.

"This copy of King Lear differs in some particulars from the two others in Vol. IV.

"The title-page of it is the same as the second of those copies, that is, it has no direction to the place of sale, and the first signat. is B,—notwithstanding which there are minute diversities; thus, in this copy in H_3 verso, we have 'A foole vsurps my bed'; in the other whose first signature is also B, we find—'My foote usurps my body', and in the copy without any direction to the place of sale (whose first signature is A) 'My foote usurps my head'."

Now it is a little remarkable that at present the copy has no title-page at all, and there is no trace of the title-page having been removed since the volume has been in its present condition. The probability is that the title was originally wanting and that one had been supplied from a copy of Q_1 before it came into Malone's hands, and that while it was in this condition he wrote the above note upon it. It was then sent to be bound in a volume with other quartos, and the title may have been lost at the binder's, or may have been intentionally removed as not belonging to the book. That alterations were made by the binder is evident from the fact that the copy to which Malone refers as the second of those in Vol. IV. is in reality the first. Malone, writing his note when Vol. IV. was arranged for binding, described the then order of the plays, which must afterwards have been altered. In any case, however Malone's statement is to be accounted for, it is quite clear that Boswell must have described the Quarto after it was bound, when the title could not have existed.

We have said that Boswell quotes the three Quartos of Lear, now in the Bodleian, by the letters A, B, C, respectively. In doing so, however, he is not consistent. We record his mistakes that others may not be misled by them. Bearing in mind therefore that A = Q_2 (Bodl. 1), B = Q_1, and C = Q_2 (Bodl. 2), we find in Act II. Scene 2 (Vol. X. p. 97) 'Quarto B, ausrent; Quarto A, reads unreverent.' Here B and A should change places. In Act III. Scene 7 (p. 188), 'Quarto A omits roguish:' for A read C. In Act IV. Scene 2 (p. 199), for 'Quartos B and C, the whistling,' read 'Quarto C' alone. In Act IV. Scene 6 (p. 220) B and A should again be interchanged. In Act V. Scene 3 (p. 277), 'Quarto A omits this line'; for A read B. It will be seen from these instances that A has been in turn made to represent three different copies.

The differences in various copies of Q_2 are accounted for by supposing that the corrections were made before the sheets were all worked off, and that the corrected and uncorrected sheets were bound up indiscriminately. It will be observed that the readings of the uncorrected sheets of Q_2 agree for the most part with those of Q_1, and this led us to the conclusion which had previously been arrived at by Capell and also by J. P. Kemble, that the edition which we have called Q_1 was the earlier of the two printed in the same year. But upon collating a copy of Q_2 in the Bodleian, which we have called Q_2 (Bodl. 1), we found evidence which points to an opposite conclusion. In Kent's soliloquy (II. 2. 160) that copy, as will be seen in our notes, reads,

nothing almost sees my rackles

But miserie, &c.

which of course is an accidental corruption, by displacement of the type, of 'myrackles' (i.e. 'miracles') the true reading. In the corrected copies of Q_2 this is altered, apparently by the printer's conjecture, to 'my wracke', which is also the reading of Q_1. Throughout the sheet in which this occurs the readings of Q_1 agree with the corrected copies of Q_2, and had it not been for the instance quoted, we might have supposed that the corrections in the latter were made from Q_1. But the corruption 'my rackles' for 'miracles' must have come from the original MS., and 'my wracke' is only a conjectural emendation, so that the order of succession in this sheet at least appears to be the following. First the uncorrected copy of Q_2, then the same corrected, and lastly Q_1. On the other hand it is remarkable that Q_1, if printed from Q_2 at all, must have been printed from a copy made up, with the exception just mentioned from II. 1. 128 to II. 4. 133, and another containing from IV. 6. 224 to V. 3. 64, of uncorrected sheets. Another hypothesis which might be made is that Q_1 and Q_2 were printed from the same manuscript, and that the printer of Q_1 corrupted 'miracles' into 'my wracke', while the printer of Q_2 made it 'my rackles', which was afterwards altered by a reference to Q_1. The question, however, is very difficult to decide, and at most is one rather of bibliographical curiosity than of critical importance. We may mention that, without giving the reasons for his conclusion, Jennens, in his edition of Lear in 1770, quotes as the 1st Quarto that which we have called Q_2 and vice versa.

A third Quarto, which we have called Q_3, was printed very carelessly page for page from Q_1 and published in 1655.

In the first Folio King Lear was printed from an independent manuscript, and its text is on the whole much superior to that of the Quartos. Each however supplies passages which are wanting in the other.

Capell appears to have prepared the play for press in the first instance from Pope's first edition. The manuscript readings and stage directions, marked in his copy of that edition but not adopted in his own, we have quoted as 'Capell MS'.

3. OTHELLO was first printed in Quarto in 1622 with the following title:

THE | Tragœdy of Othello, | The Moore of Venice. | As it hath beene diuerse times acted at the | Globe, and at the Black-Friers, by | his Maiesties Seruants. | Written by William Shakespeare. | LONDON,| Printed by N. O. for Thomas Walkley, and are to be sold at his | shop, at the Eagle and Child, in Brittans Bursse. | 1622. |

To this edition which we call Q_1, the following preface was affixed by the publisher:

The Stationer to the Reader.

To set forth a booke without an Epistle, were like to the old English prouerbe, A blew coat without a badge, & the Author being dead, I thought good to take that piece of worke vpon mee: To commend it, I will not, for that which is good, I hope euery man will commend, without intreaty: and I am the bolder, because the Authors name is sufficient to vent his worke. Thus leauing euery one to the liberty of iudgement: I haue ventered to print this Play, and leaue it to the generall censure.

Yours,

Thomas Walkley.

This first Quarto contains many oaths and expletives, which in all the later editions are altered or omitted. This shows that the MS. from which it was printed had not been recently used as an acting copy. Many passages are omitted in Q_1, by accident or design, and some which we find only in the later editions look like afterthoughts of the author.

The title-page of the second Quarto is letter for letter the same as the first, except that it has the following imprint:

LONDON,| Printed by A. M. for Richard Hawkins, and are to be sold at | his shoppe in Chancery-Lane, neere Sergeants-Inne. | 1630. |

Of this Quarto, which we term Q_2, Mr Collier says: 'It was unquestionably printed from a manuscript different from that used for the Quarto of 1622, or for the Folio of 1623.' But after a minute comparison of the two it appears to us clear that the Quarto of 1630 must have been printed from a copy of the Quarto of 1622, which had received additions and corrections in manuscript. The resemblances between the two are too close to allow of any other supposition. These additions and corrections, though agreeing for the most part with the first Folio, which had appeared in the interval, were derived from an independent source.

The third Quarto, which we refer to as Q_3, was printed from the second, and is called 'The Fourth Edition.' It has the following imprint:

LONDON, | Printed for William Leak at the Crown in Fleet- | street, between the two Temple Gates, 1655 |

Jennens, in his edition of Othello, published in 1773, was not aware of the existence of the Quarto of 1630, and quotes as the readings of the second Quarto those of the edition of 1655.

An edition in Quarto, without date, is quoted by Capell on the authority of Pope; but on reference to Pope's list it appears that, though he has omitted the date, he refers to the Quarto of 1622, which contains the publisher's preface.

The kindness of Sir S. Morton Peto has enabled us to consult a copy of the first Quarto in the library at Chipstead, which, in cases where its readings differ from those of the copies in the Capell and Devonshire collections, we have distinguished as Q_1 (Chip.) A Players' Quarto of 1695, for the use of which, as well as for other acts of kindness, we have to thank Sir Charles Bunbury, is quoted as Q (1695).

In the Addenda we have given some readings which we had not previously seen from an anonymous tract published in 1752, with the title, Miscellaneous Observations on the Tragedy of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark. The rest are chiefly from books which have been published since the greater part of our volume was struck off.

W. G. C.

W. A. W.

ADDENDA.

HAMLET, I. 1. 117, 118. Add to note, As stars with ... Distempered or As stars with ... Discoloured Staunton conj.

I. 4. 36, 37. Add to note, the dram of leaven ... of a dough Cartwright conj. the dram of evil ... oft weigh down Bailey conj.

I. 4. 73. your ... reason] of sovereignty your Hunter conj.

I. 5. 11. And for] Tho' in Anon. MS.

I. 5. 32, 34. shouldst ... Wouldst] wouldst ... Shouldst Anon. conj. (Misc. Obs. on Hamlet, 1752).

II. 2. 82. Add to note, And think upon and answer Anon. conj. (Misc. Obs. on Hamlet, 1752).

II. 2. 140. out of thy star] out of thy soar Bailey conj.

II. 2. 162. Be ... then;] Let ... then Anon. conj. (Misc. Obs. on Hamlet, 1752).

II. 2. 438, 439. tyrannous ... murder] treacherous and damned light To the vile murtherer Anon. conj. (Misc. Obs. on Hamlet, 1752).

III. 1. 58. slings and arrows] stings and harrows Anon. conj. (Misc. Obs. on Hamlet, 1752). stings and horrors Anon. MS.

III. 2. 21. scorn] sin Bailey conj.

III. 2. 22. the very age] the visage Bailey conj.

III. 2. 23. pressure] posture Bailey conj.

III. 2. 206. Nor ... give] Let earth not give me Anon. conj. (Misc. Obs. on Hamlet, 1752).

III. 3. 15. The cease of] Deceasing Bailey conj.

III. 3. 169. Add to note, And either house Bailey conj.

IV. 7. 112. begun] begnawn Bailey conj.

V. 2, 180. and outward ... a kind] and out of the habit of encounter get a kind Bailey conj.

V. 2. 180, 181. collection] diction Bailey conj.

V. 2. 182. Add to note, profound and renowned Bailey conj.

KING LEAR, I. 1. 72. Add to note, precious treasure Bailey conj.

I. 1. 226. Add to note, burden, or Bailey conj.

II. 4. 92. Add to note, Fiery? what? quality? Taylor conj. MS.

HAMLET.

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ[A].

CLAUDIUS, king of Denmark.

HAMLET, son to the late, and nephew to the present king.

POLONIUS, lord chamberlain.

HORATIO, friend to Hamlet.

LAERTES, son to Polonius.

VOLTIMAND,

courtiers.

CORNELIUS,

ROSENCRANTZ,

GUILDENSTERN,

OSRIC,

A Gentleman,

A Priest.

MARCELLUS,

officers.

BERNARDO,

FRANCISCO, a soldier.

REYNALDO, servant to Polonius.

Players.

Two Clowns, grave-diggers.

FORTINBRAS, prince of Norway.

A Captain.

English Ambassadors.

GERTRUDE, queen of Denmark, and mother to Hamlet.

OPHELIA, daughter to Polonius.

Lords, Ladies, Officers, Soldiers, Sailors, Messengers, and other Attendants.

Ghost of Hamlet's Father.

SCENE: Denmark[B].

[A] DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.] First given by Rowe.

[B] Denmark] Edd. (Globe ed.) Elsinoor. Rowe.

THE TRAGEDY OF

HAMLET

PRINCE OF DENMARK.

ACT I.

SCENE I. Elsinore. A platform before the castle.

FRANCISCO at his post. Enter to him BERNARDO.[1]

Ber. Who's there?[2][3]

Fran. Nay, answer me: stand, and unfold yourself.[3]

Ber. Long live the king![3]

Fran. Bernardo?[3][4]

Ber. He.[3] 5

Fran. You come most carefully upon your hour.[5]

Ber. 'Tis now struck twelve; get thee to bed, Francisco.[6]

Fran. For this relief much thanks: 'tis bitter cold,

And I am sick at heart.

Ber. Have you had quiet guard?

Fran. Not a mouse stirring. 10

Ber. Well, good night.[7]

If you do meet Horatio and Marcellus,[7][8]

The rivals of my watch, bid them make haste.[7][8]

Fran. I think I hear them. Stand, ho! Who is there?[9]

Enter HORATIO and MARCELLUS.

Hor. Friends to this ground.

Mar. And liegemen to the Dane. 15

Fran. Give you good night.[10]

Mar. O, farewell, honest soldier:[11][12]

Who hath relieved you?[13]

Fran. Bernardo hath my place.[13]

Give you good night.     [Exit.[10][13]

Mar. Holla! Bernardo!

Ber. Say,[14][15]

What, is Horatio there?[14]

Hor. A piece of him.[16]

Ber. Welcome, Horatio: welcome, good Marcellus. 20

Mar. What, has this thing appear'd again to-night?[17]

Ber. I have seen nothing.

Mar. Horatio says 'tis but our fantasy,[18]

And will not let belief take hold of him

Touching this dreaded sight, twice seen of us:[19] 25

Therefore I have entreated him along[20]

With us to watch the minutes of this night,[20]

That if again this apparition come,

He may approve our eyes and speak to it.

Hor. Tush, tush, 'twill not appear.

Ber. Sit down awhile;[21] 30

And let us once again assail your ears,

That are so fortified against our story,[22]

What we have two nights seen.[22][23]

Hor. Well, sit we down,

And let us hear Bernardo speak of this.

Ber. Last night of all, 35

When yond same star that's westward from the pole[24]

Had made his course to illume that part of heaven[25]

Where now it burns, Marcellus and myself,

The bell then beating one,—[26]

Enter Ghost.

Mar. Peace, break thee off; look, where it comes again![27] 40

Ber. In the same figure, like the king that's dead.

Mar. Thou art a scholar; speak to it, Horatio.

Ber. Looks it not like the king? mark it, Horatio.[28]

Hor. Most like: it harrows me with fear and wonder.[29]

Ber. It would be spoke to.

Mar. Question it, Horatio.[30] 45

Hor. What art thou, that usurp'st this time of night,[31]

Together with that fair and warlike form

In which the majesty of buried Denmark

Did sometimes march? by heaven I charge thee, speak![32]

Mar. It is offended.

Ber. See, it stalks away! 50

Hor. Stay! speak, speak! I charge thee, speak![33]

[Exit Ghost.

Mar. 'Tis gone, and will not answer.

Ber. How now, Horatio! you tremble and look pale:

Is not this something more than fantasy?

What think you on't?[34] 55

Hor. Before my God, I might not this believe[35]

Without the sensible and true avouch[36]

Of mine own eyes.

Mar. Is it not like the king?

Hor. As thou art to thyself:

Such was the very armour he had on[37] 60

When he the ambitious Norway combated;[38]

So frown'd he once, when, in an angry parle,

He smote the sledded Polacks on the ice.[39]

'Tis strange.[40]

Mar. Thus twice before, and jump at this dead hour,[41] 65

With martial stalk hath he gone by our watch.[42]

Hor. In what particular thought to work I know not;[43]

But, in the gross and scope of my opinion,[44]

This bodes some strange eruption to our state.

Mar. Good now, sit down, and tell me, he that knows,[45] 70

Why this same strict and most observant watch

So nightly toils the subject of the land,[46]

And why such daily cast of brazen cannon,[47]

And foreign mart for implements of war;

Why such impress of shipwrights, whose sore task 75

Does not divide the Sunday from the week;[48]

What might be toward, that this sweaty haste

Doth make the night joint-labourer with the day:[49]

Who is't that can inform me?

Hor. That can I;

At least the whisper goes so. Our last king, 80

Whose image even but now appear'd to us,

Was, as you know, by Fortinbras of Norway,

Thereto prick'd on by a most emulate pride,[50]

Dared to the combat; in which our valiant Hamlet—[51]

For so this side of our known world esteem'd him— 85

Did slay this Fortinbras; who by a seal'd compact,[52]

Well ratified by law and heraldry,[53]

Did forfeit, with his life, all those his lands[54]

Which he stood seized of, to the conqueror:[55]

Against the which, a moiety competent 90

Was gaged by our king; which had return'd[56]

To the inheritance of Fortinbras,

Had he been vanquisher; as, by the same covenant[57]

And carriage of the article design'd,[58]

His fell to Hamlet. Now, sir, young Fortinbras,[59] 95

Of unimproved mettle hot and full,[60]

Hath in the skirts of Norway here and there

Shark'd up a list of lawless resolutes,[61][62]

For food and diet, to some enterprise[62]

That hath a stomach in't: which is no other—[63] 100

As it doth well appear unto our state—[64]

But to recover of us, by strong hand

And terms compulsatory, those foresaid lands[65]

So by his father lost: and this, I take it,

Is the main motive of our preparations, 105

The source of this our watch and the chief head

Of this post-haste and romage in the land.

Ber. I think it be no other but e'en so:[66][67]

Well may it sort, that this portentous figure[66]

Comes armed through our watch, so like the king[66] 110

That was and is the question of these wars.[66]

Hor. A mote it is to trouble the mind's eye.[66][68]

In the most high and palmy state of Rome,[66][69]

A little ere the mightiest Julius fell,[66]

The graves stood tenantless, and the sheeted dead[66][70] 115

Did squeak and gibber in the Roman streets:[66][71]

. . . . . . .

As stars with trains of fire and dews of blood,[66][72][73]

Disasters in the sun; and the moist star,[66][74][73]

Upon whose influence Neptune's empire stands,[66]

Was sick almost to doomsday with eclipse:[66] 120

And even the like precurse of fierce events,[66][75]

As harbingers preceding still the fates[66][76]

And prologue to the omen coming on,[66][77]

Have heaven and earth together demonstrated[66]

Unto our climatures and countrymen.[66][78] 125

Re-enter Ghost.

But soft, behold! lo, where it comes again!

I'll cross it, though it blast me. Stay, illusion![79]

If thou hast any sound, or use of voice,

Speak to me:[80]

If there be any good thing to be done,[80] 130

That may to thee do ease and grace to me,[81]

Speak to me:[81]

If thou art privy to thy country's fate,

Which, happily, foreknowing may avoid,[82][83]

O, speak![82] 135

Or if thou hast uphoarded in thy life

Extorted treasure in the womb of earth,

For which, they say, you spirits oft walk in death,[84]

Speak of it: stay, and speak! [The cock crows.] Stop it, Marcellus.[85]

Mar. Shall I strike at it with my partisan?[86] 140

Hor. Do, if it will not stand.[87][88]

Ber. 'Tis here![87]

Hor. 'Tis here![87]

Mar. 'Tis gone!     [Exit Ghost.[87][89]

We do it wrong, being so majestical,

To offer it the show of violence;

For it is, as the air, invulnerable,[90] 145

And our vain blows malicious mockery.

Ber. It was about to speak, when the cock crew.

Hor. And then it started like a guilty thing

Upon a fearful summons. I have heard,

The cock, that is the trumpet to the morn,[91] 150

Doth with his lofty and shrill-sounding throat

Awake the god of day, and at his warning,[92]

Whether in sea or fire, in earth or air,[92]

The extravagant and erring spirit hies[92][93]

To his confine: and of the truth herein[92] 155

This present object made probation.

Mar. It faded on the crowing of the cock.[94]

Some say that ever 'gainst that season comes[95]

Wherein our Saviour's birth is celebrated,

The bird of dawning singeth all night long:[96] 160

And then, they say, no spirit dare stir abroad,[97]

The nights are wholesome, then no planets strike,

No fairy takes nor witch hath power to charm,[98]

So hallow'd and so gracious is the time.[99]

Hor. So have I heard and do in part believe it. 165

But look, the morn, in russet mantle clad,

Walks o'er the dew of yon high eastward hill:[100]

Break we our watch up; and by my advice,[101]

Let us impart what we have seen to-night

Unto young Hamlet; for, upon my life,[102] 170

This spirit, dumb to us, will speak to him:

Do you consent we shall acquaint him with it,[103]

As needful in our loves, fitting our duty?

Mar. Let's do't, I pray; and I this morning know[104]

Where we shall find him most conveniently.     [Exeunt.[105] 175

SCENE II. A room of state in the castle.

Flourish. Enter the KING, QUEEN, HAMLET, POLONIUS, LAERTES, VOLTIMAND, CORNELIUS, Lords, and Attendants.[106]

King. Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother's death[107]

The memory be green, and that it us befitted[107][108]

To bear our hearts in grief and our whole kingdom[109]

To be contracted in one brow of woe,

Yet so far hath discretion fought with nature 5

That we with wisest sorrow think on him,

Together with remembrance of ourselves.

Therefore our sometime sister, now our queen,[110]

The imperial jointress to this warlike state,[111]

Have we, as 'twere with a defeated joy,— 10

With an auspicious and a dropping eye,[112]

With mirth in funeral and with dirge in marriage,

In equal scale weighing delight and dole,—

Taken to wife: nor have we herein barr'd

Your better wisdoms, which have freely gone 15

With this affair along. For all, our thanks.[113]

Now follows, that you know, young Fortinbras,[114]

Holding a weak supposal of our worth,

Or thinking by our late dear brother's death

Our state to be disjoint and out of frame, 20

Colleagued with this dream of his advantage,[115]

He hath not fail'd to pester us with message,

Importing the surrender of those lands

Lost by his father, with all bonds of law,[116]

To our most valiant brother. So much for him.[117] 25

Now for ourself, and for this time of meeting:[118]

Thus much the business is: we have here writ

To Norway, uncle of young Fortinbras,—

Who, impotent and bed-rid, scarcely hears[119]

Of this his nephew's purpose,—to suppress 30

His further gait herein; in that the levies,[120]

The lists and full proportions, are all made

Out of his subject: and we here dispatch[121]

You, good Cornelius, and you, Voltimand,[122]

For bearers of this greeting to old Norway,[123] 35

Giving to you no further personal power[124]

To business with the king more than the scope[124]

Of these delated articles allow.[125]

Farewell, and let your haste commend your duty.[126]

Cor. } In that and all things will we show our duty.[127] 40

Vol. }

King. We doubt it nothing: heartily farewell.[128]

[Exeunt Voltimand and Cornelius.

And now, Laertes, what's the news with you?[129]

You told us of some suit; what is't, Laertes?

You cannot speak of reason to the Dane,

And lose your voice: what wouldst thou beg, Laertes,[130] 45

That shall not be my offer, not thy asking?[131]

The head is not more native to the heart,[132]

The hand more instrumental to the mouth,

Than is the throne of Denmark to thy father.[133]

What wouldst thou have, Laertes?

Laer. My dread lord,[134] 50

Your leave and favour to return to France,

From whence though willingly I came to Denmark,

To show my duty in your coronation,

Yet now, I must confess, that duty done,

My thoughts and wishes bend again toward France[135] 55

And bow them to your gracious leave and pardon.

King. Have you your father's leave? What says Polonius?[136]

Pol. He hath, my lord, wrung from me my slow leave[137][138][139]

By laboursome petition, and at last[138][139][140]

Upon his will I seal'd my hard consent:[139] 60

I do beseech you, give him leave to go.

King. Take thy fair hour, Laertes; time be thine,[141]

And thy best graces spend it at thy will![141][142]

But now, my cousin Hamlet, and my son,—[143]

Ham. [Aside] A little more than kin, and less than kind.[144]65

King. How is it that the clouds still hang on you?

Ham. Not so, my lord; I am too much i' the sun.[145]

Queen Good Hamlet, cast thy nighted colour off,[146]

And let thine eye look like a friend on Denmark.

Do not for ever with thy vailed lids[147] 70

Seek for thy noble father in the dust:

Thou know'st 'tis common; all that lives must die,[148]

Passing through nature to eternity.

Ham. Ay, madam, it is common.

Queen. If it be,

Why seems it so particular with thee? 75

Ham. Seems, madam! nay, it is; I know not 'seems.'

'Tis not alone my inky cloak, good mother,[149]

Nor customary suits of solemn black,

Nor windy suspiration of forced breath,

No, nor the fruitful river in the eye, 80

Nor the dejected haviour of the visage,

Together with all forms, moods, shapes of grief,[150]

That can denote me truly: these indeed seem,[151]

For they are actions that a man might play:

But I have that within which passes show;[152] 85

These but the trappings and the suits of woe.

King. 'Tis sweet and commendable in your nature, Hamlet,[153]

To give these mourning duties to your father:

But, you must know, your father lost a father,

That father lost, lost his, and the survivor bound[154] 90

In filial obligation for some term

To do obsequious sorrow: but to persever[155]

In obstinate condolement is a course[156]

Of impious stubbornness; 'tis unmanly grief:[156][157]

It shows a will most incorrect to heaven, 95

A heart unfortified, a mind impatient,[158]

An understanding simple and unschool'd:

For what we know must be and is as common

As any the most vulgar thing to sense,

Why should we in our peevish opposition 100

Take it to heart? Fie! 'tis a fault to heaven,

A fault against the dead, a fault to nature,

To reason most absurd, whose common theme[159]

Is death of fathers, and who still hath cried,

From the first corse till he that died to-day,[160] 105

'This must be so.' We pray you, throw to earth

This unprevailing woe, and think of us[161]

As of a father: for let the world take note,[162]

You are the most immediate to our throne,

And with no less nobility of love[163][164] 110

Than that which dearest father bears his son[164]

Do I impart toward you. For your intent[164][165]

In going back to school in Wittenberg,[166]

It is most retrograde to our desire:[167]

And we beseech you, bend you to remain[168] 115

Here in the cheer and comfort of our eye,

Our chiefest courtier, cousin and our son.

Queen. Let not thy mother lose her prayers, Hamlet:[169]

I pray thee, stay with us; go not to Wittenberg.[170]

Ham. I shall in all my best obey you, madam.[171] 120

King. Why, 'tis a loving and a fair reply:[172]

Be as ourself in Denmark. Madam, come;

This gentle and unforced accord of Hamlet

Sits smiling to my heart: in grace whereof,[173]

No jocund health that Denmark drinks to-day, 125

But the great cannon to the clouds shall tell,[174]

And the king's rouse the heaven shall bruit again,[175]

Re-speaking earthly thunder. Come away.[176]

[Flourish. Exeunt all but Hamlet.

Ham. O, that this too too solid flesh would melt,[177]

Thaw and resolve itself into a dew! 130

Or that the Everlasting had not fix'd

His canon 'gainst self-slaughter! O God! God![178]

How weary, stale, flat and unprofitable[179]

Seem to me all the uses of this world![180]

Fie on't! ah fie! 'tis an unweeded garden,[181] 135

That grows to seed; things rank and gross in nature

Possess it merely. That it should come to this![182]

But two months dead! nay, not so much, not two:

So excellent a king; that was, to this,[183]

Hyperion to a satyr: so loving to my mother,[183][184] 140

That he might not beteem the winds of heaven[185]

Visit her face too roughly. Heaven and earth![186]

Must I remember? why, she would hang on him,[186][187]

As if increase of appetite had grown

By what it fed on: and yet, within a month—[188] 145

Let me not think on't—Frailty, thy name is woman!—[189]

A little month, or ere those shoes were old[190]

With which she follow'd my poor father's body,[191]

Like Niobe, all tears:—why she, even she,—[192]

O God! a beast, that wants discourse of reason,[193] 150

Would have mourn'd longer,—married with my uncle,[194]

My father's brother, but no more like my father[195]

Than I to Hercules: within a month;

Ere yet the salt of most unrighteous tears[196]

Had left the flushing in her galled eyes,[197] 155

She married. O, most wicked speed, to post

With such dexterity to incestuous sheets![198]

It is not, nor it cannot come to good:

But break, my heart, for I must hold my tongue![199]

Enter HORATIO, MARCELLUS, and BERNARDO.

Hor. Hail to your lordship!

Ham. I am glad to see you well:[200][201] 160

Horatio,—or I do forget myself.[201][202]

Hor. The same, my lord, and your poor servant ever.[203]

Ham. Sir, my good friend; I'll change that name with you:[204]

And what make you from Wittenberg, Horatio?

Marcellus?[205] 165

Mar. My good lord?[206]

Ham. I am very glad to see you. [To Ber.] Good even, sir.[207]

But what, in faith, make you from Wittenberg?[208]

Hor. A truant disposition, good my lord.[209]

Ham. I would not hear your enemy say so,[210] 170

Nor shall you do my ear that violence,[211]

To make it truster of your own report[212]

Against yourself: I know you are no truant.

But what is your affair in Elsinore?[213]

We'll teach you to drink deep ere you depart.[214] 175

Hor. My lord, I came to see your father's funeral.

Ham. I prethee, do not mock me, fellow-student;[215]

I think it was to see my mother's wedding.[216]

Hor. Indeed, my lord, it follow'd hard upon.[217]

Ham. Thrift, thrift, Horatio! the funeral baked-meats 180

Did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables.

Would I had met my dearest foe in heaven

Or ever I had seen that day, Horatio![218]

My father!—methinks I see my father.

Hor. O where, my lord?

Ham. In my mind's eye, Horatio.[219] 185

Hor. I saw him once; he was a goodly king.[220]

Ham. He was a man, take him for all in all,[220][221]

I shall not look upon his like again.[222]

Hor. My lord, I think I saw him yesternight.

Ham. Saw? Who?[223] 190

Hor. My lord, the king your father.

Ham. The king my father!

Hor. Season your admiration for a while[224]

With an attent ear, till I may deliver,[225]

Upon the witness of these gentlemen,

This marvel to you.

Ham. For God's love, let me hear.[226] 195

Hor. Two nights together had these gentlemen,

Marcellus and Bernardo, on their watch,

In the dead vast and middle of the night,[227]

Been thus encounter'd. A figure like your father,

Armed at point exactly, cap-a-pe,[228] 200

Appears before them, and with solemn march

Goes slow and stately by them: thrice he walk'd[229]

By their oppress'd and fear-surprised eyes,[230]

Within his truncheon's length; whilst they, distill'd[231]

Almost to jelly with the act of fear,[232] 205

Stand dumb, and speak not to him. This to me

In dreadful secrecy impart they did;[233]

And I with them the third night kept the watch:

Where, as they had deliver'd, both in time,[234]

Form of the thing, each word made true and good, 210

The apparition comes: I knew your father;[235]

These hands are not more like.

Ham. But where was this?

Mar. My lord, upon the platform where we watch'd.

Ham. Did you not speak to it?

Hor. My lord, I did,[236]

But answer made it none: yet once methought[237] 215

It lifted up its head and did address[238]

Itself to motion, like as it would speak:[239]

But even then the morning cock crew loud,

And at the sound it shrunk in haste away

And vanish'd from our sight.

Ham. 'Tis very strange. 220

Hor. As I do live, my honour'd lord, 'tis true,[240]

And we did think it writ down in our duty[241]

To let you know of it.[242]

Ham. Indeed, indeed, sirs, but this troubles me.[243]

Hold you the watch to-night?

Mar. } We do, my lord.[244] 225

Ber. }

Ham. Arm'd, say you?

Mar. } Arm'd, my lord.

Ber. }

Ham. From top to toe?[244]

Mar. } My lord, from head to foot.[244][245][246]

Ber. }

Ham. Then saw you not his face?[246][247]

Hor. O, yes, my lord; he wore his beaver up.[246][248]

Ham. What, look'd he frowningly?[249] 230

Hor. A countenance more in sorrow than in anger.

Ham. Pale or red?

Hor. Nay, very pale.

Ham. And fix'd his eyes upon you?

Hor. Most constantly.

Ham. I would I had been there.

Hor. It would have much amazed you.[250] 235

Ham. Very like, very like. Stay'd it long?[250][251]

Hor. While one with moderate haste might tell a hundred.[250][252]

Mar.} Longer, longer.[250][253]

Ber.}

Hor. Not when I saw't.

Ham. His beard was grizzled? no?[254][255]

Hor. It was, as I have seen it in his life,[255][256] 240

A sable silver'd.[257]

Ham. I will watch to-night;

Perchance 'twill walk again.

Hor. I warrant it will.[258]

Ham. If it assume my noble father's person,

I'll speak to it, though hell itself should gape

And bid me hold my peace. I pray you all, 245

If you have hitherto conceal'd this sight,[259]

Let it be tenable in your silence still,[260]

And whatsoever else shall hap to-night,[261]

Give it an understanding, but no tongue:

I will requite your loves. So fare you well:[262] 250

Upon the platform, 'twixt eleven and twelve.[263]

I'll visit you.

All. Our duty to your honour.[264]

Ham. Your loves, as mine to you: farewell.[265]

[Exeunt all but Hamlet.

My father's spirit in arms! all is not well;[266]

I doubt some foul play: would the night were come! 255

Till then sit still, my soul: foul deeds will rise,[267]

Though all the earth o'erwhelm them, to men's eyes.     [Exit.

SCENE III. A room in Polonius's house.

Enter LAERTES and OPHELIA.[268]

Laer. My necessaries are embark'd: farewell:[269]

And, sister, as the winds give benefit

And convoy is assistant, do not sleep,[270]

But let me hear from you.

Oph. Do you doubt that?

Laer. For Hamlet, and the trifling of his favour,[271] 5

Hold it a fashion, and a toy in blood,

A violet in the youth of primy nature,[272]

Forward, not permanent, sweet, not lasting,[273]

The perfume and suppliance of a minute;[274]

No more.

Oph. No more but so?

Laer. Think it no more:[275] 10

For nature crescent does not grow alone[276]

In thews and bulk; but, as this temple waxes,[277]

The inward service of the mind and soul[278]

Grows wide withal. Perhaps he loves you now;

And now no soil nor cautel doth besmirch[279] 15

The virtue of his will: but you must fear,[280]

His greatness weigh'd, his will is not his own;[281]

For he himself is subject to his birth:[282]

He may not, as unvalued persons do,[283]

Carve for himself, for on his choice depends[284] 20

The safety and health of this whole state,[285]

And therefore must his choice be circumscribed

Unto the voice and yielding of that body

Whereof he is the head. Then if he says he loves you,[286]

It fits your wisdom so far to believe it 25

As he in his particular act and place[287]

May give his saying deed; which is no further

Than the main voice of Denmark goes withal.

Then weigh what loss your honour may sustain,[288]

If with too credent ear you list his songs,[289] 30

Or lose your heart, or your chaste treasure open[290]

To his unmaster'd importunity.[291]

Fear it, Ophelia, fear it, my dear sister,

And keep you in the rear of your affection,[292]

Out of the shot and danger of desire. 35

The chariest maid is prodigal enough,

If she unmask her beauty to the moon:

Virtue itself 'scapes not calumnious strokes:

The canker galls the infants of the spring[293]

Too oft before their buttons be disclosed,[294] 40

And in the morn and liquid dew of youth

Contagious blastments are most imminent.

Be wary then; best safety lies in fear:

Youth to itself rebels, though none else near.

Oph. I shall the effect of this good lesson keep,[295] 45

As watchman to my heart. But, good my brother,[296]

Do not, as some ungracious pastors do,

Show me the steep and thorny way to heaven,[297]

Whilst, like a puff'd and reckless libertine,[298]

Himself the primrose path of dalliance treads[299] 50

And recks not his own rede.[300]

Laer. O, fear me not.

I stay too long: but here my father comes.

Enter POLONIUS.[301]

A double blessing is a double grace;[302]

Occasion smiles upon a second leave.

Pol. Yet here, Laertes! Aboard, aboard, for shame![303] 55

The wind sits in the shoulder of your sail,

And you are stay'd for. There; my blessing with thee![304]

And these few precepts in thy memory

Look thou character. Give thy thoughts no tongue,[305]

Nor any unproportion'd thought his act. 60

Be thou familiar, but by no means vulgar.

Those friends thou hast, and their adoption tried,[306]

Grapple them to thy soul with hoops of steel,[307]

But do not dull thy palm with entertainment[308]

Of each new-hatch'd, unfledged comrade. Beware[309] 65

Of entrance to a quarrel; but being in,

Bear't, that th' opposed may beware of thee.[310]

Give every man thy ear, but few thy voice:[311]

Take each man's censure, but reserve thy judgement.

Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy, 70

But not express'd in fancy; rich, not gaudy:

For the apparel oft proclaims the man;

And they in France of the best rank and station

Are of a most select and generous chief in that.[312]

Neither a borrower nor a lender be:[313] 75

For loan oft loses both itself and friend,[314]

And borrowing dulls the edge of husbandry.[315]

This above all: to thine own self be true,

And it must follow, as the night the day,[316]

Thou canst not then be false to any man. 80

Farewell: my blessing season this in thee![317]

Laer. Most humbly do I take my leave, my lord.[318]

Pol. The time invites you; go, your servants tend.[319]

Laer. Farewell, Ophelia, and remember well

What I have said to you.

Oph. 'Tis in my memory lock'd,[320] 85

And you yourself shall keep the key of it.

Laer. Farewell.     [Exit.[321]

Pol. What is't, Ophelia, he hath said to you?[322]

Oph. So please you, something touching the Lord Hamlet.[323]

Pol. Marry, well bethought: 90

'Tis told me, he hath very oft of late

Given private time to you, and you yourself

Have of your audience been most free and bounteous:

If it be so—as so 'tis put on me,

And that in way of caution—I must tell you, 95

You do not understand yourself so clearly

As it behoves my daughter and your honour.

What is between you? give me up the truth.[324]

Oph. He hath, my lord, of late made many tenders

Of his affection to me. 100

Pol. Affection! pooh! you speak like a green girl,[325]

Unsifted in such perilous circumstance.[326]

Do you believe his tenders, as you call them?

Oph. I do not know, my lord, what I should think.

Pol. Marry, I'll teach you: think yourself a baby,[327] 105

That you have ta'en these tenders for true pay,[328]

Which are not sterling. Tender yourself more dearly;[329]

Or—not to crack the wind of the poor phrase,

Running it thus—you'll tender me a fool.[330]

Oph. My lord, he hath importuned me with love 110

In honourable fashion.

Pol. Ay, fashion you may call it; go to, go to.[331]

Oph. And hath given countenance to his speech, my lord,[332][333]

With almost all the holy vows of heaven.[332][334]

Pol. Ay, springes to catch woodcocks. I do know,[335] 115

When the blood burns, how prodigal the soul[336]

Lends the tongue vows: these blazes, daughter,[337]

Giving more light than heat, extinct in both,[338]

Even in their promise, as it is a-making,[339]

You must not take for fire. From this time[340] 120

Be something scanter of your maiden presence;[341]

Set your entreatments at a higher rate[342]

Than a command to parley. For Lord Hamlet,[343]

Believe so much in him, that he is young,

And with a larger tether may he walk[344] 125

Than may be given you: in few, Ophelia,

Do not believe his vows; for they are brokers,

Not of that dye which their investments show,[345]

But mere implorators of unholy suits,[346]

Breathing like sanctified and pious bawds,[347] 130

The better to beguile. This is for all:[348]

I would not, in plain terms, from this time forth,

Have you so slander any moment leisure,[349]

As to give words or talk with the Lord Hamlet.

Look to't, I charge you: come your ways.[350] 135

Oph. I shall obey, my lord.     [Exeunt.[351]

SCENE IV. The platform.[352]

Enter HAMLET, HORATIO, and MARCELLUS.

Ham. The air bites shrewdly; it is very cold.[353]

Hor. It is a nipping and an eager air.[354]

Ham. What hour now?

Hor. I think it lacks of twelve.

Mar. No, it is struck.[355]

Hor. Indeed? I heard it not: it then draws near the season[356] 5

Wherein the spirit held his wont to walk.

[A flourish of trumpets, and ordnance shot off within.[357]

What does this mean, my lord?[358]

Ham. The king doth wake to-night and takes his rouse,[359]

Keeps wassail, and the swaggering up-spring reels;[360]

And as he drains his draughts of Rhenish down,[361] 10

The kettle-drum and trumpet thus bray out[362]

The triumph of his pledge.

Hor. Is it a custom?[363]

Ham. Ay, marry, is't:[364]

But to my mind, though I am native here[365]

And to the manner born, it is a custom 15

More honour'd in the breach than the observance.

This heavy-headed revel east and west[366][367][368][369]

Makes us traduced and tax'd of other nations:[366][367][369][370]

They clepe us drunkards, and with swinish phrase[366][367][371]

Soil our addition; and indeed it takes[366][367] 20

From our achievements, though perform'd at height,[366][367]

The pith and marrow of our attribute.[366][367]

So, oft it chances in particular men,[366][367][372]

That for some vicious mole of nature in them,[366][367][373]

As, in their birth,—wherein they are not guilty,[366][367] 25

Since nature cannot choose his origin,—[366][367]

By the o'ergrowth of some complexion,[366][367][374]

Oft breaking down the pales and forts of reason,[366][367]

Or by some habit that too much o'er-leavens[366][367]

The form of plausive manners, that these men,—[366][367] 30

Carrying, I say, the stamp of one defect,[366][367]

Being nature's livery, or fortune's star,—[366][367][375]

Their virtues else—be they as pure as grace,[366][367][376]

As infinite as man may undergo—[366][367]

Shall in the general censure take corruption[366][367] 35

From that particular fault: the dram of eale[366][367][377][378]

Doth all the noble substance of a doubt[367][377][378]

To his own scandal.[367][377][379]

Enter Ghost.

Hor. Look, my lord, it comes![380]

Ham. Angels and ministers of grace defend us![381]

Be thou a spirit of health or goblin damn'd, 40

Bring with thee airs from heaven or blasts from hell,

Be thy intents wicked or charitable,[382]

Thou comest in such a questionable shape[383]

That I will speak to thee: I'll call thee Hamlet,

King, father, royal Dane: O, answer me![384] 45

Let me not burst in ignorance; but tell[385]

Why thy canonized bones, hearsed in death,[385][386]

Have burst their cerements; why the sepulchre,[387]

Wherein we saw thee quietly inurn'd,[388]

Hath oped his ponderous and marble jaws, 50

To cast thee up again. What may this mean,

That thou, dead corse, again, in complete steel,

Revisit'st thus the glimpses of the moon,[389]

Making night hideous; and we fools of nature[390]

So horridly to shake our disposition[391] 55

With thoughts beyond the reaches of our souls?[392]

Say, why is this? wherefore? what should we do?[393]

[Ghost beckons Hamlet.

Hor. It beckons you to go away with it,

As if it some impartment did desire

To you alone.

Mar. Look, with what courteous action 60

It waves you to a more removed ground:[394]

But do not go with it.

Hor. No, by no means.[395]

Ham. It will not speak; then I will follow it.[396]

Hor. Do not, my lord.

Ham. Why, what should be the fear?[397]

I do not set my life at a pin's fee;[398] 65

And for my soul, what can it do to that,

Being a thing immortal as itself?[399]

It waves me forth again: I'll follow it.

Hor. What if it tempt you toward the flood, my lord,[400]

Or to the dreadful summit of the cliff[401] 70

That beetles o'er his base into the sea,[402]

And there assume some other horrible form,[403]

Which might deprive your sovereignty of reason[404]

And draw you into madness? think of it:[405]

The very place puts toys of desperation,[406] 75

Without more motive, into every brain[406]

That looks so many fathoms to the sea[406]

And hears it roar beneath.[406][407][408]

Ham. It waves me still.[407]

Go on; I'll follow thee.

Mar. You shall not go, my lord.

Ham. Hold off your hands.[409] 80

Hor. Be ruled; you shall not go.

Ham. My fate cries out,[410]

And makes each petty artery in this body[411]

As hardy as the Nemean lion's nerve.[412]

Still am I call'd: unhand me, gentlemen;[413]

By heaven, I'll make a ghost of him that lets me: 85

I say, away! Go on; I'll follow thee.

[Exeunt Ghost and Hamlet.[414]

Hor. He waxes desperate with imagination.[415]

Mar. Let's follow; 'tis not fit thus to obey him.

Hor. Have after. To what issue will this come?

Mar. Something is rotten in the state of Denmark. 90

Hor. Heaven will direct it.

Mar. Nay, let's follow him.     [Exeunt.[416]

SCENE V. Another part of the platform.

Enter Ghost and HAMLET.[417]

Ham. Whither wilt thou lead me? speak; I'll go no further.[418]

Ghost. Mark me.

Ham. I will.

Ghost. My hour is almost come,

When I to sulphurous and tormenting flames[419]

Must render up myself.

Ham. Alas, poor ghost!

Ghost. Pity me not, but lend thy serious hearing[420][421] 5

To what I shall unfold.[420]

Ham. Speak; I am bound to hear.[422]

Ghost. So art thou to revenge, when thou shalt hear.[423]

Ham. What?[424]

Ghost. I am thy father's spirit;

Doom'd for a certain term to walk the night, 10

And for the day confined to fast in fires,[425]

Till the foul crimes done in my days of nature

Are burnt and purged away. But that I am forbid[426]

To tell the secrets of my prison-house,

I could a tale unfold whose lightest word 15

Would harrow up thy soul, freeze thy young blood,

Make thy two eyes, like stars, start from their spheres,

Thy knotted and combined locks to part[427]

And each particular hair to stand an end,[428]

Like quills upon the fretful porpentine:[429] 20

But this eternal blazon must not be

To ears of flesh and blood. List, list, O, list![430]

If thou didst ever thy dear father love—[431]

Ham. O God![432]

Ghost. Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder. 25

Ham. Murder![433]

Ghost. Murder most foul, as in the best it is,[434]

But this most foul, strange, and unnatural.

Ham. Haste me to know't, that I, with wings as swift[435]

As meditation or the thoughts of love,[436] 30

May sweep to my revenge.[437]

Ghost. I find thee apt;

And duller shouldst thou be than the fat weed[438][439]

That roots itself in ease on Lethe wharf,[440]

Wouldst thou not stir in this. Now, Hamlet, hear:[440]

'Tis given out that, sleeping in my orchard,[441] 35

A serpent stung me; so the whole ear of Denmark[442]

Is by a forged process of my death

Rankly abused: but know, thou noble youth,[443]

The serpent that did sting thy father's life[444]

Now wears his crown.

Ham. O my prophetic soul![445] 40

My uncle![445][446]

Ghost. Ay, that incestuous, that adulterate beast,[447]

With witchcraft of his wit, with traitorous gifts,—[448]

O wicked wit and gifts, that have the power[449]

So to seduce!—won to his shameful lust[450] 45

The will of my most seeming-virtuous queen:[451]

O Hamlet, what a falling-off was there![452]

From me, whose love was of that dignity

That it went hand in hand even with the vow

I made to her in marriage; and to decline[453] 50

Upon a wretch, whose natural gifts were poor

To those of mine![454][455]

But virtue, as it never will be moved,[454]

Though lewdness court it in a shape of heaven,

So lust, though to a radiant angel link'd,[456] 55

Will sate itself in a celestial bed[457][458]

And prey on garbage.[457][459]

But, soft! methinks I scent the morning air;[460]

Brief let me be. Sleeping within my orchard,[461]

My custom always of the afternoon,[462] 60

Upon my secure hour thy uncle stole,[463]

With juice of cursed hebenon in a vial,[464]

And in the porches of my ears did pour[465]

The leperous distilment; whose effect[466]

Holds such an enmity with blood of man[466] 65

That swift as quicksilver it courses through

The natural gates and alleys of the body;[467]

And with a sudden vigour it doth posset[468]

And curd, like eager droppings into milk,[469]

The thin and wholesome blood: so did it mine; 70

And a most instant tetter bark'd about,[470]

Most lazar-like, with vile and loathsome crust,

All my smooth body.

Thus was I, sleeping, by a brother's hand

Of life, of crown, of queen, at once dispatch'd:[471] 75

Cut off even in the blossoms of my sin,[472]

Unhousel'd, disappointed, unanel'd;[473]

No reckoning made, but sent to my account

With all my imperfections on my head:[474]

O, horrible! O, horrible! most horrible![475] 80

If thou hast nature in thee, bear it not;

Let not the royal bed of Denmark be

A couch for luxury and damned incest.

But, howsoever thou pursuest this act,[476]

Taint not thy mind, nor let thy soul contrive[477] 85

Against thy mother aught: leave her to heaven,

And to those thorns that in her bosom lodge,

To prick and sting her. Fare thee well at once!

The glow-worm shows the matin to be near,[478]

And 'gins to pale his uneffectual fire: 90

Adieu, adieu, adieu! remember me.     [Exit.[479]

Ham. O all you host of heaven! O earth! what else?

And shall I couple hell? O, fie! Hold, hold, my heart;[480]

And you, my sinews, grow not instant old,

But bear me stiffly up. Remember thee![481][482] 95

Ay, thou poor ghost, while memory holds a seat[483]

In this distracted globe. Remember thee![482]

Yea, from the table of my memory

I'll wipe away all trivial fond records,

All saws of books, all forms, all pressures past,[484] 100

That youth and observation copied there;

And thy commandment all alone shall live

Within the book and volume of my brain,

Unmix'd with baser matter: yes, by heaven![485]

O most pernicious woman![486] 105

0 villain, villain, smiling, damned villain!

My tables,—meet it is I set it down,[487][488]

That one may smile, and smile, and be a villain;[488]

At least I'm sure it may be so in Denmark.     [Writing.[488][489]

So, uncle, there you are. Now to my word;[488] 110

It is 'Adieu, adieu! remember me.'[488][490][491]

I have sworn't.[488][490][492]

Hor.} [Within] My lord, my lord!

Mar.}

Enter HORATIO and MARCELLUS.[493]

Mar. Lord Hamlet!

Hor. Heaven secure him![494]

Ham. So be it![495]

Mar. Illo, ho, ho, my lord![496] 115

Ham. Hillo, ho, ho, boy! come, bird, come.[497]

Mar. How is't, my noble lord?

Hor. What news, my lord?[498]

Ham. O, wonderful![499]

Hor. Good my lord, tell it.

Ham. No; you will reveal it.[500]

Hor. Not I, my lord, by heaven.

Mar. Nor I, my lord. 120

Ham. How say you, then; would heart of man once think it?[501]

But you'll be secret?[502]

Hor.} Ay, by heaven, my lord.

Mar.}

Ham. There's ne'er a villain dwelling in all Denmark[503][504]

But he's an arrant knave.[504][505]

Hor. There needs no ghost, my lord, come from the grave[506] 125

To tell us this.[506][507]

Ham. Why, right; you are i' the right;

And so, without more circumstance at all,

I hold it fit that we shake hands and part:

You, as your business and desire shall point you;[508]

For every man hath business and desire,[509] 130

Such as it is; and for my own poor part,[510]

Look you, I'll go pray.[511]

Hor. These are but wild and whirling words, my lord.[512]

Ham. I'm sorry they offend you, heartily;[513]

Yes, faith, heartily.[514]

Hor. There's no offence, my lord. 135

Ham. Yes, by Saint Patrick, but there is, Horatio,[515]

And much offence too. Touching this vision here,[516]

It is an honest ghost, that let me tell you:

For your desire to know what is between us,

O'ermaster't as you may. And now, good friends,[517] 140

As you are friends, scholars and soldiers,

Give me one poor request.

Hor. What is't, my lord? we will.[518]

Ham. Never make known what you have seen to-night.

Hor.}

Mar.} My lord, we will not.

Ham. Nay, but swear't.

Hor. In faith,[519][520] 145

My lord, not I.[520]

Mar. Nor I, my lord, in faith.

Ham. Upon my sword.

Mar. We have sworn, my lord, already.[521]

Ham. Indeed, upon my sword, indeed.[522]

Ghost. [Beneath] Swear.[523]

Ham. Ah, ha, boy! say'st thou so? art thou there, true-penny?[524][525]150

Come on: you hear this fellow in the cellarage:[524][526]

Consent to swear.

Hor. Propose the oath, my lord.[527]

Ham. Never to speak of this that you have seen,[528]

Swear by my sword.

Ghost. [Beneath] Swear.[529] 155

Ham. Hic et ubique? then we'll shift our ground.[530]

Come hither, gentlemen,[531]

And lay your hands again upon my sword:[531]

Never to speak of this that you have heard,[531][532]

Swear by my sword.[531] 160

Ghost. [Beneath] Swear.[529][533]

Ham. Well said, old mole! canst work i' the earth so fast?[534]

A worthy pioner! Once more remove, good friends.[535]

Hor. O day and night, but this is wondrous strange!

Ham. And therefore as a stranger give it welcome.[536] 165

There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,

Than are dreamt of in your philosophy.[537][538]

But come;[538][539]

Here, as before, never, so help you mercy,[539][540]

How strange or odd soe'er I bear myself,[541][542][543] 170

As I perchance hereafter shall think meet[541][542][544][545]

To put an antic disposition on,[541][542][544]

That you, at such times seeing me, never shall,[542][546]

With arms encumber'd thus, or this head-shake,[542][547]

Or by pronouncing of some doubtful phrase,[542][548] 175

As 'Well, well, we know,' or 'We could, an if we would,'[542][549][550]

Or 'If we list to speak,' or 'There be, an if they might,'[542][550][551]

Or such ambiguous giving out, to note[542][552]

That you know aught of me: this not to do,[553]

So grace and mercy at your most need help you,[553] 180

Swear.[553]

Ghost. [Beneath] Swear.[529]

Ham. Rest, rest, perturbed spirit! [They swear.] So, gentlemen,[554]

With all my love I do commend me to you:[555]

And what so poor a man as Hamlet is 185

May do, to express his love and friending to you,[556]

God willing, shall not lack. Let us go in together;[557]

And still your fingers on your lips, I pray.[558]

The time is out of joint: O cursed spite,

That ever I was born to set it right![559] 190

Nay, come, let's go together.     [Exeunt.

FOOTNOTES:

[1] ACT I. SCENE I.] Actus Primus. Scæna prima. Ff. Omitted in Qq. See note [I]

Elsinore.] Capell.

A platform ...] Malone. An open Place before the Palace. Rowe. A Platform before the Palace. Theobald. Platform of the Castle. Capell.

Francisco at ...] Francisco upon ... Capell. Enter Barnardo, and Francisco, two Centinels. Qq Ff.

[2] Who's] Ff Q_6. Whose The rest.

[3] Who's ... He] As in Qq Ff. Two lines of verse in Capell, the first ending unfold.

[4] Bernardo?] Barnardo? F_1 F_2 Q_6 F_3. Barnardo. The rest.

[5] carefully] chearfully F_3 F_4.

[6] now struck] new-struck Elze (Steevens conj.)

struck] strooke Qq. strook F_1.

[7] Well, ... haste.] As in Qq. Prose in Ff.

[8] Horatio ... rivals] Horatio, and Marcellus The rival Warner conj.

[9] ho] Qq. om. Ff.

Who is] Qq. who's Ff.

Enter ...] Qq Ff (after line 13).

[10] Give you] om. Q (1676).

[11] O, farewell ... night.] Arranged as by Capell. Two lines in Qq Ff.

[12] soldier] Ff. souldiers Qq.

[13] Who hath] Who has Q (1676).

hath my] Qq. ha's my F_1 F_2 has my F_3 F_4.

[14] [Exit.] Exit Fran. Qq F_1. Exit Francisco. F_2 F_3 F_4.

Say,] Say. Knight.

[15] Say, ... there?] As in Capell. One line in Qq Ff.

[16] [Giving his hand. Warburton.

[17] Mar.] (Q_1) Ff. Hora. Qq.

What, has] Q_2 Q_3 Ff Q_6. What has Q_4 Q_5.

to-night?] to night? Qq. to night. Ff.

[18] our] a Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

[19] sight] spright Warburton conj.

[20] along With us to] along, With us to Qq. along With us, to Ff.

[21] Tush, tush,] om. Q (1676).

[22] story, What ... seen.] story. Mar. What ... seen—Hanmer.

[23] have two nights] (Q_1) Qq. two nights have Ff.

sit we] let's Q (1676).

[24] yond] yon F_3 F_4.

[25] to illume] t' illume Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Ff. t' illumin Q_5. t' illumine Q_6. to Illumine (Q_1). to enlighten Q (1676).

[26] beating] towling (Q_1). tolling Collier MS. See note (II).

one,—] one— Rowe. one. Qq Ff.

[Castle-bell tolls one. Ingleby conj.

Enter Ghost.] Qq. Enter the Ghost. Ff, after off; line 40. Enter the Ghost armed. Collier MS.

[27] Peace ... again!] As in Qq. Two lines in Ff.

off] of Q_2 Q_3 F_1 (Capell's copy).

[28] Ber. Looks ... Horatio.] Omitted in Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

Looks it] Lookes a Q_2 Q_3. Looke it F_2.

[29] harrows] F_3 F_4. horrowes Qq. harrowes F_1 F_2. horrors (Q_1). startles Q (1676).

[30] Question] (Q_1) Ff. Speake to Qq.

[31] usurp'st] usurpest Q (1676).

[32] march?] Q_6. march, Q_2 Q_3. march: The rest.

by heaven] om. Q (1676).

thee,] Rowe. thee Qq Ff.

[33] speak, speak!] speak; Pope.

[Exit Ghost.] Qq. Exit the Ghost. Ff.

[34] on't] of it Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

[35] Before ... believe] I could not believe this Q (1676).

not] nor F_2.

[36] true] try'd Warburton.

[37] very] om. F_2 F_3 F_4.

[38] he] om. Ff.

[39] smote] smot Q_2 Q_3 F_1 F_2 F_3.

sledded] Ff. sleaded (Q_1) Qq. sturdy Leo conj.

Polacks] Malone. pollax (Q_1) Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. Pollax Q_5 F_1 F_2 Q_6. Polax F_3. Pole-axe F_4. Pole-axe Rowe. Polack Pope.

[40] 'Tis strange.] 'Tis strange— Rowe. om. Seymour conj.

[41] jump] (Q_1) Qq. just Ff.

jump at this dead] at the same Q (1676).

dead] same F_2 Q_6 F_3 F_4. dread Anon. conj.

[42] hath he gone by] he passed throught (Q_1) Staunton.

[43] thought to] it Collier MS. See note(II).

[44] gross and] om. Q (1676).

my] (Q_1) Ff. mine Qq.

[45] Good now,] Pray Q (1676).

[46] subject] subjects Pope.

[47] why] (Q_1) Ff. with Qq.

cast] cost (Q_1) Qq.

[48] Does] Dos't F_3 F_4.

[49] Doth make] Makes Q (1676).

joint-labourer] joint labour Q_5 Q_6.

[50] emulate] emulant Seymour conj.

[51] combat] fight Pope.

[52] a] om. Pope.

[53] and] of Hanmer (Warburton).

heraldry] heraldy Q_2 Q_3.

[54] those] Ff. these Qq.

[55] of] Qq. on Ff. in Collier MS. See note (II).

[56] return'd] Ff. returne Qq. remain'd Collier MS. See note (II).

[57] vanquisher;] Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. vanquisher, Ff. vanquisht; Q_6.

the same] that Pope.

covenant] Cov'nant Ff. comart Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. co-mart Q_6. compact Q (1676).

[58] article design'd] F_2 F_3 F_4. article desseigne Q_2 Q_3. articles deseigne Q_4. Articles designe Q_5 Q_6. Article designe F_1. articles design'd Pope. article then sign'd Collier MS. See note (II).

[59] sir] om. Pope

[60] unimproved] inapproved (Q_1) Collier conj. unapproved Anon. conj.

mettle] metall Q_6.

[61] lawless] lawelesse Q_2 Q_3. lawlesse (Q_1) Q_4 Q_5 Q_6. landlesse F_1 F_2 F_3. landless F_4.

[62] lawless ... diet, to] landless resolutes, For food; and dieted to Theobald conj. (withdrawn).

[63] is] om. Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

[64] As] Qq. And Ff.

[65] compulsatory] Qq. compulsative Ff.

[66] Ber. I think ... countrymen.] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

[67] e'en so] enso Q_2 Q_3. even so Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

[68] mote] Q_5 Q_6. moth Q_2 Q_3 Q_4.

[69] palmy] flourishing Q (1676) and Rowe.

state] State (i.e. city) Wilson conj.

[70] tenantless] tennatlesse Q_2 Q_3.

and] om. Pope.

[71] streets: ...] Omission first marked by Jennens, who suggests Tremendous prodigies in heaven appear'd. Boaden proposes The heavens too spoke in silent prodigies. Hunter suggests In the heavens above strange portents did appear. Becket would transfer line 123 And prologue ... on to follow streets: line 116.

[72] As ... blood,] Stars shon with trains of fire, dews of blood fell, Rowe. Omitted by Rann. Transferred by Mitford to follow events, line 121.

and dews] shed dews Harness, reading Disasters dimm'd in line 118.

[73] As stars with ... Disasters in] Astres with ... Disasterous dimm'd Malone conj. Disastrous ... Disasters in Becket conj. A star with ... Disasters in Jackson conj. As stars with ... Did usher in Duane conj. As stars with ... Disastering Anon. apud Singer (ed. 2) conj. Astres with ... Did overcast Williams conj. Ay, stars with ... Did darken e'en or Ay, stars with ... Did enter in or Ay, stars with ... Dy'd darkening Leo conj. As stars with ... Disastrous dimm'd or And stars with ... Disastrous dimm'd Anon. conj. (N. and Q.) Asters with ... Disasters in Brae conj. (N. and Q.) As stars, with ... Disastrous, ev'n or As stars, with ... Disastrous hid Taylor conj. MS.

As stars with ... Distempered or As stars with ... Discoloured Staunton conj.

[74] in] veil'd Rowe. dim'd Capell.

[75] fierce] Q_5 Q_6. fearce Q_4. feare Q_2 Q_3. fear'd Collier conj.

[76] As] Are Mitford conj.

[77] omen] omen'd Theobald. omens Becket conj.

[78] climatures] climature Dyce conj.

Re-enter Ghost.] Enter Ghost. Qq. Enter Ghost againe. Ff.

[79] [It spreads his armes. Qq. om. Ff. He spreads his arms. Q (1676).

[80] Speak ... done] As in Pope. One line in Qq Ff.

[81] That ... Speak to me] As in Qq. One line in Ff.

[82] Which ... speak!] As in Qq. One line in Ff.

[83] foreknowing] foreknowledge Collier MS. See note (II).

[84] you] Ff. your Qq.

[85] [The cock crows.] Qq, after line 138. om. Ff.

[86] at] Ff. om. Qq.

[87] Hor ... Ber ... Hor ... Mar.] Ber ... Mar ... Ber ... Hor. Steevens conj.

[88] if it will] if't will S. Walker conj., ending lines 140, 141 Do, ... gone!

[89] [Exit Ghost.] Ff. om. Qq.

[90] For it is, as] It is ever as Q (1676).

[91] morn] morne Qq. morning (Q_1). day Ff.

[92] warning, ... confine:] warning, Th' extravagant ... hies To his confine, whether in sea or air, Or earth or fire Johnson conj.

[93] extravagant] extra-vagate Grey conj.

[94] on] at Q (1676).

[95] say] Qq. sayes Ff.

[96] The] (Q_1) Ff. This Qq.

[97] then] om. F_2F_3F_4.

dare stir] dare sturre Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. dare stirre Q_5. dares stirre Q_6. dare walke (Q_1). can walke Ff. dares walk Rowe. walks Pope.

[98] takes] Qq. talkes F_1 F_2. talks F_3 F_4.

nor] no Q_6 F_4.

[99] the] Ff. that (Q_1) Qq.

[100] eastward] Qq. easterne Ff.

[101] advice] Ff. advise Qq.

[102] for, upon my life,] perhaps Q (1676).

[103] shall] do Rowe (ed. 2).

[104] Let's] Let F_1.

[105] conveniently] (Q_1) Ff. convenient Qq.

A room ...] Capell, substantially. The Palace. Rowe

Flourish.] Qq. om. Ff.

[106] Enter ...] Malone, after Capell. Enter Claudius, King of Denmarke, Gertrad the Queene, Counsaile: as Polonius, and his Sonne Laertes, Hamlet, Cum Alijs. Qq. Enter Claudius King of Denmarke, Gertrude the Queene, Hamlet, Polonius, Laertes, and his Sister Ophelia, Lords Attendant. Ff (Attendants F_2 F_3 F_4).

[107] Though ... memory be] As ... memory's Seymour conj.

[108] that it us befitted] us befitted Steevens conj. it befitted us Seymour conj.

us befitted] fitted Pope.

[109] bear] bathe Collier MS.

[110] sometime] Qq. sometimes Ff.

[111] to] Qq. of Ff.

[112] an ... a] Qq. one ... one Ff. once ... once Becket conj.

a dropping] one drooping Grant White.

[113] along. For ... thanks.] along: (for ... thanks.) Pope. along (for all our thankes) Qq. along, for all our thankes. Ff.

[114] know, young] know: young S. Walker conj.

[115] Colleagued] Collogued Hanmer (Theobald conj). Co-leagued Capell. Colluded Becket conj.

this] Qq. the Ff.

his] this Long MS. and Collier MS. See note (II).

[116] with] by Pope.

bonds] Ff. bands Qq.

[117] [Enter Voltemand and Cornelius. Ff (Voltimand F_2 F_3 F_4). om. Qq.

[118] meeting:] F_4. meeting, Qq. meeting F_1 F_2 F_3.

[119] bed-rid] bedred Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5.

[120] gait] Capell. gate Qq Ff.

herein; in] heerein, in Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. herein, in Q_5 Q_6. herein. In Ff.

the] he F_3 F_4.

[121] subject] subjects Q_6.

here] now Q (1676).

[122] Voltimand] F_2 F_3 F_4. Valtemand Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. Voltemand F_1 Q_6. Voltemar (Q_1).

[123] For bearers] (Q_1) Qq. For bearing Ff. Our bearers Theobald conj.

For bearers of this greeting] Ambassadors Q (1676).

[124] Giving to you ... To business] Who have ... Of treaty Q (1676). Giving to you ... Of treaty Rowe.

more than] than does Seymour conj.

[125] Of] Which Pope.

delated] Qq. dilated Ff. related (Q_1) Singer (ed. 1).

allow.] allows. Johnson. allow. [Give them. Collier MS. See note (II).

[126] duty] service S. Walker conj.

[127] Cor. Vol.] Cor. Vo. Qq. Volt. Ff.

[128] it nothing] in nothing F_4.

[Exeunt....] F_4. Exit ... F_1 F_2 F_3. Omitted in Qq.

[129] And] om. Q (1676).

[130] lose] Qq. loose Ff.

[131] not thy] nor thy Q (1676).

[132] head] blood Hanmer (Warburton).

native] motive Bubier conj.

[133] is ... to] to ... is Hanmer (Warburton).

[134] My dread] Qq. Dread my Ff. My Dear Q (1676).

[135] toward] Qq. towards Ff.

[136] Have ... Polonius?] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[137] He hath] Hath Q_2 Q_3.

lord,] lord: Ff.

[138] wrung ... petition] by laboursome petition, Wrung from me my slow leave Rowe and Pope.

[139] wrung ... consent:] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

[140] at last] at the last Pope.

[141] be thine ... spend] is thine, And my best graces; spend Johnson conj.

[142] graces] graces; Q_6.

[Exit Laertes. Anon. conj. Exit. (Q_1).

[143] Hamlet, and] Hamlet.—Kind Warburton.

son,—] son— Rowe. sonne. Qq. sonne? Ff.

[144] [Aside] Warburton.

[145] so] Ff. so much Qq.

i' the sun] i' th' Sun Ff. in the sonne Qq. in the Sun Q (1676).

[146] nighted] Qq. nightly Ff. night-like Collier MS.

[147] vailed] Qq. veyled F_1 F_2. veiled F_3 F_4.

[148] know'st 'tis] know'st—'tis Seymour conj.

common;] Theobald. common, Ff. common Qq.

lives] Qq F_1. live F_2 F_3 F_4.

[149] my inky] this mourning Q (1676).

good mother] Ff. coold mother Q_2 Q_3. could smother Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

[150] moods] modes Capell.

shapes] Q_4 Q_5 Q_6. chapes Q_2 Q_3. shewes F_1 F_2. shews F_3 F_4.

[151] denote] Ff Q_6. deuote Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. deuoute Q_5.

indeed] may Pope.

[152] passes] Qq. passeth Ff.

[153] 'Tis ... Hamlet,] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

sweet and] om. Seymour conj.

Hamlet,] om. Pope.

[154] That] The F_4.

lost, lost his] dead, lost his (Q_1). his Pope.

[155] sorrow] sorrowes Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

persever] persevere Q_6 F_4.

[156] is a course Of] dares express An Q (1676).

[157] 'tis] om. Pope.

[158] a mind] or minde Qq.

[159] absurd] absur'd F_2 F_3.

[160] corse] course Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. coarse Ff Q_6.

[161] unprevailing] unavailing Hanmer.

[162] for let] and let Q (1676).

[163] with] with't Theobald.

no less nobility] nobility no less Badham conj.

[164] with ... impart] still ... impart or with ... my part Mason conj.

[165] Do I] Mine do I Keightley.

toward] Qq. towards Ff.

you. For] Ff. you for Qq.

[166] in Wittenberg] to Wittenberg Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

[167] retrograde] F_1 Q_6 F_4. retrogard Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. retrograd Q_5. retrogarde F_2 F_3.

[168] bend] beg Anon. MS.

[169] mother] Brother F_4.

lose] Ff Q_6. loose The rest.

[170] I pray thee] Qq. I prythee F_1. I prethee F_2 F_3. I prithee F_4.

[171] I ... madam.] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[172] Why] om. Q (1676).

[173] to] at Hanmer. on Ritson conj.

[174] tell] tell it Hanmer.

[175] rouse] rowse Qq. rouce Ff.

heaven] Qq. heavens Ff.

bruit] Q_6 F_3 F_4. brute Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. bruite F_1 F_2.

[176] Flourish.] Qq. om. Ff.

Exeunt....] Qq. Exeunt. Manet Hamlet. Ff.

[177] SCENE III. Pope.

too too solid] too-too-solid Theobald.

solid] Ff. sallied (Q_1) Qq. sullied Anon. conj.

[178] canon] Q (1703). cannon Qq Ff.

self-slaughter] seale slaughter Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5.

O God! God!] O God, O God! Ff. Om. Q (1676).

[179] weary] Ff Q_6. wary The rest.

[180] Seem] Seeme Qq. Seemes F_1 F_2. Seems F_3 F_4.

[181] Fie on't! ah fie!] om. Q (1676).

ah fie] Qq. Oh fie, fie F_1 F_2. Oh fie F_3. O fie F_4.

[182] merely. That] Pointed as in Ff. meerely that Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. meerly: that Q_6.

come to this] Ff. come thus Qq.

[183] that ... satyr:] Omitted in Q (1676).

[184] satyr] F_4. satire Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. Satyre Q_5 F_1 F_2 Q_6 F_3.

[185] he ... heaven] the beteened winds of heaven might not Becket conj.

might not beteem] permitted not Q (1676) and Rowe. would not let e'en Theobald (in text, ed. 1). might not let e'en Theobald (in note, ed. 1, and text, ed. 2).

beteem] beteeme Qq. beteene F_1 F_2. beteen F_3. between F_4. permit Southern MS.

[186] Heaven ... remember?] Omitted in Q (1676).

[187] remember?] Rowe. remember, Qq. remember: Ff.

why, she would] Pope. why she would Ff. why she should Qq. she used to Q (1676).

on] upon Anon MS.

[188] and] om. Pope.

[189] on't] om. Pope.

[190] shoes] shoos F_3. shooes The rest. shows Ingleby conj.

month, or] Ff. month or Q_2 Q_3. month. Or Q_4 Q_5. month: Or Q_6.

or ere] Qq Ff. or e'er Rowe.

[191] follow'd] Rowe. followed Qq Ff.

[192] tears] in tears Anon. MS.

tears:—why] teares, why Qq. teares. Why Ff.

even she,] Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[193] O God] Qq. O Heaven Ff.

of reason] and reason Gifford conj.

[194] with my] Qq. with mine Ff.

[195] but] om. Pope.

[196] most unrighteous] moist and righteous Badham conj.

[197] in] Qq. of Ff.

[198] dexterity] celerity S. Walker conj.

[199] break, my] F_4. breake my or break my The rest.

Marcellus, and Bernardo.] Qq (Barnardo Q_6). Barnard, and Marcellus. Ff.

[200] SCENE IV. Pope.

well] om. Collier (Collier MS.)

[201] I ... myself] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[202] Horatio,—] Theobald. Horatio, Qq Ff. Horatio? Pope.

do] om. Q (1676).

[203] The ... ever.] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[204] Sir, ... you:] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[205] Marcellus?] Capell. Marcellus. Qq Ff. Marcellus!— Rowe.

[206] lord?] Edd. lord. Qq Ff. lord— Rowe. lord! Keightley.

[207] you. Good even, sir.] you, (good even sir) Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. you (good even sir) Q_5 Q_6. you: good even sir. Ff (even, F_4). you good:—even, sir. Jackson conj.

[To Ber.] Edd.

even] morning Hanmer.

[208] what] om. F_4.

in faith] om. Q (1676).

[209] good my] my good Q (1676).

[210] hear] heare Qq. have Ff.

[211] my] Qq. mine Ff.

[212] make] take F_2 F_3 F_4.

make it truster] be a witness Q (1676).

[213] Elsinore] Malone. Elsonoure Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. Elsenour F_1 F_2 Q_6 F_3. Elsenoore F_4.

[214] to drink deep] (Q_1) Ff. for to drinke Qq.

[215] I prethee] Qq. I pray thee F_1. I prythee F_2. I prithee F_3 F_4.

student] studient Q_2 Q_3.

[216] see] (Q_1) Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[217] follow'd] Q_6. followed Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5 F_1. followeth F_2 F_3 F_4.

[218] Or ever I had] Qq. Ere I had ever Ff. Ere ever I had (Q_1) Collier. E're I had Q (1676).

[219] O where] Ff. Where Qq.

[220] He ... He] Ff. a ... A Qq.

[221] for] from Theobald (ed. 1), a misprint.

[222] I shall] I should F_2 F_3 F_4. Eye shall Samwell apud Holt conj.

[223] Saw? who?] Ff. Saw, who? (Q_1) Qq. Saw who? Q (1676) and Singer (ed. 2). Saw! whom? Johnson.

[224] Season] Defer Q (1676).

for] but Q (1676) and Theobald.

[225] attent] Q_2 Q_3 F_1 F_2. attentive (Q_1) Q_4 Q_5 Q_6 F_3 F_4.]

may] om. Pope.

[226] marvel] wonder Q (1676).

For God's love,] Pray Q (1676).

God's] Gods Qq. Heavens Ff.

[227] vast] (Q_1) Q_5 Q_6. wast Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 F_1. waste F_2 F_3 F_4. waist Malone.

[228] Armed at point] Qq (poynt Q_2 Q_3 Q_4). Armed to poynt (Q_1). Arm'd at all points Ff.

cap-a-pe] Capapea (Q_1) Q_2 Q_3. Cap apea Q_4 Q_5. Cap a Pe Ff. Cap a pe Q_6.

[229] stately by them: thrice] stately by them; thrice Qq. stately: By them thrice Ff.

[230] fear-surprised] Hyphened in Ff.

[231] his] this Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

distill'd] Q_5 Q_6 distilled (Q_1). distil'd Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. bestil'd F_1. bestill'd F_2. be still'd F_3 F_4. bechill'd Collier (Collier MS). dissolv'd or both thrill'd or bethrill'd Bailey conj.

[232] the act of] their Q (1676). th' effect of Warburton.

act of fear,] act: Of fear Becket conj.

[233] In ... did;] They did impart in dreadful secresie, Q (1676).

[234] Where, as] Q_6. Where as (Q_1). Whereas The rest.

deliver'd, both in] deliver'd both, in Long MS.

[235] apparition] apparision Q_2 Q_3 Q_4.

[236] you not] not you Players' reading.

[237] made it] it made Q_6.

[238] its] Q_5 Q_6 F_3 F_4. his (Q_1) Staunton. it Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 F_1 F_2.

[239] like] om. Q (1676).

[240] honour'd] honourable F_2 F_4. honorable F_3.

[241] writ down in] then Q (1676).

[242] of] om. Q (1676).

[243] Indeed, indeed] (Q_1) Ff. Indeede Qq. Seymour would read as Qq, and end the lines but ... to-night?

[244] Mar. Ber.] All. (Q_1) Qq. Both. Ff.

[245] My lord,] om. Q (1676).

[246] My ... up.] As two lines, the first ending not, in Steevens (1793).

[247] face?] face. Q_2 Q_3.

[248] up] down Anon. ap. Hunter conj.

[249] What, look'd he] Pointed as in Ff. No stop in Qq. How look'd he, Staunton, from (Q_1).

[250] Three lines ending like, ... haste ... longer, in Capell.

[251] Very like, very like] (Q_1) Ff. Very like Qq.

[252] moderate] modern Knight, ed. 1 (a misprint).

a] an Q_6.

hundred] hundreth Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5.

[253] Mar. Ber.] Both. Qq. All. Ff.

[254] grizzled? no?] grissl'd, no. Qq. grisly? no. F_1. grisly? F_2 F_3 F_4. grizled? Q (1676). grisl'd? no. Warburton. grizl'd? no? Capell.

[255] no? Hor. It was] Hor. No! It was Anon. conj. (Gent. Mag. LX. 403).

[256] as] om. F_3 F_4.

[257] I will] Qq. Ile or I'll Ff, reading Ile ... againe as one line.

[258] walk] wake F_1.

warrant] (Q_1). warn't Qq. warrant you Ff.

[259] conceal'd] concealed F_3 F_4.

[260] be tenable in] require Q (1676).

tenable] Qq. tenible (Q_1). treble F_1 F_4. trebble F_2 F_3. tabled Nicholson conj. (withdrawn).]

tenable in your] in your treble Bailey conj.

tenable ... still] treble ... now Warburton conj. (withdrawn).

[261] whatsoever] what somever Q_2 Q_3. else shall hap] shall befall Pope.

[262] fare] farre Q_2 Q_3.

you] Qq. ye Ff.

[263] eleven] a leaven Q_2 Q_3.

[264] duty] duties (Q_1) Grant White.

honour] homor Q_4.

[265] loves] Qq. love Ff.

farewell.] so fare you well. Seymour conj.

[Exeunt ... Hamlet.] Exeunt. Manet Hamlet. Q (1676). Exeunt Hor. Mar. and Ber. Capell. Exeunt. (after line 252) (Q_1) Qq Ff.

[266] spirit in arms!] F_4. spirit in armes? F_1 F_2 F_3. spirit (in armes) Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. spirit in armes, Q_6. spirit! in arms! Rann (Whalley conj.)

[267] foul] fonde Q_2 Q_3.

rise, Though ... them, to] rise, (Tho' ... them) to Pope. rise Though ... them to Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. rise, Though ... them to Ff Q_6. rise, Though ... them from Q (1676) and Long MS.

[268] SCENE III.] SCENE V. Pope.

A room....] An apartment.... Pope. Ophelia.] Ff. Ophelia his Sister. Qq.

[269] embark'd] inbarekt Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. imbarkt Q_5 Q_6. imbark't F_1 F_2. imbark'd F_3 F_4.

[270] convoy is assistant,] convoy is assistant; Ff. convay, in assistant Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. convay, in assistant, Q_5. convay in assistant, Q_6.

sleep] slip Theobald conj. (withdrawn).

[271] favour] Qq. favours Ff.

[272] youth of primy] youth, a prime of Q (1676).

primy] prime Q_6.

[273] Forward] Qq F_3 F_4. Froward F_1 F_2.

sweet, not] tho' sweet, not Rowe. sweet, but not Capell.

[274] perfume and] Qq. om. Ff.

suppliance] soffiance Johnson conj.

minute;] F_2 F_3 F_4. minute Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. minute? F_1. minute: Q_6.

[275] No more.] As in Qq. At end of line 9, in Ff. but no more Collier MS. See note (II).

so?] Rowe. so. Qq Ff.

no more] mo more Q_4.

[276] crescent] F_4. cressant The rest.

[277] bulk] bulkes Qq.

this] Qq. his Ff. the Hanmer.

[278] and] om. Q_4.

[279] soil nor] foyle nor F_2 F_3. foil nor F_4. soil of Warburton. soil, or So quoted by Heath.

[280] will] Qq. feare F_1 F_2. fear F_3 F_4.

fear,] feare, Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. feare F_1 F_2 Q_6. fear F_3 F_4. fear; Keightley.

[281] weigh'd] Ff. wayd Q_2 Q_3. waid Q_4 Q_5. wai'd Q_6.

[282] For ... birth:] Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[283] unvalued] inferior Q (1676).

[284] Carve for] Crave for Q_4 Q_5 Q_6. Bestow Q (1676).

[285] safety] Q_4 Q_6. safty Q_2 Q_3. safetie Q_5. sanctity Ff. sanity Hanmer (Theobald conj.)

health] the health Warburton.

this] Qq. the Ff.

whole] weole F_1.

[286] he is the] he's Pope.

[287] particular act and place] Qq. peculiar sect and force Ff. peculiar act and place Pope.

[288] weigh] way Q_2 Q_3 Q_4.

what] that F_3 F_4.

[289] too] two F_2 F_3.

[290] lose] F_1 F_2 F_3. loose Qq F_4.

[291] unmaster'd] unmastred Qq F_1 F_2 F_3. unmastered F_4.

[292] keep you in] Qq. keepe within Ff.

[293] galls] gaules Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. Galls, F_1.

infants] Q_2 Q_3 F_1. infant Q_4 Q_5 F_2 Q_6 F_3 F_4.

[294] their] Qq. the Ff.

[295] effect] effects Pope.

[296] As watchman to] About Q (1676).

watchman] Q_2 Q_3. watchmen The rest.

my] om. Q (1676).

[297] steep] step Q_2.

to heaven] of heaven Q_6.

[298] Whilst, like a] Whilst like a Ff. Whiles a Qq. Whilst, he a Warburton. While as a Seymour conj.

puff'd and reckless] om. Q (1676).

reckless] careless Pope.

[299] Himself ... treads] Thyself ... tread'st Seymour conj.

[300] recks] Pope, reakes Qq F_2. reaks F_1 F_3 F_4. reck'st Seymour conj.

his] thine Seymour conj.

rede] reed Qq. reade F_1 F_2. read F_3 F_4. tread Smyth conj. MS.

[301] SCENE VI. Pope.

Enter Polonius.] As in Capell. After reed in Qq: after not in Ff.

[302] [Kneeling to Polonius. Capell.

[303] Aboard, aboard] Get aboard Pope.

[304] stay'd] stayed Q_2 Q_3. staied Q_4 Q_5.

for. There; my] Theobald, substantially. for, there my (Q_1) Qq. for there: my Ff.

thee] (Q_1) Qq. you Ff.

[Laying his hand on Laertes's head. Theobald.

[305] Look] Qq. See Ff.

[306] Those] (Q_1) Qq. The Ff.

[307] them to] (Q_1) Ff. them unto Qq. unto Seymour conj.

hoops] hooks Pope.

[308] dull] stale S. Walker conj.

[309] new-hatch'd] new hatcht Qq. unhatch't Ff.

comrade] Ff. courage (Q_1) Qq. court-ape Badham conj.

[310] opposed] (Q_1) Q_2 Q_3 Ff. opposer Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

[311] thy ear] thy eare Qq. thine eare or thine ear Ff.

[312] Are ... that.] See note (III).

[313] lender be] Ff. lender boy Qq.

[314] loan] F_3 F_4. Loane F_2. lone F_1. loue Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. love Q_6.

loses] Ff Q_6. looses Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5.

[315] And] Qq F_1. A F_2 F_3 F_4.

dulls the edge] Ff Q_6. dulleth edge Q_2 Q_3. dulleth the edge Q_4 Q_5.

[316] night] light Warburton.]

the day] to day Q_6.

[317] thee!] Pope. thee. Qq Ff.

[318] do I] I do Q (1676).

[319] invites] Ff. invests Qq.

[320] to you] om. Pope.

in] om. F_3.

[321] [Exit.] Exit Laertes. Qq. Exit Laer. Ff.

[322] hath] om. F_3 F_4.

[323] Lord] Qq. L. Ff.

[324] you? give ... truth.] Q_6. you give ... truth, Q_2 Q_3. you give ... truth. Q_4 Q_5. you, give ... truth? Ff.

[325] pooh!] puh, Qq. puh. Ff.

[326]

Unsifted] Unsighted Becket

conj.

[327] I'll] Ile F_1 F_2. I'le F_3 F_4. I will Qq.

[328] these] Qq. his Ff.

[329] sterling] Qq. starling F_1 F_2 F_4. startling F_3.

[330] Running] Dyce (Collier conj.) Wrong Qq. Roaming Ff. Wronging Pope. Wringing Theobald (Warburton). Ranging Theobald conj. Worrying Badham conj. Urging or Working Anon. conj. See note (IV).

[331] call it] call't Pope.

[332] to his] to it in his Collier MS. See note (II).

[333] my lord ... heaven] As in Rowe. One line in Qq Ff.

[334] almost ... holy] Qq. all the Ff. almost all the Rowe.

[335] springes] (Q_1) Q_5 F_1 F_2 Q_6. springs Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 F_3 F_4.

[336] prodigal] prodigally Q (1676).

[337] Lends] (Q_1) Qq. Gives Ff.

daughter] oh my daughter Pope. gentle daughter Capell. See note (V).

[338] both] birth Badham conj.

[339] their] the Warburton.

[340] take] take't Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

From this time] Qq. For this time daughter, Ff. From this time daughter, Long MS.

[341] something] Qq. somewhat Ff.

your] thy Johnson.

[342] entreatments] Ff Q_6. intreatments Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. intraitments Warburton.

[343] parley] Ff Q_6. parle Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5.

[344] tether] Ff. tider Q_2 Q_3. teder Q_4 Q_5. tedder Q_6.

may he] he may Warburton.

[345] that dye] Q_6. that die Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. the eye Ff. that eye Grant White.

[346] mere] om. Seymour conj.

implorators] imploratotors Q_2 Q_3. implorers Pope.

[347] bawds] Pope, ed. 2 (Theobald). bonds Qq Ff. bans Becket conj. lauds Anon. conj.

[348] beguile] beguide Q_2 Q_3.

[349] slander] squander Collier (Collier MS.)

moment] Q_2 Q_3 Ff. moments Q_4 Q_5 Q_6. moment's Pope. moments' Collier (ed. 2).

[350] come] and so come Seymour conj. so now, come Collier MS.

ways] wayes Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 F_1 Q_6. waies Q_5. way F_2 F_3 F_4.

[351] Oph. I ... lord.] om. Seymour conj.

[352] SCENE IV.] Capell. om. Ff. SCENE III. Rowe. SCENE VII. Pope.

The platform.] The Platform before the Palace. Rowe.

and] om. Ff.

[353] shrewdly] F_1 Q_6. shroudly Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. shrew'dly F_2 F_3 F_4.

it is very cold.] Qq. is it very cold? F_1 F_2. it is very cold? F_3 F_4.

[354] a] om. Qq.

an] om. F_3 F_4.

[355] is] ha's F_3 F_4. has not Rowe (ed. 2).

struck] F_4. strooke Qq F_1 F_2. strook F_3.

[356] Indeed? I] Capell. Indeed; I Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. Indeed I (Q_1) Ff. Indeed, I Q_6. I Rowe.

it then] Qq. then it Ff.

[357] [A flourish....] Malone, after Capell. A florish of trumpets and 2. peeces goes of. Qq (goe Q_6. off Q_4 Q_5 Q_6). A flourish of Trumpets and Guns. Q (1676). Omitted in Ff. Noise of warlike Musick within. Rowe.

[358] What ... my lord?] Omitted in Steevens's reprint of Q_4.

[359] wake] walke Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

[360] wassail] wassel (Q_1). wassell Qq. wassels Ff.

up-spring reels] up-spring reeles (Q_1) Qq. upspring reeles F_1 F_2. upspring reels F_3 F_4. upstart reels Pope. upsy freeze Badham conj.

[361] drains] takes Q (1676).

[362] bray out] proclaim Q (1676).

[363] Is it] It is F_2.

[364] is't:] is it; of an antique date: Seymour conj.

[365] But] Qq. And Ff.

native] a native Hammer (ed. 2).

[366] This ... fault.] Put in the margin by Pope.

[367] This ... scandal.] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

[368] revel] reueale Q_2 Q_3. reuelle Q_4. reuell Q_5 Q_6.

[369] revel east and west Makes] Pointed as in Qq. revell, east and west: Makes Pope (ed. 1). revell, east and west, Makes Pope (ed. 2). revel east and west, Makes Warburton.

[370] traduced] tradust Q_2 Q_3.

tax'd] Pope. taxed Qq.

[371] clepe] Q_6. clip Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5.

[372] So, oft] Theobald. So oft Qq.

[373] mole] mould Theobald conj. (withdrawn).

[374] the] Pope. their Qq.

[375] livery] levity Becket conj.

star] starre Qq. scar Pope, ed. 2 (Theobald).

[376] Their] Pope, ed. 2 (Theobald). His Qq.

[377] the ... scandal] Omitted by Pope.

[378] the dram of eale ... of a doubt] Q_2 Q_3. the dram of ease ... of a doubt Q_4 Q_5 Q_6. the dram of base ... of worth out Theobald. the dram of base ... oft eat out or the dram of base ... soil with doubt Heath conj. the dram of ill ... of worth out Capell conj. the dram of base Doth eat the noble substance of worth out Id. conj. the dram of base ... oft adopt Holt conj. the dram of base ... oft work out Robertson and Davies conj. the dram of ill ... of good out Jennens. the dram of base ... of worth dout Malone. the dram of base ... often dout Steevens (1793). the dram of base ... oft do out Id. conj. (withdrawn). the dram of base ... of't corrupt Mason conj. the dram of doubt ... oft anneal Anon. conj. (1814). the dream of ease, The noble substance of a doubt,—doth all Becket conj. the dram of ale ... over dough or oft a-dough Jackson conj. the dram of ill ... often dout Caldecott. the dram of bale ... often doubt Singer (ed. 1). the dram of base ... of a doubt Singer (ed. 2). the dram of base ... oft adoubt Singer conj. the dram of bale ... off and out Delius. the dram of base ... derogate Ingleby conj. the dram of lead ... of a ducat Id. conj. the dram of ail ... of a doubt Nichols conj. the dram of lead ... of a pound Staunton conj. the dram of evil ... oft outdo Jervis conj. the dram of base ... offer doubt Brae conj. (N. and Q.) the dram of base Doth, all the noble substance o'er, a doubt Anon. conj. (N. and Q.) the dram of eale Doth all the noble, substance of a doubt Corson conj. the dram of vile Turns ... of a draught Leo conj. the dram of evil ... out of doubt or the dram of evil ... of a courtier Keightley conj. (withdrawn). the dram of base ... often draw Arrowsmith conj. the dram of evil ... oft debase Dyce (ed. 2). the dram of eale ... oft endoubt Nicholson conj. the dram of calce ... so adapt Bullock conj. the dram of earth ... so adapt Bullock conj. (withdrawn). the dram of base ... overcloud Lloyd conj. the dram of base ... often drown Taylor conj. MS. the dram of ease ... oft work out Smyth conj. MS. See note (VI).

the dram of leaven ... of a dough Cartwright conj. the dram of evil ... oft weigh down Bailey conj.

[379] To his] To its Steevens conj. By his Malone conj. By it's Anon. apud Rann conj.

Enter Ghost.] Enter Ghost armed as before. Collier MS.

[380] it] where it Q (1676).

[381] Pause marked after this line in Collier MS.

[382] intents] Qq. events Ff. advent Warburton.

[383] a questionable] unquestionable Becket conj.

[384] father, royal Dane: O] father,—Royal Dane, O Anon. conj. (St James's Chronicle, Oct. 15, 1761).

O] Qq. Oh, oh Ff.

[385] tell ... death] tell why Heried and canoniz'd in death, thy bones Becket conj.

tell Why thy] tell why Thy Lloyd conj.

[386] canonized] canoniz'd Qq Ff.

canonized ... death] bones hears'd in canonized earth Hanmer. canoniz'd bones, hearsed in earth Warburton.

[387] cerements] Qq. cerments F_1. cearments F_2 F_3 F_4.

[388] inurn'd] F_2 F_3 F_4. enurn'd F_1. interr'd (Q_1) Qq. immured Anon. conj.

[389] Revisit'st] F_4. Revisitst F_2 F_3. Revisits Qq F_1.

thus the ... moon,] thus, the ... moon Becket conj.

[390] we] us Pope, ed. 2 (Theobald).

[391] horridly] horribly Theobald.

[392] the reaches] Qq. thee; reaches Ff.

[393] [Ghost beckons Hamlet.] Ghost beckens Hamlet. Ff. Beckins. Q_2 Q_3. Beckons. Q_4 Q_5. Beckens. Q_6.

[394] waves] (Q_1) Qq. wafts Ff.

to a more] off to a Johnson.

more removed] remote Q (1676). See note (VII).

[395] [Holding Hamlet. Rowe.

[396] I will] Qq. will I Ff.

[397] should] shall Q (1676).

[398] fee;] fee? F_3 F_4.

[399] as] like (Q_1) Q_6.

[400] toward] towards Q_4 Q_5.

flood] floods Q (1676).

lord] om. Q_2.

[401] summit] Rowe. somnet Qq. sonnet Ff.

cliff] F_3 F_4. cleefe Qq. cliffe F_1 F_2.

[402] beetles] Ff. bettels Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

[403] assume] Qq. assumes Ff.

[404] deprive] deprave Hanmer (Warburton).

your ... reason] you of your soveraign reason Collier MS. See note (II).

your ... reason] of sovereignty your Hunter conj.

[405] draw] drive (Q_1) S. Walker conj.

it:] it, Qq. it? F_1. it. F_2 F_3 F_4.

[406] The very ... beneath.] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

[407] It ... thee.] As in Qq. One line in Ff.

[408] waves] Qq. wafts Ff.

[409] off] of Q_2 Q_3 Q_4.

hands] Qq. hand Ff.

[410] Hor.] Mar. Theobald.

[They struggle. Collier MS. See note (II).

[411] artery] Q_6. arture Q_2 Q_3. artyre Q_4. attire Q_5 F_4. artire F_1 F_2 F_3.

this] his F_3 F_4.

[412] As hardy] Hardy Capell.

Nemean] Q_4 Q_5 Q_6 F_3 F_4. Nemeon Q_2 Q_3. Nemian F_1 F_2.

[Ghost beckons. Malone.

[413] am I] I am Q (1676).

call'd:] cald, Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. call'd; Q_6. cal'd? F_1. call'd? F_2 F_3 F_4.

[Breaking from them. Rowe.

[414] on] one Q_4 Q_5.

[Exeunt....] Ff. Exit ... Qq.

[415] imagination] imagion Q_2 Q_3.

[416] Heaven] Heaven's Collier MS. See note (II).

direct it] discover it Q (1676). detect it Farmer conj.

[417] SCENE V.] Capell. SCENE VIII. Pope. Scene continued in Ff.

Another part ...] Capell. A more remote part ... Theobald.

Enter....] Re-enter ... Pope.

[418] Whither] (Q_1) Q_6. Whether Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. Where Ff.

[419] hour] F_3 F_4. houre Qq. hower F_1. honour F_2.

[420] Pity ... unfold] Prose in Q_4 Q_5.

[421] thy] my Q_5.

[422] hear.] here, Q_4.

[423] when] what Q (1676).

[424] What?] Hear what? Keightley. Revenge! what? how? Seymour conj.

[425] confined to fast] confined fast Theobald conj. (withdrawn).

to fast in] to roast in Theobald conj. (withdrawn). too fast in Warburton. to lasting Singer, ed. 2 (Heath conj.) to waste in Steevens conj. (withdrawn). to fasting Jackson conj. fast to Anon. conj. ('Once a Week').

And for] Tho' in Anon. MS.

[426] that I am] being Seymour conj.

[427] knotted] (Q_1) Qq. knotty Ff.

[428] an end] on end (Q_1) Pope. an-end Boswell.

[429] fretful] F_4. fretfull (Q_1) F_1 F_2 F_3. fearefull Qq.

porpentine] porcupine Q (1676).

[430] List, list] Qq. list Hamlet Ff (Hamle F_2).

[431] love—] Rowe. love. Qq Ff.

[432] God] Qq. Heaven Ff.

[433] Murder!] Q_6. Murther Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. Murther? Ff.

[434] Murder most] Most Seymour conj.

in] at Long MS.

[435] Haste me] Rowe. Hast me Qq. Hast, hast me F_1. Haste, haste me F_2 F_3 F_4.

Haste ... swift] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

know't] Qq. know it Ff. know Pope.

I] om. F_1.

[436] meditation] mediation Q_6.

[437] sweep] flye Q (1676). swoop Theobald conj. (withdrawn).

[438] shouldst] shouldest Q_4 Q_5.

[439] shouldst ... Wouldst] wouldst ... Shouldst Anon. conj. (Misc. Obs. on Hamlet, 1752).

[440] roots] Q_5 Q_6. rootes (Q_1) Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. rots Ff.

itself ... wharf,] on Lethe's wharf: itself in ease,—Becket conj.

Lethe] Lethe's Q (1676) and Rowe.

[441] 'Tis] Q_6. Tis Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. It's Ff.

my] Qq. mine Ff.

orchard] garden Q (1676).

[442] so] om. Pope.

[443] know, thou] F_4. knowe thou Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 F_1 F_2 Q_5 F_3. know thou, Q_6.

[444] life] heart Q (1676).

[445] O my ... uncle!] As in Dyce (S. Walker conj.) One line in Qq Ff.

[446] My] my Qq. mine Ff.

uncle!] Q_6. uncle? Q_2 Q_3 Ff. uncle: Q_4. uncle. Q_5.

[447] Ay,] Ay, Ay S. Walker conj., ending line 41 Ay.

Ay, ... that adulterate] Incestuous, adulterate Seymour conj.

[448] witchcraft] witchraft F_2.

wit] Pope. wits Qq Ff.

with] Qq. hath F_1 F_2 F_3. and F_4.

gifts,—] gifts, Qq F_3. guifts. F_1. gifts. F_2. gifts F_4.

[449] wit] wits Q_6.

[450] to his] Qq F_3 F_4. to to this F_1. to this F_2.

[451] seeming-virtuous] Hyphen inserted by Theobald.

[452] a] Ff Q_6. om. Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5.

[453] marriage; and to] marriage, to Ingleby conj.

[454] To those ... moved,] As in Pope. One line in Qq Ff.

[455] mine!] mine, surpasses, almost, thinking. Seymour conj.

[456] lust,] (Q_1) Ff. but Qq.

angel] F_4. angell F_1 F_2 F_3. angle Qq.

[457] Will ... garbage.] Arranged as in Qq. One line in Ff.

[458] sate] F_1 F_2. sort Qq. seat F_3 F_4.

[459] prey] pray Q_2 Q_3 Q_4.

on] in F_3 F_4.

[460] scent] sent Q_2 Q_3 F_1 Q_6.

morning] Qq. mornings Ff.

[461] within my orchard] in my garden Q (1676).

my] Qq. mine Ff.

[462] of] Qq. in (Q_1) Ff.

[463] secure] secret Johnson.

stole] to me stole Q (1676).

[464] hebenon] Ff. hebona (Q_1) Qq. hebon or hemlock Elze conj.

vial] viall Qq. violl F_1 F_2. viol F_3 F_4.

[465] my] Qq. mine Ff.

[466] effect Holds] effects Hold Q (1676).

[467] alleys] Hanmer. allies (Q_1) Qq Ff.

[468] vigour] rigour Staunton conj.

posset] Ff. possesse Qq.

[469] eager] (Q_1) Qq. Aygre Ff.

[470] bark'd] barckt Q_2 Q_3. barkt Q_4 Q_5 Q_6. bak'd Ff. barked (Q_1).

[471] of queen] of queene Qq. and queene Ff (queen F_3 F_4).

dispatch'd] dismatch'd Becket conj. despoil'd Collier MS.

[472] blossoms] blossom Dyce conj.

[473] Unhousel'd] Theobald. Unhuzled Q_2 Q_3. Unnuzled Q_4 Q_5 Q_6. Unhouzzled Ff.

disappointed] unanointed Pope. unappointed Theobald.

unanel'd] Pope. unanueld Q_2 Q_3. un-anneld Q_4 Q_5 Q_6. unnaneld Ff. unaneal'd Theobald. unanoil'd Jennens. and unknell'd Anon. conj. (Gent. Mag. XLVI. 267). unassoiled Boucher conj.

[474] With all] Withall Q_2 Q_3.

[475] See note (VIII).

[476] howsoever] Ff. howsomever Qq.

pursuest] Ff Q_6. pursues Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5.

[477] Taint] Tain't Q_2 Q_3 Q_4.

contrive] design Q (1676).

[478] matin] morning Q (1676). matins so quoted in Drake's Shakespeare and his Times, II. 414.

[479] Adieu, adieu, adieu!] Adiew, adiew, adiew, Qq (Adieu Q_6). Adue, adue, Hamlet: F_1 F_2. Adieu, adieu, Hamlet: F_3 F_4. Farewel, Q (1676).

[Exit.] Ff. om. Qq.

[480] O fie! Hold, hold, my] Oh hold, my Pope. Hold, hold, my Capell. O fie! Hold, Collier MS.

Hold, hold, my] hold, hold my Q_2 Q_3. hold, my Q_4. hold my Q_5 Ff Q_6.

[481] stiffly] Ff. swiftly Qq. strongly Q (1676).

[482] thee!] Q_6. thee, Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. thee? Ff.

[483] while] Ff. whiles Qq.

[484] saws] sawe Q_4. saw Q_5 Q_6. registers Q (1676).

all pressures] and pressures Q (1676).

[485] yes] Qq. yes, yes Ff.

[486] pernicious] prenicious Q_4. pernicious and perfidious Collier (Collier MS.)

[487] My tables,—] Pope. (My tables) (Q_1). My tables, Qq. My Tables, my Tables; Ff.

set it] set Q_6.

[488] down, ... villain; ... me.' ... sworn't.] down.— ... villain!... me.' [Writing ... sworn it. [Having kissed the tables. Brae conj.

[489] I'm] Ff. I am Qq.

[Writing.] Rowe. om. Qq Ff. Opposite line 111, Keightley.

[490] It ... sworn't.] Two lines in Qq. One in Ff. Capell puts It is in a separate line.

[491] It is] Its— Jackson conj.

[492] I have sworn't.] I've sworn it— Pope.

[493] SCENE IX. Pope.

Hor. Mar. [Within] Ff. Hora. Qq. See note (IX).

[494] Heaven] Ff. Heavens (Q_1) Qq.

[495] Ham.] Qq. Mar. Ff. Mar. [within. Knight.

[496] Mar.] Qq. Hor. Ff.

[497] bird,] Ff. and Qq. boy, (Q_1) Pope.

[498] Hor. What news, my lord?] Omitted in Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

[499] Ham.] Hora. Q_4 Q_5.

[500] you will] Qq. you'l F_1. you'll F_2 F_3 F_4.

[501] it?] (Q_1) Ff Q_6. it, The rest.

[502] secret?] Ff. secret. Qq. secret— Theobald.

Hor. Mar.] Booth. Q_2 Q_3. Both. Q_4 Q_5 Ff Q_6.

my lord.] (Q_1) Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[503] There's ... Denmark] One line in (Q_1) Ff. Two in Qq.

ne'er] F_2. nere F_1. ne're F_3 F_4. never Qq.

[504] Denmark But] Denmark—But Seymour conj.

[505] But] Bate Becket conj.

[506] There ... this.] As in Qq. Prose in Ff.

[507] i' the] i' th' Ff. in the Qq.

[508] desire] Qq. desires (Q_1) Ff.

[509] hath] Qq. ha's F_1. has F_2 F_3 F_4.

[510] my] Qq. mine Ff.

[511] Look you, I'll] Ff. I will Qq. Look you, I will Capell.

[512] whirling] Theobald. wherling (Q_1) whurling Qq. hurling Ff. windy Q (1676). hurting Collier MS. See note (II).

[513] I'm] Ff. I am Qq.

offend] offended F_3 F_4.

[514] Yes, faith,] Yes, Pope. 'Faith, Capell.

[515] Horatio] (Q_1) Qq. my Lord Ff.

[516] too. Touching] too: touching Q_6. too, touching (Q_1) Ff. to, touching Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5.

here,] heere, or here, Qq. heere: or here: Ff.

[517] O'ermaster't] Oremastret Q_2 Q_3. O'er-master Rowe (ed. 2).

[518] we will] om. (Q_1) Pope. Mar. We will Collier MS. See note (II).

[519] Hor. Mar.] Booth. Q_2 Q_3. Both. The rest.

[520] In faith, ... I.] Arranged as by Capell. One line in Qq Ff.

[521] We have] We've Pope.

[522] Indeed ... indeed.] In deed ... in deed Staunton.

[523] Ghost. [Beneath] Swear.] Capell. Ghost cries under the Stage.

Ghost. Sweare. Qq. Gho. Sweare. Ghost cries under the Stage. Ff.

[524] Ah, ha, ... cellarage] Arranged as in Qq. Prose in Ff.

[525] Ah] Ff. Ha Qq.

so?] Q_6. so, Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. so. Ff.

[526] on: you hear] one you here F_1.

[527] the oath] my oath F_3 F_4.

[528] seen,] seene Q_2 Q_3. seene, Q_4 Q_5 Q_6. seene. F_1 F_2. seen. F_3 F_4.

[529] [Beneath] Capell. om. Qq Ff.

[530] Hic] Hie Q_4 Q_5.

ubique?] Ff. ubique, Qq.

our] Qq. for Ff.

[531] See note (X).

[532] this that] this which Rowe (ed. 2).

[533] Swear.] (Q_1) Ff. Sweare by his sword. Qq.

[534] canst] canst thou Q_6.

earth] (Q_1) Qq. ground Ff.

[535] good friends] om. Seymour conj.]

friends] Qq F_1. friend F_2 F_3 F_4.

[536] give] bid F_3 F_4.

[537] your] (Q_1) Qq. our Ff.

[538] Than ... come;] As in Hanmer. One line in Qq Ff.

[539] But come; Here] But Seymour conj.

[540] Here] Swear Pope (ed. 2). swear here Keightley, reading But ... mercy! as one line.

[541] How ... on] Put in parentheses in Pope. (ed. 1).

[542] How ... note] Put in parentheses in Qq.

[543] soe'er] so ere Ff Q_6. so mere Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5.

[544] As ... on] Put in parentheses in Ff.

[545] meet] fit So quoted by Theobald ('Shakespeare Restored').

[546] times] (Q_1) Qq. time Ff.

[547] this head-shake] Theobald. this head shake (Q_1) Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. thus, head shake Ff. head thus shak't Q_6.

[548] Or] Nor Malone conj.

[549] Well, well,] Qq. well, Ff.

[550] an if ... an if] Hanmer. and if ... and if Qq Ff. and if ... or if Q (1676). an ... those; An if Seymour conj.

[551] they] (Q_1) Qq. there Ff.

[552] giving] givings Warburton.

out, to note] Steevens, 1793. (Malone conj.) out, to note) Qq. out to note, Ff. out to note Malone.

to note] denote Pope, ed. 2 (Theobald). to-note Porson conj. MS.

[553] this ... Swear.] this ... doe: So ... you: Sweare. Ff. this doe sweare, So ... you. Qq. this you must swear. So ... you. Q (1676). this do ye swear. So ... you. Swear. Pope. This do you swear, So ... you! Capell. This not to do, swear; So ... you! Boswell.

[554] Rest, rest,] Rest, Seymour conj.

[They swear.] Edd. (Globe ed.) om. Qq Ff.

[555] I do] om. F_2 F_3 F_4. do I Theobald.

[556] friending] friendship Q (1676).

[557] God ... lack.] Shall never fail, Q (1676).

Let us go in] Let's go Anon. conj.

together] om. Hanmer.

[558] pray.] Rowe. pray, Qq Ff.

[559] set] see F_3 F_4.

ACT II.

SCENE I. A room in Polonius's house.

Enter POLONIUS and REYNALDO.[560]

Pol. Give him this money and these notes, Reynaldo.[561][562]

Rey. I will, my lord.

Pol. You shall do marvellous wisely, good Reynaldo,[562][563]

Before you visit him, to make inquire[564]

Of his behaviour.

Rey. My lord, I did intend it. 5

Pol. Marry, well said, very well said. Look you, sir,[565]

Inquire me first what Danskers are in Paris,[566]

And how, and who, what means, and where they keep,

What company, at what expense, and finding[567]

By this encompassment and drift of question 10

That they do know my son, come you more nearer[568]

Than your particular demands will touch it:[568]

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

As thus, 'I know his father and his friends,[569]

And in part him:' do you mark this, Reynaldo?[562] 15

Rey. Ay, very well, my lord.

Pol. 'And in part him; but,' you may say, 'not well:

But if't be he I mean, he's very wild,[570]

Addicted so and so;' and there put on him

What forgeries you please; marry, none so rank 20

As may dishonour him; take heed of that;

But, sir, such wanton, wild and usual slips

As are companions noted and most known

To youth and liberty.

Rey. As gaming, my lord.

Pol. Ay, or drinking, fencing, swearing, quarrelling,[571][572] 25

Drabbing: you may go so far.[571]

Rey. My lord, that would dishonour him.

Pol. Faith, no; as you may season it in the charge.[573]

You must not put another scandal on him,[574]

That he is open to incontinency;[575] 30

That's not my meaning: but breathe his faults so quaintly

That they may seem the taints of liberty,

The flash and outbreak of a fiery mind,

A savageness in unreclaimed blood,[576][577]

Of general assault.[576]

Rey. But, my good lord,—[578] 35

Pol. Wherefore should you do this?

Rey. Ay, my lord,[579][580]

I would know that.[579]

Pol. Marry, sir, here's my drift,

And I believe it is a fetch of warrant:[581]

You laying these slight sullies on my son,[582]

As 'twere a thing a little soil'd i' the working,[583] 40

Mark you,[584][585]

Your party in converse, him you would sound,[584][586]

Having ever seen in the prenominate crimes[587]

The youth you breathe of guilty, be assured[588]

He closes with you in this consequence;[589] 45

'Good sir,' or so, or 'friend,' or 'gentleman,'[590]

According to the phrase or the addition[591]

Of man and country.

Rey. Very good, my lord.

Pol. And then, sir, does he this—he does—what was I[592][593]

about to say? By the mass, I was about to say something:[592][594] 50

where did I leave?[592]

Rey. At 'closes in the consequence,' at 'friend or so,'[595]

and 'gentleman.'[595]

Pol. At 'closes in the consequence,' ay, marry;[596]

He closes with you thus: 'I know the gentleman;[597] 55

I saw him yesterday, or t'other day,[598]

Or then, or then, with such, or such, and, as you say,[599]

There was a' gaming, there o'ertook in's rouse,[600]

There falling out at tennis:' or perchance,[601]

'I saw him enter such a house of sale,'[602] 60

Videlicet, a brothel, or so forth.[603]

See you now;[603]

Your bait of falsehood takes this carp of truth:[604]

And thus do we of wisdom and of reach,

With windlasses and with assays of bias,[605] 65

By indirections find directions out:[606]

So, by my former lecture and advice,[607]

Shall you my son. You have me, have you not?

Rey. My lord, I have.

Pol. God be wi' ye; fare ye well.[608]

Rey. Good my lord![609] 70

Pol. Observe his inclination in yourself.[610]

Rey. I shall, my lord.

Pol. And let him ply his music.

Rey. Well, my lord.

Pol. Farewell!     [Exit Reynaldo.

Enter OPHELIA.[611]

How now, Ophelia! what's the matter?

Oph. O, my lord, my lord, I have been so affrighted![612] 75

Pol. With what, i' the name of God?[613]

Oph. My lord, as I was sewing in my closet,[614]

Lord Hamlet, with his doublet all unbraced,[615]

No hat upon his head, his stockings foul'd,[616]

Ungarter'd and down-gyved to his ancle;[617] 80

Pale as his shirt, his knees knocking each other,

And with a look so piteous in purport

As if he had been loosed out of hell

To speak of horrors, he comes before me.[618]

Pol. Mad for thy love?

Oph. My lord, I do not know,[619] 85

But truly I do fear it.[619]

Pol. What said he?

Oph. He took me by the wrist and held me hard;[620]

Then goes he to the length of all his arm,

And with his other hand thus o'er his brow,

He falls to such perusal of my face 90

As he would draw it. Long stay'd he so;[621]

At last, a little shaking of mine arm,[622]

And thrice his head thus waving up and down,

He raised a sigh so piteous and profound[623]

As it did seem to shatter all his bulk[624] 95

And end his being: that done, he lets me go:[625]

And with his head over his shoulder turn'd,[626]

He seem'd to find his way without his eyes;

For out o' doors he went without their helps,[627]

And to the last bended their light on me. 100

Pol. Come, go with me: I will go seek the king.[628]

This is the very ecstasy of love;

Whose violent property fordoes itself[629]

And leads the will to desperate undertakings

As oft as any passion under heaven[630] 105

That does afflict our natures. I am sorry.

What, have you given him any hard words of late?

Oph. No, my good lord, but, as you did command,

I did repel his letters and denied

His access to me.

Pol. That hath made him mad. 110

I am sorry that with better heed and judgement[631]

I had not quoted him: I fear'd he did but trifle[632]

And meant to wreck thee; but beshrew my jealousy![633]

By heaven, it is as proper to our age[634]

To cast beyond ourselves in our opinions 115

As it is common for the younger sort

To lack discretion. Come, go we to the king:[635]

This must be known; which, being kept close, might move[636]

More grief to hide than hate to utter love.[637]

Come.     [Exeunt.[638] 120

SCENE II. A room in the castle.

Flourish. Enter KING, QUEEN, ROSENCRANTZ, GUILDENSTERN, and Attendants.[639]

King. Welcome, dear Rosencrantz and Guildenstern![640][641]

Moreover that we much did long to see you,

The need we have to use you did provoke

Our hasty sending. Something have you heard[642]

Of Hamlet's transformation; so call it,[643] 5

Sith nor the exterior nor the inward man[644]

Resembles that it was. What it should be,

More than his father's death, that thus hath put him

So much from th' understanding of himself,

I cannot dream of: I entreat you both,[645] 10

That, being of so young days brought up with him

And sith so neighbour'd to his youth and haviour,[646]

That you vouchsafe your rest here in our court

Some little time: so by your companies

To draw him on to pleasures, and to gather 15

So much as from occasion you may glean,[647]

Whether aught to us unknown afflicts him thus,[648]

That open'd lies within our remedy.[649]

Queen. Good gentlemen, he hath much talk'd of you,

And sure I am two men there are not living[650] 20

To whom he more adheres. If it will please you

To show us so much gentry and good will[651]

As to expend your time with us awhile[652]

For the supply and profit of our hope,

Your visitation shall receive such thanks[653] 25

As fits a king's remembrance.

Ros. Both your majesties

Might, by the sovereign power you have of us,[654]

Put your dread pleasures more into command

Than to entreaty.

Guil. But we both obey,[655]

And here give up ourselves, in the full bent 30

To lay our service freely at your feet,[656]

To be commanded.[657]

King. Thanks, Rosencrantz and gentle Guildenstern.[640][641]

Queen. Thanks, Guildenstern and gentle Rosencrantz:[640][641]

And I beseech you instantly to visit 35

My too much changed son. Go, some of you,[658]

And bring these gentlemen where Hamlet is.[659]

Guil. Heavens make our presence and our practices

Pleasant and helpful to him!

Queen. Ay, amen!

[Exeunt Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, and some Attendants.[660]

Enter POLONIUS.

Pol. The ambassadors from Norway, my good lord, 40

Are joyfully return'd.

King. Thou still hast been the father of good news.

Pol. Have I, my lord? I assure my good liege,[661]

I hold my duty as I hold my soul,

Both to my God and to my gracious king:[662] 45

And I do think, or else this brain of mine

Hunts not the trail of policy so sure[663]

As it hath used to do, that I have found[664]

The very cause of Hamlet's lunacy.

King. O, speak of that; that do I long to hear.[665] 50

Pol. Give first admittance to the ambassadors;

My news shall be the fruit to that great feast.[666]

King. Thyself do grace to them, and bring them in.

[Exit Polonius.[667]

He tells me, my dear Gertrude, he hath found[668]

The head and source of all your son's distemper. 55

Queen. I doubt it is no other but the main;

His father's death and our o'erhasty marriage.[669]

King. Well, we shall sift him.

Re-enter POLONIUS, with VOLTIMAND and CORNELIUS.

Welcome, my good friends![670]

Say, Voltimand, what from our brother Norway?[671]

Volt. Most fair return of greetings and desires. 60

Upon our first, he sent out to suppress

His nephew's levies, which to him appear'd[672]

To be a preparation 'gainst the Polack,[673]

But better look'd into, he truly found

It was against your highness: whereat grieved, 65

That so his sickness, age and impotence

Was falsely borne in hand, sends out arrests

On Fortinbras; which he, in brief, obeys,

Receives rebuke from Norway, and in fine

Makes vow before his uncle never more 70

To give the assay of arms against your majesty.

Whereon old Norway, overcome with joy,

Gives him three thousand crowns in annual fee[674]

And his commission to employ those soldiers,

So levied as before, against the Polack:[673] 75

With an entreaty, herein further shown,     [Giving a paper.[675]

That it might please you to give quiet pass

Through your dominions for this enterprise,[676]

On such regards of safety and allowance

As therein are set down.[677]

King. It likes us well, 80

And at our more consider'd time we'll read,[678]

Answer, and think upon this business.[679]

Meantime we thank you for your well-took labour:

Go to your rest; at night we'll feast together:[680]

Most welcome home!     [Exeunt Voltimand and Cornelius.

Pol. This business is well ended.[681] 85

My liege, and madam, to expostulate

What majesty should be, what duty is,

Why day is day, night night, and time is time,

Were nothing but to waste night, day and time.

Therefore, since brevity is the soul of wit[682] 90

And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes,[683]

I will be brief. Your noble son is mad:

Mad call I it; for, to define true madness,[684]

What is't but to be nothing else but mad?[685]

But let that go.

Queen. More matter, with less art. 95

Pol. Madam, I swear I use no art at all.

That he is mad, 'tis true: 'tis true 'tis pity,[686]

And pity 'tis 'tis true: a foolish figure;[687]

But farewell it, for I will use no art.[688]

Mad let us grant him then: and now remains 100

That we find out the cause of this effect,[689]

Or rather say, the cause of this defect,

For this effect defective comes by cause:

Thus it remains and the remainder thus.[690][691]

Perpend.[690][692] 105

I have a daughter,—have while she is mine,—[693]

Who in her duty and obedience, mark,

Hath given me this: now gather and surmise.     [Reads.[694]

'To the celestial, and my soul's idol, the most beautified Ophelia,'—[695]

That's an ill phrase, a vile phrase; 'beautified' is a vile[696] 110

phrase: but you shall hear. Thus:     [Reads.[697][698]

'In her excellent white bosom, these,' &c.[697][699]

Queen. Came this from Hamlet to her?

Pol. Good madam, stay awhile; I will be faithful.     [Reads.[700]

'Doubt thou the stars are fire; 115

Doubt that the sun doth move;

Doubt truth to be a liar;

But never doubt I love.

'O dear Ophelia, I am ill at these numbers; I have not

art to reckon my groans: but that I love thee best, O most 120

best, believe it. Adieu.

'Thine evermore, most dear lady, whilst this

machine is to him, HAMLET.'[701]

This in obedience hath my daughter shown me;[702]

And more above, hath his solicitings,[703] 125

As they fell out by time, by means and place,

All given to mine ear.

King. But how hath she[704]

Received his love?[704]

Pol. What do you think of me?

King. As of a man faithful and honourable.

Pol. I would fain prove so. But what might you think,[705] 130

When I had seen this hot love on the wing,—[706]

As I perceived it, I must tell you that,

Before my daughter told me,—what might you,

Or my dear majesty your queen here, think,[707]

If I had play'd the desk or table-book,[708] 135

Or given my heart a winking, mute and dumb,[709]

Or look'd upon this love with idle sight;

What might you think? No, I went round to work,

And my young mistress thus I did bespeak:[710]

'Lord Hamlet is a prince, out of thy star;[711] 140

This must not be:' and then I prescripts gave her,[712]

That she should lock herself from his resort,[713]

Admit no messengers, receive no tokens.

Which done, she took the fruits of my advice;[714]

And he repulsed, a short tale to make,[714][715] 145

Fell into a sadness, then into a fast,[716]

Thence to a watch, thence into a weakness,[717][718]

Thence to a lightness, and by this declension[718][719]

Into the madness wherein now he raves[720]

And all we mourn for.[721] 150

King. Do you think this?

Queen. It may be, very like.[722]

Pol. Hath there been such a time, I'ld fain know that,[723]

That I have positively said ''tis so,'

When it proved otherwise?

King. Not that I know.

Pol. [Pointing to his head and shoulder] Take this from this, if this be otherwise:[724]155

If circumstances lead me, I will find

Where truth is hid, though it were hid indeed

Within the centre.

King. How may we try it further?[725]

Pol. You know, sometimes he walks four hours together[726][727]

Here in the lobby.[726]

Queen. So he does, indeed.[728] 160

Pol. At such a time I'll loose my daughter to him:

Be you and I behind an arras then;[729][730]

Mark the encounter: if he love her not,[729]

And be not from his reason fall'n thereon,

Let me be no assistant for a state, 165

But keep a farm and carters.[731]

King. We will try it.

Queen. But look where sadly the poor wretch comes reading.[732]

Pol. Away, I do beseech you, both away:[733]

I'll board him presently.

[Exeunt King, Queen, and Attendants.

Enter HAMLET, reading.[734]

O, give me leave: how does my good Lord Hamlet?[735] 170

Ham. Well, God-a-mercy.

Pol. Do you know me, my lord?

Ham. Excellent well; you are a fishmonger.[736]

Pol. Not I, my lord.

Ham. Then I would you were so honest a man. 175

Pol. Honest, my lord![737]

Ham. Ay, sir; to be honest, as this world goes, is to[738]

be one man picked out of ten thousand.[738][739]

Pol. That's very true, my lord.

Ham. For if the sun breed maggots in a dead dog,[740] 180

being a god kissing carrion—Have you a daughter?[741]

Pol. I have, my lord.

Ham. Let her not walk i' the sun: conception is a

blessing; but as your daughter may conceive,—friend, look[742]

to't. 185

Pol. [Aside] How say you by that? Still harping on[743]

my daughter: yet he knew me not at first; he said I was a[743][744][745]

fishmonger: he is far gone: and truly in my youth I[743][745][746][747]

suffered much extremity for love; very near this. I'll[743][746][748]

speak to him again. What do you read, my lord?[743][746][749] 190

Ham. Words, words, words.

Pol. What is the matter, my lord?[749]

Ham. Between who?[750]

Pol. I mean, the matter that you read, my lord.[751]

Ham. Slanders, sir: for the satirical rogue says here that[752] 195

old men have grey beards, that their faces are wrinkled,

their eyes purging thick amber and plum-tree gum, and[753]

that they have a plentiful lack of wit, together with most[754]

weak hams: all which, sir, though I most powerfully and

potently believe, yet I hold it not honesty to have it thus 200

set down; for yourself, sir, shall grow old as I am, if like a[755]

crab you could go backward.

Pol. [Aside] Though this be madness, yet there is[756][757][758]

method in't. Will you walk out of the air, my lord?[757]

Ham. Into my grave.[759] 205

Pol. Indeed, that's out of the air. [Aside] How pregnant[760][761]

sometimes his replies are! a happiness that often madness[760][762]

hits on, which reason and sanity could not so prosperously[760][763][764]

be delivered of. I will leave him, and suddenly contrive[760][764][765][766]

the means of meeting between him and my daughter. My[760][766][767] 210

honourable lord, I will most humbly take my leave of you.[760][767]

Ham. You cannot, sir, take from me any thing that I[768]

will more willingly part withal: except my life, except my[769][770]

life, except my life.[770]

Pol. Fare you well, my lord. 215

Ham. These tedious old fools!

Enter ROSENCRANTZ and GUILDENSTERN.[771]

Pol. You go to seek the Lord Hamlet; there he is.[772]

Ros. [To Polonius] God save you, sir!     [Exit Polonius.[773]

Guil. My honoured lord![774]

Ros. My most dear lord! 220

Ham. My excellent good friends! How dost thou, Guildenstern?[775]

Ah, Rosencrantz! Good lads, how do you both?[776]

Ros. As the indifferent children of the earth.

Guil. Happy, in that we are not over-happy;[777]

On Fortune's cap we are not the very button.[777][778] 225

Ham. Nor the soles of her shoe?[779]

Ros. Neither, my lord.

Ham. Then you live about her waist, or in the middle[780]

of her favours?[781]

Guil. Faith, her privates we.[782] 230

Ham. In the secret parts of Fortune? O, most true;

she is a strumpet. What's the news?[783]

Ros. None, my lord, but that the world's grown honest.[784]

Ham. Then is doomsday near: but your news is not[785]

true. Let me question more in particular: what have you,[786] 235

my good friends, deserved at the hands of Fortune, that she[786]

sends you to prison hither?[786]

Guil. Prison, my lord![786]

Ham. Denmark's a prison.[786]

Ros. Then is the world one.[786] 240

Ham. A goodly one; in which there are many confines,[786]

wards and dungeons, Denmark being one o' the worst.[786][787]

Ros. We think not so, my lord.[786]

Ham. Why, then 'tis none to you; for there is nothing[786][788]

either good or bad, but thinking makes it so: to me it is a[786][788] 245

prison.[786]

Ros. Why, then your ambition makes it one; 'tis too[786]

narrow for your mind.[786]

Ham. O God, I could be bounded in a nut-shell and[786]

count myself a king of infinite space, were it not that I[786] 250

have bad dreams.[786][789]

Guil. Which dreams indeed are ambition; for the very[786]

substance of the ambitious is merely the shadow of a dream.[786]

Ham. A dream itself is but a shadow.[786]

Ros. Truly, and I hold ambition of so airy and light a[786] 255

quality that it is but a shadow's shadow.[786]

Ham. Then are our beggars bodies, and our monarchs[786]

and outstretched heroes the beggars' shadows. Shall we to[786]

the court? for, by my fay, I cannot reason.[786][790]

Ros. Guil. We'll wait upon you.[786][791] 260

Ham. No such matter: I will not sort you with the rest[786]

of my servants; for, to speak to you like an honest man, I[786]

am most dreadfully attended. But, in the beaten way of[786]

friendship, what make you at Elsinore?[792][793]

Ros. To visit you, my lord; no other occasion. 265

Ham. Beggar that I am, I am even poor in thanks; but[794]

I thank you: and sure, dear friends, my thanks are too dear

a halfpenny. Were you not sent for? Is it your own[795]

inclining? Is it a free visitation? Come, deal justly with me:[796]

come, come; nay, speak. 270

Guil. What should we say, my lord?

Ham. Why, any thing, but to the purpose. You were[797]

sent for; and there is a kind of confession in your looks,[798]

which your modesties have not craft enough to colour: I

know the good king and queen have sent for you. 275

Ros. To what end, my lord?

Ham. That you must teach me. But let me conjure you,

by the rights of our fellowship, by the consonancy of our[799]

youth, by the obligation of our ever-preserved love, and by[800]

what more dear a better proposer could charge you withal, be[801] 280

even and direct with me, whether you were sent for, or no.[802]

Ros. [Aside to Guil.] What say you?[803]

Ham. [Aside] Nay then, I have an eye of you.—If you[804][805]

love me, hold not off.[804]

Guil. My lord, we were sent for. 285

Ham. I will tell you why; so shall my anticipation prevent

your discovery, and your secrecy to the king and queen[806][807]

moult no feather. I have of late—but wherefore I know not—lost[807][808]

all my mirth, foregone all custom of exercises; and indeed[809]

it goes so heavily with my disposition that this goodly[810] 290

frame, the earth, seems to me a sterile promontory; this most

excellent canopy, the air, look you, this brave o'erhanging[811]

firmament, this majestical roof fretted with golden fire, why,[812]

it appears no other thing to me than a foul and pestilent[813]

congregation of vapours. What a piece of work is a man![814] 295

how noble in reason! how infinite in faculty! in form and[815][816]

moving how express and admirable! in action how like an[816]

angel! in apprehension how like a god! the beauty of the[816]

world! the paragon of animals! And yet, to me, what is this

quintessence of dust? man delights not me; no, nor woman[817] 300

neither, though by your smiling you seem to say so.[818]

Ros. My lord, there was no such stuff in my thoughts.

Ham. Why did you laugh then, when I said 'man[819]

delights not me'?

Ros. To think, my lord, if you delight not in man, what 305

lenten entertainment the players shall receive from you:[820]

we coted them on the way; and hither are they coming, to[821]

offer you service.

Ham. He that plays the king shall be welcome; his

majesty shall have tribute of me; the adventurous knight[822] 310

shall use his foil and target; the lover shall not sigh gratis;[823]

the humourous man shall end his part in peace; the clown[824]

shall make those laugh whose lungs are tickled o' the sere,[824][825]

and the lady shall say her mind freely, or the blank verse[826]

shall halt for't. What players are they? 315

Ros. Even those you were wont to take such delight[827]

in, the tragedians of the city.[828]

Ham. How chances it they travel? their residence,[829]

both in reputation and profit, was better both ways.[830]

Ros. I think their inhibition comes by the means of the[831][832] 320

late innovation.[831][833]

Ham. Do they hold the same estimation they did when[834]

I was in the city? are they so followed?

Ros. No, indeed, are they not.[835]

Ham. How comes it? do they grow rusty?[836] 325

Ros. Nay, their endeavour keeps in the wonted pace:[836]

but there is, sir, an eyrie of children, little eyases, that cry[836][837]

out on the top of question and are most tyranically clapped[836][838]

for't: these are now the fashion, and so berattle the common[836][839]

stages—so they call them—that many wearing rapiers[836][840] 330

are afraid of goose-quills, and dare scarce come thither.[836]

Ham. What, are they children? who maintains 'em?[836][841]

how are they escoted? Will they pursue the quality no[836]

longer than they can sing? will they not say afterwards, if[836]

they should grow themselves to common players,—as it is[836][842] 335

most like, if their means are no better,—their writers do them[836][843]

wrong, to make them exclaim against their own succession?[836][844]

Ros. Faith, there has been much to do on both sides,[836]

and the nation holds it no sin to tarre them to controversy:[836]

there was for a while no money bid for argument unless[836] 340

the poet and the player went to cuffs in the question.[836]

Ham. Is't possible?[836]

Guil. O, there has been much throwing about of brains.[836]

Ham. Do the boys carry it away?[836]

Ros. Ay, that they do, my lord; Hercules and his load too.[836][845] 345

Ham. It is not very strange; for my uncle is king of[846]

Denmark, and those that would make mows at him while[847]

my father lived, give twenty, forty, fifty, a hundred ducats[848]

a-piece, for his picture in little. 'Sblood, there is something[849]

in this more than natural, if philosophy could find it out.[850] 350

[Flourish of trumpets within.

Guil. There are the players.[851]

Ham. Gentlemen, you are welcome to Elsinore. Your[793]

hands, come then: the appurtenance of welcome is fashion[852]

and ceremony: let me comply with you in this garb, lest[853][854]

my extent to the players, which, I tell you, must show[854][855] 355

fairly outwards, should more appear like entertainment[856]

than yours. You are welcome: but my uncle-father and

aunt-mother are deceived.

Guil. In what, my dear lord?

Ham. I am but mad north-north-west: when the wind 360

is southerly I know a hawk from a handsaw.[857]

Enter POLONIUS.

Pol. Well be with you, gentlemen![858]

Ham. Hark you, Guildenstern; and you too: at each[859]

ear a hearer: that great baby you see there is not yet out[860]

of his swaddling clouts.[861] 365

Ros. Happily he's the second time come to them; for[862]

they say an old man is twice a child.

Ham. I will prophesy he comes to tell me of the[863]

players; mark it. You say right, sir: o'Monday morning;[864]

'twas so, indeed.[865] 370

Pol. My lord, I have news to tell you.

Ham. My lord, I have news to tell you. When Roscius[866]

was an actor in Rome,—[867]

Pol. The actors are come hither, my lord.

Ham. Buz, buz! 375

Pol. Upon my honour,—[868]

Ham. Then came each actor on his ass,—[869]

Pol. The best actors in the world, either for tragedy,

comedy, history, pastoral, pastoral-comical, historical-pastoral,[870]

tragical-historical, tragical-comical-historical-pastoral,[870][871] 380

scene individable, or poem unlimited: Seneca cannot be too[872]

heavy, nor Plautus too light. For the law of writ and the[873][874][875]

liberty these are the only men.[873][875]

Ham. O Jephthah, judge of Israel, what a treasure[876][877]

hadst thou! 385

Pol. What a treasure had he, my lord?[878]

Ham. Why,[879]

'One fair daughter, and no more,[879]

The which he loved passing well.'[879]

Pol. [Aside] Still on my daughter.[880] 390

Ham. Am I not i' the right, old Jephthah?

Pol. If you call me Jephthah, my lord, I have a daughter[881][882]

that I love passing well.[881]

Ham. Nay, that follows not.[881]

Pol. What follows, then, my lord? 395

Ham. Why,[883]

'As by lot, God wot,'[883]

and then, you know,[884]

'It came to pass, as most like it was,'—[884]

the first row of the pious chanson will show you more;[885] 400

for look, where my abridgement comes.[886]

Enter four or five Players.

You are welcome, masters; welcome, all. I am glad to see[887]

thee well. Welcome, good friends. O, my old friend! Why[888][889]

thy face is valanced since I saw thee last; comest thou to[889][890]

beard me in Denmark? What, my young lady and mistress! 405

By'r lady, your ladyship is nearer to heaven than[891]

when I saw you last, by the altitude of a chopine. Pray[892]

God, your voice, like a piece of uncurrent gold, be not

cracked within the ring. Masters, you are all welcome.

We'll e'en to 't like French falconers, fly at any thing we[893] 410

see: we'll have a speech straight: come, give us a taste of

your quality; come, a passionate speech.

First Play. What speech, my good lord?[894][895]

Ham. I heard thee speak me a speech once, but it was

never acted; or, if it was, not above once; for the play, I remember,415

pleased not the million; 'twas caviare to the general:[896]

but it was—as I received it, and others, whose judgements[897]

in such matters cried in the top of mine—an excellent play,

well digested in the scenes, set down with as much modesty

as cunning. I remember, one said there were no sallets in[898] 420

the lines to make the matter savoury, nor no matter in the

phrase that might indict the author of affection; but called[899]

it an honest method, as wholesome as sweet, and by very[900]

much more handsome than fine. One speech in it I chiefly[900][901]

loved: 'twas Æneas' tale to Dido; and thereabout of it especially,[902] 425

where he speaks of Priam's slaughter: if it live in[903]

your memory, begin at this line; let me see, let me see;

'The rugged Pyrrhus, like th' Hyrcanian beast,'—[904]

It is not so: it begins with 'Pyrrhus.'[905]

'The rugged Pyrrhus, he whose sable arms, 430

Black as his purpose, did the night resemble[906]

When he lay couched in the ominous horse,[907]

Hath now this dread and black complexion smear'd[908]

With heraldry more dismal: head to foot[909]

Now is he total gules; horridly trick'd[910] 435

With blood of fathers, mothers, daughters, sons,

Baked and impasted with the parching streets,[911]

That lend a tyrannous and a damned light[912][913]

To their lord's murder: roasted in wrath and fire,[913][914]

And thus o'er-sized with coagulate gore,[915] 440

With eyes like carbuncles, the hellish Pyrrhus[916]

Old grandsire Priam seeks.'

So, proceed you.[917]

Pol 'Fore God, my lord, well spoken, with good accent

and good discretion. 445

First Play. 'Anon he finds him[894]

Striking too short at Greeks; his antique sword,[918]

Rebellious to his arm, lies where it falls,[919]

Repugnant to command: unequal match'd,[920]

Pyrrhus at Priam drives; in rage strikes wide; 450

But with the whiff and wind of his fell sword

The unnerved father falls. Then senseless Ilium,[921]

Seeming to feel this blow, with flaming top[922]

Stoops to his base, and with a hideous crash[923]

Takes prisoner Pyrrhus' ear: for, lo! his sword,[924] 455

Which was declining on the milky head

Of reverend Priam, seem'd i' the air to stick:[925]

So, as a painted tyrant, Pyrrhus stood.[926]

And like a neutral to his will and matter,[927][928]

Did nothing.[928] 460

But as we often see, against some storm,

A silence in the heavens, the rack stand still,[929]

The bold winds speechless and the orb below[930]

As hush as death, anon the dreadful thunder

Doth rend the region, so after Pyrrhus' pause[924][931] 465

Aroused vengeance sets him new a-work;[932]

And never did the Cyclops' hammers fall[933]

On Mars's armour, forged for proof eterne,[934]

With less remorse than Pyrrhus' bleeding sword[924]

Now falls on Priam. 470

Out, out, thou strumpet, Fortune! All you gods,[935]

In general synod take away her power,

Break all the spokes and fellies from her wheel,[936]

And bowl the round nave down the hill of heaven

As low as to the fiends!' 475

Pol. This is too long.[937]

Ham. It shall to the barber's, with your beard. Prithee,[938]

say on: he's for a jig or a tale of bawdry, or he sleeps:

say on: come to Hecuba.

First Play. 'But who, O, who had seen the mobled queen—'[939][940][941] 480

Ham. 'The mobled queen?'[940][942]

Pol. That's good; 'mobled queen' is good.[943]

First Play. 'Run barefoot up and down, threatening the flames[944]

With bisson rheum; a clout upon that head[945]

Where late the diadem stood; and for a robe, 485

About her lank and all o'er-teemed loins,

A blanket, in the alarm of fear caught up:[946]

Who this had seen, with tongue in venom steep'd

'Gainst Fortune's state would treason have pronounced:[947]

But if the gods themselves did see her then, 490

When she saw Pyrrhus make malicious sport

In mincing with his sword her husband's limbs,[948]

The instant burst of clamour that she made,

Unless things mortal move them not at all,[949]

Would have made milch the burning eyes of heaven[950] 495

And passion in the gods.'[951]

Pol. Look, whether he has not turned his colour and[952]

has tears in's eyes. Prithee, no more.[953]

Ham. 'Tis well; I'll have thee speak out the rest of this[954]

soon. Good my lord, will you see the players well bestowed?[955] 500

Do you hear, let them be well used, for they are the abstract[956]

and brief chronicles of the time: after your death you were

better have a bad epitaph than their ill report while you live.[957]

Pol. My lord, I will use them according to their desert.[958]

Ham. God's bodykins, man, much better: use every[959] 505

man after his desert, and who shall 'scape whipping? Use[958][960]

them after your own honour and dignity: the less they deserve,

the more merit is in your bounty. Take them in.

Pol. Come, sirs.

Ham. Follow him, friends: we'll hear a play to-morrow. 510

[Exit Polonius with all the Players but the First.[961]

Dost thou hear me, old friend; can you play the Murder of[962]

Gonzago?[963]

First Play. Ay, my lord.

Ham. We'll ha't to-morrow night. You could, for a[961][964][965]

need, study a speech of some dozen or sixteen lines, which[965][966] 515

I would set down and insert in't, could you not?[967]

First Play. Ay, my lord.

Ham. Very well. Follow that lord; and look you[961]

mock him not. [Exit First Player.] My good friends, I'll[968]

leave you till night: you are welcome to Elsinore.[969] 520

Ros. Good my lord![970]

Ham. Ay, so, God be wi' ye! [Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.] Now I am alone.[971]

O, what a rogue and peasant slave am I!

Is it not monstrous that this player here,

But in a fiction, in a dream of passion,[972] 525

Could force his soul so to his own conceit[973]

That from her working all his visage wann'd;[974]

Tears in his eyes, distraction in's aspect,[975]

A broken voice, and his whole function suiting[976]

With forms to his conceit? and all for nothing![977] 530

For Hecuba![978]

What's Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba,[979]

That he should weep for her? What would he do,

Had he the motive and the cue for passion[980]

That I have? He would drown the stage with tears 535

And cleave the general ear with horrid speech,

Make mad the guilty and appal the free,[981]

Confound the ignorant, and amaze indeed

The very faculties of eyes and ears.[982][983]

Yet I,[982][984][985] 540

A dull and muddy-mettled rascal, peak,[984][985][986]

Like John-a-dreams, unpregnant of my cause,[985][987]

And can say nothing; no, not for a king,[985]

Upon whose property and most dear life

A damn'd defeat was made. Am I a coward?[988] 545

Who calls me villain? breaks my pate across?[988]

Plucks off my beard, and blows it in my face?[988]

Tweaks me by the nose? gives me the lie i' the throat,[988]

As deep as to the lungs? who does me this?[988]

Ha![989] 550

'Swounds, I should take it: for it cannot be[990]

But I am pigeon-liver'd and lack gall

To make oppression bitter, or ere this[991]

I should have fatted all the region kites[992]

With this slave's offal: bloody, bawdy villain![993] 555

Remorseless, treacherous, lecherous, kindless villain![994]

O, vengeance![995]

Why, what an ass am I! This is most brave,[996]

That I, the son of a dear father murder'd,[997]

Prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell, 560

Must, like a whore, unpack my heart with words,

And fall a-cursing, like a very drab,[998][999]

A scullion![998][999]

Fie upon't! foh! About, my brain! Hum, I have heard[998][1000]

That guilty creatures, sitting at a play,[998][1001] 565

Have by the very cunning of the scene

Been struck so to the soul that presently[1002]

They have proclaim'd their malefactions;

For murder, though it have no tongue, will speak

With most miraculous organ. I'll have these players[1003] 570

Play something like the murder of my father

Before mine uncle: I'll observe his looks;

I'll tent him to the quick: if he but blench,[1004]

I know my course. The spirit that I have seen[1005]

May be the devil; and the devil hath power[1006] 575

To assume a pleasing shape; yea, and perhaps

Out of my weakness and my melancholy,

As he is very potent with such spirits,

Abuses me to damn me. I'll have grounds

More relative than this. The play's the thing 580

Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king.     [Exit.

FOOTNOTES:

[560] ACT II. SCENE I.] Q (1676) and Rowe. Actus Secundus. Ff.

A room ...] An Apartment ... Rowe.

Enter ... Reynaldo.] Capell. Enter old Polonius, with his man or two. Qq. Enter ... Reynoldo. Ff.

[561] this] Qq. his Ff.

these] Q_2 Q_3 F_1. these two Q_4 Q_5 Q_6. those F_2 F_3 F_4.

[562] Reynaldo] Qq. Reynoldo Ff.

[563] marvellous] Q_5 Q_6. meruiles Q_2 Q_3. maruelous Q_4. maruels F_1. marvels F_2 F_3 F_4.]

wisely,] Q_6. wisely Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. wisely: Ff.

[564] to make inquire] Qq. you make inquiry Ff. make you inquiry Rowe. to make inquiry Q (1676) and Pope.

[565] Marry ... sir,] As in Qq. Two lines in Ff.

Marry] Mary Q_2 Q_3 Q_4.

[566] Danskers] Dantz'ckers Capell (corrected in MS.)

[567] at] om. F_4.

[568] nearer Than] Capell. neerer Then Qq F_1. neere Than F_2. near Then F_3. near. Then Q (1676) and Pope. near, Then F_4.

[569] As] Qq. And Ff.

[570] if't] Ff. y'ft Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. if it Q_6.

[571] Ay ... far.] Arranged as in Capell. In Qq Ff the first line ends at swearing.

[572] fencing] Put in brackets by Warburton as an interpolation.

[573] no] Ff. om. Qq.

[574] another] an utter Hanmer (Theobald conj. withdrawn).

[575] That] Than Keightley.

[576] A savageness ... assault.] As in Qq. One line in Ff.

[577] unreclaimed] Q_5 Q_6. unreclamed Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. unreclaim'd Ff.

[578] lord,—] lord— Pope. Lord. Qq Ff.

[579] Ay, ... that.] As in Steevens (1778). One line in Qq Ff.

[580] lord] good lord Capell, ending the line at lord.

[581] warrant] Ff. wit Qq.

[582] sullies] Q_4 Q_5 Q_6 F_4. sallies Q_2 Q_3. sulleyes F_1 F_2 F_3.

[583] i' the] i' th' Ff. with Qq.

[584] Mark ... sound,] As in Malone. One line in Qq Ff.

[585] you,] Qq. you Ff.

[586] him] he Q_6.

you would] you'ld Johnson.

[587] seen in] seene in Qq. seene. In F_1 F_2 F_3. seen. In F_4.

prenominate] prenominate] Q_2 Q_3 Q_4.

[588] breathe] Rowe (ed. 2). breath Qq Ff. speak Pope.

[589] consequence] cosequence Q_4.

[590] or so] Put in parentheses in Qq.

or so, or] or Sir, or Hanmer. or sire or Warburton. forsooth, or Johnson conj. or so forth, Steevens conj. (1778).

[591] or] Qq. and Ff.

addition] addistion Q_2 Q_3.

[592] And then ... leave?] Prose first by Malone. Three lines in Qq, ending say?... something, ... leave? Three lines in Ff, ending this?... say? ... leave? Capell ends the lines was I ... say ... leave?

[593] does he this—he does] does he this? He does: Ff. doos a this, a doos, Q_2 Q_3. doos a this, a doos: Q_4 Q_5. does a this, a does: Q_6.

[594] By the mass] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

something] nothing F_2 F_3 F_4.

[595] At ... gentleman.'] Prose in Globe ed. Two lines, the first ending consequence: in Ff.

at 'friend ... gentleman.'] Omitted in Qq.

[596] Pol.] Reynol. F_2. Pelon. F_3.

[597] closes with you thus] Ff. closes thus Qq. closeth with him thus (Q_1).

[598] t'other] tother F_1 F_2. 'tother F_3 F_4. th' other Qq.

[599] Or then, or then,] Or then, Pope.

or such] Qq. and such Ff.

[600] a'] a Qq. he Ff.

gaming, there] gaming, there Ff. gaming there Qq.

o'ertook] or tooke Qq.

[601] There] Their F_2 F_3.

[602] such] Q_2 Q_3 Ff. such or such Q_4 Q_5. such and such Q_6.

sale] Qq. saile F_1 F_2. sail F_3 F_4.

[603] Videlicet ... now] As in Capell. One line in Qq Ff.

[604] falsehood takes] falshood takes Q_6. falshood, takes Ff. falshood take Q_2 Q_3. falshood: take Q_4 Q_5.

carp] carpe Qq. cape Ff.

[605] assays] essayes Q_6.

[606] indirections] indirects Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

[607] advice] Ff Q_6. advise Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5.

[608] be wi' ye] buy ye Qq. buy you F_1 F_2 F_3. b'w'you F_4.

fare ye] Q_6. far ye Q_2 Q_3. far yee?] Q_4 Q_5. fare you Ff.

[609] Good my lord!] Dyce. Good my Lord. Qq Ff. Good my Lord— Rowe. But, my good lord,— Capell conj.

[610] in] e'en Hanmer.

[611] [Exit Reynaldo.] Exit Rey. Qq (after lord). Exit. Ff (after lord).

SCENE II.] Pope.

[Enter Ophelia.] As in Singer (ed. 2). Before Farewell! in Qq Ff. Enter Ophelia, hastily. Capell.

[612] O, my lord,] Qq. Alas, Ff.

[613] i' the] i' th Qq. in the Ff.

God] Qq. Heaven Ff.

[614] sewing] Warburton. sowing Qq Ff. reading Q (1676).

closet] Q_6. closset Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. chamber Ff.

[615] Lord] Prince Q (1676).

[616] foul'd] Ff Q_6. fouled Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. loose Q (1676). See note (XI).

[617] down-gyved] F_3 F_4. downe gyved Q_2 Q_3 Q_6. downe gyred Q_4 Q_5. downe gived F_1. downe-gyved F_2. down-gyred Theobald.

[618] horrors, he] Qq. horrors: he Ff. horrors: thus he Pope. horrors there, he Anon. conj.

[619] My lord ... it.] As in Qq. One line in Ff.

[620] and held me hard] Omitted in F_2 F_3 F_4.

[621] As he] Ff. As a Qq.

Long] Long time Pope.

[622] mine] Qq F_1. my F_2 F_3 F_4. his Pope (ed. 2).

[623] piteous] Q_6. pittious Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5 F_1. hideous F_2 F_3 F_4.

[624] As] Qq. That Ff.

[625] that done,] Then Pope.

me] om. F_2 F_3 F_4.

[626] shoulder] Q_2 Q_3. shoulders The rest.

[627] o'doors] Theobald. adoores Q_2 Q_3. a doores Q_4. of doores Q_5 Q_6. adores F_1 F_2. adoors F_3 F_4.

helps] Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. helpes Q_5 Q_6. helpe (Q_1) F_1 F_2. help F_3 F_4.

[628] Come] Qq. om. Ff.

[629] fordoes] forgoes Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

[630] passion] Ff. passions Qq.

[631] I am] I'm Pope.

heed] Q_5 Q_6. heede Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. speed Ff.

[632] quoted] Ff. coted Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. coated Q_6. noted Warburton.

fear'd] Qq. feare F_1 F_2. fear F_3 F_4.

did but trifle] trifl'd Pope.

[633] wreck] wrack Qq F_3 F_4. wracke F_1 F_2. rack Upton conj.

beshrew] Ff Q_6. beshrow Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5.

[634] By heaven,] (Q_1) Qq. It seemes F_1 F_2. It seems F_3 F_4.

[635] we] with me Q (1676).

[636] which] wͨ F_1.

[637] than hate] hate, than Hanmer. than haste Anon. conj.

[638] Come.] Qq. om. Ff.

[639] SCENE II.] Scena secunda. Ff. SCENE III. Pope.

A room....] Capell. The Palace. Rowe.

Flourish.] om. Ff.

Rosencratz,] Malone. Rossencraft, (Q_1). Rosencraus Qq. Rosincrane, F_1. Rosincrosse, F_2 F_3. Rosincross, F_4. Roseneraus, Rowe (ed. 2). Rosincrantz, Theobald.

Guildenstern] Rowe. Gilderstone (Q_1). Guyldensterne Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. Guildensterne F_1 Q_6. Guildenstare F_2 F_3 F_4.

and Attendants.] Lords and other Attendants. Rowe. Omitted in Qq. Cumalijs. F_1 F_2. cum aliis. F_3 F_4.

[640] Rosencrantz] Malone. Rosencraus Qq. Rosincrance F_1. Rosincros F_2. Rosincross F_3 F_4.

[641] Guildenstern] Rowe. Guyldensterne Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. Guildensterne F_1 Q_6. Guildenstare F_2 F_3 F_4.

[642] have you] you have Q_6.

[643] call] Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. I call Ff Q_6.

[644] Sith nor] Qq. Since not Ff.

[645] dream] dreame Qq. deeme F_1 F_2. deem F_3 F_4.

[646] sith] Qq. since Ff.

neighbour'd] Ff. nabored Q_2 Q_3. neighbored Q_4. neighboured Q_5 Q_6.

haviour] Q_5 Q_6. hauior Q_2 Q_3. hau r Q_4. humour Ff. 'havour Warburton.

[647] occasion] Qq. occasions Ff.

[648] Whether ... thus,] Qq. Omitted in Ff. If ... thus, Rowe.

[649] open'd] om. Q (1676).

[650] are] is Q_2 Q_3.

[651] gentry] gentleness Q (1676).

[652] expend] extend Q_4 Q_5. employ Q (1676).

[653] shall] should Q_6.

[654] of us] over us Q (1676). o'er us Mason conj.

[655] to] into Keightley.

But we] Qq. We Ff.

[656] service] Qq. services Ff.

[657] To be commanded.] Omitted in Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

[658] My ... you,] As in Qq. Two lines in Ff.

you] Qq. ye Ff.

[659] these] Qq. the Ff.

[660] Ay,] Capell. I Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. om. Ff Q_6. Amen, Keightley.

[Exeunt Rosencrantz....] Exeunt Ros. and Gui., Attendants with them. Capell. Exeunt Ros. and Guyld. Qq. Exit. F_1 (after him). Exeunt. F_2 F_3 F_4 (after him).

[661] [Aside to the King. Anon. conj.

I assure] Qq. Assure you, Ff.

[662] and] Qq. one Ff.

[663] sure] be sure F_3 F_4.

[664] it hath] Qq. I have Ff.

[665] that; that] Capell. that, that Qq Ff.

do I] doe I Qq. I do F_1 F_3 F_4. I doe. F_2.

[666] fruit] Q_5 Q_6. fruite Q_2 Q_3. frute Q_4. newes F_1 F_2. news F_3 F_4. nuts Hunter conj.

to] of Johnson.

[667] [Exit Polonius.] Ex. Pol. Rowe. Omitted in Qq Ff.

[668] my dear Gertrude] Capell. my deere Gertrard Q_2 Q_3. my decree: Gertrud Q_4 Q_5. my deare Gertrud Q_6. my sweet queene, that Ff (queen F_3 F_4).

[669] o'erhasty] hastie Q_2 Q_3 Q_5 Q_6. hasty Q_4.

[670] SCENE IV. Pope.

Re-enter Polonius....] Theobald. Enter Polonius, Voltimand, and Cornelius. Ff (Voltumand, F_1), after line 57. Enter Embassadors. Qq, after line 57.

Welcome, my] Welcome home, S. Walker conj.

my] Qq. om. Ff.

[671] Voltimand] F_2 F_3 F_4. Voltemand Qq. Voltumand F_1.

[672] levies] lives Q (1695).

[673] Polack] Polacke (Q_1). Pollacke Qq. Poleak F_1. Polak F_2 F_3 F_4.

[674] three] (Q_1) Ff. threescore Qq.

[675] shown] shone Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5.

[Giving a paper.] Malone. om. Qq Ff. Letter. Collier MS. See note (II).

[676] this] Qq. his Ff. that (Q_1).

[677] therein] herein Q_6.

[678] consider'd] Ff. considered Qq.

[679] Answer, and think upon] And think upon an answer to Hanmer.

And think upon and answer Anon. conj. (Misc. Obs. on Hamlet, 1752).

[680] thank] take F_1.

well-took] well-look't F_2 F_3 F_4. well-luck'd Theobald conj. (withdrawn).

[681] [Exeunt Vol. and Cor.] Capell. Exeunt Embassadors. Qq. Exit Ambass. Ff.

well] Qq. very well Ff.

[682] since] Ff. om. Qq.

brevity is] brevity's Pope.

[683] limbs] lines Theobald. conj. (withdrawn).

[684] it:] it? Q (1676).

[685] mad?] Q_4 Q_5 Q_6. mad, Q_2 Q_3. mad. Ff.

[686] he is] Ff. hee's Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_6. he's Q_5.

mad, 'tis] mad, is Capell.

[687] 'tis 'tis] it is Ff. it is, 'tis Hanmer.

[688] farewell it] farewell, wit Anon. conj.

[689] the] the the F_2.

[690] remains ... Perpend.] remains: remainder thus perpend. Maginn conj.

[691] thus.] Ff Q_6. thus Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5.

[692] Perpend.] A separate line in Qq. Ending line 104 in Ff. Consider. Q (1676).

[693] while] (Q_1) Qq. whil'st F_1 F_3 F_4. whilst F_2.

[694] [Reads.] Q (1676). The Letter. Ff. om. Qq. He opens a Letter, and reads. Rowe.

[695] and] om. Q_6.

idol] fair idol Capell, reading as verse.

beautified] beatified Theobald.

[696] vile] Qq F_4. vilde F_1 F_2 F_3.

beautified] that beatify'd Capell, reading as verse.

vile] Qq F_4. vilde F_1 F_2 F_3.

[697] Thus: ... these,' &c.] See note (XII).

[698] [Reads.] Dyce. om. Qq Ff.

[699] excellent white] excellent-white Dyce, ed. 2 (S. Walker conj.)]

&c.] Qq. om. Ff.

[700] [Reads.] Reading. Rowe. Letter. Qq. om. Ff.

[701] HAMLET.] See note (XIII).

[702] shown] showne Qq. shew'd Ff.

[703] above] F_2 F_3 F_4. aboue F_1. about Qq.

above, hath] about have Q_6. concerning Q (1676).

solicitings] Qq. soliciting Ff.

[704] But ... love?] As in Capell. One line in Qq Ff.

[705] think,] Capell. thinke Qq. think? Ff.

[706] this] his F_3 F_4.

wing,—] wing, Q_2 Q_3 Ff Q_6. wing? Q_4 Q_5.

[707] your] you F_2.

[708] play'd] ply'd Keightley conj.

[709] a winking] Ff Q_6. a working Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. working Pope.

[710] my young mistress] Put in parentheses in F_1.

thus] this Q_4 Q_5.

[711] prince, out] prince:—out Steevens.

out of thy star] Q_2 Q_3. out of thy starre Q_4 Q_5 F_1. out of your starre (Q_1). out of thy sphere F_2 Q_6 F_3 F_4. above thy sphere Q (1676).

out of thy star] out of thy soar Bailey conj.

[712] prescripts] Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. precepts Ff Q_6.

[713] his] Q_4 Q_5 Ff Q_6. her Q_2 Q_3.

[714] she took ... And he] see too ... For, he Warburton.

[715] repulsed, a] F_2 F_3 F_4. repulsed. A F_1. repell'd, a Q_2 Q_3 Q_6. repel'd. a Q_4. repel'd, a Q_5. repelled, a Jennens.

[716] Fell into] Fell to Pope.

[717] watch] wath Q_2 Q_3. watching Pope. watch; and Keightley.

thence into] then into Q (1676). and thence into Maginn conj.

[718] into a weakness, Thence to] to a weakness; thence Into S. Walker conj.

[719] a] om. Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5.

[720] wherein] Qq. whereon Ff.

[721] all we mourn] all we mourne Qq. all we wail Ff. we all wail Collier MS.

[722] this] Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. 'tis this Ff Q_6.

like] Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. likely Ff Q_6.

[723] I'ld] I'de Ff. I would Qq.

[724] [Pointing ... shoulder] Pope, ed. 2 (Theobald). om. Qq Ff.

this, if ... otherwise:] this, if ... otherwise; Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. this; if ... otherwise, F_1. this, if ... otherwise, F_2 Q_6 F_3 F_4.

[725] further] farther Collier.

[726] You ... lobby.] As in Qq. Three lines, ending sometimes ... heere ... lobby, in Ff.

[727] four] F_3 F_4. foure The rest. for Hanmer.

[728] does] Q_4 Q_5 Q_6. dooes Q_2 Q_3. ha's F_1. has F_2 F_3 F_4.

[729] an arras] the arras Q_6.

Be ... then;] Let ... then Anon. conj. (Misc. Obs. on Hamlet, 1752).

[730] arras then; Mark] arras then, Marke Qq Ff (Mark F_4). arras; then Mark Staunton. arras then To mark Keightley.

[731] But] Qq. And Ff.

and] of Q (1703).

[732] SCENE V. Pope.

But ... reading.] One line in Qq. Two, the first ending wretch, in Ff.

[733] you, both] Ff. you both Qq. you both, Anon. conj.

[734] [Exeunt.... Enter....] See note (XIV).

[735] Well, God-a-mercy.] Excellent well. Q (1676).

[736] Excellent] Qq. Excellent, excellent Ff.

you are] Qq. y'are Ff. you're Dyce.

[737] lord!] lord? Ff Q_6. lord. Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5.

[738] Ay, sir ... thousand.] Prose in Ff. Two lines, the first ending goes, in Qq.

[739] man] om. F_3 F_4.

ten] Q_5 Q_6. tenne Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. two Ff.

[740] Ham.] Ham. [reads]. Staunton.

[741] god kissing carrion] Hanmer (Warburton). good kissing carrion Qq Ff. god-kissing carrion Malone conj. good, kissing carrion Whiter conj. carrion-kissing god Mitford conj.

carrion—] Ff. carrion. Qq.

[742] but as ... conceive,—friend] Malone. but as ... conceave, friend Qq. but not as ... conceive. Friend Ff.

[743] How ... again.] Marked as 'Aside' by Capell.

Still ... again.] Marked as 'Aside' by Steevens. Verse, Maginn conj., ending the lines on ... first; ... he is ... youth ... love; ... again.

[744] at first] at the first Q (1676).

[745] he said ... he] Ff. a said ... a Qq. but said ... he Q (1676).

[746] he is ... again.] Marked as 'Aside' by Pope, who reads as three lines of verse.

[747] far gone] Qq. farre gone, farre gone Ff.

[748] much] om. Maginn conj.

[749] lord?] Ff Q_6. lord. Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5.

[750] who?] F_1 Q_6. who. Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. whom? F_2 F_3 F_4.

[751] that you read] Qq. you meane F_1 F_2. you mean F_3 F_4.

[752] rogue] Qq. slave Ff.

[753] and plum-tree] Q_5 Q_6. & plum-tree Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. or plum-tree Ff.

[754] lack] lacke Qq. locke F_1 F_2. lock F_3 F_4.

most] Qq. om. Ff.

[755] yourself] your selfe Qq. you your selfe F_1 F_2. you your self F_3 F_4.

shall grow old] Qq. should be old Ff. shall be as old Rowe. shall be but as old Hanmer. shall grow as old Malone.

[756] [Aside] First marked by Capell.

[757] Though ... lord?] Prose in Qq. Three lines, ending madnesse, ... walke ... lord? in Ff. Two lines of verse, the first ending in't, in Rowe.

[758] there is] there's Rowe.

[759] grave.] Qq. grave? Ff.

[760] Indeed ... you.] Prose in Qq. Eleven irregular lines in Ff: nine in Rowe and Pope.

[761] that's out of the] Qq. that is out oth' Ff.

[Aside] Marked first by Capell.

[762] often madness] madness often Jennens.

[763] reason and sanity] F_2 F_3 F_4. reason and sanitie F_1. reason and sanctity Qq. sanity and reason Pope.

[764] so prosperously be] so happily be Q_6. be So prosp'rously Pope.

[765] I will] I'll Pope.

[766] and suddenly ... him] Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[767] My ... humbly] Ff. My lord, I will Qq.

[768] sir] Ff. om. Qq.

[769] will] Ff. will not Qq.

[770] except my life] Three times in Qq. except my life, my life. Ff. except my life. Pope. [Aside] except ... life. Anon. conj.

[771] These ... fools!] Thou ... fool! Maginn conj.

Enter....] As in Capell. Enter Guyldersterne, and Rosencraus. Qq (after line 214). Enter Rosincran and Guildensterne. F_1. Enter Rosincros and Guildenstar. F_2 F_3. Enter Rosincros and Guildensterne. F_4 (after line 217 in Ff).

[772] the Lord] Qq. my Lord Ff. lord Pope.

[773] SCENE VI. Pope.

[To Polonius] Malone.

[Exit Polonius.] As in Capell. Exit. Pope (after line 217).

[774] My] Qq. Mine Ff.

[775] excellent] extent Q_2 Q_3. exelent Q_4.

[776] Ah] Q_6. A Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. Oh Ff.

you] Qq. ye Ff.

[777] Happy ... button.] Arranged as by Hanmer. Two lines, the first ending lap, in Qq (cap Q_6). Prose in Ff.

over-happy; On Fortune's cap we] Hanmer. over-happy: on Fortune's cap, we Ff. ever happy on Fortunes lap, We Qq (cap Q_6).

[778] On] Of Anon. conj.

[779] shoe] shooes Collier MS. See note (II).

shoe?] shoo? F_1. shooe? F_2 F_3 F_4. shooe. Qq.

[780] waist] Johnson. wast Qq. waste Ff.

[781] favours?] Pope. favors. Qq. favour? Ff.

[782] her] in her Pope, ed. 2.

[783] What's the] Ff. What Qq.

news?] newes? Qq F_1. newes. F_2 F_3. news. F_4.

[784] that] Ff. om. Qq.

[785] but] sure Q (1676).

[786] Let me ... attended.] Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[787] o' the] o' th' Ff. of the Capell.

[788] Why ... so:] Two lines of verse, the first ending nothing, S. Walker conj.

[789] bad] had Anon. conj.

[790] fay] Pope. fey Ff.

[791] Ros. Guil.] Both. Ff.

[792] friendship,] Qq F_1. friendship. F_2 F_3 F_4.

[793] Elsinore] Malone. Elsonoure Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. Elsonower F_1. Elsinooer F_2. Elsenour Q_6. Elsinoore F_3 F_4.

[794] even] Ff Q_6. ever Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5.

[795] a halfpenny] of a halfpenny Theobald. at a halfpenny Hanmer.

[796] Come, deal] Ff. come, come, deale Qq.

[797] Why] Ff. om. Qq.]

any thing, but] Q_6. any thing but Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. any thing. But Ff.

purpose. You] purpose you Q (1676).

[798] of] Qq. om. Ff.

[799] our fellowship] our fellowships Q_6. your fellowship F_3 F_4.

[800] ever-preserved] ever preferred Q (1676).

[801] could] Ff. can Qq.

charge] change Q_5.

[802] no.] Qq Ff. no? Pope.

[803] [Aside to Guil.] Edd. (Globe ed.) To Guilden. Theobald. To Hamlet. Delius conj.

[804] Ham. Nay ... off.] Omitted by Jennens.

[805] [Aside] Marked first by Steevens (1793).

of you.—] of you: Ff. of you? Q_2 Q_3. of you, Q_4 Q_5 Q_6. on you Harness conj.

[806] discovery, and] discovery of Ff.

[807] and your ... moult] Qq. of your ... queene: moult Ff. of your ... queen. Moult Knight.

[808] feather. I] feather: I Q_6. feather, I The rest.

[809] exercises] Qq. exercise Ff.

[810] heavily] Qq. heavenly Ff.

[811] brave o'erhanging] brave-o'erhanging S. Walker conj.

o'erhanging] ore-hanged Q_4 Q_5 Q_6. o'erchanging] Jennens.

[812] firmament] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

[813] appears] appeares F_1. appeared F_2 F_3 F_4. appeareth Qq.

no other thing to me than] nothing to me but Qq.

[814] What a piece] Ff Q_6. What peece Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5.

a man] man Q_6.

[815] faculty] Ff. faculties Qq.

[816] faculty!... god!] Pointed as in Q_6 and Ff, substantially. faculties, in ... mooving, how ... action, how ... apprehension, how ... God: Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5 (no other stops).

[817] no] om. Qq.

woman] women Q_2 Q_3.

[818] seem] see me F_2.

[819] you] Ff. yee Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. ye Q_6.

then] Qq. om. Ff.

[820] lenten] Q_6. Lenton The rest.

[821] coted] Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. coated Ff Q_6. met Q (1676). accosted Rowe. 'costed Capell. quoted Jennens conj. escoted Staunton conj.

are they] are the Q_4 Q_5.

[822] of me] Ff Q_6. on me Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5.

[823] sigh] sing Q_4 Q_5.

[824] the clown ... sere,] Omitted in Qq.

[825] o' the] a' th' F_1. ath' F_2 F_3 F_4.

sere] scene Malone conj.

[826] blank] black Q_2 Q_3.

[827] such] Qq. om. Ff.

[828] in, the] Qq F_4. in the F_1 F_2 F_3.

[829] they] the Q_4 Q_5.

travel] Q_6 F_3 F_4. travaile The rest.

[830] was] were Anon conj.

[831] inhibition ... innovation.] itineration ... innovation. Theobald conj. (withdrawn). innovation ... inhibition. Johnson conj.

[832] the means] means Johnson.

[833] innovation.] innovation? Ff.

[834] Do they] Do the Q_4 Q_5.

[835] are they] Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. they are Ff Q_6.

[836] Ham. How ... load too.] Omitted in Qq.

[837] eyrie] ayrie F_1. ayry F_2. airy F_3 F_4.

eyases] Theobald. Yases Ff.

[838] question] the question Capell.

[839] fashion] faction Hughs.

berattle] be-rattle F_3 F_4. be ratle F_2. be-ratled F_1.

[840] stages] stagers Theobald conj. (withdrawn).

[841] 'em] them Capell.

[842] players,] players? Pope (ed. 1).

[843] most like,] Pope. like most Ff. like, most, Capell. like most will, Anon. conj.

no] not F_2.

them] them on Pope (ed. 2).

[844] succession?] Pope, ed. 2 (Theobald). succession. Ff.

[845] load] club Theobald conj. (withdrawn).

[846] very strange; for] Q_6. very strange, for Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. strange: for F_1. strange for F_2 F_3. strange, for F_4.

my] Qq. mine Ff.

[847] mows] mowes Ff. mouths Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. mouthes Q_6.

[848] fifty] Qq. om. Ff.

a] Qq. an Ff.

[849] 'Sblood] S'blood Q_6. S'bloud Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. om. Ff.

[850] [Flourish ...] Capell. A Florish. Qq. Flourish for the Players. Ff.

[851] There ... players.] Shall we call the players? Q (1676).

[852] then] Qq. om. Ff.

appurtenance] apportenance Q_4 Q_5.

[853] comply] complement Hanmer.

this] Qq. the Ff.

[854] lest my] Ff Q_6. let me Q_2 Q_3. let my Q_4 Q_5.

[855] extent] ostent Collier conj.

[856] outwards] Qq. outward Ff.

[857] handsaw] Ff. hand saw Q Q_3. hand-saw Q_4 Q_5 Q_6. hernshaw Hanmer. heronsew Anon. conj.

[858] SCENE VII. Pope.

[859] too: at] Ff. too, at Q_6. to, at Q_2 Q_3. to, are Q_4 Q_5.

[860] you see there is] as you see is Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

[861] swaddling clouts] swadling clouts Qq. swathing clouts Ff. swathling clouts Rowe (ed. 2).

[862] Happily] Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5 F_1 F_2 F_3. Happely Q_6. Haply F_4.

he's] F_1 F_3 F_4. he is Qq. hes F_2.

[863] prophesy he] prophecy, he Q_2 Q_3. prophecy that he Q_4. prophecie that he Q_5 Q_6. prophesie. Hee F_1. prophesie, He F_2 F_3 F_4.

[864] it. You] it: You Q_6. it, You Q_2 Q_3. it, you Q_4 Q_5 Ff.

o'] Capell. a Qq. for a F_1 F_2 F_3. for on F_4.

morning;] morning, Q_2 Q_3. morning Q_4 Q_5 Ff Q_6.

[865] so] (Q_1) Ff. then Qq.

[866] Roscius] F_2 F_3 F_4. Rossius Qq F_1.

[867] was] Qq. om. Ff.

Rome,—] Rome— Ff. Rome. Qq.

[868] my] Qq. mine Ff.

honour,—] honour— Rowe. honor. or honour. Qq Ff.

[869] Then ... ass,—] Marked as a quotation by Steevens (Johnson conj.)

came] Qq. can Ff.

ass,—] asse— Ff. asse. Qq.

[870] pastoral-comical, historical-pastoral] Q_4 Q_5 Q_6. pastorall comicall, historicall pastorall Q_2 Q_3. pastoricall-comicall-historicall-pastorall Ff.

[871] tragical-historical, tragical-comical-historical-pastoral] Omitted in Qq.

[872] scene] seeme Q_4 Q_5.

individable] indevidible Q_2 Q_3. indevidable Q_4 Q_5 Q_6. indivible Ff. undividable Rowe.

[873] light. For ... liberty, these] Theobald. light for ... liberty: these Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. light, for ... liberty. These Ff. light for ... liberty; these Q_6 Q (1676).

[874] writ] wit Q (1676) and Rowe.

[875] the liberty] liberty Q (1676).

[876] O Jephthah ... Israel] As a quotation in Pope.

[877] &c. Jephthah] Hanmer. Ieptha Qq. Iephta F_1 F_2. Jephta F_3 F_4.

[878] What a treasure] (Q_1) Qq. Ff. What treasure Dyce, ed. 2 (S. Walker conj.)

[879] Why ... well'] As in Capell. Prose in Qq. Two lines in Ff. Marked as a quotation in Pope.

[880] [Aside] Marked first by Capell.

[881] Pol. If ... not.] Omitted in Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

[882] you] thou Jennens.

[883] Why ... wot,] As in Malone. Prose in Qq Ff. Pope prints as a quotation by ... wot.

[884] and then ... was,'] As in Pope. Prose in Qq Ff.

[885] pious chanson] Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. Pons Chanson F_1. Pans Chanson F_2 F_3 F_4. pans chanson Q_6. godly Ballet (Q_1). rubrick Q (1676). Pont-chansons Hanmer. Pont chanson (i.e. 'chanson du Pont Neuf') Hunter conj.

[886] abridgement comes] (Q_1) Q_5 Q_6. abridgment comes Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. abridgements come Ff.

Enter....] Ff. Enter the Players. Qq. Enter certain players, usher'd. Capell.

[887] You are] Qq. Y'are Ff.

[888] thee] you Hanmer.

my] Ff. om. Qq.

[889] Why, thy] Qq. Thy Ff.

[890] valanced] vallanced (Q_1). valanct Q_2 Q_3. valanc'd Q_4 Q_5 Q_6. valiant Ff.

[891] By'r lady] Byrlady F_1. Berlady F_2 F_3 F_4. burlady (Q_1). by lady Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. my Ladie Q_5. my Lady Q_6.

ladyship] lordship F_3 F_4.

to heaven] Qq. heaven Ff.

[892] chopine] (Q_1) Qq. choppine Ff. chioppine Pope. chapin Jennens.

[893] e'en to 't] Q_6. ento't Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. e'ne to 't Ff.

French] (Q_1) Ff. friendly Qq.

falconers] (Q_1). fankners Q_2 Q_3. faukners Q_4 Q_5 Q_6. faulconers Ff.

[894] First Play.] I Play. Ff. Player. Qq.

[895] good] (Q_1) Qq. om. Ff.

[896] caviare] Johnson. cauiary. Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. cauiarie F_1. cautary F_2 F_3 F_4. caviary Q_6. a caviary Q (1676). caviar Rowe. contrary Long MS.

[897] received] conceived Collier MS. See note (II).

judgements] Qq. judgement Ff.

[898] were no sallets] Qq. was no sallets (Q_1) Ff. was no salts Pope (ed. I). was no salt Pope (ed. 2). were no salts Capell. were no saletés Becket conj.

[899] indict] Collier. indite Qq Ff.

affection] Qq. affectation Ff.

but] but I Johnson conj.

[900] as wholesome ... fine] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

[901] speech] Qq. cheefe speech F_1. chiefe speech F_2. chief speech F_3 F_4.

in it] (Q_1) Ff. in't Qq.

[902] Æneas'] Pope. Aeneas Q_2 Q_3. Æneas Q_4 Q_5 Ff Q_6.

tale] (Q_1) Ff. talke Qq. talkt Q (1676).

[903] where] (Q_1) Ff. when Qq.

[904] th' Hyrcanian] Ff. Th' ircanian Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. th' ircanian Q_6.

[905] It is not so:] Ff. tis not so, Q_2 Q_3. tis not Q_4 Q_5. 'tis not Q_6. 'tis not, Q (1695).

[906] his] he F_2 F_3.

[907] he] his F_2 F_4.

the ominous] (Q_1) Ff. th' omynous Q_2 Q_3. th' ominous Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

[908] this] his (Q_1) Q_6.

[909] heraldry] heraldy Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5.

dismal: head to foot] Pointed as in Ff. dismall head to foote, Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. dismall head to foot: Q_6.

[910] total gules] totall Gules Qq. to take Geulles F_1 F_2. to take Geules F_3 F_4.

[911] impasted] imbasted Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

streets] fires Pope.

[912] and a] Qq. and Ff.

[913] tyrannous ... murder] treacherous and damned light To the vile murtherer Anon. conj. (Misc. Obs. on Hamlet, 1752).

[914] their lord's murder] their Lords murther Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. their Lords murder Q_6. their vilde Murthers F_1 F_2 F_3. their vile Murthers F_4. the vile Murthers Rowe. murthers vile Pope. their lords' murder S. Walker conj.

[915] o'er-sized] ore-cised Qq.

[916] carbuncles] carbuncle Q_6.

[917] So, proceed you.] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

[918] antique] Pope. anticke or antick Qq Ff.

[919] to his] in his Rowe (ed. 2).

[920] match'd] matcht Qq. match Ff.

[921] falls ... Ilium] falls then senseless. Ilium Theobald conj. (withdrawn).

Then senseless Ilium] Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[922] this] Qq. his Ff.

[923] base] Qq. Bace Ff.

[924] Pyrrhus'] Apostrophe inserted by Pope.

[925] reverend] Ff. reverent Qq.

[926] painted] Omitted in F_3 F_4.

[927] And like] F_1 F_4. Like Qq. And lik'd F_2 F_3.

and matter] Erased in Long MS.

[928] And ... nothing.] As in Qq. One line in Ff.

[929] rack] rackes Q_6. wrack Theobald conj. (withdrawn).

[930] winds] wind Q_6.

[931] region, so] Qq. region. So Ff.

[932] Aroused] Collier. A rowsed Qq F_2 F_3 F_4. A ro wsed F_1. A roused Theobald (ed. 2).

a-work] a-worke F_1. aworke Q_6. a worke Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5 F_2. a work F_3 F_4. a' work Capell.

[933] Cyclops'] Apostrophe inserted by Theobald.

[934] Mars's armour] Capell. Marses Armor Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. Mars his Armours Ff. Mars his armour Q_6.

[935] strumpet, Fortune] Hyphened in Ff.

[936] fellies] F_4. follies Q_2 Q_3. folles Q_4. fellowes Q_5. fallies F_1 F_2 F_3. felloes Q_6.

[937] too] two F_3.

[938] to the] (Q_1) Qq. to'th F_1 F_2. to th' F_3 F_4.

[939] who, O, who] who, O who (Q_1). who, O who, Ff. who, a woe, Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. who, ah woe Q_6. who alas Q (1676). who, a woe! Capell. who, ah woe! Malone (Mason conj.)

[940] mobled] Qq. Moblea F_2 F_3 F_4. inobled F_1. mob-led Upton conj. ennobl'd Capell. mabled Malone. mobiled Becket conj.

[941] queen—] queen,— Theobald. queene, Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. queene. Q_5 F_2 Q_6. queen. F_1 F_3. queen? F_4.

[942] queen?] Pointed as in Ff. queene. Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. queene! Q_6.

[943] mobled ... good.] F_2 F_3 F_4. Inobled ... good. F_1. Omitted in Qq.

[944] Run ... flames] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

flames] Qq. flame Ff.

[945] bisson rheum] F_4. Bison rehume (Bison in italics) Q_2 Q_3. bison rhume Q_4 Q_5 Q_6. bisson rheume F_1 F_2 F_3.

[946] alarm] alarme Qq. alarum Ff.

[947] state] Qq. state, Ff.

pronounced:] pronounst; Q_2 Q_3. pronounc'd; Q_4 Q_5. pronounc'd: Q_6. pronounc'd? Ff.

[948] husband's] husband Q_2 Q_3.

[949] move] meant F_3 F_4.

at] om. F_3 F_4.

[950] milch] melt Pope.

[951] passion in] passioned Hanmer. passionate Elze (Collier MS.) passion e'en Taylor conj. MS.

[952] whether] Malone. where Qq Ff. if (Q_1) Pope. whe're Theobald. whe'r Capell. there, if Long MS. whêr Dyce.

[953] has tears] has not tears Hanmer.

Prithee] Prethee Qq. Pray you Ff.

[954] of this] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

[955] will] doe Q_6.

abstract] Qq. abstracts Ff.

[956] you hear] ye heare or ye hear Ff.

[957] live] Qq. lived Ff.

[958] desert] desart F_1 F_2.

[959] God's] Odd's Johnson.

bodykins] Ff. bodkin Qq. bodikin Capell.

much] Qq. om. Ff. farre (Q_1).

[960] shall] Qq. should (Q_1) Ff.

[961] hear] here Q_4 Q_5.

[Exit ...] Dyce. Exit Polon. Ff, after line 509. Exeunt Pol. and Players. Qq (after Elsinore, line 520). Exeunt Polonius, and Players. Capell (after not, line 519). Exit Pol. with some of the Players. Reed (after line 509).

[962] [Aside to Player. Staunton.

[963] Gonzago] Gonzaga Johnson.

[964] ha't] Ff. hate Q_2 Q_3. hav't Q_4 Q_5 Q_6. have it Q (1676).

[965] for a need] (Q_1) Ff. for need Qq.

[966] dozen] (Q_1) F_3 F_4. dosen F_1 F_2. dosen lines Qq.

or sixteen] om. Q (1676).

[967] you] Qq. ye Ff.

[968] [Exit First Player.] Exit Player. Reed. om Qq Ff.

[To Ros. and Guild. Johnson.

[969] [Exeunt Players. Collier MS. See note (II).

[970] Good my] Good, my Capell.

[971] SCENE VIII. Pope.

God be wi' ye] God b' w' ye F_4. God buy 'ye F_1 F_2 F_3. God buy to you Qq. Good b' w' ye Rowe. God be wi' you Capell.

[Exeunt....] Edd. (Globe ed.) Exeunt. Q_2 Q_3 Ff (after line 522). Exit. Q_4 Q_5 Q_6 (after line 522).

I am] am I Q_6.

[972] fiction] F_2 Q_6 F_3 F_4. fixion The rest.

[973] own] Qq. whole Ff.

[974] his visage] Ff. the visage Qq.

wann'd] wand Qq. warm'd Ff.

[975] in's] F_1 Q_6 F_3 F_4. ins F_2. in his Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5.

[976] and] an Q_2 Q_3.

[977] conceit?] Ff. conceit; Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. conceit, Q_6.

nothing!] nothing? Ff. nothing, Qq.

[978] For Hecuba!] om. Seymour conj.

Hecuba!] Hecuba? Ff Q_6. Hecuba. Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5.

[979] to Hecuba] (Q_1) Ff. to her Qq.

[980] the cue for] Ff. that for Qq. that cue for Anon. conj.

[981] appal] appall Rowe. appale Q_2 Q_3. appeale Q_4 Q_5 Q_6. apale Ff.

[982] The ... Yet I,] Arranged as in Johnson. One line in Qq Ff.

[983] faculties] Qq. faculty Ff.

eyes and ears] ears and eyes Johnson.

[984] Yet I, A dull and] Yet I, a Seymour conj.

[985] Yet I, A dull ... can say] Yet I say Pope, giving the omitted words in the margin.

[986] muddy-mettled] Hyphened in Ff.

[987] John-a-dreams] John a-deames F_2 F_3 F_4. John-a-droynes Becket, after Steevens, conj.

[988] coward?... this?] Pointed as in Ff, and Q_6 substantially. Stops in Qq. Commas in Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5.

[989] Ha!] As a separate line by Steevens (1793). It begins line 552 in Qq Ff (Hah, Q_2 Q_3. Hah! Q_4 Q_5. Hah? Q_6. Ha? Ff), and ends line 550 in Collier. Omitted by Pope.

[990] 'Swounds ... it:] Qq (it, Q_6). Why I ... it: F_1 F_2. Why should I take it? F_3 F_4. Yet I should take it— Pope.

[991] oppression] transgression Collier MS. aggression Singer conj. (withdrawn).

[992] have] a (Q_1) Q_2 Q_3.

[993] offal: bloody,] offall: bloudy, Q_6. offall, bloody, Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. offall, bloudy: a Ff (bloody: F_3 F_4).

[994] Remorseless ... villain!] Omitted by Jennens.

[995] O, vengeance!] Omitted in Qq.

[996] Why,] Why Qq. Who? Ff. om. Knight.

This] Qq. I sure, this Ff.

[997] a dear father murder'd] a dear father murther'd Capell. a deere murthered Q_2 Q_3. a deere father murthered Q_4 Q_5. a deare father murthered Q_6. the deere murthered Ff (dear F_3 F_4).

[998] And fall ... play] Arranged as in Capell. Three lines, ending foh ... heard ... play, in Qq. Three lines, ending drab, ... braine ... play, in Ff. Four lines, ending drab, ... foh!... heard, ... play, in Johnson.

[999] drab, A scullion] Ff. drabbe; a stallyon Q_2 Q_3. drabbe; a stallion Q_4. drabbe; stallion Q_5. drabbe, stallion Q_6. drab—A stallion Pope. drab—A cullion Theobald.

[1000] About, my brain!] About my braine, (Q_1). About my braine. Ff (brain. F_3 F_4). About my braines; Q_2 Q_3. About my braines, Q_4 Q_5 Q_6. about my brain— Pope (ed. 1). about my brain!— Pope (ed. 2). about, my brain!— Theobald. about 't my brains! Hunter conj. See note (XV).

Hum] Qq. om. Ff.

I have] I've Pope.

[1001] sitting] om. Pope.

[1002] struck so to] F_3 F_4. strooke so to Qq F_1 F_2. struck unto Rowe (ed. 2).

[1003] I'll have these players] I'll observe his looks, Pope (ed. 1), corrected in ed. 2.

[1004] tent] Qq F_1. rent F_2 F_3 F_4.

he but] Ff. a doe Qq. he do Q (1676) and Capell.

blench] blink Taylor conj. MS. bleach Anon. conj.

[1005] The] This Johnson.

[1006] be the devil] F_3 F_4. be the divell (Q_1) F_1 F_2. be a deale Q_2 Q_3. be a divell Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

and the devil] and the deale Q_2 Q_3.

ACT III.

SCENE I. A room in the castle.

Enter KING, QUEEN, POLONIUS, OPHELIA, ROSENCRANTZ, and GUILDENSTERN.[1007]

King. And can you, by no drift of circumstance,[1008]

Get from him why he puts on this confusion,[1009]

Grating so harshly all his days of quiet

With turbulent and dangerous lunacy?

Ros. He does confess he feels himself distracted, 5

But from what cause he will by no means speak.[1010]

Guil. Nor do we find him forward to be sounded;[1011]

But, with a crafty madness, keeps aloof,[1011]

When we would bring him on to some confession[1011]

Of his true state.[1011]

Queen. Did he receive you well?[1011][1012] 10

Ros. Most like a gentleman.

Guil. But with much forcing of his disposition.

Ros. Niggard of question, but of our demands[1013]

Most free in his reply.[1013]

Queen. Did you assay him[1014][1015]

To any pastime?[1014][1016] 15

Ros. Madam, it so fell out that certain players[1017]

We o'er-raught on the way: of these we told him,[1018]

And there did seem in him a kind of joy

To hear of it: they are about the court,[1019]

And, as I think, they have already order 20

This night to play before him.

Pol. 'Tis most true:

And he beseech'd me to entreat your majesties

To hear and see the matter.

King. With all my heart; and it doth much content me[1020]

To hear him so inclined.[1020] 25

Good gentlemen, give him a further edge,[1020]

And drive his purpose on to these delights.[1020][1021]

Ros. We shall, my lord.

[Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.

King. Sweet Gertrude, leave us too;[1022]

For we have closely sent for Hamlet hither,[1023]

That he, as 'twere by accident, may here[1024][1025] 30

Affront Ophelia:[1024][1026]

Her father and myself, lawful espials,[1026][1027]

Will so bestow ourselves that, seeing unseen,[1028]

We may of their encounter frankly judge,[1029]

And gather by him, as he is behaved, 35

If't be the affliction of his love or no[1030]

That thus he suffers for.

Queen. I shall obey you:

And for your part, Ophelia, I do wish[1031]

That your good beauties be the happy cause[1032]

Of Hamlet's wildness: so shall I hope your virtues[1032][1033] 40

Will bring him to his wonted way again,[1034]

To both your honours.

Oph. Madam, I wish it may.     [Exit Queen.

Pol. Ophelia, walk you here. Gracious, so please you,[1035]

We will bestow ourselves. [To Ophelia] Read on this book;[1036]

That show of such an exercise may colour 45

Your loneliness. We are oft to blame in this,—[1037]

'Tis too much proved—that with devotion's visage

And pious action we do sugar o'er[1038]

The devil himself.

King. [Aside] O, 'tis too true![1039]

How smart a lash that speech doth give my conscience! 50

The harlot's cheek, beautied with plastering art,

Is not more ugly to the thing that helps it

Than is my deed to my most painted word:

O heavy burthen!

Pol. I hear him coming: let's withdraw, my lord.[1040] 55

[Exeunt King and Polonius.

Enter HAMLET.[1041]

Ham. To be, or not to be: that is the question:

Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer

The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,[1042]

Or to take arms against a sea of troubles,[1043]

And by opposing end them? To die: to sleep;[1044][1045] 60

No more; and by a sleep to say we end[1045][1046]

The heart-ache, and the thousand natural shocks

That flesh is heir to, 'tis a consummation[1047]

Devoutly to be wish'd. To die, to sleep;[1048]

To sleep: perchance to dream: ay, there's the rub; 65

For in that sleep of death what dreams may come,

When we have shuffled off this mortal coil,[1049]

Must give us pause: there's the respect[1050]

That makes calamity of so long life;[1050]

For who would bear the whips and scorns of time,[1051] 70

The oppressor's wrong, the proud man's contumely,[1052]

The pangs of despised love, the law's delay,[1053]

The insolence of office, and the spurns

That patient merit of the unworthy takes,

When he himself might his quietus make[1054] 75

With a bare bodkin? who would fardels bear,[1055]

To grunt and sweat under a weary life,[1056]

But that the dread of something after death,

The undiscover'd country from whose bourn[1057]

No traveller returns, puzzles the will,[1058] 80

And makes us rather bear those ills we have

Than fly to others that we know not of?

Thus conscience does make cowards of us all,[1059]

And thus the native hue of resolution[1060]

Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought,[1061] 85

And enterprises of great pitch and moment[1062]

With this regard their currents turn awry[1063]

And lose the name of action. Soft you now![1064]

The fair Ophelia! Nymph, in thy orisons[1065]

Be all my sins remember'd.

Oph. Good my lord,[1066] 90

How does your honour for this many a day?

Ham. I humbly thank you: well, well, well.[1067]

Oph. My lord, I have remembrances of yours,

That I have longed long to re-deliver;[1068]

I pray you, now receive them.

Ham. No, not I;[1069][1070] 95

I never gave you aught.[1070]

Oph. My honour'd lord, you know right well you did;[1071]

And with them words of so sweet breath composed

As made the things more rich: their perfume lost,[1072]

Take these again; for to the noble mind 100

Rich gifts wax poor when givers prove unkind.

There, my lord.

Ham. Ha, ha! are you honest?

Oph. My lord?[1073]

Ham. Are you fair? 105

Oph. What means your lordship?

Ham. That if you be honest and fair, your honesty[1074][1075]

should admit no discourse to your beauty.[1075]

Oph. Could beauty, my lord, have better commerce[1076]

than with honesty?[1077] 110

Ham. Ay, truly; for the power of beauty will sooner

transform honesty from what it is to a bawd than the force

of honesty can translate beauty into his likeness: this was[1078]

sometime a paradox, but now the time gives it proof. I[1079]

did love you once. 115

Oph. Indeed, my lord, you made me believe so.

Ham. You should not have believed me; for virtue

cannot so inoculate our old stock but we shall relish of it:[1080]

I loved you not.[1081]

Oph. I was the more deceived. 120

Ham. Get thee to a nunnery: why wouldst thou be a[1082]

breeder of sinners? I am myself indifferent honest; but yet

I could accuse me of such things that it were better my

mother had not borne me: I am very proud, revengeful,

ambitious; with more offences at my beck than I have[1083] 125

thoughts to put them in, imagination to give them shape,[1084]

or time to act them in. What should such fellows as I do

crawling between heaven and earth? We are arrant knaves[1085]

all; believe none of us. Go thy ways to a nunnery.[1086]

Where's your father? 130

Oph. At home, my lord.

Ham. Let the doors be shut upon him, that he may[1087]

play the fool no where but in's own house. Farewell.[1087][1088]

Oph. O, help him, you sweet heavens!

Ham. If thou dost marry, I'll give thee this plague for[1089] 135

thy dowry: be thou as chaste as ice, as pure as snow, thou

shalt not escape calumny. Get thee to a nunnery, go: farewell.[1090]

Or, if thou wilt needs marry, marry a fool; for wise

men know well enough what monsters you make of them.

To a nunnery, go; and quickly too. Farewell.[1091] 140

Oph. O heavenly powers, restore him![1092]

Ham. I have heard of your paintings too, well enough;[1093]

God hath given you one face, and you make yourselves[1094]

another: you jig, you amble, and you lisp, and nick-name[1095]

God's creatures, and make your wantonness your ignorance.[1096][1097] 145

Go to, I'll no more on't; it hath made me mad.[1097][1098]

I say, we will have no more marriages: those that are married[1099]

already, all but one, shall live; the rest shall keep as[1100]

they are. To a nunnery, go.     [Exit.[1101]

Oph. O, what a noble mind is here o'erthrown![1102] 150

The courtier's, soldier's, scholar's, eye, tongue, sword:[1103]

The expectancy and rose of the fair state,[1104]

The glass of fashion and the mould of form,

The observed of all observers, quite, quite down!

And I, of ladies most deject and wretched,[1105] 155

That suck'd the honey of his music vows,[1106]

Now see that noble and most sovereign reason,[1107]

Like sweet bells jangled, out of tune and harsh;[1108]

That unmatch'd form and feature of blown youth[1109]

Blasted with ecstasy: O, woe is me, 160

To have seen what I have seen, see what I see![1110]

Re-enter KING and POLONIUS.

King. Love! his affections do not that way tend;[1111]

Nor what he spake, though it lack'd form a little,[1112]

Was not like madness. There's something in his soul[1113]

O'er which his melancholy sits on brood, 165

And I do doubt the hatch and the disclose

Will be some danger: which for to prevent,[1114]

I have in quick determination

Thus set it down:—he shall with speed to England,[1115]

For the demand of our neglected tribute: 170

Haply the seas and countries different

With variable objects shall expel

This something-settled matter in his heart,[1116]

Whereon his brains still beating puts him thus[1117][1118]

From fashion of himself. What think you on 't?[1117] 175

Pol. It shall do well: but yet do I believe[1119][1120]

The origin and commencement of his grief[1119][1121]

Sprung from neglected love. How now, Ophelia![1122]

You need not tell us what Lord Hamlet said;

We heard it all. My lord, do as you please;[1123] 180

But, if you hold it fit, after the play,

Let his queen mother all alone entreat him

To show his grief: let her be round with him;[1124]

And I'll be placed, so please you, in the ear[1125]

Of all their conference. If she find him not, 185

To England send him, or confine him where

Your wisdom best shall think.

King. It shall be so:

Madness in great ones must not unwatch'd go.     [Exeunt.[1126]

SCENE II. A hall in the castle.

Enter HAMLET and Players.[1127]

Ham. Speak the speech, I pray you, as I pronounced[1128]

it to you, trippingly on the tongue: but if you mouth it, as[1129]

many of your players do, I had as lief the town-crier spoke[1130]

my lines. Nor do not saw the air too much with your[1131]

hand, thus; but use all gently: for in the very torrent, tempest, 5

and, as I may say, whirlwind of your passion, you[1132]

must acquire and beget a temperance that may give it

smoothness. O, it offends me to the soul to hear a robustious[1133]

periwig-pated fellow tear a passion to tatters, to very[1134]

rags, to split the ears of the groundlings, who, for the most[1135] 10

part, are capable of nothing but inexplicable dumb-shows

and noise: I would have such a fellow whipped for o'er-doing[1136]

Termagant; it out-herods Herod: pray you, avoid it.

First Play. I warrant your honour.[1137]

Ham. Be not too tame neither, but let your own discretion 15

be your tutor: suit the action to the word, the word[1138]

to the action; with this special observance, that you o'er-step[1139]

not the modesty of nature: for any thing so overdone[1140]

is from the purpose of playing, whose end, both at the first[1141]

and now, was and is, to hold, as 'twere, the mirror up to 20

nature; to show virtue her own feature, scorn her own[1142]

image, and the very age and body of the time his form and[1143]

pressure. Now this overdone or come tardy off, though[1144][1145]

it make the unskilful laugh, cannot but make the judicious[1145]

grieve; the censure of the which one must in your allowance[1146] 25

o'erweigh a whole theatre of others. O, there be[1147]

players that I have seen play, and heard others praise, and[1148]

that highly, not to speak it profanely, that neither having[1149]

the accent of Christians nor the gait of Christian, pagan,[1150]

nor man, have so strutted and bellowed, that I have thought[1150][1151] 30

some of nature's journeymen had made men, and not made[1152]

them well, they imitated humanity so abominably.

First Play. I hope we have reformed that indifferently[1137]

with us, sir.[1153]

Ham. O, reform it altogether. And let those that play 35

your clowns speak no more than is set down for them: for

there be of them that will themselves laugh, to set on some[1154]

quantity of barren spectators to laugh too, though in the[1155]

mean time some necessary question of the play be then to

be considered: that's villanous, and shows a most pitiful ambition 40

in the fool that uses it. Go, make you ready.

[Exeunt Players.

Enter POLONIUS, ROSENCRANTZ, and GUILDENSTERN.[1156]

How now, my lord! will the king hear this piece of work?[1157]

Pol. And the queen too, and that presently.[1158]

Ham. Bid the players make haste. [Exit Polonius.][1159]

Will you two help to hasten them? 45

Ros. Guil. We will, my lord.

[Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.[1160]

Ham. What ho! Horatio!

Enter HORATIO.[1161]

Hor. Here, sweet lord, at your service.[1162]

Ham. Horatio, thou art e'en as just a man

As e'er my conversation coped withal.[1163] 50

Hor. O, my dear lord,—[1164]

Ham. Nay, do not think I flatter;

For what advancement may I hope from thee,

That no revenue hast but thy good spirits,[1165]

To feed and clothe thee? Why should the poor be flatter'd?[1166]

No, let the candied tongue lick absurd pomp,[1167] 55

And crook the pregnant hinges of the knee[1168]

Where thrift may follow fawning. Dost thou hear?[1169]

Since my dear soul was mistress of her choice,[1170]

And could of men distinguish, her election[1171]

Hath seal'd thee for herself: for thou hast been[1171] 60

As one, in suffering all, that suffers nothing;

A man that fortune's buffets and rewards[1172]

Hast ta'en with equal thanks: and blest are those[1173]

Whose blood and judgement are so well commingled[1174]

That they are not a pipe for fortune's finger 65

To sound what stop she please. Give me that man[1175]

That is not passion's slave, and I will wear him

In my heart's core, ay, in my heart of heart,[1176]

As I do thee. Something too much of this.

There is a play to-night before the king; 70

One scene of it comes near the circumstance

Which I have told thee of my father's death:[1177]

I prithee, when thou seest that act a-foot,[1178]

Even with the very comment of thy soul[1179]

Observe my uncle: if his occulted guilt[1180] 75

Do not itself unkennel in one speech,[1181]

It is a damned ghost that we have seen,

And my imaginations are as foul

As Vulcan's stithy. Give him heedful note;[1182]

For I mine eyes will rivet to his face,[1183] 80

And after we will both our judgements join[1184]

In censure of his seeming.[1185]

Hor. Well, my lord:

If he steal aught the whilst this play is playing,[1186]

And 'scape detecting, I will pay the theft.[1187]

Ham. They are coming to the play: I must be idle:[1188] 85

Get you a place.

Danish march. A flourish. Enter KING, QUEEN, POLONIUS, OPHELIA, ROSENCRANTZ, GUILDENSTERN, and other Lords attendant, with the Guard carrying torches.[1189]

King. How fares our cousin Hamlet?[1190]

Ham. Excellent, i' faith; of the chameleon's dish: I eat[1191][1192]

the air, promise-crammed: you cannot feed capons so.[1191]

King. I have nothing with this answer, Hamlet; these[1191] 90

words are not mine.[1191]

Ham. No, nor mine now. [To Polonius] My lord, you[1191][1193]

played once i' the university, you say?[1191][1194]

Pol. That did I, my lord, and was accounted a good[1195]

actor. 95

Ham. What did you enact?[1196]

Pol. I did enact Julius Cæsar: I was killed i' the Capitol;[1197]

Brutus killed me.

Ham. It was a brute part of him to kill so capital a

calf there. Be the players ready? 100

Ros. Ay, my lord; they stay upon your patience.[1198]

Queen. Come hither, my dear Hamlet, sit by me.[1199]

Ham. No, good mother, here's metal more attractive.[1200]

Pol. [To the King] O, ho! do you mark that?[1201]

Ham. Lady, shall I lie in your lap?[1202] 105

[Lying down at Ophelia's feet.

Oph. No, my lord.

Ham. I mean, my head upon your lap?[1203][1204]

Oph. Ay, my lord.[1203]

Ham. Do you think I meant country matters?[1205]

Oph. I think nothing, my lord. 110

Ham. That's a fair thought to lie between maids' legs.[1206]

Oph. What is, my lord?

Ham. Nothing.

Oph. You are merry, my lord.[1207]

Ham. Who, I? 115

Oph. Ay, my lord.

Ham. O God, your only jig-maker. What should a[1208]

man do but be merry? for, look you, how cheerfully my

mother looks, and my father died within 's two hours.[1209]

Oph. Nay, 'tis twice two months, my lord.[1210] 120

Ham. So long? Nay, then, let the devil wear black, for[1211][1212]

I'll have a suit of sables. O heavens! die two months ago,[1212][1213]

and not forgotten yet? Then there's hope a great man's

memory may outlive his life half a year: but, by'r lady, he[1214][1215]

must build churches then; or else shall he suffer not thinking[1215] 125

on, with the hobby-horse, whose epitaph is, 'For, O,

for, O, the hobby-horse is forgot.'[1216]

Hautboys play. The dumb-show enters.

Enter a King and a Queen very lovingly; the Queen embracing him, and he her. She kneels, and makes show of protestation unto him. He takes her up, and declines his head upon her neck: lays him down upon a bank of flowers: she, seeing him asleep, leaves him. Anon comes in a fellow, takes off his crown, kisses it, and pours poison in the King's ears, and exit. The Queen returns; finds the King dead, and makes passionate action. The Poisoner, with some two or three Mutes, comes in again, seeming to lament with her. The dead body is carried away. The Poisoner wooes the Queen with gifts: she seems loath and unwilling awhile, but in the end accepts his love.[1217]

[Exeunt.

Oph. What means this, my lord?[1218]

Ham. Marry, this is miching mallecho; it means mischief. 130

Oph. Belike this show imports the argument of the play.

Enter Prologue.[1219]

Ham. We shall know by this fellow: the players cannot[1220]

keep counsel; they'll tell all.[1221]

Oph. Will he tell us what this show meant?[1222]

Ham. Ay, or any show that you'll show him: be not you[1223] 135

ashamed to show, he'll not shame to tell you what it means.

Oph. You are naught, you are naught: I'll mark the[1224]

play.

Pro. For us, and for our tragedy,

Here stooping to your clemency, 140

We beg your hearing patiently.

Ham. Is this a prologue, or the posy of a ring?[1225]

Oph. 'Tis brief, my lord.

Ham. As woman's love.

Enter two Players, King and Queen.[1226]

P. King. Full thirty times hath Phœbus' cart gone round[1227][1228][1229] 145

Neptune's salt wash and Tellus' orbed ground,[1228][1230]

And thirty dozen moons with borrowed sheen[1231]

About the world have times twelve thirties been,[1232]

Since love our hearts and Hymen did our hands

Unite commutual in most sacred bands.[1233] 150

P. Queen. So many journeys may the sun and moon[1234]

Make us again count o'er ere love be done!

But, woe is me, you are so sick of late,

So far from cheer and from your former state,[1235]

That I distrust you. Yet, though I distrust, 155

Discomfort you, my lord, it nothing must:[1236]

For women's fear and love holds quantity,[1236][1237]

In neither aught, or in extremity.[1238]

Now, what my love is, proof hath made you know,[1239]

And as my love is sized, my fear is so:[1240] 160

Where love is great, the littlest doubts are fear,[1241][1242]

Where little fears grow great, great love grows there.[1241]

P. King. Faith, I must leave thee, love, and shortly too;

My operant powers their functions leave to do:[1243]

And thou shalt live in this fair world behind,[1244] 165

Honour'd, beloved; and haply one as kind[1245]

For husband shalt thou—[1246]

P. Queen. O, confound the rest!

Such love must needs be treason in my breast:

In second husband let me be accurst!

None wed the second but who kill'd the first.[1247] 170

Ham. [Aside] Wormwood, wormwood.[1248]

P. Queen. The instances that second marriage move[1249]

Are base respects of thrift, but none of love:[1250]

A second time I kill my husband dead,[1251]

When second husband kisses me in bed. 175

P. King. I do believe you think what now you speak,[1252]

But what we do determine oft we break.

Purpose is but the slave to memory,

Of violent birth but poor validity:[1253]

Which now, like fruit unripe, sticks on the tree,[1254] 180

But fall unshaken when they mellow be.

Most necessary 'tis that we forget

To pay ourselves what to ourselves is debt:

What to ourselves in passion we propose,

The passion ending, doth the purpose lose. 185

The violence of either grief or joy[1255]

Their own enactures with themselves destroy:[1256]

Where joy most revels, grief doth most lament;

Grief joys, joy grieves, on slender accident.[1257]

This world is not for aye, nor 'tis not strange[1258] 190

That even our loves should with our fortunes change,

For 'tis a question left us yet to prove,

Whether love lead fortune or else fortune love.[1259]

The great man down, you mark his favourite flies;[1260]

The poor advanced makes friends of enemies: 195

And hitherto doth love on fortune tend;[1261]

For who not needs shall never lack a friend,[1262]

And who in want a hollow friend doth try

Directly seasons him his enemy.[1263]

But, orderly to end where I begun, 200

Our wills and fates do so contrary run,

That our devices still are overthrown,

Our thoughts are ours, their ends none of our own:

So think thou wilt no second husband wed,[1264]

But die thy thoughts when thy first lord is dead.[1265] 205

P. Queen. Nor earth to me give food nor heaven light![1266]

Sport and repose lock from me day and night!

To desperation turn my trust and hope![1267]

An anchor's cheer in prison be my scope![1267][1268]

Each opposite, that blanks the face of joy, 210

Meet what I would have well and it destroy!

Both here and hence pursue me lasting strife,

If, once a widow, ever I be wife![1269]

Ham. If she should break it now![1270]

P. King. 'Tis deeply sworn. Sweet, leave me here awhile;[1271] 215

My spirits grow dull, and fain I would beguile

The tedious day with sleep.     [Sleeps.[1272]

P. Queen. Sleep rock thy brain;

And never come mischance between us twain!     [Exit.[1273]

Ham. Madam, how like you this play?[1274]

Queen. The lady doth protest too much, methinks.[1275] 220

Ham. O, but she'll keep her word.

King. Have you heard the argument? Is there no

offence in't?

Ham. No, no, they do but jest, poison in jest; no offence

i' the world.[1276] 225

King. What do you call the play?

Ham. The Mouse-trap. Marry, how? Tropically.[1277]

This play is the image of a murder done in Vienna: Gonzago[1278]

is the duke's name; his wife, Baptista: you shall see[1279]

anon; 'tis a knavish piece of work: but what o' that? your[1280] 230

majesty, and we that have free souls, it touches us not: let[1281]

the galled jade wince, our withers are unwrung.[1282]

Enter LUCIANUS.[1283]

This is one Lucianus, nephew to the king.[1284]

Oph. You are as good as a chorus, my lord.[1285]

Ham. I could interpret between you and your love, if 235

I could see the puppets dallying.

Oph. You are keen, my lord, you are keen.

Ham. It would cost you a groaning to take off my edge.[1286]

Oph. Still better, and worse.[1287]

Ham. So you must take your husbands. Begin, murderer;[1288][1289] 240

pox, leave thy damnable faces, and begin. Come:[1289][1290]

the croaking raven doth bellow for revenge.[1291]

Luc. Thoughts black, hands apt, drugs fit, and time agreeing;[1292]

Confederate season, else no creature seeing;[1293]

Thou mixture rank, of midnight weeds collected, 245

With Hecate's ban thrice blasted, thrice infected,[1294]

Thy natural magic and dire property,[1295]

On wholesome life usurp immediately.

[Pours the poison into the sleeper's ear.[1296]

Ham. He poisons him i' the garden for his estate. His[1297]

name's Gonzago: the story is extant, and written in very[1298] 250

choice Italian: you shall see anon how the murderer gets

the love of Gonzago's wife.

Oph. The king rises.

Ham. What, frighted with false fire![1299]

Queen. How fares my lord? 255

Pol. Give o'er the play.

King. Give me some light. Away!

Pol. Lights, lights, lights!

[Exeunt all but Hamlet and Horatio.[1300]

Ham. Why, let the stricken deer go weep,[1301]

The hart ungalled play;[1302] 260

For some must watch, while some must sleep:[1303]

Thus runs the world away.[1304]

Would not this, sir, and a forest of feathers—if the rest of

my fortunes turn Turk with me—with two Provincial roses[1305]

on my razed shoes, get me a fellowship in a cry of players,[1306] 265

sir?[1307]

Hor. Half a share.

Ham. A whole one, I.[1308]

For thou dost know, O Damon dear,

This realm dismantled was[1309] 270

Of Jove himself; and now reigns here[1309]

A very, very—pajock.[1310]

Hor. You might have rhymed.

Ham. O good Horatio, I'll take the ghost's word for a

thousand pound. Didst perceive?[1311] 275

Hor. Very well, my lord.

Ham. Upon the talk of the poisoning?[1312]

Hor. I did very well note him.[1313]

Ham. Ah, ha! Come, some music! come, the recorders! 280

For if the king like not the comedy,[1314]

Why then, belike, he likes it not, perdy.

Come, some music!

Re-enter ROSENCRANTZ and GUILDENSTERN.[1315]

Guil. Good my lord, vouchsafe me a word with you.[1316]

Ham. Sir, a whole history. 285

Guil. The king, sir,—[1317]

Ham. Ay, sir, what of him?[1318]

Guil. Is in his retirement marvellous distempered.

Ham. With drink, sir?

Guil. No, my lord, rather with choler.[1319] 290

Ham. Your wisdom should show itself more richer to[1320]

signify this to the doctor; for, for me to put him to his purgation[1321]

would perhaps plunge him into far more choler.[1322]

Guil. Good my lord, put your discourse into some[1323]

frame, and start not so wildly from my affair.[1323][1324] 295

Ham. I am tame, sir: pronounce.

Guil. The queen, your mother, in most great affliction

of spirit, hath sent me to you.

Ham. You are welcome.[1325]

Guil. Nay, good my lord, this courtesy is not of the 300

right breed. If it shall please you to make me a wholesome

answer, I will do your mother's commandment: if not, your

pardon and my return shall be the end of my business.[1326]

Ham. Sir, I cannot.

Guil. What, my lord?[1327] 305

Ham. Make you a wholesome answer; my wit's diseased:[1328]

but, sir, such answer as I can make, you shall command;[1329]

or rather, as you say, my mother: therefore no[1330]

more, but to the matter: my mother, you say,—[1331]

Ros. Then thus she says; your behaviour hath struck[1332] 310

her into amazement and admiration.

Ham. O wonderful son, that can so astonish a mother![1333]

But is there no sequel at the heels of this mother's admiration?[1334]

Impart.[1335]

Ros. She desires to speak with you in her closet, ere 315

you go to bed.

Ham. We shall obey, were she ten times our mother.

Have you any further trade with us?

Ros. My lord, you once did love me.

Ham. So I do still, by these pickers and stealers.[1336] 320

Ros. Good my lord, what is your cause of distemper?

you do surely bar the door upon your own liberty, if you[1337]

deny your griefs to your friend.

Ham. Sir, I lack advancement.

Ros. How can that be, when you have the voice of the 325

king himself for your succession in Denmark?

Ham. Ay, sir, but 'while the grass grows,'—the proverb[1338]

is something musty.

Re-enter Players with recorders.[1339]

O, the recorders! let me see one. To withdraw with you:—[1340]

why do you go about to recover the wind of me, as if you 330

would drive me into a toil?

Guil. O, my lord, if my duty be too bold, my love is[1341]

too unmannerly.[1341]

Ham. I do not well understand that. Will you play

upon this pipe? 335

Guil. My lord, I cannot.[1342]

Ham. I pray you.

Guil. Believe me, I cannot.

Ham. I do beseech you.[1343]

Guil. I know no touch of it, my lord.[1344] 340

Ham. It is as easy as lying: govern these ventages[1345]

with your fingers and thumb, give it breath with your[1346]

mouth, and it will discourse most eloquent music. Look[1347]

you, these are the stops.

Guil. But these cannot I command to any utterance 345

of harmony; I have not the skill.

Ham. Why, look you now, how unworthy a thing you

make of me! You would play upon me; you would seem[1348]

to know my stops; you would pluck out the heart of my

mystery; you would sound me from my lowest note to the[1349] 350

top of my compass: and there is much music, excellent[1349]

voice, in this little organ; yet cannot you make it speak.[1350]

'Sblood, do you think I am easier to be played on than a[1351]

pipe? Call me what instrument you will, though you can[1352]

fret me, yet you cannot play upon me.[1352][1353] 355

Enter POLONIUS.[1354]

God bless you, sir![1355]

Pol. My lord, the queen would speak with you, and

presently.

Ham. Do you see yonder cloud that's almost in shape[1356][1357]

of a camel?[1357][1358][1359] 360

Pol. By the mass, and 'tis like a camel, indeed.[1360][1359]

Ham. Methinks it is like a weasel.[1361]

Pol. It is backed like a weasel.[1361][1362]

Ham. Or like a whale?[1363]

Pol. Very like a whale. 365

Ham. Then I will come to my mother by and by.[1364]

They fool me to the top of my bent. I will come by and[1365][1366]

by.[1366]

Pol. I will say so.     [Exit Polonius.[1366][1367]

Ham. 'By and by' is easily said. Leave me, friends.[1366] 370

[Exeunt all but Hamlet.[1368]

'Tis now the very witching time of night,

When churchyards yawn, and hell itself breathes out[1369]

Contagion to this world: now could I drink hot blood,[1370]

And do such bitter business as the day[1371]

Would quake to look on. Soft! now to my mother.[1372] 375

O heart, lose not thy nature; let not ever[1373]

The soul of Nero enter this firm bosom:

Let me be cruel, not unnatural:[1374]

I will speak daggers to her, but use none;[1375]

My tongue and soul in this be hypocrites; 380

How in my words soever she be shent,[1376][1377]

To give them seals never, my soul, consent!     [Exit.[1376][1378]

SCENE III. A room in the castle.

Enter KING, ROSENCRANTZ, and GUILDENSTERN.[1379]

King. I like him not, nor stands it safe with us

To let his madness range. Therefore prepare you;[1380]

I your commission will forthwith dispatch,

And he to England shall along with you:

The terms of our estate may not endure[1381] 5

Hazard so near us as doth hourly grow[1382]

Out of his lunacies.

Guil. We will ourselves provide:[1383]

Most holy and religious fear it is

To keep those many many bodies safe[1384][1385]

That live and feed upon your majesty.[1384] 10

Ros. The single and peculiar life is bound[1386]

With all the strength and armour of the mind

To keep itself from noyance; but much more[1387]

That spirit upon whose weal depends and rests[1388]

The lives of many. The cease of majesty[1389] 15

Dies not alone, but like a gulf doth draw

What's near it with it: it is a massy wheel,[1390]

Fix'd on the summit of the highest mount,[1391]

To whose huge spokes ten thousand lesser things[1392]

Are mortised and adjoin'd; which, when it falls,[1393] 20

Each small annexment, petty consequence,

Attends the boisterous ruin. Never alone[1394]

Did the king sigh, but with a general groan.[1395]

King. Arm you, I pray you, to this speedy voyage,[1396]

For we will fetters put about this fear,[1397] 25

Which now goes too free-footed.

Ros. } We will haste us.

Guil.}

[Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.[1398]

Enter POLONIUS.

Pol. My lord, he's going to his mother's closet:

Behind the arras I'll convey myself,

To hear the process; I'll warrant she'll tax him home:[1399]

And, as you said, and wisely was it said, 30

'Tis meet that some more audience than a mother,

Since nature makes them partial, should o'erhear

The speech, of vantage. Fare you well, my liege:[1400]

I'll call upon you ere you go to bed,

And tell you what I know.

King. Thanks, dear my lord.[1401] 35

[Exit Polonius.

O, my offence is rank, it smells to heaven;

It hath the primal eldest curse upon't,[1402]

A brother's murder. Pray can I not,[1403][1404]

Though inclination be as sharp as will:[1404][1405]

My stronger guilt defeats my strong intent,[1406] 40

And like a man to double business bound,

I stand in pause where I shall first begin,

And both neglect. What if this cursed hand[1407]

Were thicker than itself with brother's blood,

Is there not rain enough in the sweet heavens 45

To wash it white as snow? Whereto serves mercy

But to confront the visage of offence?

And what's in prayer but this twofold force,

To be forestalled ere we come to fall,

Or pardon'd being down? Then I'll look up;[1408] 50

My fault is past. But O, what form of prayer[1409]

Can serve my turn? 'Forgive me my foul murder?'[1410]

That cannot be, since I am still possess'd

Of those effects for which I did the murder,[1411]

My crown, mine own ambition and my queen. 55

May one be pardon'd and retain the offence?[1412]

In the corrupted currents of this world[1413]

Offence's gilded hand may shove by justice,[1414]

And oft 'tis seen the wicked prize itself[1415]

Buys out the law: but 'tis not so above; 60

There is no shuffling, there the action lies

In his true nature, and we ourselves compell'd[1416]

Even to the teeth and forehead of our faults

To give in evidence. What then? what rests?

Try what repentance can: what can it not? 65

Yet what can it when one can not repent?[1417]

O wretched state! O bosom black as death!

O limed soul, that struggling to be free

Art more engaged! Help, angels! make assay![1418]

Bow, stubborn knees, and, heart with strings of steel,[1419] 70

Be soft as sinews of the new-born babe!

All may be well.     [Retires and kneels.[1420]

Enter HAMLET.

Ham. Now might I do it pat, now he is praying;[1421]

And now I'll do't: and so he goes to heaven:[1422]

And so am I revenged. That would be scann'd:[1423] 75

A villain kills my father; and for that,

I, his sole son, do this same villain send[1424]

To heaven.[1425]

O, this is hire and salary, not revenge.[1426]

He took my father grossly, full of bread,[1427] 80

With all his crimes broad blown, as flush as May;[1428]

And how his audit stands who knows save heaven?

But in our circumstance and course of thought,

'Tis heavy with him: and am I then revenged,[1429]

To take him in the purging of his soul, 85

When he is fit and season'd for his passage?[1430]

No.[1431]

Up, sword, and know thou a more horrid hent:[1432]

When he is drunk asleep, or in his rage,[1433]

Or in the incestuous pleasure of his bed;[1434] 90

At game, a-swearing, or about some act[1435]

That has no relish of salvation in 't;

Then trip him, that his heels may kick at heaven[1436]

And that his soul may be as damn'd and black

As hell, whereto it goes. My mother stays: 95

This physic but prolongs thy sickly days. [Exit.

King. [Rising] My words fly up, my thoughts remain below:[1437]

Words without thoughts never to heaven go.     [Exit.

SCENE IV. The Queen's closet.

Enter QUEEN and POLONIUS.[1438]

Pol. He will come straight. Look you lay home to him:[1439]

Tell him his pranks have been too broad to bear with,[1440]

And that your grace hath screen'd and stood between[1441]

Much heat and him. I'll sconce me even here.[1442]

Pray you, be round with him.

Ham. [Within] Mother, mother, mother![1443]5

Queen. I'll warrant you; fear me not. Withdraw, I[1444][1445][1446]

hear him coming.[1445]

[Polonius hides behind the arras.

Enter HAMLET.[1447]

Ham. Now, mother, what's the matter?

Queen. Hamlet, thou hast thy father much offended.

Ham. Mother, you have my father much offended. 10

Queen. Come, come, you answer with an idle tongue.

Ham. Go, go, you question with a wicked tongue.[1448]

Queen. Why, how now, Hamlet!

Ham. What's the matter now?[1449]

Queen. Have you forgot me?

Ham. No, by the rood, not so:

You are the queen, your husband's brother's wife; 15

And—would it were not so!—you are my mother.[1450]

Queen. Nay, then, I'll set those to you that can speak.[1451]

Ham. Come, come, and sit you down; you shall not budge;[1452]

You go not till I set you up a glass[1453][1454]

Where you may see the inmost part of you.[1454][1455] 20

Queen. What wilt thou do? thou wilt not murder me?

Help, help, ho![1456][1457]

Pol. [Behind] What, ho! help, help, help![1457][1458]

Ham. [Drawing] How now! a rat? Dead, for a ducat, dead![1457]

[Makes a pass through the arras.[1459]

Pol. [Behind] O, I am slain!     [Falls and dies.

Queen. O me, what hast thou done?[1460] 25

Ham. Nay, I know not: is it the king?[1461]

Queen. O, what a rash and bloody deed is this![1462]

Ham. A bloody deed! almost as bad, good mother,

As kill a king, and marry with his brother.

Queen. As kill a king!

Ham. Ay, lady, 'twas my word.[1463] 30

[Lifts up the arras and discovers Polonius.

Thou wretched, rash, intruding fool, farewell![1464]

I took thee for thy better: take thy fortune;[1465]

Thou find'st to be too busy is some danger.

Leave wringing of your hands: peace! sit you down,

And let me wring your heart: for so I shall, 35

If it be made of penetrable stuff;

If damned custom have not brass'd it so,[1466]

That it be proof and bulwark against sense.[1467]

Queen. What have I done, that thou darest wag thy tongue

In noise so rude against me?

Ham. Such an act 40

That blurs the grace and blush of modesty,

Calls virtue hypocrite, takes off the rose[1468]

From the fair forehead of an innocent love,

And sets a blister there; makes marriage vows[1469]

As false as dicers' oaths: O, such a deed 45

As from the body of contraction plucks

The very soul, and sweet religion makes

A rhapsody of words: heaven's face doth glow;[1470][1471]

Yea, this solidity and compound mass,[1471][1472]

With tristful visage, as against the doom,[1473]

Is thought-sick at the act. 50

Queen. Ay me, what act,[1474][1475]

That roars so loud and thunders in the index?[1475]

Ham. Look here, upon this picture, and on this,

The counterfeit presentment of two brothers.

See what a grace was seated on this brow;[1476] 55

Hyperion's curls, the front of Jove himself,

An eye like Mars, to threaten and command;[1477]

A station like the herald Mercury

New-lighted on a heaven-kissing hill;[1478]

A combination and a form indeed,[1479] 60

Where every god did seem to set his seal

To give the world assurance of a man:

This was your husband. Look you now, what follows:

Here is your husband; like a mildew'd ear,[1480]

Blasting his wholesome brother. Have you eyes?[1481] 65

Could you on this fair mountain leave to feed,

And batten on this moor? Ha! have you eyes?[1482]

You cannot call it love, for at your age

The hey-day in the blood is tame, it's humble,[1483]

And waits upon the judgement: and what judgement 70

Would step from this to this? Sense sure you have,[1484][1485]

Else could you not have motion: but sure that sense[1485][1486]

Is apoplex'd: for madness would not err,[1485]

Nor sense to ecstasy was ne'er so thrall'd[1485]

But it reserved some quantity of choice,[1485] 75

To serve in such a difference. What devil was't[1485]

That thus hath cozen'd you at hoodman-blind?[1487]

Eyes without feeling, feeling without sight,[1488]

Ears without hands or eyes, smelling sans all,[1488]

Or but a sickly part of one true sense[1488] 80

Could not so mope.[1488][1489]

O shame! where is thy blush? Rebellious hell,[1489][1490]

If thou canst mutine in a matron's bones,[1491]

To flaming youth let virtue be as wax

And melt in her own fire: proclaim no shame 85

When the compulsive ardour gives the charge,[1492]

Since frost itself as actively doth burn,

And reason panders will.[1493]

Queen. O Hamlet, speak no more:

Thou turn'st mine eyes into my very soul,[1494]

And there I see such black and grained spots[1495] 90

As will not leave their tinct.[1496]

Ham. Nay, but to live

In the rank sweat of an enseamed bed,[1497]

Stew'd in corruption, honeying and making love

Over the nasty sty,—

Queen. O, speak to me no more;[1498]

These words like daggers enter in my ears;[1499] 95

No more, sweet Hamlet!

Ham. A murderer and a villain;

A slave that is not twentieth part the tithe[1500]

Of your precedent lord; a vice of kings;

A cutpurse of the empire and the rule,[1501]

That from a shelf the precious diadem stole 100

And put it in his pocket!

Queen. No more![1502]

Ham. A king of shreds and patches—

Enter Ghost.[1503]

Save me, and hover o'er me with your wings,[1504]

You heavenly guards! What would your gracious figure?[1505]

Queen. Alas, he's mad![1506] 105

Ham. Do you not come your tardy son to chide,

That, lapsed in time and passion, lets go by[1507]

The important acting of your dread command?

O, say![1508]

Ghost. Do not forget: this visitation 110

Is but to whet thy almost blunted purpose.

But look, amazement on thy mother sits:

O, step between her and her fighting soul:[1509]

Conceit in weakest bodies strongest works:

Speak to her, Hamlet.

Ham. How is it with you, lady? 115

Queen. Alas, how is't with you,

That you do bend your eye on vacancy[1510]

And with the incorporal air do hold discourse?[1511]

Forth at your eyes your spirits wildly peep;

And, as the sleeping soldiers in the alarm, 120

Your bedded hairs, like life in excrements,[1512]

Start up and stand an end. O gentle son,[1513]

Upon the heat and flame of thy distemper

Sprinkle cool patience. Whereon do you look?

Ham. On him, on him! Look you, how pale he glares![1514] 125

His form and cause conjoin'd, preaching to stones,[1515]

Would make them capable. Do not look upon me,[1516]

Lest with this piteous action you convert

My stern effects: then what I have to do[1517]

Will want true colour; tears perchance for blood. 130

Queen. To whom do you speak this?

Ham. Do you see nothing there?[1518]

Queen. Nothing at all; yet all that is I see.[1519]

Ham. Nor did you nothing hear?

Queen. No, nothing but ourselves.

Ham. Why, look you there! look, how it steals away![1520]

My father, in his habit as he lived![1521] 135

Look, where he goes, even now, out at the portal![1522]

[Exit Ghost.

Queen. This is the very coinage of your brain:

This bodiless creation ecstasy[1523]

Is very cunning in.[1523]

Ham. Ecstasy![1524]

My pulse, as yours, doth temperately keep time, 140

And makes as healthful music: it is not madness

That I have utter'd: bring me to the test,[1525]

And I the matter will re-word, which madness[1526]

Would gambol from. Mother, for love of grace,[1527]

Lay not that flattering unction to your soul,[1528] 145

That not your trespass but my madness speaks:

It will but skin and film the ulcerous place,

Whiles rank corruption, mining all within,[1529]

Infects unseen. Confess yourself to heaven;

Repent what's past, avoid what is to come,[1530] 150

And do not spread the compost on the weeds,[1531]

To make them ranker. Forgive me this my virtue,[1532][1533][1534]

For in the fatness of these pursy times[1533][1535]

Virtue itself of vice must pardon beg,[1533]

Yea, curb and woo for leave to do him good.[1533][1536] 155

Queen. O Hamlet, thou hast cleft my heart in twain.[1537]

Ham. O, throw away the worser part of it,[1538]

And live the purer with the other half.[1539]

Good night: but go not to my uncle's bed;[1540]

Assume a virtue, if you have it not. 160

That monster, custom, who all sense doth eat,[1541][1542]

Of habits devil, is angel yet in this,[1541][1542]

That to the use of actions fair and good[1541]

He likewise gives a frock or livery,[1541]

That aptly is put on. Refrain to-night,[1541][1543] 165

And that shall lend a kind of easiness

To the next abstinence; the next more easy;[1544]

For use almost can change the stamp of nature,[1544][1545]

And either ... the devil, or throw him out[1544][1546]

With wondrous potency. Once more, good night:[1544] 170

And when you are desirous to be blest,

I'll blessing beg of you. For this same lord,

[Pointing to Polonius.[1547]

I do repent: but heaven hath pleased it so,[1548]

To punish me with this, and this with me,[1549]

That I must be their scourge and minister. 175

I will bestow him, and will answer well

The death I gave him. So, again, good night.

I must be cruel, only to be kind:[1550]

Thus bad begins, and worse remains behind.[1550][1551]

One word more, good lady.[1552]

Queen. What shall I do? 180

Ham. Not this, by no means, that I bid you do:

Let the bloat king tempt you again to bed;[1553]

Pinch wanton on your cheek, call you his mouse;

And let him, for a pair of reechy kisses,

Or paddling in your neck with his damn'd fingers, 185

Make you to ravel all this matter out,[1554]

That I essentially am not in madness,

But mad in craft. 'Twere good you let him know;

For who, that's but a queen, fair, sober, wise,

Would from a paddock, from a bat, a gib,[1555] 190

Such dear concernings hide? who would do so?[1556]

No, in despite of sense and secrecy,

Unpeg the basket on the house's top,

Let the birds fly, and like the famous ape,

To try conclusions, in the basket creep[1557] 195

And break your own neck down.

Queen. Be thou assured, if words be made of breath

And breath of life, I have no life to breathe[1558]

What thou hast said to me.

Ham. I must to England; you know that?

Queen. Alack,[1559][1560] 200

I had forgot: 'tis so concluded on.[1560][1561]

Ham. There's letters seal'd: and my two schoolfellows,[1562]

Whom I will trust as I will adders fang'd,[1562]

They bear the mandate; they must sweep my way,[1562]

And marshal me to knavery. Let it work;[1562][1563] 205

For 'tis the sport to have the enginer[1562][1564]

Hoist with his own petar: and't shall go hard[1562][1565]

But I will delve one yard below their mines,[1562]

And blow them at the moon: O, 'tis most sweet[1562]

When in one line two crafts directly meet.[1562][1566] 210

This man shall set me packing:[1567]

I'll lug the guts into the neighbour room.

Mother, good night. Indeed this counsellor[1568]

Is now most still, most secret and most grave,

Who was in life a foolish prating knave.[1569] 215

Come, sir, to draw toward an end with you.

Good night, mother.

[Exeunt severally; Hamlet dragging in Polonius.[1570]

FOOTNOTES:

[1007] ACT III. SCENE I.] Q (1676) and Rowe. Omitted in Ff.

A room in the castle] Malone. The Palace. Rowe. Another room in the same. Capell.

Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern.] Capell. Rosencraus, Guyldensterne, Lords. Qq. Rosincrance, Guildenstern, and Lords. F_1. Rosincros, Guildenstar, and Lords. F_2 F_3 F_4 (Guildenstare, F_4).

[1008] circumstance] Ff. conference Qq.

[1009] confusion] confesion Rowe (ed. 2). confession Pope (in margin).

[1010] he will] a will Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5.

[1011] Nor ... state.] Continued to Ros. by Jennens.

[1012] state] estate Q_6.

[1013] Niggard of ... of our ... Most free] Unapt to ... of our ... Most free Q (1676). Most free of ... to our ... Niggard Hanmer. Most free of ... of our ... Niggard Warburton. Niggard of ... to our ... Most free Collier MS.

[1014] Did ... pastime?] As in Capell. One line in Qq Ff.

[1015] assay] invite Q (1676).

[1016] To] unto Hanmer.

[1017] so] om. Johnson.

[1018] o'er-raught] ore-raught Qq. ore-wrought F_1 F_2. o're-took F_3 F_4. o'er-rode Warburton.

[1019] about] Ff. heere about Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. here about Q_6.

[1020] With ... delights.] Arranged as by Pope. Five lines ending hart, ... me, ... inclin'd ... edge, ... delights, in Qq. Four lines, ending me ... gentlemen, ... on ... delights, in Ff.

[1021] drive ... on to] drive ... on To Ff. drive ... into Qq. urge him to Q (1676).

[1022] [Exeunt....] Exeunt Ros. & Guyl. Qq. Exeunt. Ff.

Gertrude] Ff. Gertrard Qq.

too] Ff. two Qq.

[1023] hither] Ff Q_6. hether The rest.

[1024] he] we Jennens.

here] Q_6. heere Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. there Ff.

[1025] here Affront Ophelia] meet Ophelia here Q (1676).

[1026] Affront ... espials,] As in Johnson. One line in Ff. One line, ending myself, in Qq.

[1027] lawful espials] Omitted in Qq.

[1028] Will] Ff. Wee'le Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. Wee'll Q_6.]

unseen] and unseen Q (1676).

[1029] frankly] om. Q (1676).

[1030] no] Qq. no, F_4. no. F_1 F_2 F_3.

[1031] for your] Q_2 Q_3 Ff. for my Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

[1032] beauties ... virtues] beauty ... virtue S. Walker conj.

[1033] shall] om. Pope.

[1034] Will] May Pope.

[Exit Queen.] Theobald. om. Qq Ff.

[1035] please you] Qq. please ye Ff.

[1036] [To Ophelia.] To Oph. Johnson.

[1037] loneliness] lowlines Q_2 Q_3. lowlinesse Q_4 Q_5.

to blame] Q_6 F_3 F_4. too blame The rest.

[1038] sugar] Qq. surge Ff.

[1039] [Aside] First marked by Pope.

'tis too] Qq. 'tis Ff. it is but too Hanmer.

[1040] Pol.] Erased in Collier MS. See note (II).

let's] om. Qq.

[Exeunt....] Capell. Exeunt. Ff. om. Qq. Exeunt all but Ophelia. Rowe.

[1041] SCENE II. Pope.

Enter Hamlet.] As in Ff. After burthen, line 54, in Qq. Enter Hamlet, with a book in his hand. Hunter conj. He would transfer the soliloquy to II. 2. 169.

[1042] slings] sling Campbell. stings Fleischer (S. Walker conj.)

slings and arrows] stings and harrows Anon. conj. (Misc. Obs. on Hamlet, 1752). stings and horrors Anon. MS.

[1043] a sea of] a siege of Theobald conj. (withdrawn). th' assay of or a 'say of Theobald conj. assailing Hanmer conj. assail of Warburton. assays of Keightley conj. the seat of Bailey conj. assay of Brae conj.

[1044] opposing] a poniard or deposing Bailey conj.

them?] Pope. them, Q_2 Q_3. them: Q_4 Q_5 Ff Q_6. om. S. Evans conj.

[1045] die: to sleep; No] die to sleepe No Qq (dye Q_6). dye, to sleepe No F_1. dye, to sleepe: No F_2. dye, to sleep No F_3 F_4. die,—to sleep—No Pope.

[1046] more;] F_1 Q_6. more, Q_2 Q_3. more: Q_4 Q_5 F_2 F_3 F_4. more? Capell.

say we end] straightway end Bailey conj.

[1047] to,] to; Qq. too? F_1. to? F_2 F_3. {to.} F_4.

[1048] wish'd. To] Ff. wisht to Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. wisht, to Q_6.

[1049] we have] he have F_2. he hath F_3 F_4.

shuffled] shuffel'd F_1 F_2.

coil] spoil Mason conj. vail or clay Elze conj.

[1050] Must ... life;] As three lines ending pause ... calamity ... life; S. Walker conj.

[1051] whips ... time] quips ... time Grey conj. whips ... th' time Warburton conj. whips ... tyrants or quips ... title Johnson conj. whips ... o' the times Steevens conj. scorns of weapon'd time Becket conj. scorns of whiphand time Id. conj. (withdrawn).

[1052] proud] Q_5 Q_6. proude Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. poore F_1 F_2. poor F_3 F_4.

[1053] pangs] pang Pope.

despised love, the] despiz'd love, the Q_2 Q_3. office, and the Q_4 Q_5. dispriz'd love, the Ff. despised love, and the Q_6. mispriz'd love, the Collier MS. (erased). See note (II).

[1054] When he] When Q_4 Q_5. When as Q_6.

quietus] quietas Q_2 Q_3 Q_4.

[1055] who would fardels] who'd these fardels Grant White (S. Walker conj.)

fardels] Qq. these fardles Ff.

[1056] grunt] groan Q (1676) and Pope.

[1057] The undiscover'd] Qq. The undiscovered Ff. That undiscover'd Pope. In the undiscover'd Keightley.

bourn] Capell. bourne Pope. borne Qq F_1 F_2. born F_3 F_4.

[1058] returns, puzzles] returnes. Puzels F_1.

[1059] of us all] (Q_1) Ff. om. Qq.

[1060] hue] F_3 F_4. hiew Qq. hew F_1 F_2.

[1061] sicklied] Ff Q_6. sickled The rest.

[1062] pitch] Qq. pith Ff. See note (XVI).

[1063] awry] Qq. away Ff.

[1064] [Seeing Oph. Rowe.

[1065] Ophelia!] Ophelia? Ff. Ophelia, Qq.

orisons] Theobald. orizons Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5 F_1. horizons F_2 F_3 F_4. orizons? Q_6. oraisons Rowe.

[1066] remember'd.] remembred? Q_6.

[1067] you: well, well, well.] Ff. you well. Q_2 Q_3. you: well. Q_4 Q_5. you, well. Q_6.

[1068] long] om. Q (1676). much Pope.

[1069] No, not I] Qq. No, no Ff. No Pope.

[1070] No ... aught.] Arranged as by Capell. One line in Qq Ff.

[1071] you know] Qq. I know Ff.

[1072] the things] Ff. these things Qq.

rich: their perfume lost,] Q_4 Q_5 Q_6. rich, their perfume lost, Q_2 Q_3. rich, then perfume left: F_1 F_2 F_3. rich, than perfume left: F_4. rich: that perfume lost, Rowe.

[1073] lord?] Capell. lord. Qq Ff. lord— Rowe.

[1074] your honesty] Ff. you Qq.

[1075] your honesty ... beauty.] you should admit your honesty to no discourse with your beauty. Johnson conj.

[1076] commerce] Q_5 Q_6 F_4. comerse Q_2 Q_3. comerce Q_4 F_1 F_2 F_3. converse Anon. conj.

[1077] with] Qq. your Ff.

[1078] into] in Q_5 to Q_6.

his] its Pope.

[1079] sometime] sometimes F_3 F_4.

[1080] inoculate] innocculate F_1. inocculate F_2 F_3. inocualte F_4. euocutat Q_2 Q_3. euacuat Q_4. euacuate Q_5. evacuate Q_6.

[1081] I loved you not.] I did love you once. Rowe (ed. 2).

[1082] to] Ff. om. Qq.

[1083] at my beck] on my back Long MS. at my back Collier MS.

[1084] in, imagination to] Qq. in imagination, to Ff. in name, imagination to Warburton.

[1085] heaven and earth] (Q_1) Ff. earth and heaven Qq.

[1086] all] (Q_1) Ff. om. Qq.

[1087] Let ... house.] Prose in Ff. Two lines, the first ending him, in Qq.

[1088] no where] Qq. no way Ff.

[1089] plague] plage Q_4.

[1090] go] Ff. om. Qq.

[1091] too] Ff Q_6. to The rest.

[1092] O] Ff. om. Qq.

[1093] paintings] (Q_1) Qq. pratlings F_1. pratling F_2 F_3 F_4. painting Pope.

too] Ff. om. Qq.

[1094] God] Nature Q (1676).

hath] Qq. has Ff.

face] (Q_1) Qq. pace Ff.

yourselves] your selves Q_5 Q_6. your selfes Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. your selfe F_1 F_2. your self F_3 F_4.

[1095] you jig] gig Q_6. fig (Q_1).

jig] Q (1676). gig Qq. gidge Ff.

you amble] Ff. and amble Qq.

lisp,] Q (1676) F_4. lispe, F_1 F_2 F_3. list Qq.

and nick-name] Ff. you nickname Qq.

[1096] God's] Heavens Q (1676).

[1097] wantonness your ignorance] ignorance your wantonness Anon. conj.

your ignorance] (Q_1) Ff. ignorance Qq.

[1098] Go to] Q_5. Goe to Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. Go too F_1 Q_6. Goe F_2. Go F_3 F_4.

[1099] no more marriages] (Q_1) Ff. no mo marriage Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. no moe marriages Q_6.

[1100] live] om. F_2 F_3 F_4.

[1101] [Exit.] Qq. Exit Hamlet. Ff.

[1102] o'erthrown] othrowne Q_4 Q_5.

[1103] soldier's, scholar's] scholar's, soldier's Hanmer and Staunton, from (Q_1).

scholar's,] schollers, Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. scholers, Q_5. scholars, Q_6. scholiers: F_1. schollers? F_2. schollars? F_3. scholars! F_4. om. Jennens.

[1104] expectancy] F_3 F_4. expectansie F_1 F_2. expectation Qq.

[1105] And I] Qq. Have I F_1 F_2. I am F_3 F_4.

[1106] music] musickt Q_2 Q_3 Q_4.

vows,] Pointed as by Hanmer. vowes; Qq. vowes: or vows: Ff.

[1107] that noble] Ff. what noble Qq.

[1108] jangled, out of tune] Capell. jangled out of time, Qq. jangled out of tune, Ff.

[1109] unmatch'd] unmarcht Q_5. unsnatch'd Jennens.

form] forme Qq F_1. fortune F_2 F_3 F_4.

feature] Ff. stature Qq. statute Q (1695).

[1110] To have] T' have Qq Ff.

see!] see. Exit. Qq and Elze.

Re-enter....] Capell. Enter.... Qq Ff.

[1111] SCENE III. Pope.

Love!] Q_6. Love, Q_2 Q_3. Love: Q_4 Q_5. Love? Ff.

[1112] Nor] For Q_6.

[1113] There's something] Something's Pope.

soul] soule? F_1.

[1114] for to] Qq. to F_1 F_2. how to F_3 F_4.

[1115] it] om. Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

[1116] something-settled] Hyphened by Warburton. sometime-settled Daniel conj.

[1117] Whereon ... on't?] Arranged as in Ff. Three lines, ending beating ... himselfe ... on't? in Qq.

[1118] brains] F_3 F_4. braines Qq F_1 F_2. brain Collier MS. brain's Grant White.

[1119] but ... grief] Arranged as in Ff. One line in Q_2 Q_3.

[1120] do I] I doe Q_6.

[1121] his grief] Q_2 Q_3. it Q_4 Q_5 Q_6, reading But ... of it as one line. this greefe Ff.

[1122] [Enter Ophelia. Elze.

[1123] [Exit Ophelia. Elze.

[1124] grief] griefe Qq. greefes F_1. griefes F_2. griefs F_3 F_4.

[1125] placed, so please you] plac'd so, please you F_1 F_2.

[1126] unwatch'd] Ff. unmatcht Qq.

[1127] SCENE II.] Capell. SCENE IV. Pope. om. Ff.

A hall....] A Hall, in the same, fitted as for a Play. Capell.

and Players.] and the Players. (Q_1). and three of the Players. Qq. and two or three of the Players. Ff.

[1128] pronounced] pronoun'd Q_2 Q_3.

[1129] trippingly on] smoothly from Q (1676).

[1130] your players] (Q_1) Ff. our players Qq.

lief] Steevens (1793). live Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5 F_1 F_2. lieve Q_6 F_3 F_4.

spoke] Qq. had spoke Ff.

[1131] Nor] And Pope.

much with your] Qq. much your Ff. much, your Caldecott.

[1132] whirlwind of your passion] Qq. the whirle-winde of passion Ff. whirlwind of passion Collier. the whirlwind of your passion Staunton.

[1133] hear] Qq. see Ff.

robustious] robustous Q (1676) F_4.

[1134] periwig-pated] Q (1676). perwig-pated Qq. Pery-wig-pated F_1. Pery-wig-parted F_2. Perriwig-parted F_3 F_4.

to tatters] Ff. to totters Qq. om. Q (1676).

[1135] split] Ff. spleet Qq.

[1136] would] (Q_1) Qq. could Ff.

[1137] First Play.] 1. P. Capell. Player. or Play. Qq Ff.

[1138] suit] Hanmer. sute Qq F_1 F_3 F_4. sure F_2.

[1139] o'erstep] ore-steppe Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. ore-step Q_5 Q_6. ore-stop Ff. ore-top Long MS.

[1140] overdone] ore-doone Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. ore-done Q_5 Q_6.

[1141] at the first] at first Q_5 Q_6.

[1142] her own feature] her feature Qq.

scorn] sin Bailey conj.

[1143] the very] every Mason conj.

age] face or page Johnson conj. eye Taylor conj. MS.

the very age] the visage Bailey conj.

[1144] tardy] trady Q_4.

off] of Q_6, and Mason conj.

pressure] posture Bailey conj.

[1145] though it make] though it makes Qq.

[1146] the censure] in the censure Long MS.

the which one] Ff. which one Qq. one of which Hanmer.

[1147] o'erweigh] ore-weigh Qq. o're-way F_1. ore-sway F_2 F_3 F_4.

[1148] praise] Ff Q_6. praysd Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. praisd Q_5.

[1149] neither ... nor man,] Put within brackets, as an interpolation, by Warburton.

[1150] accent of Christians] accent of Christian Pope.

nor the] or the Rowe.

[1151] nor man] Qq. Nor Turke (Q_1). or Norman Ff. nor Mussulman Farmer conj. or man Pope. or Turk Grant White.

[1152] men] them Rann (Theobald conj. withdrawn). the men Farmer conj.

[1153] sir] Ff. om. Qq.

[1154] themselves] of themselves F_3 F_4.

[1155] too] to Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5.

[1156] [Exeunt Players.] F_2 F_3 F_4. Exit Players. F_1. Omitted in Qq.

Enter ... Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern.] As in Ff. Enter ... Guyldensterne, & Rosencrans. Qq (after work? line 42).

[1157] SCENE IV.] Warburton.

[1158] too] Ff Q_6. to The rest.

[1159] [Exit Polonius.] Ff. om. Qq.

[1160] Ros. Guil.] Both. Ff. Ros. Qq.

We will] Ff. I Qq.

[Exeunt....] Exeunt they two. Q_2 Q_3. Exeunt those two. Q_4 Q_5 Q_6. Exeunt. Ff.

[1161] SCENE V. Pope.

What ho!] What hoe, Q_6. What hoa, F_1 F_2 F_3. What ho, F_4. What howe, Q_2 Q_3. What how, Q_4 Q_5.

Enter Horatio.] As in Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. After line 46 in Ff. Omitted in Q_6.

[1162] sweet lord] my lord Q (1676).

[1163] coped] copt Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. cop't Q_6. coap'd Ff. met Q (1676).

[1164] lord,—] lord— Rowe. lord. Qq Ff.

[1165] no revenue hast] hast no revenue Q (1676).

[1166] thee?] Q_6. thee, Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. thee. Ff.

Why] om. Pope.

[1167] lick] Q_4 Q_5. licke Q_2 Q_3 Q_6. like Ff.

absurd] obsurd Q_4 Q_5.

[1168] pregnant] begging Collier MS. (in pencil). See note (II).

[1169] fawning.] fawning: Q_6. fauning; Q_2 Q_3. fauning, Q_4. fawning, Q_5. faining. F_1 F_2 F_3. feigning. F_4.

hear?] heare? Q_6. heare, or hear, The rest.

[1170] dear] clear Johnson conj.

her] Qq. my Ff.

[1171] distinguish, ... Hath] Ff. distinguish her election, S'hath Qq (Shath Q_4 Q_5. Sh'ath Q_6).

[1172] fortune's] fortune F_3 F_4.

[1173] Hast] Qq. Hath Ff.

[1174] commingled] co-mingled Ff. comedled Qq. commedled Q (1676, 1683, 1695). commended Q (1703). comêl'd Capell conj.

[1175] stop] stops Q (1676).

[1176] of heart] of hearts Q (1676).

[1177] thee of] Qq. thee, of Ff.

[1178] a-foot] on foot Q_6.

[1179] very] om. F_2 F_3 F_4.

thy] Qq. my Ff.

[1180] my] Qq. mine Ff.

his occulted] then his hidden Q (1676). his occult Rowe (ed. 2).

[1181] unkennel] discover Q (1676).

[1182] stithy] Qq. stythe F_1. styth F_2 F_3 F_4. smithy Theobald.

heedful] Q(1676) F_4. heedfull Qq. needfull F_1 F_2 F_3.

[1183] face,] face? F_2.

[1184] judgements] judgement F_2.

[1185] In] Qq. To Ff.

[1186] he] Ff. a Qq.

[1187] detecting] Ff. detected Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. detection Q_6.

[1188] SCENE VI. Pope. SCENE V. Warburton.

They are] They're Pope.

[1189] Danish march. A flourish. Enter ... the Guard ... torches.] Capell, substantially. Enter ... his Guard ... torches. Danish March. Sound a Flourish. Ff (after line 84). Enter Trumpets and Kettle Drummes, King, Queene, Polonius, Ophelia. Qq (after line 84).

[1190] our] my F_3 F_4.

[1191] Excellent ... say?] Prose in Ff. Irregular lines in Qq.

[1192] dish: I] dish I Q (1676).

[1193] mine now. My lord,] Johnson. mine now my lord. Qq. mine. Now my lord, Ff.

[To Polonius] Rowe.

[1194] i' the] in the Q_6.

[1195] did I] Qq. I did Ff.

[1196] What] Qq. And what Ff.

[1197] Capitol] F_1 F_4. Capitall Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. Capitoll F_2 Q_6 F_3.

[1198] stay] wait Q (1676).

patience] pleasure Johnson conj. patents Becket conj.

[1199] dear] deere Q_2 Q_3. deare Q_4 Q_5 Q_6. good Ff.

[1200] metal] metall Q_6. mettle The rest.

[1201] [To the King] Capell.

O, ho!] Oh, oh, Q_4 Q_5.

that?] Ff Q_6. that. Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5.

[1202] [Lying....] Rowe. Seating himself at Ophelia's feet. Capell (after line 103).

[1203] Ham. I mean ... lord.] Omitted in Qq.

[1204] upon] in Capell.

[1205] country] contrary (Q_1). contray Singer (ed. 1), a misprint.

matters] manners Johnson conj.

[1206] maids'] maydes or maids Qq Ff. a maid's Rowe.

[1207] lord.] Qq. lord? Ff.

[1208] O God,] om. Q (1676). Oh! Johnson.

[1209] within 's] Qq Ff. within these Pope.

[1210] twice] om. Hanmer. quite Ingleby conj.

[1211] devil] deule Q_2 Q_3.

[1212] for ... sables] (Q_1) Qq Ff. for ... ermyn Hanmer. 'fore ... sable Warburton. for ... sabell Anon. conj. (The Critic, 1854, p. 317).

[1213] have] not have Keightley. leave Lloyd conj. leave him Anon. conj. have ne'er Anon. conj.

a suit] no suit Becket conj.

[1214] by'r lady] by'r-lady F_4. byr-lady F_1. ber Lady Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_6. ber Ladie Q_5. berlady F_2 F_3. om. Q (1676).

[1215] he ... he] Ff. a ... a Qq.

[1216] Hautboys ... love.] Ff, substantially. The Trumpets sounds. Dumbe show followes. Enter a King and a Queene, the Queene embracing him, and he her, he takes her vp, and declines his head vpon her necke, he lyes him downe vppon a bancke of flowers, she seeing him asleepe, leaues him: anon come in an other man, takes off his crowne, kisses it, pours poyson in the sleepers eares, and leaues him: the Queene returnes, finds the King dead, makes passionate action, the poysner with some three or foure come in againe, seeme to condole with her, the dead body is carried away, the poysner wooes the Queene with gifts, shee seemes harsh awhile, but in the end accepts loue. Qq ( ... anon comes ... comes in ... Q_4 Q_5 Q_6). Theobald substitutes 'a Duke and a Dutchess, with regal coronets,' for 'a King and a Queen'.

and a] and Ff.

and he her] om. Ff.

exit.] exits. Ff.

[Exeunt.] Ff. om. Qq.

[During the dumb show King and Queen whisper confidentially to each other and so do not see it. Halliwell conj.

[1217] SCENE VII. Pope. SCENE VI. Warburton.

[1218] Marry] om. Q(1676).

this is] Ff. this Q_2 Q_3. tis Q_4. it is Q_5 Q_6.

miching mallecho] Malone. myching Mallico (Q_1). munching Mallico Qq. miching Malicho Ff. miching Malhechor Warburton. miching Malbecco Grey conj. munching Malicho Capell. mimicking Malbecco Farmer conj. mucho malhecho Keightley (Maginn conj.)

it] Qq. that Ff.

[1219] Belike] Be like F_2.

play.] Qq. play? Ff.

Enter Prologue.] As in Theobald. After fellow, line 132, in Qq. After play, line 138, in Ff.

[1220] this fellow] Qq. these fellowes Ff.

[1221] counsel] Omitted in Qq.

[1222] he] Pope, a Qq. they Ff.

tell us] shew us Q (1676).

[1223] you'll] you will Qq.

not you] not Q (1676).

[1224] mark] make F_2 F_3 F_4.

[1225] posy] posie Qq F_4. poesie F_1 F_2 F_3.

[1226] Enter ...] Enter King and Queen, Players. Pope. Enter King and Queene. Qq. Enter King and his Queene. F_1 F_2. Enter King, and Queen. F_3 F_4. Enter Duke, and Dutchess, Players. Theobald, from (Q_1).

[1227] P. King.] Steevens (1778). King. Qq Ff.

[1228] Phœbus' ... Tellus'] Apostrophes inserted by Pope.

[1229] cart] carr Q (1676). car Rowe.

[1230] orbed] Ff. orb'd the Qq.

[1231] borrowed] Qq Ff. borrow'd Q (1676) and Capell.

[1232] times twelve thirties] Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5 F_1. time, twelve thirties F_2 F_3 F_4. twelve times thirty Q_6. times twelve thirty Hanmer.

[1233] commutual in most] infolding them in Q (1676).

[1234] P. Queen.] Steevens (1778). Quee. or Que. Qq F_2 F_3. Queen. F_4. Bap. or Bapt. F_1.

[1235] from cheer and] different Q (1676).

your] our Q_2 Q_3.

former] forme F_1.

[1236] must: For] Ff. must. For women feare too much, even as they love, And Qq. See note (XVII).

[1237] HOLDS] Ff. HOLD Qq.

[1238] IN NEITHER AUGHT] In neither ought Ff. Eyther none, in neither ought Qq. 'Tis either none Pope. In neither: aught Hunter conj. Either in nought Anon. conj.

[1239] love] Lord Q_2 Q_3.

is, proof hath made] has been, proof makes Q (1676).

[1240] sized] ciz'd Q_2 Q_3 Q_6. ciz'st Q_4 Q_5. siz'd F_1. siz F_2. fixt F_3 F_4. great Q (1676).

[1241] Where love ... there.] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

[1242] littlest] Q_6. litlest Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. smallest Q (1676).

[1243] operant] working Q (1676).

their functions] Qq. my functions Ff.

[1244] fair] fare Q_4.

[1245] kind] Q_6. kind, Q_2 Q_3 Q_4_ Q_5. kinde. F_1. kind. F_2 F_3 F_4. a kind Rowe (ed. 2).

[1246] thou—] Ff. thou. Qq.

[1247] kill'd] kill Theobald.

[1248] [Aside] Capell.

Wormwood, wormwood.] Ff. O wormewood, wormewood! (Q_1). That's wormwood. Qq (in the margin).

[1249] P. Queen.] Bapt. Ff. om. Qq.

[1250] thrift] Trift F_2.

[1251] husband dead] lord that's dead (Q_1) Staunton.

[1252] you think] Pointed as in Qq. you. Think Ff.

[1253] but] and Q (1676).

[1254] like] Ff. the Qq.

fruit] fruits Q (1676) and Pope.

[1255] either] Q_5 Q_6. eyther, Q_2 Q_3. either, Q_4. other Ff.

[1256] enactures] Q_6. ennactures Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. ennactors F_1. enactors F_2 F_3 F_4.

[1257] joys] F_4. joyes F_1 F_2 F_3. joy Qq.

grieves F_3 F_4. greeves F_1 F_2. griefes Qq.

[1258] nor] and Pope.

'tis not] is it Q (1676).

[1259] lead fortune] fortune lead Pope. leads fortune Theobald.

else] om. Pope.

[1260] favourite] favourites F_1.

[1261] hitherto] hither to F_2.

[1262] friend,] Qq. friend: F_1. friend? F_2 F_3 F_4.

[1263] seasons him] sees in him Anon. conj.

[1264] So think] Think still Q (1676).

[1265] die thy thoughts] thy thoughts dye Q (1676).

[1266] to me give] Qq. to give me Ff. oh! give me Hanmer. do give me Seymour conj.

Nor ... give] Let earth not give me Anon. conj. (Misc. Obs. on Hamlet, 1752).

[1267] To desperation ... scope!] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

[1268] An anchor's] Theobald. And anchors Qq. And anchors' Jennens. An anchoret's Anon, apud Rann conj.

cheer] chair Steevens conj.

[1269] once ... wife] (Q_1) Ff. once I be a widdow, ever I be a wife Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_6 (bee Q_4. widow Q_6). once I be a widdow, ever I be wife Q_5. once I widow be, and then a wife Q (1676). once I be a widow, 'ere a wife Anon. MS.

[1270] Ham. If ... now!] Ham. If ... now. Qq (in the margin) Ff. Ham. If ... now— Pope. Ham. [to Oph.] If ... now,— Capell.

it now] her vow Elze (Collier MS.)

[1271] 'Tis ... awhile;] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

here] heare Q_4 Q_5 F_2.

[1272] [Sleeps.] Ff (after brain). om. Qq. Lays him down. Capell.

[1273] betw 'en] betwixt Q_4 Q_5.

[Exit.] Ff. Exeunt. Qq. Exit Lady. (Q_1). Exit Dutchess. Duke sleeps. Capell.

[1274] this] the F_2 F_3 F_4.

[1275] doth protest] Qq. protests Ff.

[1276] i' the world] om. Q (1676).

[1277] how?] Ff Q_6. how Q_2Q_3Q_4Q_5.

[1278] Gonzago] Gonzaga Johnson.

[1279] wife] wife's Theobald.

[1280] o'] Ff. a (Q_1). of Qq.

[1281] that have] shall have Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

us not] not us Q (1676).

[1282] wince] (Q_1) Steevens. winch Qq Ff.

unwrung] Q_4 Q_5 Q_6 F_3 F_4 unwrong Q_2 Q_3. unrung F_1F_2.

[1283] Enter Lucianus.] Ff. After king, line 233, in Qq.

[1284] king] duke Pope, ed. 2 (Theobald).

[1285] as good as a] (Q_1) Qq. a good Ff.

[1286] my] Ff. mine Qq.

[1287] better,] worse Q (1676 and Rowe).

[1288] must take your husbands.] Pope. must take your husband (Q_1). mistake your husbands Qq. mistake husbands Ff. most of you take husbands Hanmer. must take husbands Long MS.

[1289] murderer] murther Ff.

[1290] pox,] Ff. om. Qq. a poxe (Q_1.)

[1291] the ... revenge.] Printed as a quotation in two half lines, the first ending raven, by Steevens (1793).

[1292] Thoughts ... agreeing;] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[1293] Confederate](Q_1) Ff. Considerat Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. Considerate Q_5 Q_6.

else] and Q (1676) and Theobald.

[1294] ban] bane (Q_1) Q_6 F_4.

infected] invected Q_2 Q_3.

[1295] Thy] The F_4. Thou Pope.

[1296] usurp] F_3 F_4. usurpe F_1 F_2. usurps (Q_1) Qq.

[Pours ... ear.] Capell, substantially. Powres the poyson in his eares. Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[1297] He] (Q_1) Ff. A Qq.

for his] (Q_1) Qq. for's F_1 F_3 F_4. fors F_2

[1298] name's] F_1 Q_6. names The rest.

written in very] Qq. writ in Ff.

[1299] Ham. What, ... fire] Ff. Ham. Frighted ... fires (Q_1). Omitted in Qq.

[1300] Pol.] Qq. All. Ff. [Exeunt ...] Exeunt all but Ham. & Horatio. Qq. Exeunt. Manet Hamlet & Horatio. Ff (Manent F_4).

[1301] SCENE VIII. Pope. SCENE VII. Warburton.

stricken] (Q_1) Hanmer. strooken Q_2 Q_3. stroken Q_4 Q_5. strucken Ff Q_6.

[1302] hart] heart F_2 F_3.

[1303] while] whilst Q_4 Q_5. whilest Q_6.

sleep:] sleepe? F_2 F_3 F_4.

[1304] Thus] (Q_1) Qq. So Ff.

[1305] two] Ff. om. Qq.

Provincial] Provencial Capell (Warton conj.) Provençal Warton conj.

[1306] razed] raz'd Qq. rac'd Ff. rack'd Rowe (ed. 2). rayed Pope. rais'd Jennens (Theobald conj.)

cry] city Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

players] player Q_5.

[1307] sir] Ff. om. Qq.

[1308] A whole one, I.] Ay, a whole one. Hanmer. A whole one;—ay— Malone conj. A whole one, ay, Grant White.

[1309] This ... himself] Arranged as in Qq. One line in Ff.

[1310] pajock] F_3 F_4. paiock Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. paiocke F_1 Q_6. pajocke F_2. paicock Q (1676). pecock Q (1695). peacock Pope. paddock Theobald. puttock or meacock Id. conj. (withdrawn). baiocco Anon. conj. (1814). hedjocke (i.e. hedgehog) S. Evans conj. padge-hawk Id. conj. (withdrawn). patokie (i.e. pataicco or pataikoi) E. Warwick conj. Polack Anon. conj. [hiccups. (as a stage direction) Leo conj.

[1311] pound] pounds Rowe (ed. 2).

[1312] poisoning?] poysoning? Ff. poysning. Q_2 Q_3. poysoning. Q_4. poisoning. Q_5 Q_6.

[1313] Ah, ha!] Ah ha, Qq. Oh, ha? F_1 F_2 F_3. Oh ha! F_4.

[1314] like] likes Q_6.

[1315] Re-enter....] Dyce. Enter.... Qq. Enter.... Ff. (after line 278).

[1316] vouchsafe] Ff Q_6. voutsafe Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5.

[1317] sir,—] sir— Rowe. sir. Qq Ff.

[1318] him?] Qq F_1. him. F_2 F_3 F_4.

[1319] rather] Ff. om. Qq.

[1320] more richer] Qq F_1. more rich F_2 F_3 F_4. richer Q (1676).

[1321] the doctor] Qq. his doctor F_1. F_2 F_3. this doctor F_4.

for, for] Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. for for F_1 Q_6 for F_2 F_3 F_4.

[1322] far] F_4. farre F_1 F_2 F_3. om. Qq.

[1323] Good ... affair.] Prose in Ff. Two lines, the first ending frame, in Qq.

[1324] start] Ff. stare Qq.

from] upon Q_6.

my] the Collier MS.

affair] business Q (1676).

[1325] [with great ceremony. Capell.

[1326] of my] Ff. of Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. of the Q_6.

[1327] Guil.] Guild. Ff. Ros. Qq.

lord?] Ff Q_6. lord. The rest.

[1328] wit's] Q_6 F_4. wits The rest.

[1329] answer] Q_5 Q_6. answere Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. answers Ff.

[1330] as you] Qq. you Ff.

[1331] say,—] say— Rowe. say. Qq Ff.

[1332] struck] F_4. strooke Qq. stroke F_1 F_2 F_3.

[1333] so] thus Q (1676).

astonish] Ff Q_6. stonish Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. 'stonish Capell.

[1334] mother's admiration] mother admiration F_3. mother-admiration F_4.

admiration?] admiration, Q_2 Q_3.

[1335] Impart.] Qq. om. Ff.

[1336] So I] Ff. And Qq.

[1337] surely ... upon] Qq. freely of Ff. surely ... of Grant White.

bar] but bar Reed (1803).

[1338] sir] Qq. om. Ff.

grows,—] grows— Pope. growes, Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 F_1 F_2 F_3. grows, Q_5 F_4. growes; Q_6.

[1339] Re-enter....] Dyce. Enter the Players with Recorders. Qq (after line 326). Enter one with a Recorder. Ff.

[1340] recorders] Qq. recorder Ff.

see one. To] Pope. see one, to Qq. see, to F_1 F_2. see to F_3 F_4. set one. To Rowe. See note (XVIII).

To ... you:] Marked as 'Aside' by Capell.

you:—] you; Q_6. you, The rest.

[1341] love is too unmannerly.] love is not unmannerly. Tyrwhitt conj. love too unmannerly.... Keightley.

[1342] Guil.] Ros. Nicholson conj.

[1343] do] om. Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

[1344] Guil.] Ros. Staunton conj.

[1345] It is] Qq. 'Tis Ff.

ventages] Qq. ventiges Ff.

[1346] with ... thumb] and the umbo with your fingers Becket conj.

fingers] Qq. finger Ff.

and thumb,] F_4. and thumbe F_1 F_2 F_3. & the vmber, Q_2 Q_3. and the thumb Q_4 Q_5. and the thumbe, Q_6.

[1347] eloquent] Qq. excellent Ff.

[1348] make] would make Johnson.

[1349] the top of] Ff. om. Qq.

[1350] speak] om. Ff.

[1351] 'Sblood] s'bloud Q_2 Q_3 Q_6. s'blood Q_4 Q_5. Why Ff. om. Q (1676).

I] Qq. that I Ff.

[1352] can fret me] (Q_1) Ff. fret me not Qq.

[1353] yet] (Q_1) Edd. (Globe ed.) om. Qq Ff.

[1354] Enter Polonius.] As in Capell. After sir!, line 356, in Qq Ff.

[1355] you] your F_2.

[1356] yonder] Qq. that Ff.

[1357] cloud ... camel?] Pointed as in Qq. cloud?... camell. F_1 F_2. cloud, ... camell. F_3. cloud, ... camel? F_4.

[1358] of] Qq. like Ff.

[1359] camel ... camel] weasel ... weasel Capell.

[1360] By the mass] By'th masse Qq. By th' mass F_4. By 'th' misse F_1 F_2. By th' misse F_3.

'tis like] Q_4 Q_5 Q_6. tis, like Q_2 Q_3. it's like Ff (its F_2). 'tis—like Jennens.

[1361] a weasel ... a weasel] an ouzle ... an ouzle Pope, reading black in line 363. a camel ... a camel Capell.

[1362] backed] back'd Ff. back't (Q_1). backt Q_2 Q_3. black Q_4 Q_5. blacke Q_6. beck'd Tollet conj.

[1363] whale?] Ff. whale. Qq.

[1364] I will] Qq. will I Ff.

[1365] They fool me] They fool me [to Hor. Capell.

They ... bent.] A separate line in Ff.

[1366] See note (XIX).

[1367] [Exit Polonius.] Exit. Ff. om. Qq. After said, line 370, in Dyce.

[1368] [Exeunt....] Exeunt Ros. and Gui. Horatio, and the Players, withdraw. Capell. Exe. Rowe. om. Qq Ff.

[1369] breathes] Q_6 F_3 F_4. breaths F_1 F_2. breakes Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. breaks Q_5.

[1370] this] the Q_6.

[1371] bitter ... day] Ff. busines as the bitter day Qq. business as day it self Q (1676). business as the better day Warburton. business as the bitter'st day Heath conj. business as the light of day Cartwright conj.

[1372] Soft! now] soft, now Qq. Soft now, Ff.

[1373] lose] Q_6. loose The rest.

[1374] not] but not Johnson.

[1375] daggers] Ff Q_6. dagger Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5.

[1376] How ... consent!] Omitted by Pope.

[1377] soever] Q_6. somever The rest.

[1378] never, my soul, consent] Pointed as by Capell. never my soule consent Qq Ff.

[Exit.] Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. om. Q_5 Ff Q_6.

[1379] SCENE III.] Capell. SCENE IX. Pope. SCENE VII. Warburton. om. Ff.

A ... castle.] Capell, substantially.

[1380] range] rage Pope.

[1381] estate may] estate, may F_2 F_3 F_4.

[1382] near us] neare us Q_6. neer's Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. dangerous Ff.

[1383] lunacies] Ff. browes Qq. lunes Theobald. frows Johnson conj. braves Anon. conj.

ourselves provide] provide our selves Pope.

[1384] To keep ... live] One line in Rowe, reading many.

[1385] many many] many F_2 F_3 F_4 and Q (1676). very many Collier (Collier MS.) many-many Staunton.

[1386] The ... bound] One line in Qq. Two, the first ending single, in Ff.

[1387] noyance] 'noyance Hanmer.

[1388] upon] on Pope.

weal] weale Qq. spirit Ff.

depends and rests] depend and rest Hanmer.

[1389] many. The] many: the Q_6. many, the The rest.

cease] Ff. cesse Qq. decease Pope.

The cease of] Deceasing Bailey conj.

[1390] it is] It is Ff. or it is Qq. It's Pope.

[1391] summit] Rowe. somnet Qq Ff and Q (1676).

[1392] huge] hough Q_2 Q_3. hugh Q_4.

[1393] mortised] morteist Qq. mortiz'd Ff.

[1394] ruin] ruine Ff. raine Qq.

Never] Ne'er Pope.

[1395] with] Ff. om. Qq.

groan] F_3 F_4. growne Q_4 Q_5. grone The rest.

[1396] voyage] viage Q_2 Q_3. voiage Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

[1397] about] Qq. upon Ff.

[1398] Ros. Guil.] Steevens (1793). Both. Ff. Ros. Qq.

haste us] make haste Q_6.

[Exeunt....] Capell. Exeunt Gent. Qq Ff.

[1399] warrant] warnt Q_6.

[1400] speech, of vantage] Theobald. speech of vantage Qq Ff.

[1401] know] heare Q_6.

[Exit Polonius.] Capell. Exit. Qq Ff (after know).

[1402] upon't] Ff Q_6. uppont Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5.

[1403] A] That of a Theobald.

murder] murderer S. Walker conj.

can I not] I cannot Q (1676) and Rowe. alas! I cannot Hanmer. can I?—No! Jackson conj. that can I not Seymour conj.

[1404] not, ... will:] Pointed as in Ff. not, ... will, Qq.

[1405] will] 't will Hanmer (Anon. ap. Theobald conj.) th' ill Warburton.

[1406] guilt defeats] guilt, defeats F_1 F_2 F_3.

[1407] neglect. What] neglect: what Q_4 Q_5 Q_6. neglect; what Ff. neglect, what Q_2 Q_3.

[1408] pardon'd] Ff. pardon Qq.

[1409] fault is] faults is Q_4 Q_5.

[1410] murder?] murther? Q_6. murther, Q_2 Q_3. murther: Q_4 Q_5 F_1 F_2 F_3. mother: F_4. murther! Pope.

[1411] effects] affects Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

[1412] pardon'd] pardoned Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

offence] effects Warburton.

[1413] corrupted currents] Q_2 Q_3 Q_5 Q_6. conrupted currents Q_4. corrupted currants Ff. corrupt occurrents Anon. conj. MS. and Misc. Obs. on Hamlet, 1752. corrupted 'currents Dyce, ed. 2 (S. Walker conj.)

currents of this world] courts of this bad world Long MS.

[1414] gilded] F_1 F_4. guilded Q_2 Q_3 F_2 F_3. guided Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

shove] Ff. showe Q_2 Q_3. show Q_4 Q_5. shew Q_6.

[1415] prize] purse Collier (Collier MS.)

[1416] his] it's Long MS.

and] om. Pope.

[1417] it] aught Hanmer.

can not] can but Warburton.

[1418] angels] angles Q_4 Q_5.

[1419] heart] hearts Q_6.

steel] steale Q_2 Q_3 Q_4.

[1420] [Retires....] Malone. hee kneeles. (Q_1). The King kneels. Rowe. Remains in Action of Prayer. Capell. om. Qq Ff.

[1421] SCENE X. Pope. SCENE IX. Warburton.

it pat, now he is] Ff. it, but now a is Q_2 Q_3 Q_5 Q_6. it, bot now a is Q_4.

praying] a praying Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5.

[1422] so he goes] Ff. so a goes Q_2 Q_3 Q_5 Q_6. so goes Q_4.

[1423] revenged.] revendge, Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. revenged, Q_5. reveng'd: F_1 F_2 F_3. reveng'd? Q_6. revenged: F_4.

[1424] sole] Qq. foule F_1 F_2 F_3. foul F_4. fal'n Warburton. fool Heath and Capell conj.

[1425] To heaven] A separate line in Qq. Joined to line 79 in Ff.

[1426] O,] Oh Ff. Why Qq.

hire and salary] hire and salery Ff. base and silly Qq. a reward Q (1676). reward Q (1703).

[1427] He] Ff. A Qq.

bread] blood Mason conj.

[1428] as flush] Qq. as fresh Ff. and flush Warburton.

[1429] and] om. Pope.

[1430] season'd] seasoned Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

[1431] No.] A separate line in Qq. Ends line 86 in Ff. Omitted by Pope.

[1432] hent] bent F_4. time Q (1676) and Rowe. hest Warburton conj. (withdrawn). hint Capell (Theobald conj.)

[1433] drunk asleep] Pointed as in Ff. drunke, asleep Qq. drunk-asleep Johnson.

[1434] incestuous] incestious Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5.

pleasure] pleasures Q (1676) and Capell.

[1435] game, a-swearing] game a swearing Q_2 Q_3. game swaring (Q_1). game, a swearing Q_4 Q_5 Q_6. gaming, swearing Ff.

[1436] heels may] heele mas Q_4 Q_5. heele may Q_6.

[1437] [Rising] Rises. Capell. The King rises, and comes forward. Theobald om. Qq Ff.

[1438] SCENE IV.] Capell. SCENE II. Rowe. SCENE XI. Pope. SCENE X. Warburton.

The Queen's closet.] Steevens. The Queen's Apartment. Rowe.

Enter Queen....] Ff. Enter Gertrard.... Qq.

[1439] He] Ff. A Qq.

He.... him:] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[1440] bear] berre F_2.

[1441] screen'd] scree'nd F_2 F_3.

[1442] sconce me even] Hanmer. silence me even Qq. silence me e'ene F_1. silence me e'ne F_2 F_3 F_4. 'sconce me e'en Warburton. silence me in Long MS. See note (XX).

[1443] with him] Ff. om. Qq.

Ham ... mother!] Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[1444] Queen.] Qu., Que. or Queen. Ff. Ger. Qq (and throughout the scene, except line 51).

[1445] I'll ... coming.] Prose by Edd. Two lines, the first ending not, in Qq Ff.

[1446] warrant] Ff Q_6. wait Q_2 Q_3. waite Q_4 Q_5.

not. Withdraw] not: you withdraw Hanmer, ending the previous line warrant you.

[1447] [Polonius hides....] Polonius hides himself.... Rowe. om. Qq Ff.

Enter Hamlet.] Ff. After round, line 5, in Qq. Enter Hamlet, abruptly. Capell.

[1448] a wicked] Qq. an idle Ff.

[1449] What's the matter now?] Continued to Queen, S. Walker conj.

[1450] And—would ... so!—you] Pointed as in Pope, substantially. And would it were not so, you Qq. But would you were not so. You Ff. But 'would it were not so!—You Theobald conj. (withdrawn).

[1451] set] send Collier MS.

[1452] budge] Q_6 F_3 F_4. boudge The rest.

[1453] go not] go not hence Long MS. reading with F_2.

set you up] set up F_2 F_3 F_4.

[1454] glass Where ... you.] glasse. Where ... you? F_2 F_3 F_4.

[1455] inmost] Ff. most Qq. utmost Q (1676).

[1456] Help, help, ho!] Helpe, helpe, hoa. F_1 F_2. Help, help, hoa. F_3 F_4. Helpe how. Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. Helpe hoe. Q_5. Helpe ho. Q_6.

[1457] Help, ... rat?] As one line in Capell, reading What, ho! help!

[1458] [Behind] Capell. Behind the arras. Rowe. on. Ff.

What, ho!... help!] Ff. What how helpe. Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. What hoe helpe. Q_5 Q_6.

[1459] [Drawing] Draws. Malone, after rat? om. Qq Ff.

[Makes ... arras.] Capell, substantially. om. Qq Ff.

[1460] [Behind] Capell. om. Qq Ff.

[Falls and dies.] Falls forward, and dies. Capell. Killes Polonius. Ff. om. Qq.

what hast] hast F_3.

[1461] Nay ... king?] As in Qq Ff. Capell ends line 25 at know not.

[1462] is] was Q (1676).

[1463] kill] Qq F_1. killd F_2. kill'd F_3 F_4.

king!] king? Ff Q_6. king. Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5.

'twas] F_1 F_3 F_4. twas F_2. it was Qq.

[Lifts ... discovers....] Lifts ... sees.... Dyce. Lifts up the arras, and draws forth Polonius. Capell (after line 26). om. Qq Ff.

[1464] [To Polonius. Pope.

[1465] better] Qq. betters Ff.

[1466] brass'd] brasd Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. bras'd Ff Q_6.

[1467] be] Qq. is Ff.

sense] thy sense Q (1703).

[1468] hypocrite] hippocrit Q_2 Q_3. hipocrit Q_4.

off] Ff Q_6. of The rest.

[1469] sets] Qq. makes Ff.

[1470] rhapsody] F_4. rapsedy Q_2 Q_3. rapsody Q_4 F_2 F_3. rapsodie Q_5 Q_6. rapsidie F_1.

doth] Ff. dooes Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. does Q_5 Q_6.

[1471] glow; Yea,] glow, Yea Ff. glowe Ore Q_2 Q_3. glow Ore Q_4 Q_5. glow Yea Q_6. glow; Yet Smyth conj. MS.

[1472] solidity] solidiry Q_4 Q_5.

[1473] tristful] F_4. tristfull F_1 F_2 F_3. heated Qq.

as against] and, as 'gainst Warburton, reading O'er in line 49.

[1474] act.] act. Ah me, that act! Q (1676).

[1475] Ay ... index?] Prose in Ff. See note (XXI).

[1476] was] om. F_2 F_3 F_4.

this] Q_2 Q_3. his The rest.

[1477] and] Qq. or Ff.

[1478] New-lighted] New lighted Qq F_1. Now lighted F_2 F_3 F_4.

a heaven-kissing] Ff Q_6 (Ingleby's copy). a heaue, a kissing Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5 Q_6 (Capell's copy).

[1479] and a] and Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

[1480] mildew'd] Ff Q_6. mildewed Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. mil-dewed Q_5.

ear] eare Qq F_1. deare F_2. deer F_3 F_4.

[1481] brother] Qq. breath Ff.

[1482] batten] batter Q (1676).

[1483] in the] of the Q (1676).

it's] its F_2.

[1484] step] stoop Collier (Collier MS. and Anon. MS.) See note (XXII).

[1485] Sense ... difference.] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

[1486] motion] notion Warburton.

[1487] cozen'd] F_3 F_4. cosund Q_2 Q_3. cosond Q_4 Q_5. cousend F_1 F_2. couzen'd Q_6.

hoodman] Ff. hodman Qq. hobman (Q_1).

hoodman-blind] Hyphen omitted in Q_2 Q_3.

[1488] Eyes ... mope.] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

[1489] Could ... blush?] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[1490] hell] heat Hanmer.

[1491] mutine] mutiny Q (1676) and Rowe.

[1492] ardour] Pope. ardure Qq Ff.

[1493] And] Qq. As Ff.

panders] Ff. pardons Qq. guerdons Anon. conj. MS.

[1494] eyes into my very] Ff. very eyes into my Qq.

[1495] grained] Ff. greeued Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. grieued Q_5. grieved Q_6.

[1496] not leave] Ff. leave there Qq.

[1497] enseamed] Ff. inseemed Q_2 Q_3. incestuous Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

[1498] sty,—] sty;— Theobald. stie. Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. stye. F_1 F_2 Q_6 F_3. sty. F_4.

to me] om. Pope.

me no] Qq. me, no Ff.

[1499] in] into Q (1676).

my] Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. mine Ff Q_6.

[1500] that is not] that's not the Q (1676). that is not a Keightley.

tithe] tythe Ff. kyth Qq.

[1501] the rule,] a rogue Anon. apud Rann conj.

[1502] pocket!] pocket, a— Seymour conj.

Queen. No more!] Omitted in Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

No] Oh! no Hanmer.

[1503] patches—] Rowe. patches, Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. patches. Ff Q_6. patches, all unseemly. Seymour conj.

Enter Ghost.] As in Dyce. Before line 102 in Qq Ff. Enter the Ghost in his night gowne. (Q_1). Enter Ghost unarmed. Collier MS.

[1504] [Starting up. Rowe.

[1505] your] Qq. you Ff. you, Knight.

[1506] Queen. Alas, he's mad!] om. (Q_1) and Seymour conj.

he's] hee's Qq. hes F_2.

[1507] time] fume Collier MS.

[1508] O, say!] As in Theobald. At the end of the previous line in Qq Ff.

[1509] fighting] sighting Q_4. sighing Q_5 Q_6.

[1510] you do] you doe Qq. you F_1. thus you F_2 F_3 F_4.

[1511] the incorporal] th' incorporall Qq. their corporall F_1. the corporall F_2 F_3. th' incorporeal Q (1676). the corporal F_4.

[1512] bedded] Q_2 Q_3 Ff. beaded Q_4 Q_5 Q_6. om. Q (1676).

hairs] Rowe. haire Qq F_1 F_2. hair F_3 F_4.

like ... excrements] om. Q (1676).

[1513] Start ... stand] Q_2 Q_3 Ff. Starts ... stands Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

an end] Qq Ff. on end Q (1676) and Pope (ed. 2).

[1514] glares] gleres Q_5 Q_6.

[1515] conjoin'd] conioyned Q_4 Q_5.

[1516] upon] on Pope.

[1517] effects] affects Singer.

I have] have I F_3 F_4.

[1518] whom] who F_1.

[Pointing to the Ghost. Rowe.

[1519] that is] that's here Q (1676).

is] is there Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

[1520] steals] stalks Anon. conj. MS. and Misc. Obs. on Hamlet, 1752.

[1521] father, in his habit as] father—in his habit—as Steevens conj.

lived] lives Q_4.

[1522] [Exit Ghost.] Qq. Exit. Ff.

[1523] This ... in.] As in Pope. One line in Qq Ff.

[1524] Ecstasy!] Extasie? Ff. om. Qq. What ecstasie? Pope. How! ecstasy! Seymour conj.

[1525] utter'd] uttred Qq. uttered Ff.

[1526] And I the] Ff Q_6. And the Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5.

re-word] re-ward Q (1703).

[1527] Would gambol from. Mother,] Cannot do mother, Q (1676).

[1528] that] Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. a Ff. this Q_6.

[1529] Whiles] Qq. Whilst Ff.

mining] running F_3 F_4.

[1530] what is] what else Seymour conj.

[1531] on] Qq. or Ff. o'er Knight.

[1532] ranker] Q_5 Q_6. rancker Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. ranke F_1 F_2. rank F_3 F_4.

[1533] Forgive ... good.] Marked as 'aside' by Staunton.

[1534] me] om. Pope.

[1535] these] this F_1.

[1536] curb] F_4. curbe Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5 F_3. courb F_1 Q_6. courbe F_2.

him] it Pope.

[1537] O Hamlet] As in Qq. A separate line in Ff.

in twain] om. Q (1676).

[1538] O] Then Q (1676).

[1539] live] Ff. leave Qq.

[1540] my] Qq. mine Ff.

[1541] That ... put on.] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

[1542] eat, Of habits devil,] eat, Of habits divell, Q_6. eate Of habits deuill, Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. eat Of habit's devil, Rowe. eat, Of habit's devil, Pope. eat Of habits evil, Theobald (Thirlby conj.) eat Of habit's evil, Grant White (Theobald conj. withdrawn). eat Of habits, devil, Johnson. eat, Or habit's devil, Steevens conj. eat, If habit's devil, Becket conj. ape, Oft habits devil,, or ape Of devils' habits or ape, Of habits evil Jackson conj. eat, Oft habits' devil, Staunton. create Of habits, devil Keightley. eat,—O shapeless devil!— Bullock conj.

[1543] on. Refrain to-night] on: refrain to night Q_6. on to refraine night Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5.

Refrain to-night] Put at the end of line 160 in Ff.

[1544] the next more ... potency.] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

[1545] almost can] can almost Rowe.

[1546] And either ... the] And either the Q_2 Q_3. And Maister the Q_4. And master the Q_5 Q_6. And master ev'n the Pope. And master even the Capell. And either curb the Malone. And either quell the Singer (ed. 1). And either mate the Anon. conj. And wither up the Bullock conj. And either lay the Cartwright conj.

And either house Bailey conj.

[1547] [Pointing to Polonius.] Rowe. om. Qq Ff.

[1548] heaven hath] the heavens have Hanmer.

[1549] me ... me] him with me, and me with this Hanmer. this with me, and me with this Johnson.

[1550] I ... behind.] Aside. Delius conj.

[1551] Thus] Ff Q_6. This The rest.

[1552] One ... lady.] Qq. Omitted in Ff. Hark, one ... lady. Capell. But one ... lady. Steevens (1793). One ... good my lady. Keightley.

[1553] the bloat] Warburton. the blowt Qq. the blunt Ff. not the Q (1676). the fond Pope.

again to bed] to bed again Q (1676).

[1554] to ravel Q (1676) and F_4. to ravell F_1 F_2 Q_6 F_3. rouell Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5.

[1555] gib] Qq. gibbe Ff. gib-cat Keightley.

[1556] concernings] conceruings Q_4. conseruings Q_5.

[1557] conclusions, in the basket] F_3 F_4. conclusions in the basket Qq. conclusions in the basket, F_1. conclusions, in the basket, F_2.

[1558] breathe] F_3 Q_6 F_4. breath The rest.

[1559] that?] Ff. that. Q_2 Q_3 Q_6. that, Q_4 Q_5.

Alack,] om. Seymour conj., ending lines 196-199, assured ... life ... said ... that?

[1560] Alack ... on.] As in Capell. Two lines, the first ending forgot, in Qq. One line in Ff.

[1561] on] om. Hanmer.

[1562] There's ... meet.] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

[1563] knavery] naiveté or naiverie Becket conj.

[1564] the sport] true sport Anon. conj.

enginer] Qq. engineer Q (1676) and Pope.

[1565] petar] Qq. petard Johnson.

and't] Theobald. an't Qq. and it Steevens.

[1566] meet.] Q_6. meete, Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. meet, Q_5.

[1567] shall] will Q (1676).

packing:] packing: I'll pack him: Anon. conj.

[1568] good night. Indeed] Pointed as in Ff. good night indeed, Qq.

[1569] in life] in's life Q_6.

foolish] (Q_1) Ff. most foolish Qq.

foolish prating] foolish-prating S. Walker conj.

[1570] [Exeunt....] Malone, after Capell. Exit. Qq. Exit Hamlet with the dead body. (Q_1). Exit Hamlet tugging in Polonius. Ff.

ACT IV.

SCENE I. A room in the castle.

Enter KING, QUEEN, ROSENCRANTZ, and GUILDENSTERN.[1571]

King. There's matter in these sighs, these profound heaves:[1572]

You must translate: 'tis fit we understand them.

Where is your son?

Queen. Bestow this place on us a little while.

[Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.[1573]

Ah, mine own lord, what have I seen to-night![1574] 5

King. What, Gertrude? How does Hamlet?[1575]

Queen. Mad as the sea and wind, when both contend[1576]

Which is the mightier: in his lawless fit,[1577]

Behind the arras hearing something stir,

Whips out his rapier, cries 'a rat, a rat!'[1578] 10

And in this brainish apprehension kills[1579]

The unseen good old man.

King. O heavy deed!

It had been so with us, had we been there:[1580]

His liberty is full of threats to all,

To you yourself, to us, to every one. 15

Alas, how shall this bloody deed be answer'd?[1581]

It will be laid to us, whose providence

Should have kept short, restrain'd and out of haunt,[1582]

This mad young man: but so much was our love,

We would not understand what was most fit, 20

But, like the owner of a foul disease,

To keep it from divulging, let it feed[1583]

Even on the pith of life. Where is he gone?

Queen. To draw apart the body he hath kill'd:

O'er whom his very madness, like some ore[1584] 25

Among a mineral of metals base,[1585]

Shows itself pure; he weeps for what is done.[1586]

King. O Gertrude, come away![1587]

The sun no sooner shall the mountains touch,

But we will ship him hence: and this vile deed[1588] 30

We must, with all our majesty and skill,

Both countenance and excuse. Ho, Guildenstern!

Re-enter ROSENCRANTZ and GUILDENSTERN.[1589]

Friends both, go join you with some further aid:[1590]

Hamlet in madness hath Polonius slain,

And from his mother's closet hath he dragg'd him:[1591] 35

Go seek him out; speak fair, and bring the body

Into the chapel. I pray you, haste in this.

[Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.[1592]

Come, Gertrude, we'll call up our wisest friends;

And let them know, both what we mean to do,[1593]

And what's untimely done....[1594] 40

Whose whisper o'er the world's diameter[1594]

As level as the cannon to his blank[1594]

Transports his poison'd shot, may miss our name[1594][1595]

And hit the woundless air. O, come away![1594]

My soul is full of discord and dismay.     [Exeunt. 45

SCENE II. Another room in the castle.

Enter HAMLET.[1596]

Ham. Safely stowed.

Ros. } [Within] Hamlet! Lord Hamlet![1597]

Guil.}

Ham. But soft, what noise? who calls on Hamlet?[1598]

O, here they come.

Enter ROSENCRANTZ and GUILDENSTERN.[1599]

Ros. What have you done, my lord, with the dead body? 5

Ham. Compounded it with dust, whereto 'tis kin.[1600]

Ros. Tell us where 'tis, that we may take it thence

And bear it to the chapel.

Ham. Do not believe it.

Ros. Believe what? 10

Ham. That I can keep your counsel and not mine

own. Besides, to be demanded of a sponge! what replication[1601]

should be made by the son of a king?

Ros. Take you me for a sponge, my lord?

Ham. Ay, sir; that soaks up the king's countenance, 15

his rewards, his authorities. But such officers do the king

best service in the end: he keeps them, like an ape, in the[1602]

corner of his jaw; first mouthed, to be last swallowed:

when he needs what you have gleaned, it is but squeezing

you, and, sponge, you shall be dry again. 20

Ros. I understand you not, my lord.

Ham. I am glad of it: a knavish speech sleeps in a

foolish ear.

Ros. My lord, you must tell us where the body is, and

go with us to the king. 25

Ham. The body is with the king, but the king is not[1603]

with the body. The king is a thing—[1604]

Guil. A thing, my lord?[1605]

Ham. Of nothing: bring me to him. Hide fox, and[1606][1607]

all after.     [Exeunt.[1607] 30

SCENE III. Another room in the castle.

Enter KING, attended.[1608]

King. I have sent to seek him, and to find the body.[1609]

How dangerous is it that this man goes loose!

Yet must not we put the strong law on him:[1610]

He's loved of the distracted multitude,

Who like not in their judgement, but their eyes; 5

And where 'tis so, the offender's scourge is weigh'd,[1611]

But never the offence. To bear all smooth and even,[1612]

This sudden sending him away must seem

Deliberate pause: diseases desperate grown

By desperate appliance are relieved, 10

Or not at all.

Enter ROSENCRANTZ.[1613]

How now! what hath befall'n?

Ros. Where the dead body is bestow'd, my lord,

We cannot get from him.

King. But where is he?

Ros. Without, my lord; guarded, to know your pleasure.

King. Bring him before us. 15

Ros. Ho, Guildenstern! bring in my lord.

Enter HAMLET and GUILDENSTERN.[1614]

King. Now, Hamlet, where's Polonius?

Ham. At supper.

King. At supper! where?

Ham. Not where he eats, but where he is eaten: a[1615] 20

certain convocation of politic worms are e'en at him. Your[1616]

worm is your only emperor for diet: we fat all creatures

else to fat us, and we fat ourselves for maggots: your fat[1617]

king and your lean beggar is but variable service, two[1618]

dishes, but to one table: that's the end.[1619] 25

King. Alas, alas![1620]

Ham. A man may fish with the worm that hath eat of[1620]

a king, and eat of the fish that hath fed of that worm.[1620][1621]

King. What dost thou mean by this?

Ham. Nothing but to show you how a king may go a 30

progress through the guts of a beggar.[1622]

King. Where is Polonius?

Ham. In heaven; send thither to see: if your messenger

find him not there, seek him i' the other place yourself.

But indeed, if you find him not within this month, you[1623] 35

shall nose him as you go up the stairs into the lobby.

King. Go seek him there.     [To some Attendants.[1624]

Ham. He will stay till you come.     [Exeunt Attendants.[1625]

King. Hamlet, this deed, for thine especial safety,[1626]

Which we do tender, as we dearly grieve 40

For that which thou hast done, must send thee hence

With fiery quickness: therefore prepare thyself;[1627]

The bark is ready and the wind at help,[1628]

The associates tend, and every thing is bent[1629]

For England.

Ham. For England?

King. Ay, Hamlet.

Ham. Good.[1630] 45

King. So is it, if thou knew'st our purposes.

Ham. I see a cherub that sees them. But, come; for[1631]

England! Farewell, dear mother.

King. Thy loving father, Hamlet.

Ham. My mother: father and mother is man and 50

wife; man and wife is one flesh, and so, my mother.[1632]

Come, for England!     [Exit.

King. Follow him at foot; tempt him with speed aboard;[1633]

Delay it not; I'll have him hence to-night:

Away! for every thing is seal'd and done 55

That else leans on the affair: pray you, make haste.[1634]

[Exeunt Rosencrantz and Guildenstern.

And, England, if my love thou hold'st at aught—

As my great power thereof may give thee sense,

Since yet thy cicatrice looks raw and red

After the Danish sword, and thy free awe 60

Pays homage to us—thou mayst not coldly set[1635]

Our sovereign process; which imports at full,

By letters congruing to that effect,[1636]

The present death of Hamlet. Do it, England;

For like the hectic in my blood he rages, 65

And thou must cure me: till I know 'tis done,

Howe'er my haps, my joys were ne'er begun.     [Exit.[1637]

SCENE IV. A plain in Denmark.

Enter FORTINBRAS, a Captain and Soldiers, marching.[1638]

For. Go, captain, from me greet the Danish king;[1639]

Tell him that by his license Fortinbras

Craves the conveyance of a promised march[1640]

Over his kingdom. You know the rendezvous.[1641]

If that his majesty would aught with us, 5

We shall express our duty in his eye;[1642]

And let him know so.

Cap. I will do't, my lord.

For. Go softly on.[1643]

[Exeunt Fortinbras and Soldiers.[1643]

Enter HAMLET, ROSENCRANTZ, GUILDENSTERN, and others.[1643][1644]

Ham. Good sir, whose powers are these?[1643][1645]

Cap. They are of Norway, sir.[1643][1645][1646] 10

Ham. How purposed, sir, I pray you?[1643][1645][1647]

Cap. Against some part of Poland.[1643][1645][1648]

Ham. Who commands them, sir?[1643][1645]

Cap. The nephew to old Norway, Fortinbras.[1645][1649]

Ham. Goes it against the main of Poland, sir,[1645] 15

Or for some frontier?[1645]

Cap. Truly to speak, and with no addition,[1645][1650]

We go to gain a little patch of ground[1645]

That hath in it no profit but the name.[1645]

To pay five ducats, five, I would not farm it;[1645][1651] 20

Nor will it yield to Norway or the Pole[1645]

A ranker rate, should it be sold in fee.[1645][1652]

Ham. Why, then the Polack never will defend it.[1645]

Cap. Yes, it is already garrison'd.[1645][1653]

Ham. Two thousand souls and twenty thousand ducats[1645][1654][1655] 25

Will not debate the question of this straw:[1645][1655]

This is the imposthume of much wealth and peace,[1645]

That inward breaks, and shows no cause without[1645]

Why the man dies. I humbly thank you, sir.[1645]

Cap. God be wi' you, sir.     [Exit.[1645]

Ros. Will't please you go, my lord?[1645][1656] 30

Ham. I'll be with you straight. Go a little before.[1645]

[Exeunt all but Hamlet.[1645][1657]

How all occasions do inform against me,[1645]

And spur my dull revenge! What is a man,[1645]

If his chief good and market of his time[1645]

Be but to sleep and feed? a beast, no more.[1645] 35

Sure, he that made us with such large discourse,[1645]

Looking before and after, gave us not[1645]

That capability and god-like reason[1645]

To fust in us unused. Now, whether it be[1645][1658]

Bestial oblivion, or some craven scruple[1645] 40

Of thinking too precisely on the event,—[1645]

A thought which, quarter'd, hath but one part wisdom[1645]

And ever three parts coward,—I do not know[1645][1659]

Why yet I live to say 'this thing's to do,'[1645][1659]

Sith I have cause, and will, and strength, and means,[1645] 45

To do't. Examples gross as earth exhort me:[1645]

Witness this army, of such mass and charge,[1645]

Led by a delicate and tender prince,[1645]

Whose spirit with divine ambition puff'd[1645]

Makes mouths at the invisible event,[1645] 50

Exposing what is mortal and unsure[1645]

To all that fortune, death and danger dare,[1645]

Even for an egg-shell. Rightly to be great[1645][1660]

Is not to stir without great argument,[1645][1660][1661]

But greatly to find quarrel in a straw[1645] 55

When honour's at the stake. How stand I then,[1645]

That have a father kill'd, a mother stain'd,[1645]

Excitements of my reason and my blood,[1645]

And let all sleep, while to my shame I see[1645]

The imminent death of twenty thousand men,[1645][1662] 60

That for a fantasy and trick of fame[1645]

Go to their graves like beds, fight for a plot[1645][1663]

Whereon the numbers cannot try the cause,[1645]

Which is not tomb enough and continent[1645]

To hide the slain? O, from this time forth,[1645][1664] 65

My thoughts be bloody, or be nothing worth!     [Exit.[1645]

SCENE V. Elsinore. A room in the castle.

Enter QUEEN, HORATIO, and a Gentleman.[1665]

Queen. I will not speak with her.

Gent. She is importunate, indeed distract:[1666][1667]

Her mood will needs be pitied.[1667]

Queen. What would she have?

Gent. She speaks much of her father, says she hears[1666]

There's tricks i' the world, and hems and beats her heart, 5

Spurns enviously at straws; speaks things in doubt,

That carry but half sense: her speech is nothing,

Yet the unshaped use of it doth move

The hearers to collection; they aim at it,[1668]

And botch the words up fit to their own thoughts;[1669] 10

Which, as her winks and nods and gestures yield them,[1670]

Indeed would make one think there might be thought,[1671]

Though nothing sure, yet much unhappily.

Hor. 'Twere good she were spoken with, for she may strew[1672]

Dangerous conjectures in ill-breeding minds.[1672] 15

Queen. Let her come in.     [Exit Gentleman.[1672][1673][1674]

[Aside] To my sick soul, as sin's true nature is,[1674][1675][1676]

Each toy seems prologue to some great amiss:[1676]

So full of artless jealousy is guilt,[1676]

It spills itself in fearing to be spilt.[1676][1677] 20

Re-enter Gentleman, with OPHELIA.

Oph. Where is the beauteous majesty of Denmark?

Queen. How now, Ophelia![1678]

Oph. [Sings] How should I your true love know[1679][1680]

From another one?[1680]

By his cockle hat and staff[1680] 25

And his sandal shoon.[1680][1681]

Queen. Alas, sweet lady, what imports this song?

Oph. Say you? nay, pray you, mark.[1682]

[Sings] He is dead and gone, lady,[1683][1684][1685]

He is dead and gone;[1684][1685] 30

At his head a grass-green turf,[1685][1686]

At his heels a stone.[1685]

Oh, oh![1687]

Queen. Nay, but, Ophelia,—

Oph. Pray you, mark.

[Sings] White his shroud as the mountain snow,—

Enter KING.[1688]

Queen. Alas, look here, my lord. 35

Oph. [Sings] Larded with sweet flowers;[1689]

Which bewept to the grave did go[1690]

With true-love showers.[1691]

King. How do you, pretty lady?[1692]

Oph. Well, God 'ild you! They say the owl was a[1693] 40

baker's daughter. Lord, we know what we are, but know[1694]

not what we may be. God be at your table![1695]

King. Conceit upon her father.

Oph. Pray you, let's have no words of this; but when[1696]

they ask you what it means, say you this: 45

[Sings] To-morrow is Saint Valentine's day,[1697][1698][1699]

All in the morning betime,[1698][1700]

And I a maid at your window,[1698]

To be your Valentine.[1698]

Then up he rose, and donn'd his clothes,[1701][1702] 50

And dupp'd the chamber-door;[1701][1703]

Let in the maid, that out a maid[1701][1704]

Never departed more.[1701]

King. Pretty Ophelia!

Oph. Indeed, la, without an oath, I'll make an end on't:[1705] 55

[Sings] By Gis and by Saint Charity,[1706][1707]

Alack, and fie for shame![1707]

Young men will do't, if they come to't;[1707]

By cock, they are to blame.[1707][1708]

Quoth she, before you tumbled me,[1709][1710] 60

You promised me to wed.[1710]

He answers:[1711]

So would I ha' done, by yonder sun,

An thou hadst not come to my bed.[1712]

King. How long hath she been thus?[1713]

Oph. I hope all will be well. We must be patient: but 65

I cannot choose but weep, to think they should lay him i'[1714]

the cold ground. My brother shall know of it: and so I

thank you for your good counsel. Come, my coach!

Good night, ladies; good night, sweet ladies; good night,[1715]

good night.     [Exit.[1715][1716] 70

King. Follow her close; give her good watch, I pray you.     [Exit Horatio.[1717]

O, this is the poison of deep grief; it springs[1718]

All from her father's death. O Gertrude, Gertrude,[1719]

When sorrows come, they come not single spies,[1720]

But in battalions! First, her father slain:[1721] 75

Next, your son gone; and he most violent author

Of his own just remove: the people muddied,

Thick and unwholesome in their thoughts and whispers,[1722]

For good Polonius' death; and we have done but greenly,[1723]

In hugger-mugger to inter him: poor Ophelia[1724] 80

Divided from herself and her fair judgement,

Without the which we are pictures, or mere beasts:[1725]

Last, and as much containing as all these,

Her brother is in secret come from France,

Feeds on his wonder, keeps himself in clouds,[1726] 85

And wants not buzzers to infect his ear[1727]

With pestilent speeches of his father's death;

Wherein necessity, of matter beggar'd,[1728]

Will nothing stick our person to arraign[1729]

In ear and ear. O my dear Gertrude, this, 90

Like to a murdering-piece, in many places[1730][1731]

Gives me superfluous death.     [A noise within.[1731]

Queen. Alack, what noise is this?[1732]

King. Where are my Switzers? Let them guard the door.[1733][1734]

Enter another Gentleman.[1734]

What is the matter?[1734]

Gent. Save yourself, my lord:[1734][1735]

The ocean, overpeering of his list, 95

Eats not the flats with more impetuous haste[1736]

Than young Laertes, in a riotous head,

O'erbears your officers. The rabble call him lord;[1737]

And, as the world were now but to begin,[1738]

Antiquity forgot, custom not known,[1738] 100

The ratifiers and props of every word,[1738][1739][1740]

They cry 'Choose we; Laertes shall be king!'[1739][1741]

Caps, hands and tongues applaud it to the clouds,[1742]

'Laertes shall be king, Laertes king!'[1743]

Queen. How cheerfully on the false trail they cry! 105

O, this is counter, you false Danish dogs!     [Noise within.[1744]

King. The doors are broke.

Enter LAERTES, armed; Danes following.[1745]

Laer. Where is this king? Sirs, stand you all without.[1746]

Danes. No, let's come in.[1747]

Laer. I pray you, give me leave.

Danes. We will, we will. 110

[They retire without the door.[1747][1748]

Laer. I thank you: keep the door. O thou vile king,[1749][1750]

Give me my father![1749]

Queen. Calmly, good Laertes.

Laer. That drop of blood that's calm proclaims me bastard;[1751]

Cries cuckold to my father; brands the harlot

Even here, between the chaste unsmirched brow[1752] 115

Of my true mother.

King. What is the cause, Laertes,

That thy rebellion looks so giant-like?

Let him go, Gertrude; do not fear our person:

There's such divinity doth hedge a king,

That treason can but peep to what it would,[1753] 120

Acts little of his will. Tell me, Laertes,[1754]

Why thou art thus incensed: let him go, Gertrude:[1755]

Speak, man.

Laer. Where is my father?

King. Dead.

Queen. But not by him.[1756]

King. Let him demand his fill. 125

Laer. How came he dead? I'll not be juggled with:

To hell, allegiance! vows, to the blackest devil![1757]

Conscience and grace, to the profoundest pit![1758]

I dare damnation: to this point I stand,[1758]

That both the worlds I give to negligence, 130

Let come what comes; only I'll be revenged

Most throughly for my father.

King. Who shall stay you?

Laer. My will, not all the world:[1759]

And for my means, I'll husband them so well,

They shall go far with little.[1760]

King. Good Laertes,[1761] 135

If you desire to know the certainty[1761]

Of your dear father's death, is't writ in your revenge,[1762]

That, swoopstake, you will draw both friend and foe,[1763]

Winner and loser?[1764]

Laer. None but his enemies.

King. Will you know them then?[1765] 140

Laer. To his good friends thus wide I'll ope my arms;[1766]

And, like the kind life-rendering pelican,[1767]

Repast them with my blood.[1768]

King. Why, now you speak

Like a good child and a true gentleman.

That I am guiltless of your father's death, 145

And am most sensibly in grief for it,[1769]

It shall as level to your judgement pierce[1770]

As day does to your eye.

Danes. [Within] Let her come in.

Laer. How now! what noise is that?

Re-enter OPHELIA.[1771]

O heat, dry up my brains! tears seven times salt, 150

Burn out the sense and virtue of mine eye![1772]

By heaven, thy madness shall be paid with weight,[1773]

Till our scale turn the beam. O rose of May![1774]

Dear maid, kind sister, sweet Ophelia!

O heavens! is't possible a young maid's wits 155

Should be as mortal as an old man's life?[1775]

Nature is fine in love, and where 'tis fine[1776][1777]

It sends some precious instance of itself[1776][1777]

After the thing it loves.[1776]

Oph. [Sings] They bore him barefaced on the bier;[1778] 160

Hey non nonny, nonny, hey nonny:[1779]

And in his grave rain'd many a tear,—[1780]

Fare you well, my dove![1781]

Laer. Hadst thou thy wits, and didst persuade revenge,[1782]

It could not move thus.[1782][1783] 165

Oph. [Sings] You must sing down a-down,[1784]

An you call him a-down-a.[1785]

O, how the wheel becomes it! It is the false steward, that[1786]

stole his master's daughter.

Laer. This nothing's more than matter.[1787] 170

Oph. There's rosemary, that's for remembrance: pray[1788][1789]

you, love, remember: and there is pansies, that's for[1789][1790]

thoughts.

Laer. A document in madness; thoughts and remembrance

fitted. 175

Oph. There's fennel for you, and columbines: there's

rue for you; and here's some for me: we may call it herb[1791]

of grace o' Sundays: O, you must wear your rue with a[1791][1792]

difference. There's a daisy: I would give you some

violets, but they withered all when my father died: they 180

say a' made a good end,—[1793]

[Sings] For bonny sweet Robin is all my joy.[1794]

Laer. Thought and affliction, passion, hell itself,[1795]

She turns to favour and to prettiness.

Oph. [Sings] And will a' not come again?[1796][1797] 185

And will a' not come again?[1797]

No, no, he is dead,[1798]

Go to thy death-bed,[1798][1799]

He never will come again.

His beard was as white as snow,[1800] 190

All flaxen was his poll:[1801]

He is gone, he is gone,[1802]

And we cast away moan:[1802]

God ha' mercy on his soul![1803]

And of all Christian souls, I pray God. God be wi' you. 195

[Exit.[1804]

Laer. Do you see this, O God?[1805]

King. Laertes, I must commune with your grief,[1806]

Or you deny me right. Go but apart,

Make choice of whom your wisest friends you will,

And they shall hear and judge 'twixt you and me: 200

If by direct or by collateral hand[1807]

They find us touch'd, we will our kingdom give,[1808]

Our crown, our life, and all that we call ours,

To you in satisfaction; but if not,

Be you content to lend your patience to us,[1809] 205

And we shall jointly labour with your soul

To give it due content.

Laer. Let this be so;

His means of death, his obscure funeral,[1810]

No trophy, sword, nor hatchment o'er his bones,[1811]

No noble rite nor formal ostentation,[1812] 210

Cry to be heard, as 'twere from heaven to earth,

That I must call't in question.[1813]

King. So you shall;

And where the offence is let the great axe fall.[1814]

I pray you, go with me.     [Exeunt.

SCENE VI. Another room in the castle.

Enter HORATIO and a Servant.[1815]

Hor. What are they that would speak with me?[1816]

Serv. Sea-faring men, sir: they say they have letters for you.[1816][1817]

Hor. Let them come in.     [Exit Servant.[1816][1818]

I do not know from what part of the world

I should be greeted, if not from Lord Hamlet.[1819] 5

Enter Sailors.[1820]

First Sail. God bless you, sir.[1821][1822]

Hor. Let him bless thee too.

First Sail. He shall, sir, an't please him. There's a[1821][1823]

letter for you, sir; it comes from the ambassador that was[1824]

bound for England; if your name be Horatio, as I am let 10

to know it is.

Hor. [Reads] 'Horatio, when thou shalt have over-looked[1825]

this, give these fellows some means to the king:

they have letters for him. Ere we were two days old at

sea, a pirate of very warlike appointment gave us chase. 15

Finding ourselves too slow of sail, we put on a compelled

valour: and in the grapple I boarded them: on the instant[1826]

they got clear of our ship; so I alone became their prisoner.

They have dealt with me like thieves of mercy:

but they knew what they did; I am to do a good turn[1827] 20

for them. Let the king have the letters I have sent; and

repair thou to me with as much speed as thou wouldest[1828]

fly death. I have words to speak in thine ear will make[1829]

thee dumb; yet are they much too light for the bore of[1830]

the matter. These good fellows will bring thee where I[1830] 25

am. Rosencrantz and Guildenstern hold their course for

England: of them I have much to tell thee. Farewell.[1831]

'He that thou knowest thine, HAMLET.'[1832]

Come, I will make you way for these your letters;[1833]

And do't the speedier, that you may direct me 30

To him from whom you brought them.     [Exeunt.[1834]

SCENE VII. Another room in the castle.[1835]

Enter KING and LAERTES.

King. Now must your conscience my acquittance seal,

And you must put me in your heart for friend,

Sith you have heard, and with a knowing ear,

That he which hath your noble father slain[1836]

Pursued my life.

Laer. It well appears: but tell me 5

Why you proceeded not against these feats,[1837]

So crimeful and so capital in nature,[1838]

As by your safety, wisdom, all things else,[1839]

You mainly were stirr'd up.

King. O, for two special reasons,[1840]

Which may to you perhaps seem much unsinew'd,[1841] 10

But yet to me they're strong. The queen his mother[1842]

Lives almost by his looks; and for myself—

My virtue or my plague, be it either which—[1843]

She's so conjunctive to my life and soul,[1844]

That, as the star moves not but in his sphere, 15

I could not but by her. The other motive,

Why to a public count I might not go,

Is the great love the general gender bear him;

Who, dipping all his faults in their affection,

Would, like the spring that turneth wood to stone,[1845] 20

Convert his gyves to graces; so that my arrows,[1846]

Too slightly timber'd for so loud a wind,[1847]

Would have reverted to my bow again[1848]

And not where I had aim'd them.[1849]

Laer. And so have I a noble father lost;[1850] 25

A sister driven into desperate terms,

Whose worth, if praises may go back again,[1851]

Stood challenger on mount of all the age[1852]

For her perfections: but my revenge will come.[1853]

King. Break not your sleeps for that: you must not think[1854] 30

That we are made of stuff so flat and dull

That we can let our beard be shook with danger[1855]

And think it pastime. You shortly shall hear more:[1856]

I loved your father, and we love ourself;[1857]

And that, I hope, will teach you to imagine—[1858] 35

Enter a Messenger, with letters.

How now! what news?[1859]

Mess. Letters, my lord, from Hamlet:

This to your majesty; this to the queen.[1860]

King. From Hamlet! who brought them?[1861]

Mess. Sailors, my lord, they say; I saw them not:

They were given me by Claudio; he received them 40

Of him that brought them.

King. Laertes, you shall hear them.[1862]

Leave us.     [Exit Messenger.[1863]

[Reads] 'High and mighty, You shall know I am set[1864]

naked on your kingdom. To-morrow shall I beg leave[1865]

to see your kingly eyes: when I shall, first asking your[1866][1867] 45

pardon thereunto, recount the occasion of my sudden and[1866][1868][1869]

more strange return.[1869]

'HAMLET.'[1870]

What should this mean? Are all the rest come back?

Or is it some abuse, and no such thing?[1871] 50

Laer. Know you the hand?

King. Tis Hamlet's character. 'Naked!'[1872][1873]

And in a postscript here, he says 'alone.'[1872][1873]

Can you advise me?[1872][1874]

Laer. I'm lost in it, my lord. But let him come;[1875] 55

It warms the very sickness in my heart,

That I shall live and tell him to his teeth,[1876]

'Thus didest thou.'[1877]

King. If it be so, Laertes,—[1878]

As how should it be so? how otherwise?—[1878][1879]

Will you be ruled by me?[1878]

Laer. Ay, my lord;[1880][1881] 60

So you will not o'errule me to a peace.[1880]

King. To thine own peace. If he be now return'd,[1882]

As checking at his voyage, and that he means[1883]

No more to undertake it, I will work him

To an exploit now ripe in my device,[1884] 65

Under the which he shall not choose but fall:

And for his death no wind of blame shall breathe;

But even his mother shall uncharge the practice,

And call it accident.[1885]

Laer. My lord, I will be ruled;[1886][1887]

The rather, if you could devise it so[1886] 70

That I might be the organ.[1886][1888]

King. It falls right.[1886]

You have been talk'd of since your travel much,[1886]

And that in Hamlet's hearing, for a quality[1886]

Wherein, they say, you shine: your sum of parts[1886]

Did not together pluck such envy from him,[1886] 75

As did that one, and that in my regard[1886]

Of the unworthiest siege.[1886]

Laer. What part is that, my lord?[1886]

King. A very riband in the cap of youth,[1886][1889]

Yet needful too; for youth no less becomes[1886]

The light and careless livery that it wears[1886] 80

Than settled age his sables and his weeds,[1886]

Importing health and graveness. Two months since,[1886][1890]

Here was a gentleman of Normandy:—[1891]

I've seen myself, and served against, the French,[1892]

And they can well on horseback: but this gallant[1893] 85

Had witchcraft in't; he grew unto his seat,[1894]

And to such wondrous doing brought his horse

As had he been incorpsed and demi-natured[1895]

With the brave beast: so far he topp'd my thought[1896]

That I, in forgery of shapes and tricks, 90

Come short of what he did.[1897]

Laer. A Norman was't?

King. A Norman.

Laer. Upon my life, Lamond.

King. The very same.[1898]

Laer. I know him well: he is the brooch indeed

And gem of all the nation.[1899] 95

King. He made confession of you,[1900]

And gave you such a masterly report,

For art and exercise in your defence,

And for your rapier most especial,[1901]

That he cried out, 'twould be a sight indeed[1902] 100

If one could match you: the scrimers of their nation.[1903][1904]

He swore, had neither motion, guard, nor eye,[1903]

If you opposed them. Sir, this report of his[1903]

Did Hamlet so envenom with his envy[1905]

That he could nothing do but wish and beg 105

Your sudden coming o'er, to play with him.[1906]

Now, out of this—

Laer. What out of this, my lord?

King. Laertes, was your father dear to you?[1907]

Or are you like the painting of a sorrow,

A face without a heart?

Laer. Why ask you this? 110

King. Not that I think you did not love your father,

But that I know love is begun by time,[1908]

And that I see, in passages of proof,

Time qualifies the spark and fire of it.

There lives within the very flame of love[1909] 115

A kind of wick or snuff that will abate it;[1909][1910]

And nothing is at a like goodness still,[1909]

For goodness, growing to a plurisy,[1909][1911]

Dies in his own too much: that we would do[1909][1912]

We should do when we would; for this 'would' changes[1909][1913] 120

And hath abatements and delays as many[1909]

As there are tongues, are hands, are accidents,[1909][1914]

And then this 'should' is like a spendthrift sigh,[1909][1913][1915]

That hurts by easing. But, to the quick o' the ulcer:[1909]

Hamlet comes back: what would you undertake,[1916] 125

To show yourself your father's son in deed[1917]

More than in words?

Laer. To cut his throat i' the church.

King. No place indeed should murder sanctuarize;[1918]

Revenge should have no bounds. But, good Laertes,

Will you do this, keep close within your chamber.[1919] 130

Hamlet return'd shall know you are come home:

We'll put on those shall praise your excellence

And set a double varnish on the fame[1920]

The Frenchman gave you; bring you in fine together[1921]

And wager on your heads: he, being remiss,[1922] 135

Most generous and free from all contriving,

Will not peruse the foils, so that with ease,[1923]

Or with a little shuffling, you may choose

A sword unbated, and in a pass of practice[1924]

Requite him for your father.

Laer. I will do't 140

And for that purpose I'll anoint my sword.[1925]

I bought an unction of a mountebank,

So mortal that but dip a knife in it,[1926]

Where it draws blood no cataplasm so rare,

Collected from all simples that have virtue 145

Under the moon, can save the thing from death

That is but scratch'd withal: I'll touch my point

With this contagion, that, if I gall him slightly,[1927][1928]

It may be death.[1927]

King. Let's further think of this;

Weigh what convenience both of time and means[1929] 150

May fit us to our shape: if this should fail,[1930]

And that our drift look through our bad performance,[1931]

'Twere better not assay'd: therefore this project

Should have a back or second, that might hold

If this did blast in proof. Soft! let me see:[1932] 155

We'll make a solemn wager on your cunnings:[1933]

I ha't:[1934][1935]

When in your motion you are hot and dry—[1935][1936]

As make your bouts more violent to that end—[1937]

And that he calls for drink, I'll have prepared him[1938] 160

A chalice for the nonce; whereon but sipping,[1939]

If he by chance escape your venom'd stuck,[1940]

Our purpose may hold there. But stay, what noise?

Enter QUEEN.[1941]

How now, sweet queen![1942]

Queen. One woe doth tread upon another's heel,[1943] 165

So fast they follow: your sister's drown'd, Laertes.[1944]

Laer. Drown'd! O, where?

Queen. There is a willow grows aslant a brook,[1945]

That shows his hoar leaves in the glassy stream;[1946]

There with fantastic garlands did she come[1947] 170

Of crow-flowers, nettles, daisies, and long purples,

That liberal shepherds give a grosser name,[1948]

But our cold maids do dead men's fingers call them:[1949]

There, on the pendent boughs her coronet weeds[1950]

Clambering to hang, an envious sliver broke;[1951] 175

When down her weedy trophies and herself[1952]

Fell in the weeping brook. Her clothes spread wide,

And mermaid-like awhile they bore her up:[1953]

Which time she chanted snatches of old tunes,[1954]

As one incapable of her own distress, 180

Or like a creature native and indued[1955]

Unto that element: but long it could not be

Till that her garments, heavy with their drink,[1956]

Pull'd the poor wretch from her melodious lay[1957]

To muddy death.

Laer. Alas, then she is drown'd![1958] 185

Queen. Drown'd, drown'd.

Laer. Too much of water hast thou, poor Ophelia,

And therefore I forbid my tears: but yet

It is our trick; nature her custom holds,

Let shame say what it will: when these are gone, 190

The woman will be out. Adieu, my lord:

I have a speech of fire that fain would blaze,[1959]

But that this folly douts it.     [Exit.[1960]

King. Let's follow, Gertrude:

How much I had to do to calm his rage![1961]

Now fear I this will give it start again; 195

Therefore let's follow.     [Exeunt.

FOOTNOTES:

[1571] ACT IV. SCENE I.] Q (1676) and Rowe.

A room....] A Royal apartment. Rowe. The same. Capell.

Enter....] Enter King, and Queene, with Rosencraus and Guyldensterne. Qq (Eenter Q_2 Q_3). Enter King. Ff. Enter the King and Lordes. (Q_1).

[1572] There's ... heaves:] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

matter] Qq. matters Ff.

sighs, these ... heaves:] sighs, these ... heaves; Rowe. sighes, these ... heaves, Qq. sighes. These ... heaves Ff.

[1573] &c. Queen.] Ger. or Gert. in Qq. Bestow ... while.] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

a little while] om. Seymour conj.

[Exeunt....] Q (1676) and Capell. To Ros. and Guild. who go out. Theobald. om. Qq Ff.

[1574] mine own] Qq. my good Ff.

to-night!] to night? Qq Ff.

[1575] Gertrude] Ff. Gertrard Q_2 Q_3 Q_6. Gertrad Q_4. Gertard Q_5.

How] hast thou seen? and how Seymour conj.

[1576] sea] Qq. seas Ff.

[1577] mightier:] mightier; Rowe. ightier, Q_2 Q_3 Ff. mightier Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

fit,] Qq. fit Ff.

[1578] Whips out ... cries] Qq (Whyps Q_2 Q_3. cryeis Q_4 Q_5). He whips his Rapier out, and cries Ff.

'a rat, a rat!'] a rat! Pope, reading the rest of the line with Ff.

[1579] this] Qq. his Ff.

[1580] been] Q_6 F_3 F_4. beene Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. bin F_1. bine F_2.

been] Q_2 Q_3 F_3 Q_6 F_4. beene Q_4 F_1 F_2. bin Q_5.

[1581] answer'd] Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. answered Ff Q_6.

[1582] haunt] harm Johnson conj.

[1583] let] Qq. let's F_1 F_3 F_4. lets F_2.

[1584] ore] Qq F_4. oare F_1 F_2 F_3. or (i.e. gold) Johnson conj.

[1585] metals] metal Mason conj.

[1586] he] Ff. a Qq.

[1587] O] Q_2 Q_3. Oh Ff. om. Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

[1588] vile] Qq F_4. vilde F_1 F_2 F_3.

[1589] Both ... Guildenstern!] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

Re-enter ...] Dyce. Enter Ros. & Guild. Qq (after line 31). After excuse in Ff.

[1590] you with] with you Q (1676).

[1591] mother's closet] Mother Clossets F_1.

dragg'd] dreg'd Q_2 Q_3.

[1592] I pray] Pray Pope.

[Exeunt ...] Ex. Ros. and Guild. Rowe. Exit Gent. Ff. om. Qq.

[1593] And let] Qq. To let Ff.

[1594] See note (XXIII).

[1595] his] its Theobald.

poison'd] poysned Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. poysoned Q_5 Q_6.

[1596] SCENE II.] Pope.

Another....] Capell.

Enter Hamlet.] Ff. Enter Hamlet, Rosencraus, and others. Qq.

[1597] Ros. Guil. [Within] ... Hamlet!] Gentlemen within. Hamlet, Lord Hamlet. Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[1598] But soft,] See note (XXIV).

[1599] Enter....] Ff. om. Qq.

[1600] Compounded] Compound Q_2 Q_3.

'tis kin] it is kin Q_4 Q_5 Q_6. it is akin Q (1676).

[1601] sponge!] sponge!— Steevens. sponge,— Capell. spunge, or spundge, Qq Ff.

[1602] like an ape] Ff. like an apple Qq. like an ape, an apple Farmer conj. like an ape doth nuts Singer, from (Q_1).

[1603] with the king, but] not with the king, for Johnson conj.

[1604] a thing—] Ff. a thing. Qq. nothing. Hanmer.

[1605] A thing] Nothing Hanmer.

lord?] Ff Q_6. lord. The rest.

[1606] Of nothing:] F_1. Of nothing Qq. Of nothing? F_2 F_3 F_4. A thing or nothing Hanmer. Or nothing. Johnson conj.

[1607] Hide ... after.] Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[1608] SCENE III.] Pope.

Another....] Capell.

Enter King, attended.] Capell. Enter King, and two or three. Qq. Enter King. Ff.

[1609] I have] I've Pope.

[1610] on] upon Keightley.

[1611] weigh'd] Ff. wayed Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. waigh'd Q_6.

[1612] never] Qq. neerer F_1 F_2. nearer F_3 F_4. ne'er Long MS.

and even] om. Pope. even Jennens (a misprint).

[1613] Enter Rosencrantz.] Enter Rosencraus and all the rest. Qq. Enter Rosencrane. F_1. Enter Rosincros. F_2 F_3 F_4.

[1614] Ho, Guildenstern!] Hoa, Guildensterne? F_1. Hoa, Guildenstar? F_2 F_3. Ho, Guildenstare? F_4. How, Q_2 Q_3. Hoe, Q_4 Q_5. Ho, Q_6.

Guildenstern] om. Qq.

my lord] Ff. the lord Qq. the lord Hamlet Q (1676).

Enter ...] Ff. They enter. Qq.

[1615] he is] a is Q_2 Q_3 Q_4.

[1616] convocation] convacation Q_2 Q_3 Q_4.

politic] politique Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. politick Q_5 Q_6. om. Ff. palated Collier MS.

e'en] om. Pope.

[1617] ourselves] our selfe F_1.

[1618] service, two] service to F_1.

[1619] but] om. Pope.

[1620] King. Alas, alas! Ham. A ... that worm.] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

[1621] and] om. Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

[1622] guts] Qq F_1. gut F_2 F_3 F_4.

[1623] indeed, if] Ff. indeed if Q_6. if indeed Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5.

within] Qq. om. Ff.

[1624] [To some Attendants.] Capell. om. Qq Ff.

[1625] He] Ff. A Qq.

you] Qq. ye Ff.

[Exeunt Attendants.] Capell. om. Qq Ff.

[1626] deed, for thine] Qq. deed of thine, for thine Ff.

[1627] With fiery quickness:] Ff. Omitted in Qq.

therefore] then Pope.

[1628] at help] sits fair Q (1676). at helm Johnson conj.

[1629] is bent] Qq. at bent Ff.

[1630] For England ... Good.] As one line first by Steevens (1793).

England?] F_1 Q_6 F_3 F_4. England. The rest.

[1631] sees] knows Seymour conj.

them] Qq. him Ff.

[1632] and so] (Q_1) Ff Q_6. so The rest.

[1633] Follow ... aboard:] One line in Rowe. Two, the first ending foote, in Qq Ff.

at foot] om. Q (1676).

[1634] [Exeunt ...] Theobald. om. Qq Ff.

[1635] set] let Pope (ed. 2). set by Hanmer. jet Becket conj. rate Anon. conj. see Collier MS. See note (II).

[1636] congruing] Qq. conjuring Ff.

[1637] my haps ... begun] Ff (happes F_1). my haps, my ioyes will nere begin Qq. my hopes, my joys are not begun Johnson conj. 't may hap, my joys will ne'er begin Heath conj. my hopes, my joys were ne're begun Collier MS.

[1638] SCENE IV.] Pope. SCENE II. Rowe.

A plain....] Capell. A camp. Rowe. A camp, on the Frontiers of Denmark. Theobald.

Enter....] Edd. (Globe ed.) Enter Fortinbrasse with his Army over the stage. Qq. Enter Fortinbras with an Armie. Ff. Enter Fortinbras, and Forces, marching. Capell.

[1639] greet the] to the F_2 F_3 F_4.

[1640] Craves] Qq. Claimes F_1 F_2. Claims F_3 F_4.

[1641] kingdom] realm Pope.

rendezvous] Q_4 Q_5 Q_6. randevous Q_2 Q_3. rendevous F_1. rendevouz F_2 F_3 F_4.

[1642] duty] durie F_2.

[1643] Go ... sir?] As four lines, ending these?... sir, ... Who ... sir? in Steevens (1793).

[1644] softly] Qq. safely Ff.

[Exeunt....] Exit Fortinbras, with the Army. Theobald. Exit. Ff. om. Qq.

Enter ... and others.] Dyce. Enter ... Rosincrantz, Guildenstern, &c. Theobald. Enter Hamlet, Rosencraus, &c. Qq. Omitted in Ff.

[1645] Ham. Good sir, ... worth!] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

[1646] They] The Q_4.

[1647] purposed] purposd Q_2 Q_3. proposd Q_4 Q_5. propos'd Q_6.

[1648] Against] Sir, against Capell, reading lines 9-13 as three lines, ending sir ... against ... sir?

[1649] to] of Q_6.

[1650] speak] speak it Pope. speak, sir Capell. speak on't Anon. conj.

no] no more Anon. conj.

[1651] five ducats, five,] fiue duckets, fiue Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. five duckets, five Q_6. five ducats—five, Theobald. five ducats fine Theobald conj. (withdrawn). five ducats; fly! Jackson conj.

[1652] sold] so Rowe (ed. 2).

[1653] Yes, it is] O, yes, it is Capell. Nay, 'tis Q (1676) and Rowe. Yes, 'tis Pope.

[1654] Two] Ten S. Walker conj.

twenty] many Hanmer.

[1655] Two ... straw:] To be continued to Cap. Anon. conj. (Gent. Mag. LX. 403).

[1656] be wi' you] Capell. buy you Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. buy your Q_6. b' w' ye Q (1676) and Rowe.

[1657] I'll] Ile Qq. I will Capell (ending the line straight). I will Malone.

straight] om. Pope.

[Exeunt.] Exe. Manet Hamlet. Rowe. om. Qq.

[1658] fust] rust Rowe.

[1659] know Why yet I live] know. Why yet live I Anon. conj. MS.

[1660] Rightly ... to stir] 'Tis not to be great Never to stir Pope.

[1661] to stir] to never stir Bullock conj.

[1662] imminent] Q_6. iminent Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. eminent Q (1703) and Rowe.

[1663] plot] spot Pope. plat Jennens conj.

[1664] slain] slain men or slaughter'd Anon. conj.

O,] O then Pope.

[1665] SCENE V.] Pope. SCENE III. Rowe.

Elsinore. A room....] Capell. A Palace. Rowe.

Enter....] Pope. Enter Horatio, Gertrard, and a Gentleman. Qq. Enter Queene and Horatio. Ff. Enter Queen, Horatio, and Attendants. Rowe. Enter Queen, and a Gentleman. Hanmer. Enter Queen, attended; Horatio, and a Gentleman. Capell.

[1666] Gent.] Gent. or Gen. Qq. Hor. Ff.

[1667] She ... pitied.] As in Capell. Two lines, the first ending importunat, in Qq. Prose in Ff.

distract: ... pitied.] distracted, and deserves pity. Q (1676).

[1668] collection; ... it] collect at what they aim Long MS. (obliterated).

aim] F_3 F_4. ayme F_1 F_2. yawne Qq. yearn Anon. conj.

[1669] botch] both F_3 F_4.

[1670] as her] as Q_4 Q_5 Q_6. at her F_3 F_4.

[1671] might] Qq. would Ff.

thought] thoughts F_3 F_4. meant or seen Staunton conj.

[1672] Hor. 'Twere ... minds. Queen. Let ... in.] Arranged as by Collier (Blackstone conj.) See note (XXV).

[1673] [Exit Gentleman.] Hanmer. Exit Hor. Johnson, om. Qq Ff.

[1674] in. To] Qq F_1. in To F_2 F_3 F_4.

[1675] [Aside] Edd. om. Qq Ff.

[1676] To my ... spilt.] Marked with inverted commas in Qq.

[1677] Re-enter....] Edd. Enter Ophelia. Qq (after line 16). Enter Ophelia distracted. Ff. Enter Horatio, with Ophelia, distracted. Johnson. Enter Ophelia, wildly. Capell. Re-enter Horatio, with Ophelia. Steevens (1778).

[1678] Ophelia!] Ophelia? Q_2 Q_3 Ff Q_6. Ophelia. Q_4 Q_5.

[1679] [Sings] shee sings, Q_2 Q_3. she sings. Q_4 Q_5 Q_6. om. Ff.

[1680] How ... shoon] Four lines in Capell. Two in Qq Ff.

[1681] And his] and by his Q_6.

sandal] Ff. sendall Qq.

[1682] Say you?] Ff. Say you, Qq.

[1683] [Sings] Song. Qq. om. Ff.

[1684] He is ... He is] He's ... he is Pope. He's ... he's Hanmer.

[1685] He ... stone.] Four lines in Capell. Two in Qq Ff.

[1686] grass-green] green grass Elze (Percy's Reliques).

[1687] Oh, oh!] O ho. Qq. om. Ff.

[1688] his] the Warburton.

[Sings] Capell. om. Qq Ff.

Enter King.] Qq. After stone, line 32, in Ff.

[1689] [Sings] Song. Q_6. Song. Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5 (opposite line 37). om. Ff.

Larded] (Q_1) Ff. Larded all Qq.

[1690] bewept] (Q_1) Ff. beweept Qq. unbewept Keightley, reading did not with Qq Ff.

grave] (Q_1) Ff. ground Qq.

did] Pope. did not Qq Ff.

[1691] true-love] Hyphened in Ff.

showers] flowers F_3 F_4.

[1692] you] Qq. ye Ff.

[1693] God 'ild] Capell. good dild Qq. God dil'd Ff. Godild Hanmer. God yield Warburton. God 'ield Johnson.

[1694] but know] but we know Johnson.

[1695] God ... table!] om. Q (1676).

[1696] Pray you, let's] Pray you let's F_1 F_2. Pray lets Qq (let's Q_6). Pray you let us F_3 F_4. Pray let us Pope.

[1697] [Sings] Song. Qq. om. Ff.

[1698] To-morrow ... Valentine.] Four lines in Qq. Two in Ff.

[1699] To-morrow is] Good Morrow, 'tis Steevens, 1793 (Farmer conj.)

[1700] morning] Qq F_1. morne F_2. morn F_3 F_4.

[1701] Then ... more.] Four lines in Johnson. Two in Qq Ff. Six in Capell.

[1702] clothes] F_1 Q_6 F_3. close Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. cloathes F_2. cloths F_4.

[1703] dupp'd] dupt Qq Ff. op'd Hanmer. do'pt Warburton. d'op'd Capell.

[1704] the maid, that out] Qq F_1. the maid, let in F_2. a maid, that out F_3 F_4. a maid, but out Hanmer.

[1705] Indeed, la,] Indeed la? Ff. Indeede Q_2 Q_3. Indeed Q_4 Q_5. Indeed, Q_6. Indeed? Pope.

[1706] [Sings] Capell. om. Qq Ff.

Gis] F_3 F_4. gis Qq F_1 F_2. Cis Johnson conj.

[1707] By ... blame.] Four lines in Qq Ff. Six in Capell.

[1708] to blame] Q_5 Q_6 F_3 F_4. too blame The rest.

[1709] Quoth she, before] Before, quoth she, Capell.

[1710] Quoth ... wed.] Two lines in Ff. One in Qq. Three lines in Capell.

[1711] He answers:] (He answers.) Qq. Omitted in Ff.

So ... sun,] Two lines in Capell.

would] Q_2 Q_3 Ff. should Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

ha' done] ha done Ff. a done Qq.

[1712] An] Hanmer. And Qq Ff.

[1713] been thus] bin this F_1.

[1714] should] Ff. would Qq.

[1715] Good ... good ... good ... good] God ... god ... god ... god Q_2 Q_3. God ... God ... God ... God Q_4 Q_5.

night, sweet ... night.] Pointed as in Ff, substantially. night. Sweet ... night. Qq, reading Sweet ... night as a separate line.

[1716] [Exit.] Ff. om. Qq.

[1717] Follow ... you.] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[Exit Horatio.] Theobald. Exeunt Hor. and Att. Capell. om. Qq Ff.

[1718] O, this] This Pope.

[1719] death. O] death. Oh Ff. death, and now behold, ô Qq, reading lines 72, 73 as prose.

[1720] come, they] comes, they F_1.

spies] spyes Q_2 Q_3. spies The rest. files Anon. conj. (Gent. Mag. LX. 307).

[1721] battalions] Q (1676) and Rowe. battalians Qq. battaliaes F_1 F_2. battels F_3 F_4.

[1722] their] Ff. om. Qq.

[1723] and we have] We've Pope.

but greenly,] om. Q (1676).

[1724] In hugger-mugger] Obscurely Q (1676). In private Pope. Omitted by Capell, ending the previous line at done.

[1725] the which we are] which we are but Q_6. the which we're Pope.

[1726] Feeds on his wonder] Johnson. Feeds on this wonder Qq. Keepes on his wonder Ff (Keeps F_3 F_4). Feeds on his anger Hanmer.

in clouds] inclos'd Thirlby conj.

[1727] buzzers] whispers Q (1676).

[1728] Wherein] Qq. Where in Ff.

Wherein necessity] Whence animosity Hanmer.

[1729] person] Qq. persons Ff.

[1730] murdering-piece] Hyphen inserted in Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

[1731] places Gives] Qq. places, Gives Ff.

[1732] Queen. Alack, ... this?] Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[1733] SCENE VI. Pope.

Where] Ff. Attend, where Qq.

are] is Q_2 Q_3.

Switzers] Ff. Swissers Qq.

[1734] Let ... matter] As in Qq. One line in Ff.

Enter another Gentleman.] Enter a Gentleman, hastily. Capell. Enter a Messenger. Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5 Ff, after death, line 92. Enter Messenger. Q_6.

[1735] Gent.] Gen. Capell. Messen. Qq. Mes. Ff.

[1736] Eats] Beats Williams conj.

impetuous] impitious Q_2 Q_3. impittious F_1.

[1737] lord] king Collier MS.

[1738] And ... word,] Put in a parenthesis, Anon. conj. (Gent. Mag. LX. 403).

[1739] The ... shall be king!] The ... to be king, Q_6. The ... for our king, Q (1676) and Rowe. They cry ... for our king: The ratifiers ... word Hanmer.

[1740] word] ward Warburton. weal Johnson conj. work Capell (Tyrwhitt conj.)

[1741] They] The Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5.

we;] we, Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. we? Ff. we Q_6.

[1742] tongues] shouts Hanmer.

[1743] [Noise again, and Shouts: Door assaulted. Capell.

[1744] [Noise within.] Ff. A noise within. Qq, opposite to line 105.

[1745] Enter ... following.] Capell. Enter Laertes with others. Qq, after line 106. Enter Laertes. Ff, after line 106. Enter Laertes, with a Party at the Door. Theobald.

[1746] this king? Sirs] Qq. the king, sirs? Ff.

[1747] Danes.] Dan. Capell. All. Qq Ff.

[1748] [They retire....] Capell. Exeunt. Theobald. om. Qq Ff.

[1749] O thou ... father!] Arranged as in Qq. One line in Ff.

[1750] vile] Qq F_4. vilde F_1 F_2. vild F_3.

[1751] That ... bastard;] One line in Qq. Two lines in Ff.

that's calm] that's calme Q_5 Q_6. thats calme Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. that calmes F_1 F_2 F_3. that calms F_4.

[1752] unsmirched brow] unsmitched brow F_2 F_3 F_4. brows Q (1676). and unsmich'd brow Pope. and unsmirch'd brow Theobald. and unsmirch'd brows Johnson. unsmirched brows Grant White.

[1753] can but] cannot Q_4 Q_5.

can but peep to] dares not reach at Q (1676).

[1754] Acts] Act's Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. Act Hanmer.

his] its Pope.

[1755] thou art] art thou F_3 F_4. are you Rowe (ed. 2).

[1756] Where is] Qq. Wheres F_1 F_2. Where's F_3 F_4.

Dead] Dead, Laertes Capell.

[1757] blackest] black Hanmer.

[1758] grace, to ... pit! I] grace, to ... pit. I Ff. grace, to ... pit I Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. grace to ... pit, I Q_6.

[1759] world] Ff. worlds Qq. world's Hanmer.

[1760] They] The Q_4.

[1761] Good ... certainty] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[1762] father's death] F_3 F_4. fathers death F_1 F_2. father Qq.

is't] Q_6. i'st Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. if Ff. if 'tis not Rowe.

[1763] That, swoopstake] Swoop-stake-like (Q_1). That soopstake Q_2 Q_3. That soope-stake Q_4. That soop-stake Q_5 Ff Q_6. (That sweep-stake) Pope. That, sweep-stake Johnson.

you will] will you Hanmer (Theobald conj.)

[1764] loser?] Q_6. loser. F_4. looser. The rest.

[1765] then?] Qq F_4. then. The rest.

[1766] his good friends] this, good friends, Q (1676).

ope] hope F_2.

[1767] pelican] Politician F_1.

[1768] Repast] Relieve Q (1676).

Why, now you speak] Why now? what noyse is that? F_2 F_3 F_4.

[1769] sensibly] sencibly Q_2 Q_3. sencible Q_4. sensible The rest.

[1770] pierce] Ff. peare Qq. lye Q (1676). 'pear Johnson.

SCENE VII. Pope.

Danes. [Within] Capell. See note (XXVI).

[1771] Re-enter....] Collier. Enter Ophelia, fantastically drest with Straws and Flowers. Rowe.

[1772] Burn out] Burn on Pope (ed. 1).

[1773] with] Qq. by Ff.

[1774] Till] Tell Q_2 Q_3.

turn] turne Qq. turnes F_1 F_2. turns F_3 F_4.

[1775] an old] Ff. a poore Qq. a sick Q (1676).

[1776] Nature ... loves.] Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[1777] fine ... fine, ... instance] fire ... fire, ... incense Pope conj. fal'n ... fal'n, ... instance Warburton.

[1778] barefaced] bure-faste Q_2 Q_3.

[Sings] Song. Qq. om. Ff.

[1779] Hey ... nonny:] Hey ... nony: or Hey ... noney: Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[1780] in] Qq. on Ff.

rain'd] Qq. raines F_1 F_2. rains F_3 F_4. remains Warburton. rain Collier MS. See note (II).

[1781] Fare ... dove!] See note (XXVII).

[1782] Hadst ... thus.] Verse in Qq. Prose in Ff.

[1783] move] move me S. Walker conj.

[1784] See note (XXVIII).

[1785] An] an Capell. And Qq. and Ff.

[1786] wheel becomes it] wheele becomes it Qq F_1. wheeles become it F_2. wheels become? F_3 F_4. weal becomes it Warburton.

[1787] nothing's] nothing is much Q (1676).

[1788] There's ... remembrance:] Prose in Qq. One line in Ff.

that's] that Q_4 Q_5.

[1789] pray you] Qq. Pray Ff.

[1790] there is] there's Q_6 F_3 F_4.

pansies] Johnson. paconcies F_1. pancies The rest.

[1791] herb of grace] herbe of grace Qq. herbe-grace Ff (herb F_3 F_4). hearb a grace (Q_1).

[1792] o'] Theobald. a Qq Ff.

O, you must] Oh you must or O you must Ff. you may Qq. you must (Q_1).

[1793] a' made] a made Qq. he made Ff.

[1794] [Sings] Capell. om. Qq Ff.

[1795] Thought] Thoughts (Q_1) Q_6.

affliction] Ff. afflictions (Q_1) Qq.

[1796] [Sings] Song. Qq. om. Ff.

[1797] a' ... a'] a ... a Qq. he ... he Ff.

[1798] Two lines in Johnson. One in Qq Ff.

[1799] Go to thy] Gone to his Collier (Collier MS.)

[1800] was as] Qq. as Ff. was Collier (Collier MS.)

[1801] All flaxen] Ff. Flaxen Qq.

poll] Johnson. pole Qq Ff.

[1802] He ... moan:] Two lines in Johnson. One in Qq Ff.

[1803] God ha' mercy] Collier. God a mercy Qq. Gramercy Ff. God a' mercy Steevens (1778).

[1804] of] Q_2 Q_3 Ff. om. Q_4 Q_5 Q_6. on Johnson.

Christian] Ff Q_6. Christians Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5.

I pray God] Ff. om. Qq.

God be wi' you] God buy you Q_2 Q_3 Q_6. God buy yous, Q_4 Q_5. God buy ye F_1 F_2. God bu'ye F_3. God b' w' ye F_4. See note (XXIX).

[Exit.] Exit dancing distractedly. Collier MS.

[1805] Do you see this, O God?] Capell. Doe you this ô God. Qq (God! Q_6). Do you see this, you Gods? Ff.

[1806] commune] Qq F_2 F_3 F_4. common F_1.

[1807] collateral] F_3 F_4. colaturall Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. collaturall Q_5. colaterall F_1. collaterall F_2 Q_6.

[1808] kingdom] kindome Q_4.

[1809] patience] paience F_2.

[1810] funeral] funerall Qq. buriall F_1 F_2. burial F_3 F_4.

[1811] trophy] trophe Q_2 Q_3. trophae Q_4 Q_5. trophee Ff. trophey Q_6.

[1812] rite] Ff. right Qq.

[1813] call't] Qq. call Ff.

[1814] axe] tax Warburton.

[1815] SCENE VI.] Capell. SCENE VIII. Pope.

Another ...] Another Room in the same. Capell.

Enter ...] Capell. Enter Horatio, with an Attendant. Ff. Enter Horatio and others. Qq.

[1816] What ... in.] Verse by Capell, ending the lines sir ... in.

[1817] Serv.] Ser. Ff. Gent. or Gen. Qq.

Sea-faring men] Qq. Saylors F_1 F_2. Sailors F_3 F_4.

[1818] [Exit Servant.] Capell. om. Qq Ff.

[1819] greeted, if] Ff Q_6. greeted. If Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5.

[1820] Enter Sailors.] Enter Saylers. Qq. Enter Saylor. Ff (Sailor F_4).

[1821] First Sail.] 1. S. Capell. Say. Qq F_1 F_2. Sayl. F_3. Sail. F_4.

[1822] you] your F_2.

[1823] He] Ff. A Qq.

an't] Q_6 F_4. and Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. and't F_1 F_2 F_3.

[1824] comes] Ff. came Qq.

ambassador] embassador Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. Ambassadours F_1 F_2 F_3. embassadour Q_6. Ambassadour F_4.

[1825] Hor. [Reads] Reads the Letter. Ff. Hor. Qq.

[1826] and in] Qq. in Ff.

on the instant] in the instant Q_6.

[1827] good] Ff. om. Qq.

[1828] speed] Q_4 Q_5 Q_6. speede Q_2 Q_3. hast F_1 F_2. haste F_3 F_4.

wouldest] Q_2 Q_3 F_1 F_2 F_3. wouldst Q_4 Q_5 Q_6 F_4.

[1829] thine] Qq. your Ff. thy Pope.

[1830] bore of the] Ff. bord of the Qq. om. Q (1676) and Pope.

[1831] much] as much F_3 F_4.

[1832] He that ... thine, Hamlet.] Ff. So that ... thine Hamlet. Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. So that ... thine, Hamlet. Q_6. Hamlet. Q (1676).

[1833] make] Q_4 Q_5 Q_6. give Ff. om. Q_2 Q_3.

[1834] [Exeunt.] Qq. Exit. Ff.

[1835] SCENE VII.] Capell. SCENE IX. Pope.

Another ... castle.] Another ... same. Capell.

[1836] which] who Q (1676).

[1837] proceeded] Ff. proceede Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. proceed Q_5 Q_6.

[1838] crimeful] F_4. crimefull F_1 F_2 F_3. criminall Qq.

and so] and Q_6.

[1839] safety] Ff. safetie, greatnes Q_2 Q_3. safety, greatnes Q_4. safetie, greatnesse Q_5. safety, greatnesse Q_6.

[1840] O, for two] For two Q (1676). Two Pope.

[1841] unsinew'd] unsinnow'd Qq. unsinnowed F_1 F_2. unsinewed F_3 F_4.

[1842] But] Qq. And Ff.

they're] tha'r Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. tha're Q_6. they are Ff. are Pope.

[1843] be it] be't Pope.

[1844] She's so conjunctive] Ff (Shes F_2). She is so concliue Qq. She is so precious Q (1676).

[1845] Would] Ff. Worke Qq.

[1846] gyves] F_1 F_2 Q_6 F_3. gives Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5 F_4. gybes Theobald conj. (withdrawn).

that] om. Pope.

[1847] timber'd] tymberd Q_2 Q_3. tymbered Q_4. timbered Q_5 Q_6. timbred Ff.

loud a wind] Ff (winde F_1). loued Arm'd Q_2 Q_3. loued armes Q_4 Q_5. loved armes Q_6. loved, arm'd Jennens.

[1848] bow] brow Long MS.

[1849] And] Ff. But Qq.

not] not gone Keightley conj.

had] Ff. have Qq.

aim'd] arm'd F_1.

[1850] have I] I have Q_5 Q_6.

[1851] Whose worth] Qq. Who was Ff. Who has Johnson.

[1852] Stood] Sole Collier MS.

on mount] on the mount Q (1676).

[1853] my] om. Pope.

[1854] Break ... think] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[1855] beard] berd Q_4. beards Q_6.

with danger] of danger Capell conj.

[1856] pastime] pasttime F_2.

shortly shall] shall soon Pope.

[1857] ourself] your selfe F_2. your self F_3 F_4.

[1858] imagine—] Ff. imagine. Qq.

Enter....] Qq. Enter a Messenger. Ff.

[1859] How ... news?] Ff. Omitted in Qq.

Letters ... Hamlet:] Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[1860] This] Ff. These Qq.

[1861] Hamlet!] Hamlet? Ff Q_6. Hamlet, The rest.

[1862] Of ... them.] Omitted in Ff.

him] them S. Walker conj.

hear] om. F_2. read F_3 F_4.

[1863] us.] us, all— Pope, reading Laertes ... all— as one line.

[Exit....] Ff. om. Qq.

[1864] [Reads] Capell. om. Qq Ff.

[1865] shall I] I shall Jennens.

[1866] first ... thereunto,] (first ... pardon) thereunto Q (1676).

[1867] asking your] asking you Q (1676) and Rowe.

[1868] occasion] Qq. occasions Ff.

[1869] and more strange] Ff. Omitted in Qq. and most strange Anon conj.

[1870] HAMLET.] Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[1871] abuse, and] Qq. abuse? Or Ff.

[1872] 'Tis ... me?] Divided as in Qq. Prose in Ff. Pope ends the lines character; ... says) ... me?

[1873] 'Naked!' ... 'alone'.] Marked as quotations first by Johnson.

[1874] advise] Ff. devise Qq.

[1875] I'm] Ff. I am Qq.

[1876] shall] Ff. om. Qq.

and tell] to tell Hanmer.

[1877] didest] diddest Ff. didst Qq.

[1878] If it ... me?] Arranged as in Qq. Two lines, the first ending so?, in Ff.

[1879] should it] should it but Keightley. should't not Anon. conj.

[1880] Ay ... peace.] Arranged as by Steevens. One line in Qq.

Ay ... So you will] I my lord, so you will Qq. If so you'l Ff. I, so you'll Pope. Ay; so you'll Johnson. I will, my lord; So you will Capell, ending the first line at lord.

[1881] lord] good lord S. Walker conj.

[1882] return'd] returned Qq.

[1883] checking at] Ff. the King at Q_2 Q_3. liking not Q_4 Q_5 Q_6. kecking at Long MS.

[1884] device] Ff Q_6. devise Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5.

[1885] accident] accedent Q_2 Q_3 Q_4.

[1886] Laer. My Lord ... graveness.] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

[1887] My Lord,] om. Pope.

[1888] organ] instrument Q(1676) and Rowe.

[1889] riband Q_4 Q_5 Q_6. ribaud Q_2 Q_3. feather Q(1676) and Rowe.

[1890] health] wealth Warburton.

Two months since] Qq. Some two months hence Ff.

[1891] Normandy:—] Normandy. Ff. Normandy, Qq.

[1892] I've] Ff. I have Qq.

[1893] can] Qq. ran Ff.

[1894] unto] Qq. into Ff.

[1895] had he] he had Q_6.

[1896] topp'd] topt Qq. past Ff.

my thought] Ff Q_6. me thought Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5.

[1897] Come] Came Capell conj.

[1898] Lamond] Pope. Lamound Ff. Lamord Qq. Lamode Malone conj. Lamont Grant White.

very] om. Warburton.

[1899] the] Qq. our Ff. that Collier MS. See note (II).

[1900] He made] Hee mad F_1.

[1901] especial] especiall Qq. especiallyͨ F_1. especially F_2 F_3 F_4.

[1902] sight] fight Rowe (ed. 2).

[1903] you: the ... them. Sir, this] you; the ... them; sir this Qq. you Sir. This Ff. omitting the ... them, lines 101-103. you. This Pope, following Ff.

[1904] the scrimers] Q_4 Q_5 Q_6. the scrimures Q_2 Q_3. the fencers Q (1676). th' escrimeurs Grant White.

[1905] his] your S. Walker conj.

[1906] o'er] ore Qq F_1. over F_2 F_3 F_4.

him] Ff. you Q_4.

[1907] this—] Rowe. this. Qq Ff.

What] Qq. Why Ff.

[1908] But ... by time] Love is begun betime: but that I know, Becket conj.

begun] begone or by-gone Mason conj. benumb'd Jackson conj.

by time] betime Seymour conj.

begun] begnawn Bailey conj.

[1909] There ... ulcer:] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

[1910] wick] Rowe (ed. 2). weeke Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. wicke Q_6.

[1911] plurisy] plurisie Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. pleurisie Q_6. plethory Hanmer (Warburton conj.)

[1912] that] what Pope.

[1913] 'would' ... 'should'] Put in italics in Q_5 Q_6.

[1914] accidents] accedents Q_2 Q_3 Q_4.

[1915] spendthrift sigh] spend-thrift sigh Q_6. spend thrifts sigh Q_2 Q_3. spend-thrifts sigh Q_4 Q_5. spend-thrift's sign Warburton.

[1916] Hamlet comes] Qq F_1. Hamlet come F_2 F_3. Hamlet, come F_4.

[1917] your ... in deed] F_4. your fathers sonne indeed F_1 F_2. your father's son indeed F_3. indeede your fathers sonne Qq (indeed Q_4 Q_5 Q_6).

[1918] sanctuarize] sanctuarise Q_2 Q_3. sancturize F_1.

[1919] this, ... chamber.] Pointed substantially as by Steevens (1778). this, ... chamber, Q_2 Q_3 F_1 this, ... chamber Q_4 Q_5. this?... chamber, Q_6. this, ... chamber? F_2 F_3 F_4.

[1920] fame] same Q_5 Q_6 F_3 F_4.

[1921] Frenchman] Frenchmen Warburton.

[1922] on] Ff. ore Qq.

[1923] foils,] Marked with a note of interrogation in Ff.

[1924] unbated] Qq. unbaited F_1 F_2. un-baited F_3 F_4. imbaited Theobald conj. (withdrawn). unrebated Becket conj. See note (XXX).

pass] F_3 F_4. passe F_1 F_2. pace Qq.

[1925] that] Ff. om. Q_2 Q_3. the Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

anoint] annoiot F_2.

[1926] that but dip] Q_5 Q_6. that but dippe Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. I but dipt Ff.

[1927] With ... death.] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[1928] if I] if't Anon. conj.

[1929] Weigh] Q_5 Ff Q_6. Wey Q_2 Q_3 Q_4.

convenience] conveiance Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

[1930] us] it Hanmer.

shape: if ... fail,] Pointed substantially as by Rowe. shape if ... fayle, Qq. shape, if ... faile; F_1 F_2 F_3. shape if ... fail; F_4.

[1931] look] lookt F_4.

[1932] did] Qq. should Ff.

[1933] cunnings] Qq. commings F_1 F_2 F_3. comings F_4.

[1934] I ha't] Ff. I hate Q_2 Q_3. I hav't Q_4 Q_5 Q_6. That— Rowe.

[1935] I ha't ... dry] Arranged as by Johnson. One line in Qq Ff.

[1936] and dry] om. Pope, reading I ha't ... hot as one line.

[1937] As] And Pope.

that end] Qq. the end Ff.

[1938] prepared] prepar'd Ff. prefard Q_2 Q_3. preferd Q_4 Q_5. prefer'd Q_6.

[1939] nonce] once Q_4 Q_5.

sipping] tasting Q (1676).

[1940] stuck] tucke Q_6. tuck Q (1676) and Rowe.

[1941] But ... noise?] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

Enter Queen.] As in Qq. After queen! in Ff.

[1942] How ... queen!] Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[1943] SCENE X. Pope.

[1944] they] Qq. they'l F_1 F_2. they'll F_3 F_4.

[1945] grows aslant] growing o'er Q (1676).

aslant a] Ff. ascaunt the Qq.

[1946] hoar] F_3 F_4. hore F_1 F_2. horry Q_2 Q_3. hoary Q_4. hoarie Q_5 Q_6.

[1947] There with ... come] Ff. Therewith ... make Qq. Near which ... she did make Q (1676).

[1948] give] gave F_4.

name] name to Rowe.

[1949] cold] Ff. cull-cold Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. culcold Q_5 Q_6.

[1950] There] Qq Ff. Then Capell.

coronet] cronet Q_2 Q_3.

[1951] silver] Q_2 Q_3 Ff. sluer Q_4 Q_5. shiver Q_6.

[1952] her] Qq. the Ff.

trophies] Q_2 Q_3 Ff. trophæs Q_4 Q_5. tropheys Q_6.

[1953] bore] bear F_4.

[1954] snatches] remnants Q (1676).

tunes] (Q_1) Ff. laudes Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. lauds Q_5 Q_6.

[1955] indued] F_1 Q_6. indewed Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. deduced F_2 F_3 F_4. inured Mason conj. reduced Collier MS.

[1956] their] her F_1.

[1957] poor wretch] poore wench Q_4 Q_5 Q_6. gentle maid Q (1676).

lay] Qq. buy, F_1. by, F_2 F_3. by F_4.

[1958] she is drown'd!] Pope, she is drownd. Q_2 Q_3. is she drownd. Q_4. is she drown'd. Q_5. is she drown'd? Ff Q_6.

[1959] of fire] Ff. a fire Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. afire Q_6.

[1960] douts] Knight. doubts F_1. drownes Qq F_2. drowns F_3 F_4.

Let's] om. Pope.

[1961] I had] had I Pope (ed. 2).

ACT V.

SCENE I. A churchyard.

Enter two Clowns, with spades, &c.[1962]

First Clo. Is she to be buried in Christian burial that[1963][1964]

wilfully seeks her own salvation?

Sec. Clo. I tell thee she is; and therefore make her[1965][1966]

grave straight: the crowner hath sat on her, and finds it

Christian burial. 5

First Clo. How can that be, unless she drowned herself[1963][1967]

in her own defence?

Sec. Clo. Why, 'tis found so.[1965]

First Clo. It must be 'se offendendo;' it cannot be else.[1968]

For here lies the point: if I drown myself wittingly, it argues 10

an act: and an act hath three branches; it is, to act, to[1969]

do, and to perform: argal, she drowned herself wittingly.[1970]

Sec. Clo. Nay, but hear you, goodman delver.[1971]

First Clo. Give me leave. Here lies the water; good:[1972]

here stands the man; good: if the man go to this water and[1973] 15

drown himself, it is, will he, nill he, he goes; mark you[1974]

that; but if the water come to him and drown him, he[1975]

drowns not himself: argal, he that is not guilty of his own

death shortens not his own life.

Sec. Clo. But is this law? 20

First Clo. Ay, marry, is't; crowner's quest law.

Sec. Clo. Will you ha' the truth on't? If this had not[1976]

been a gentlewoman, she should have been buried out o'[1977]

Christian burial.

First Clo. Why, there thou say'st: and the more pity that[1978] 25

great folk should have countenance in this world to drown

or hang themselves, more than their even Christian. Come,[1979]

my spade. There is no ancient gentlemen but gardeners,[1980]

ditchers and grave-makers: they hold up Adam's profession.

Sec. Clo. Was he a gentleman? 30

First Clo. A' was the first that ever bore arms.[1981]

Sec. Clo. Why, he had none.[1982]

First Clo. What, art a heathen? How dost thou understand[1982][1983]

the Scripture? The Scripture says Adam digged:[1982]

could he dig without arms? I'll put another question[1982] 35

to thee: if thou answerest me not to the purpose, confess[1984]

thyself—[1985]

Sec. Clo. Go to.

First Clo. What is he that builds stronger than either

the mason, the shipwright, or the carpenter? 40

Sec. Clo. The gallows-maker; for that frame outlives a[1986]

thousand tenants.

First Clo. I like thy wit well, in good faith: the gallows

does well; but how does it well? it does well to those that

do ill: now, thou dost ill to say the gallows is built stronger 45

than the church: argal, the gallows may do well to thee.

To't again, come.

Sec. Clo. 'Who builds stronger than a mason, a shipwright,

or a carpenter?'[1987]

First Clo. Ay, tell me that, and unyoke. 50

Sec. Clo. Marry, now I can tell.

First Clo. To't.

Sec. Clo. Mass, I cannot tell.

Enter HAMLET and HORATIO, afar off.[1988]

First Clo. Cudgel thy brains no more about it, for your

dull ass will not mend his pace with beating, and when 55

you are asked this question next, say 'a grave-maker:' the

houses that he makes last till doomsday. Go, get thee to[1989][1990]

Yaughan; fetch me a stoup of liquor.     [Exit Sec. Clown.[1990][1991]

[He digs, and sings.

In youth, when I did love, did love,

Methought it was very sweet, 60

To contract, O, the time, for-a my behove,[1992]

O, methought, there-a was nothing-a meet.[1993]

Ham. Has this fellow no feeling of his business, that[1994][1995]

he sings at grave-making?[1995]

Hor. Custom hath made it in him a property of easiness.[1996] 65

Ham. 'Tis e'en so: the hand of little employment hath

the daintier sense.[1997]

First Clo. [Sings] But age, with his stealing steps,[1998][1999]

Hath claw'd me in his clutch,[1999][2000] 70

And hath shipped me intil the land,[1999][2001]

As if I had never been such.[2002]

[Throws up a skull.

Ham. That skull had a tongue in it, and could sing

once: how the knave jowls it to the ground, as if it were[2003]

Cain's jaw-bone, that did the first murder! It might be[2004] 75

the pate of a politician, which this ass now o'er-reaches;[2005]

one that would circumvent God, might it not?[2006]

Hor. It might, my lord.

Ham. Or of a courtier, which could say 'Good morrow,

sweet lord! How dost thou, sweet lord?' This might[2007] 80

be my lord such-a-one, that praised my lord such-a-one's[2008]

horse, when he meant to beg it; might it not?[2009]

Hor. Ay, my lord.

Ham. Why, e'en so: and now my Lady Worm's;[2010]

chapless, and knocked about the mazzard with a sexton's[2011] 85

spade: here's fine revolution, an we had the trick to see't.[2012]

Did these bones cost no more the breeding, but to play at

loggats with 'em? mine ache to think on't.[2013]

First Clo. [Sings] A pick-axe, and a spade, a spade,[1998]

For and a shrouding sheet:[2014] 90

O, a pit of clay for to be made

For such a guest is meet.

[Throws up another skull.[2015]

Ham. There's another: why may not that be the skull[2016]

of a lawyer? Where be his quiddities now, his quillets, his[2017]

cases, his tenures, and his tricks? why does he suffer this 95

rude knave now to knock him about the sconce with a dirty[2018]

shovel, and will not tell him of his action of battery? Hum![2019]

This fellow might be in 's time a great buyer of land, with

his statutes, his recognizances, his fines, his double vouchers,

his recoveries: is this the fine of his fines and the recovery[2020] 100

of his recoveries, to have his fine pate full of fine dirt? will[2020][2021]

his vouchers vouch him no more of his purchases, and double[2022][2023]

ones too, than the length and breadth of a pair of indentures?[2023]

The very conveyances of his lands will hardly lie in[2024]

this box; and must the inheritor himself have no more, ha? 105

Hor. Not a jot more, my lord.

Ham. Is not parchment made of sheep-skins?

Hor. Ay, my lord, and of calf-skins too.[2025]

Ham. They are sheep and calves which seek out assurance[2026]

in that. I will speak to this fellow. Whose grave's 110

this, sirrah?[2027]

First Clo. Mine, sir.[2028]

[Sings] O, a pit of clay for to be made[2028][2029]

For such a guest is meet.[2030]

Ham. I think it be thine indeed, for thou liest in't.[2031] 115

First Clo. You lie out on't, sir, and therefore 'tis not[2032]

yours: for my part, I do not lie in't, and yet it is mine.[2033]

Ham. Thou dost lie in't, to be in't and say it is thine:

'tis for the dead, not for the quick; therefore thou liest.

First Clo. 'Tis a quick lie, sir; 'twill away again, from[2034] 120

me to you.

Ham. What man dost thou dig it for?

First Clo. For no man, sir.

Ham. What woman then?

First Clo. For none, neither. 125

Ham. Who is to be buried in 't?

First Clo. One that was a woman, sir; but, rest her

soul, she's dead.

Ham. How absolute the knave is! we must speak by

the card, or equivocation will undo us. By the Lord,[2035] 130

Horatio, this three years I have taken note of it; the age[2036]

is grown so picked that the toe of the peasant comes so[2037]

near the heel of the courtier, he galls his kibe. How long[2038]

hast thou been a grave-maker?[2039]

First Clo. Of all the days i' the year, I came to't that[2040] 135

day that our last king Hamlet o'ercame Fortinbras.[2041]

Ham. How long is that since?

First Clo. Cannot you tell that? every fool can tell

that: it was that very day that young Hamlet was born;[2042]

he that is mad, and sent into England.[2043] 140

Ham. Ay, marry, why was he sent into England?

First Clo. Why, because a' was mad: a' shall recover[2044]

his wits there; or, if a' do not, 'tis no great matter there.[2044][2045]

Ham. Why?

First Clo. 'Twill not be seen in him there; there the[2046] 145

men are as mad as he.[2046]

Ham. How came he mad?

First Clo. Very strangely, they say.

Ham. How 'strangely'?

First Clo. Faith, e'en with losing his wits. 150

Ham. Upon what ground?

First Clo. Why, here in Denmark: I have been sexton[2047]

here, man and boy, thirty years.[2048]

Ham. How long will a man lie i' the earth ere he rot?

First Clo. I'faith, if a' be not rotten before a' die—as[2049][2050] 155

we have many pocky corses now-a-days, that will scarce[2051]

hold the laying in—a' will last you some eight year or nine[2051]

year: a tanner will last you nine year.[2052]

Ham. Why he more than another?

First Clo. Why, sir, his hide is so tanned with his trade[2053] 160

that a' will keep out water a great while; and your water is[2054]

a sore decayer of your whoreson dead body. Here's a skull[2055]

now: this skull has lain in the earth three and twenty years.[2055][2056]

Ham. Whose was it?

First Clo. A whoreson mad fellow's it was: whose do[2057] 165

you think it was?[2057]

Ham. Nay, I know not.

First Clo. A pestilence on him for a mad rogue! a'[2058]

poured a flagon of Rhenish on my head once. This same[2059]

skull, sir, was Yorick's skull, the king's jester.[2059][2060] 170

Ham. This?

First Clo. E'en that.

Ham. Let me see. [Takes the skull.] Alas, poor[2061]

Yorick! I knew him, Horatio: a fellow of infinite jest, of

most excellent fancy: he hath borne me on his back a[2062] 175

thousand times; and now how abhorred in my imagination[2063][2064]

it is! my gorge rises at it. Here hung those lips that I[2064]

have kissed I know not how oft. Where be your gibes

now? your gambols? your songs? your flashes of merriment,[2065]

that were wont to set the table on a roar? Not one[2066] 180

now, to mock your own grinning? quite chop-fallen? Now[2067]

get you to my lady's chamber, and tell her, let her paint[2068]

an inch thick, to this favour she must come; make her[2069]

laugh at that. Prithee, Horatio, tell me one thing.

Hor. What's that, my lord? 185

Ham. Dost thou think Alexander looked o' this fashion[2070]

i' the earth?

Hor. E'en so.

Ham. And smelt so? pah!     [Puts down the skull.[2071]

Hor. E'en so, my lord. 190

Ham. To what base uses we may return, Horatio![2072]

Why may not imagination trace the noble dust of Alexander,

till he find it stopping a bung-hole?[2073]

Hor. 'Twere to consider too curiously, to consider so.

Ham. No, faith, not a jot; but to follow him thither[2074] 195

with modesty enough and likelihood to lead it: as thus:[2075]

Alexander died, Alexander was buried, Alexander returneth[2076]

into dust; the dust is earth; of earth we make loam;[2077]

and why of that loam, whereto he was converted, might[2078]

they not stop a beer-barrel? 200

Imperious Cæsar, dead and turn'd to clay,[2079]

Might stop a hole to keep the wind away:

O, that that earth, which kept the world in awe,

Should patch a wall to expel the winter's flaw![2080]

But soft! but soft! aside: here comes the king. 205

Enter Priests, &c. in procession; the Corpse of Ophelia, LAERTES and Mourners following; KING, QUEEN, their trains, &c.[2081]

The queen, the courtiers: who is this they follow?[2082]

And with such maimed rites? This doth betoken[2083]

The corse they follow did with desperate hand

Fordo its own life: 'twas of some estate.[2084]

Couch we awhile, and mark.     [Retiring with Horatio.[2085] 210

Laer. What ceremony else?[2086]

Ham. That is Laertes, a very noble youth: mark.[2087]

Laer. What ceremony else?

First Priest. Her obsequies have been as far enlarged[2088][2089]

As we have warranty: her death was doubtful;[2090] 215

And, but that great command o'ersways the order,

She should in ground unsanctified have lodged[2091]

Till the last trumpet; for charitable prayers,[2092]

Shards, flints and pebbles should be thrown on her:[2093]

Yet here she is allow'd her virgin crants,[2094] 220

Her maiden strewments and the bringing home[2095]

Of bell and burial.

Laer. Must there no more be done?[2096]

First Priest. No more be done:[2088]

We should profane the service of the dead

To sing a requiem and such rest to her[2097] 225

As to peace-parted souls.

Laer. Lay her i' the earth:[2098]

And from her fair and unpolluted flesh

May violets spring! I tell thee, churlish priest,

A ministering angel shall my sister be,

When thou liest howling.

Ham. What, the fair Ophelia! 230

Queen. [Scattering flowers] Sweets to the sweet: farewell![2099]

I hoped thou shouldst have been my Hamlet's wife;[2100]

I thought thy bride-bed to have deck'd, sweet maid,

And not have strew'd thy grave.

Laer. O, treble woe[2101]

Fall ten times treble on that cursed head[2102] 235

Whose wicked deed thy most ingenious sense[2103]

Deprived thee of! Hold off the earth awhile,

Till I have caught her once more in mine arms:

[Leaps into the grave.[2104]

Now pile your dust upon the quick and dead,

Till of this flat a mountain you have made 240

To o'ertop old Pelion or the skyish head[2105]

Of blue Olympus.[2106][2107]

Ham. [Advancing] What is he whose grief[2107]

Bears such an emphasis? whose phrase of sorrow[2108]

Conjures the wandering stars and makes them stand

Like wonder-wounded hearers? This is I,[2109] 245

Hamlet the Dane.     [Leaps into the grave.

Laer. The devil take thy soul!

[Grappling with him.[2110]

Ham. Thou pray'st not well.[2111]

I prithee, take thy fingers from my throat;[2111]

For, though I am not splenitive and rash,[2112]

Yet have I in me something dangerous,[2113] 250

Which let thy wisdom fear. Hold off thy hand.[2114]

King. Pluck them asunder.

Queen. Hamlet, Hamlet!

All. Gentlemen,—

Hor. Good my lord, be quiet.

[The Attendants part them, and they come out of the grave.[2115]

Ham. Why, I will fight with him upon this theme[2116]

Until my eyelids will no longer wag. 255

Queen. O my son, what theme?

Ham. I loved Ophelia: forty thousand brothers

Could not, with all their quantity of love,[2117]

Make up my sum. What wilt thou do for her?

King. O, he is mad, Laertes. 260

Queen. For love of God, forbear him.

Ham. 'Swounds, show me what thou'lt do:[2118]

Woo't weep? woo't fight? woo't fast? woo't tear thyself?[2119][2120]

Woo't drink up eisel? eat a crocodile?[2119][2121]

I'll do't. Dost thou come here to whine?[2122] 265

To outface me with leaping in her grave?[2123]

Be buried quick with her, and so will I:

And, if thou prate of mountains, let them throw

Millions of acres on us, till our ground,

Singeing his pate against the burning zone,[2124] 270

Make Ossa like a wart! Nay, an thou'lt mouth,[2125]

I'll rant as well as thou.

Queen. This is mere madness:[2126][2127]

And thus awhile the fit will work on him;[2128]

Anon, as patient as the female dove[2127][2129]

When that her golden couplets are disclosed,[2130] 275

His silence will sit drooping.

Ham. Hear you, sir;

What is the reason that you use me thus?

I loved you ever: but it is no matter;[2131]

Let Hercules himself do what he may,

The cat will mew, and dog will have his day.     [Exit.[2132] 280

King. I pray thee, good Horatio, wait upon him.

[Exit Horatio.[2133]

[To Laertes] Strengthen your patience in our last night's speech;[2134]

We'll put the matter to the present push.

Good Gertrude, set some watch over your son.

This grave shall have a living monument: 285

An hour of quiet shortly shall we see;[2135]

Till then, in patience our proceeding be.     [Exeunt.[2136]

SCENE II. A hall in the castle.[2137]

Enter HAMLET and HORATIO.

Ham. So much for this, sir: now shall you see the other;[2138]

You do remember all the circumstance?[2139]

Hor. Remember it, my lord!

Ham. Sir, in my heart there was a kind of fighting,

That would not let me sleep: methought I lay[2140] 5

Worse than the mutines in the bilboes. Rashly,[2141][2142]

And praised be rashness for it, let us know,[2142][2143][2144][2145]

Our indiscretion sometime serves us well[2144][2145][2146]

When our deep plots do pall; and that should learn us[2144][2147]

There's a divinity that shapes our ends,[2144] 10

Rough-hew them how we will.[2144]

Hor. That is most certain.

Ham. Up from my cabin,

My sea-gown scarf'd about me, in the dark[2148]

Groped I to find out them; had my desire,[2149]

Finger'd their packet, and in fine withdrew 15

To mine own room again; making so bold,[2150][2151]

My fears forgetting manners, to unseal[2151][2152]

Their grand commission; where I found, Horatio,—

O royal knavery!—an exact command,[2153]

Larded with many several sorts of reasons,[2154] 20

Importing Denmark's health and England's too,

With, ho! such bugs and goblins in my life,[2155]

That, on the supervise, no leisure bated,

No, not to stay the grinding of the axe,[2156]

My head should be struck off.[2157]

Hor. Is't possible? 25

Ham. Here's the commission: read it at more leisure.

But wilt thou hear now how I did proceed?[2158]

Hor. I beseech you.[2159]

Ham. Being thus be-netted round with villanies,—[2160][2161]

Or I could make a prologue to my brains,[2160][2162] 30

They had begun the play,—I sat me down;[2160][2163]

Devised a new commission; wrote it fair:

I once did hold it, as our statists do,

A baseness to write fair, and labour'd much[2164]

How to forget that learning; but, sir, now 35

It did me yeoman's service: wilt thou know[2165]

The effect of what I wrote?[2166]

Hor. Ay, good my lord.

Ham. An earnest conjuration from the king,

As England was his faithful tributary,

As love between them like the palm might flourish,[2167] 40

As peace should still her wheaten garland wear

And stand a comma 'tween their amities,[2168]

And many such-like 'As'es of great charge,[2169]

That, on the view and knowing of these contents,[2170]

Without debatement further, more or less, 45

He should the bearers put to sudden death,[2171]

Not shriving-time allow'd.[2172]

Hor. How was this seal'd?

Ham. Why, even in that was heaven ordinant.[2173]

I had my father's signet in my purse,

Which was the model of that Danish seal: 50

Folded the writ up in the form of the other;[2174]

Subscribed it; gave't the impression; placed it safely,[2175]

The changeling never known. Now, the next day[2176]

Was our sea-fight; and what to this was sequent[2177]

Thou know'st already.[2178] 55

Hor. So Guildenstern and Rosencrantz go to't.[2179]

Ham. Why, man, they did make love to this employment;[2180]

They are not near my conscience; their defeat[2181]

Does by their own insinuation grow:[2182]

'Tis dangerous when the baser nature comes[2183] 60

Between the pass and fell incensed points[2184]

Of mighty opposites.

Hor. Why, what a king is this!

Ham. Does it not, thinks't thee, stand me now upon—[2185]

He that hath kill'd my king, and whored my mother;[2186]

Popp'd in between the election and my hopes;[2187] 65

Thrown out his angle for my proper life,[2188]

And with such cozenage—is't not perfect conscience,[2189]

To quit him with this arm? and is't not to be damn'd,[2190][2191]

To let this canker of our nature come[2190]

In further evil?[2190][2192] 70

Hor. It must be shortly known to him from England[2190]

What is the issue of the business there.[2190]

Ham. It will be short: the interim is mine;[2190][2193][2194]

And a man's life's no more than to say 'One.'[2190][2193][2195]

But I am very sorry, good Horatio,[2190][2193] 75

That to Laertes I forgot myself;[2190]

For, by the image of my cause, I see[2190]

The portraiture of his: I'll court his favours:[2190][2196]

But, sure, the bravery of his grief did put me[2190]

Into a towering passion.[2190]

Hor. Peace! who comes here?[2190][2197] 80

Enter OSRIC.

Osr. Your lordship is right welcome back to Denmark.[2198][2199]

Ham. I humbly thank you, sir. Dost know this water-fly?[2200][2201]

Hor. No, my good lord.[2201]

Ham. Thy state is the more gracious, for 'tis a vice to[2201]

know him. He hath much land, and fertile: let a beast be[2201] 85

lord of beasts, and his crib shall stand at the king's mess:[2201]

'tis a chough, but, as I say, spacious in the possession of dirt.[2201][2202]

Osr. Sweet lord, if your lordship were at leisure, I[2203]

should impart a thing to you from his majesty.

Ham. I will receive it, sir, with all diligence of spirit.[2204] 90

Put your bonnet to his right use; 'tis for the head.[2205]

Osr. I thank your lordship, it is very hot.[2206]

Ham. No, believe me, 'tis very cold; the wind is

northerly.

Osr. It is indifferent cold, my lord, indeed. 95

Ham. But yet methinks it is very sultry and hot, or my[2207][2208]

complexion—[2208]

Osr. Exceedingly, my lord; it is very sultry, as 'twere,—I[2209]

cannot tell how. But, my lord, his majesty bade me[2210]

signify to you that he has laid a great wager on your head:[2211] 100

sir, this is the matter—[2212]

Ham. I beseech you, remember—[2213]

[Hamlet moves him to put on his hat.

Osr. Nay, good my lord; for mine ease, in good faith.[2214]

Sir, here is newly come to court Laertes; believe me, an absolute[2215]

gentleman, full of most excellent differences, of very[2215][2216] 105

soft society and great showing: indeed, to speak feelingly of[2215][2217]

him, he is the card or calendar of gentry, for you shall find[2215][2218]

in him the continent of what part a gentleman would see.[2215][2219]

Ham. Sir, his definement suffers no perdition in you;[2215]

though, I know, to divide him inventorially would dizzy the[2215][2220] 110

arithmetic of memory, and yet but yaw neither, in respect[2215][2221]

of his quick sail. But in the verity of extolment, I take[2215]

him to be a soul of great article, and his infusion of such[2215][2222]

dearth and rareness, as, to make true diction of him, his[2215]

semblable is his mirror, and who else would trace him, his[2215] 115

umbrage, nothing more.[2215]

Osr. Your lordship speaks most infallibly of him.[2215]

Ham. The concernancy, sir? why do we wrap the[2215][2223]

gentleman in our more rawer breath?[2215]

Osr. Sir?[2215][2224] 120

Hor. Is't not possible to understand in another tongue?[2215][2225]

You will do't, sir, really.[2215][2226]

Ham. What imports the nomination of this gentleman?[2215]

Osr. Of Laertes?[2215][2227]

Hor. His purse is empty already; all's golden words[2215] 125

are spent.[2215]

Ham. Of him, sir.[2215][2228]

Osr. I know you are not ignorant—[2215][2229]

Ham. I would you did, sir; yet, in faith, if you did, it[2215]

would not much approve me. Well, sir?[2215][2230] 130

Osr. You are not ignorant of what excellence Laertes is—[2215][2231]

Ham. I dare not confess that, lest I should compare[2215]

with him in excellence; but, to know a man well, were to[2215][2232]

know himself.[2215]

Osr. I mean, sir, for his weapon; but in the imputation[2215][2233] 135

laid on him by them, in his meed he's unfellowed.[2215][2234]

Ham. What's his weapon?

Osr. Rapier and dagger.

Ham. That's two of his weapons: but, well.

Osr. The king, sir, hath wagered with him six Barbary[2235] 140

horses: against the which he has imponed, as I take it, six[2236]

French rapiers and poniards, with their assigns, as girdle,

hanger, and so: three of the carriages, in faith, are very[2237]

dear to fancy, very responsive to the hilts, most delicate

carriages, and of very liberal conceit. 145

Ham. What call you the carriages?

Hor. I knew you must be edified by the margent ere[2238]

you had done.[2238]

Osr. The carriages, sir, are the hangers.[2239]

Ham. The phrase would be more germane to the[2240] 150

matter if we could carry a cannon by our sides: I would[2241]

it might be hangers till then. But, on: six Barbary horses[2242]

against six French swords, their assigns, and three liberal-conceited

carriages; that's the French bet against the[2243][2244]

Danish. Why is this 'imponed,' as you call it?[2244][2245] 155

Osr. The king, sir, hath laid, sir, that in a dozen[2246]

passes between yourself and him, he shall not exceed you[2247]

three hits: he hath laid on twelve for nine; and it would[2248]

come to immediate trial, if your lordship would vouchsafe

the answer. 160

Ham. How if I answer 'no'?

Osr. I mean, my lord, the opposition of your person

in trial.

Ham. Sir, I will walk here in the hall: if it please his[2249]

majesty, it is the breathing time of day with me; let the[2249][2250] 165

foils be brought, the gentleman willing, and the king hold[2251]

his purpose, I will win for him an I can; if not, I will gain[2252]

nothing but my shame and the odd hits.

Osr. Shall I redeliver you e'en so?[2253]

Ham. To this effect, sir, after what flourish your nature[2254] 170

will.

Osr. I commend my duty to your lordship.[2255]

Ham. Yours, yours. [Exit Osric.] He does well to[2256]

commend it himself; there are no tongues else for's turn.[2257]

Hor. This lapwing runs away with the shell on his[2258] 175

head.

Ham. He did comply with his dug before he sucked[2259]

it. Thus has he—and many more of the same breed that[2260]

I know the drossy age dotes on—only got the tune of the

time and outward habit of encounter; a kind of yesty collection,[2261][2262] 180

which carries them through and through the most[2261]

fond and winnowed opinions; and do but blow them to[2263]

their trial, the bubbles are out.[2264]

Enter a Lord.[2265]

Lord. My lord, his majesty commended him to you by[2265]

young Osric, who brings back to him, that you attend him[2265][2266] 185

in the hall: he sends to know if your pleasure hold to play[2265]

with Laertes, or that you will take longer time.[2265]

Ham. I am constant to my purposes; they follow the[2265]

king's pleasure: if his fitness speaks, mine is ready; now or[2265]

whensoever, provided I be so able as now.[2265] 190

Lord. The king and queen and all are coming down.[2265]

Ham. In happy time.[2265]

Lord. The queen desires you to use some gentle entertainment[2265][2267]

to Laertes before you fall to play.[2265][2268]

Ham. She well instructs me.     [Exit Lord.[2265][2269] 195

Hor. You will lose this wager, my lord.[2270]

Ham. I do not think so; since he went into France, I

have been in continual practice; I shall win at the odds.

But thou wouldst not think how ill all's here about my[2271]

heart: but it is no matter. 200

Hor. Nay, good my lord,—[2272]

Ham. It is but foolery; but it is such a kind of gain-giving[2273]

as would perhaps trouble a woman.[2273]

Hor. If your mind dislike any thing, obey it. I will[2274]

forestal their repair hither, and say you are not fit. 205

Ham. Not a whit; we defy augury: there is special[2275]

providence in the fall of a sparrow. If it be now, 'tis not to[2276]

come; if it be not to come, it will be now; if it be not now,

yet it will come: the readiness is all; since no man has[2277][2278]

aught of what he leaves, what is't to leave betimes? Let 210

be.[2278]

Enter KING, QUEEN, LAERTES, and Lords, OSRIC and other Attendants with foils and gauntlets; a table and flagons of wine on it.[2279]

King. Come, Hamlet, come, and take this hand from me.[2280]

[The King puts Laertes' hand into Hamlet's.

Ham. Give me your pardon, sir: I've done you wrong;[2281]

But pardon't, as you are a gentleman.[2282]

This presence knows,[2282][2283][2284] 215

And you must needs have heard, how I am punish'd[2283][2284][2285]

With sore distraction. What I have done,[2283][2284][2286]

That might your nature, honour and exception[2284][2287]

Roughly awake, I here proclaim was madness.[2284]

Was't Hamlet wrong'd Laertes? Never Hamlet:[2284] 220

If Hamlet from himself be ta'en away,[2284]

And when he's not himself does wrong Laertes,[2284]

Then Hamlet does it not, Hamlet denies it.[2284]

Who does it then? His madness: if't be so,[2284][2288]

Hamlet is of the faction that is wrong'd;[2284][2289] 225

His madness is poor Hamlet's enemy.[2284]

Sir, in this audience,[2284][2290]

Let my disclaiming from a purposed evil

Free me so far in your most generous thoughts,

That I have shot mine arrow o'er the house,[2291] 230

And hurt my brother.[2292]

Laer. I am satisfied in nature,

Whose motive, in this case, should stir me most

To my revenge: but in my terms of honour

I stand aloof, and will no reconcilement,

Till by some elder masters of known honour[2293] 235

I have a voice and precedent of peace,[2294]

To keep my name ungored. But till that time[2295]

I do receive your offer'd love like love[2296]

And will not wrong it.

Ham. I embrace it freely,[2297][2298]

And will this brother's wager frankly play.[2298] 240

Give us the foils. Come on.[2299]

Laer. Come, one for me.

Ham. I'll be your foil, Laertes: in mine ignorance

Your skill shall, like a star i' the darkest night,[2300]

Stick fiery off indeed.[2301]

Laer. You mock me, sir.

Ham. No, by this hand.[2302] 245

King. Give them the foils, young Osric. Cousin[2303][2304]

Hamlet,[2303]

You know the wager?

Ham. Very well, my lord;[2305][2306]

Your grace has laid the odds o' the weaker side.[2306][2307]

King. I do not fear it; I have seen you both:[2308]

But since he is better'd, we have therefore odds.[2309] 250

Laer. This is too heavy; let me see another.[2310][2311]

Ham. This likes me well. These foils have all a length?[2310][2312]

[They prepare to play.

Osr. Ay, my good lord.

King. Set me the stoups of wine upon that table.[2313]

If Hamlet give the first or second hit,[2314] 255

Or quit in answer of the third exchange,[2315]

Let all the battlements their ordnance fire;

The king shall drink to Hamlet's better breath;

And in the cup an union shall he throw,[2316]

Richer than that which four successive kings 260

In Denmark's crown have worn. Give me the cups;[2317]

And let the kettle to the trumpet speak,[2318]

The trumpet to the cannoneer without,[2319]

The cannons to the heavens, the heaven to earth,[2320]

'Now the king drinks to Hamlet.' Come, begin;[2321] 265

And you, the judges, bear a wary eye.

Ham. Come on, sir.

Laer. Come, my lord.     [They play.[2322]

Ham. One.

Laer. No.

Ham. Judgement.

Osr. A hit, a very palpable hit.[2323]

Laer. Well; again.

King. Stay; give me drink. Hamlet, this pearl is thine;[2324]

Here's to thy health.

[Trumpets sound, and cannon shot off within.[2325]

Give him the cup. 270

Ham. I'll play this bout first; set it by awhile.[2326]

Come. [They play.] Another hit; what say you?[2327]

Laer. A touch, a touch, I do confess.[2328]

King. Our son shall win.

Queen. He's fat and scant of breath.[2329]

Here, Hamlet, take my napkin, rub thy brows:[2330] 275

The queen carouses to thy fortune, Hamlet.

Ham. Good madam!

King. Gertrude, do not drink.[2331]

Queen. I will, my lord; I pray you, pardon me.[2332]

King. [Aside] It is the poison'd cup; it is too late.[2333]

Ham. I dare not drink yet, madam; by and by.[2334] 280

Queen. Come, let me wipe thy face.

Laer. My lord, I'll hit him now.[2335]

King. I do not think't.

Laer. [Aside] And yet it is almost against my conscience.[2333][2336]

Ham. Come, for the third, Laertes: you but dally;[2337]

I pray you, pass with your best violence; 285

I am afeard you make a wanton of me.[2338]

Laer. Say you so? come on.     [They play.[2339]

Osr. Nothing, neither way.

Laer. Have at you now!

[Laertes wounds Hamlet; then, in scuffling, they change rapiers, and Hamlet wounds Laertes.[2340]

King. Part them; they are incensed.

Ham. Nay, come, again.     [The Queen falls.

Osr. Look to the queen there, ho![2341] 290

Hor. They bleed on both sides. How is it, my lord?[2342]

Osr. How is't, Laertes?[2343]

Laer. Why, as a woodcock to mine own springe, Osric;[2344]

I am justly kill'd with mine own treachery.[2345]

Ham. How does the queen?

King. She swounds to see them bleed.[2346] 295

Queen. No, no, the drink, the drink,—O my dear Hamlet,—[2347]

The drink, the drink! I am poison'd.     [Dies.[2347][2348]

Ham. O villany! Ho! let the door be lock'd:[2349]

Treachery! seek it out.

Laer. It is here, Hamlet: Hamlet, thou art slain;[2350] 300

No medicine in the world can do thee good,[2351]

In thee there is not half an hour of life;[2352]

The treacherous instrument is in thy hand,[2353]

Unbated and envenom'd: the foul practice[2354]

Hath turn'd itself on me; lo, here I lie,[2355] 305

Never to rise again: thy mother's poison'd:[2356]

I can no more: the king, the king's to blame.[2357]

Ham. The point envenom'd too![2358][2359][2360]

Then, venom, to thy work.     [Stabs the King.[2358][2360][2361]

All. Treason! treason! 310

King. O, yet defend me, friends; I am but hurt.

Ham. Here, thou incestuous, murderous, damned Dane,[2362]

Drink off this potion: is thy union here?[2363]

Follow my mother.     [King dies.[2364]

Laer. He is justly served;[2365]

It is a poison temper'd by himself.[2365][2366] 315

Exchange forgiveness with me, noble Hamlet:

Mine and my father's death come not upon thee,[2367]

Nor thine on me!     [Dies.[2368]

Ham. Heaven make thee free of it! I follow thee.[2369]

I am dead, Horatio. Wretched queen, adieu![2370] 320

You that look pale and tremble at this chance,

That are but mutes or audience to this act,[2371]

Had I but time—as this fell sergeant, death,[2372]

Is strict in his arrest—O, I could tell you—[2372][2373]

But let it be. Horatio, I am dead; 325

Thou livest; report me and my cause aright[2374]

To the unsatisfied.

Hor. Never believe it:[2375]

I am more an antique Roman than a Dane:[2376]

Here's yet some liquor left.

Ham. As thou'rt a man,[2377][2378]

Give me the cup: let go; by heaven, I'll have't.[2377][2379] 330

O good Horatio, what a wounded name,[2380]

Things standing thus unknown, shall live behind me![2381]

If thou didst ever hold me in thy heart,

Absent thee from felicity awhile,[2382]

And in this harsh world draw thy breath in pain, 335

To tell my story.     [March afar off, and shot within.[2383]

What warlike noise is this?

Osr. Young Fortinbras, with conquest come from Poland,[2384]

To the ambassadors of England gives[2385][2386][2387]

This warlike volley.[2386]

Ham. O, I die, Horatio;

The potent poison quite o'er-crows my spirit:[2388] 340

I cannot live to hear the news from England;

But I do prophesy the election lights

On Fortinbras: he has my dying voice;

So tell him, with the occurrents, more and less,[2389]

Which have solicited. The rest is silence.     [Dies.[2390] 345

Hor. Now cracks a noble heart. Good night, sweet prince,[2391]

And flights of angels sing thee to thy rest!     [March within.[2392]

Why does the drum come hither?

Enter FORTINBRAS, and the English Ambassadors, with drum, colours, and Attendants.[2393]

Fort. Where is this sight?

Hor. What is it you would see?[2394]

If aught of woe or wonder, cease your search.[2395] 350

Fort. This quarry cries on havoc. O proud death,[2396]

What feast is toward in thine eternal cell,[2397]

That thou so many princes at a shot[2398]

So bloodily hast struck?

First Amb. The sight is dismal;[2399]

And our affairs from England come too late: 355

The ears are senseless that should give us hearing.

To tell him his commandment is fulfill'd,

That Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are dead:

Where should we have our thanks?

Hor. Not from his mouth

Had it the ability of life to thank you:[2400] 360

He never gave commandment for their death.[2401]

But since, so jump upon this bloody question,[2402]

You from the Polack wars, and you from England,[2403]

Are here arrived, give order that these bodies

High on a stage be placed to the view;[2404] 365

And let me speak to the yet unknowing world[2405]

How these things came about: so shall you hear

Of carnal, bloody and unnatural acts,[2406]

Of accidental judgements, casual slaughters,

Of deaths put on by cunning and forced cause,[2407] 370

And, in this upshot, purposes mistook

Fall'n on the inventors' heads: all this can I

Truly deliver.

Fort. Let us haste to hear it,

And call the noblest to the audience.[2408]

For me, with sorrow I embrace my fortune: 375

I have some rights of memory in this kingdom,[2409]

Which now to claim my vantage doth invite me.[2410]

Hor. Of that I shall have also cause to speak,[2411]

And from his mouth whose voice will draw on more:[2412]

But let this same be presently perform'd,[2413] 380

Even while men's minds are wild; lest more mischance[2414]

On plots and errors happen.[2415]

Fort. Let four captains

Bear Hamlet, like a soldier, to the stage;[2416]

For he was likely, had he been put on,

To have proved most royally: and, for his passage,[2417] 385

The soldiers' music and the rites of war[2418]

Speak loudly for him.

Take up the bodies: such a sight as this[2419]

Becomes the field, but here shows much amiss.[2420]

Go, bid the soldiers shoot. 390

[A dead march. Exeunt, bearing off the bodies: after which a peal of ordnance is shot off.[2421]

FOOTNOTES:

[1962] ACT V. SCENE I.] Q (1676) and Rowe. om. Ff.

A churchyard.] Capell. A Church. Rowe.

Enter ...] Enter ... spades and mattocks. Q (1676) and Rowe. Enter two Clownes. Qq Ff (Clowns. F_3 F_4).

[1963] First Clo.] 1 Clown. Rowe. Clowne, or Clown, or Clow. or Clo. Qq Ff.

[1964] that] Ff. when she Qq.

[1965] Sec. Clo.] 2 Clown. Rowe. Other, or Othe. or Oth. Qq. Other. Ff.

[1966] and] Ff. om. Qq.

[1967] she] he Q_6.

[1968] se offendendo] Ff (in italics). so offended Qq.

[1969] to act] Qq. an act Ff.

[1970] and to perform: argal,] and to performe; argall Ff (perform F_3 F_4). to performe, or all; Qq.

[1971] hear] here F_2.

delver] Qq. Delver F_1 F_2. Delver (in italics) F_3 F_4.

[1972] Here] Clown, here Johnson.

[1973] this] his F_3.

[1974] himself] himsele F_1.

[1975] that;] that: Q_6. that, Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. that? Ff.

[1976] ha'] F_3 F_4. ha The rest, have Q (1676).

on't] Ff. an't Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. ant't Q_6.

[1977] out o'] Edd. (Globe ed.) out a Qq. out of Ff. without Q (1676).

[1978] say'st:] say'st true: S. Walker conj. say'st sooth: or say'st somewhat: Anon. conj.

[1979] their even Christian] Ff. theyr even Christen Qq. we Q(1676). other Christians Rowe.

[1980] spade.] spade. [strips, and falls to digging. Capell.

[1981] A'] A Qq. He Ff.

[1982] Sec. Clo. Why ... arms?] Omitted in Qq.

[1983] a heathen] heathen Capell conj.

[1984] not] om. Warburton.

[1985] thyself—] thy selfe— F_1 F_2. thy self— F_3 F_4. thy selfe. Qq.

[1986] frame] Ff. om. Qq.

[1987] carpenter?] Ff Q_6. carpenter. The rest.

[1988] Enter ...] Ff. Enter Hamlet and Horatio. Qq, after line 62.

[1989] that] Ff. om. Qq.

last] Q_4 Q_5 Q_6 F_4. lasts Q_2 Q_3 F_1 F_2 F_3.

till] tell Q_4. tel Q_5.

[1990] to Yaughan] Ff (Yaughan in italics). in, and Qq. to Youghan Rowe (ed. 2). to Yaughan's Capell conj. to Vaughan Singer (ed. 1). to tavern Grant White conj. to Johan Anon. conj. (N. and Q.) to ye ale and Anon. conj. to yon Collier (Collier MS.) See note (XXXI).

[1991] stoup] F_4. stope (Q_1). stoupe F_1. stoape F_2. stoap F_3. soope Qq.

[Exit Sec. Clown.] Exit 2 Clown. Rowe. om. Qq Ff.

[He digs, and sings.] Rowe. Song. Qq. Sings. Ff.

[1992] contract, O,] contract-a Anon. conj.

time] om. F_2 F_3 F_4.

for-a] for a Qq Ff. for, ah, Capell. for aye Mason conj.

[1993] there-a was nothing-a] there a was nothing a Qq. there was nothing Ff. there was nothing so Hanmer.

[1994] of] in Q (1676).

[1995] that he sings at] Ff. a sings in Qq. he sings in Q (1676) and Capell. he sings at Steevens (1778).

[1996] in him] to him Pope (ed. 2).

[1997] daintier] dintier Q_2 Q_3.

[1998] [Sings] Clowne sings. Ff. Song. Qq.

[1999] steps ... shipped me intil the] steps ... into his band Johnson conj. sand ... shifted me into his Jennens conj.

[2000] claw'd] Pope. clawed Qq. caught Ff.

[2001] hath] om. Capell.

intil] intill Ff. into Qq.

the land] his land Hanmer.

[2002] had never] never had F_3 F_4. ne'er had Pope.

[Throws up a skull.] Capell. om. Qq Ff.

[2003] it were] Ff. twere Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. t'were Q_5. 'twere Q_6.

[2004] It might] Ff. This might Qq.

[2005] now o'er-reaches] now ore-reaches Qq. o're Offices F_1. ore-Offices F_2. o're-Offices F_3. o're-offices F_4.

[2006] would] Qq. could Ff.

God] Heaven Q (1676).

[2007] sweet lord] Q_2 Q_3 Ff. my lord Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

sweet lord] Qq. good lord Ff.

[2008] such-a-one] such a one's Hanmer.

[2009] when he meant] Ff. when a ment Q_4. when a meant Q_5 Q_6. when a went Q_2 Q_3.

beg it] beg him Q (1676).

[2010] now] now 'tis Rowe.

[2011] chapless] F_3 F_4. chaplesse F_1 F_2. choples Qq.

mazzard] F_2 F_3 F_4. mazard F_1. massene Q_2 Q_3. mazer Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

[2012] fine] a fine Q (1676) and Pope (ed. 2).

an] Capell. and Qq. if Ff.

[2013] loggats] loggits Qq. loggets F_1 F_2 F_3. loggers F_4.

with 'em?] Ff. with them: Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. with them? Q_6.

[2014] For and] For,—and Theobald.

[2015] [Throws ...] Capell. om. Qq Ff.

[2016] may] Qq. might Ff.

[2017] of] of of F_1.

quiddities] Qq. quiddits Ff.

quillits] (Q_1) Ff. quillites Q_2 Q_3. quillities Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

[2018] rude] Ff. madde Q_2 Q_3. mad Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

[2019] action] actions Q_5 Q_6.

[2020] is this ... recoveries] Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[2021] fine dirt] foul dirt S. Walker conj.

[2022] his vouchers] Ff. vouchers Qq.

[2023] double ones too] Ff. doubles Qq.

[2024] lands] land Q_6.

hardly] Ff. scarcely Qq.

[2025] calf-skins] calve-skinnes Q_4 F_1 F_2 F_3. calve-skins Q_5 Q_6 F_4. calves-skinnes Q_2 Q_3.

[2026] which] Qq. that Ff.

[2027] sirrah] Q_6. sirra Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. sir Ff.

[2028] Mine ... made] As in Ff. Mine sir, or a ... made. (as one line) in Qq.

[2029] [Sings] Capell. om. Qq Ff.

[2030] For ... meet.] Ff. Omitted in Qq.

guest] ghost Rowe (ed. 2) and Pope.

[2031] it be] it Q_5. it's Q_6.

[2032] 'tis] Q_6. tis Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. it is Ff.

[2033] and yet] Ff. yet Qq.

it is] it's Q (1676).

[2034] away] om. Q_6.

[2035] undo] Q_6. undoo Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. undoe F_1. follow F_2 F_3 F_4.

[2036] this] Qq. these Ff.

taken] Ff. tooke Qq.

note] notice Q (1676).

[2037] picked Qq Ff. piqued Q (1676).

that] and F_2 F_3 F_4.

[2038] heel] heeles F_1.

the courtier] (Q_1) Qq. our courtier Ff. your courtier Grant White conj.

kibe] kibes Hunter conj.

[2039] a] Q_4 Q_5 Q_6. om Q_2 Q_3.

[2040] all] Ff. om. Qq.

[2041] o'ercame] o'recame F_1 F_3 F_4. orecame F_2. overcame Qq.

[2042] that very] Qq. the very Ff.

[2043] that is] Qq. that was Ff.

[2044] a' ... a' ... a'] a ... a ... a Qq. he ... he ... he Ff.

[2045] 'tis] Q_6. tis Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. it's F_1 F_3 F_4. its F_2.

[2046] him there; there the men are] him there, there the men are Q_2 Q_3. him there, there the are men Q_4. him there, there are men Q_5 Q_6. him, there the men are Ff.

[2047] I have] where I have Q (1676).

sexton] Q_4 Q_5 Q_6 F_4. sexten Q_2 Q_3. sixeteene F_1. sexestone F_2. sexstone F_3.

[2048] here] om. Q (1676).

[2049] I'faith] Ifaith Ff. Fayth Q_2 Q_3. Faith The rest.

[2050] a' ... a' ... a'] a ... a ... a Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. he ... he ... he Ff. a ... he ... a Q_6.

[2051] now-a-days] Ff. om. Qq.

[2052] you nine year] you nine yeares F_2 F_3. you nine years F_4.

[2053] so] om. F_3 F_4.

[2054] a'] a Qq. he Ff.

your] you Rowe (ed. 2).

[2055] Here's ... in the] Ff. heer's a skull now hath lyen you i'th Qq. Here's a skull now has lain in the Pope.

[2056] three and twenty] Ff. 23. Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_6. twenty three Q_5.

[2057] A ... was?] Two lines in Ff.

[2058] a'] a Qq Ff. he Q (1676) and Pope.

[2059] This same skull, sir] As in Qq. Twice in Ff.

[2060] Yorick's] Ff. sir Yoricks Qq.

[2061] Let me see] Ff. Omitted in Qq. [Takes the skull.] Capell (line 170). Transferred by Dyce. om. Qq Ff.

[2062] borne] Ff. bore Qq.

[2063] and now how] Qq. and how Ff.

[2064] in my ... it is] Qq. my imagination is Ff. my imagination is now Rowe.

[2065] gambols] jests Q (1676).

[2066] on a roar] in a roar Pope.

Not one] Qq. No one Ff.

[2067] grinning] Qq. jeering Ff.

[2068] chamber] (Q_1) Ff. table Qq.

[2069] favour] savour Warburton.

[2070] o'] Ff. a Qq.

[2071] so? pah] Q_6. so pah Q_2 Q_3. so: pah Q_4 Q_5. so? Puh Ff.

[Puts down ...] Collier. Throws it down. Capell. Smelling to the Scull. Rowe. om. Qq Ff.

[2072] we may] way we S. Walker conj.

[2073] he] Ff. a Qq.

find] found Jennens.

[2074] thither] F_2 Q_6 F_3 F_4. thether The rest.

[2075] as thus:] (Q_1) Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[2076] returneth] returned Collier (Collier MS.)

[2077] into] Ff. to Qq.

[2078] that loam ... was] this earth ... was or that loam ... may have been Seymour conj.

[2079] Imperious] Qq. Imperiall F_1 F_2. Imperial F_3 F_4.

[2080] Should] Shoulp Q_4. Sould Q_5.

to expel] t' expell Qq F_1 F_3 F_4. expell F_2.

winter's] Ff. waters Qq.

[2081] aside] Ff. awhile Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. a while Q_6.

Enter ...] Malone, after Capell. Enter K. Q. Laertes and the corse. Qq (in margin) (King Quee. Q_4 Q_5. King, Que. Q_6). Enter King, Queene, Laertes, and a Coffin, with Lords attendant. Ff.

[2082] SCENE II. Pope.

who is this] Qq. Who is that F_1. Who is't that F_2. What is't that F_3 F_4. What is that Pope.

[2083] rites] Qq F_1. rights F_2 F_3 F_4.

[2084] its] Q_6. it's F_3 F_4. it The rest.

of] Qq. om. Ff.

[2085] Couch we] Stand by Q (1676).

we] me Rowe (ed. 2).

[Retiring ...] Capell. om. Qq Ff.

[2086] [to the Priests. Capell.

[2087] [to Horatio. Capell.

That ... mark.] Prose in Qq Ff. Verse by Capell, ending the line Laertes.

very] most Pope, reading as verse.

mark] F_3 F_4. marke Q_2 Q_3 F_1 F_2. make Q_4 Q_5. om. Q_6.

[2088] First Priest.] 1. P. Capell. Priest. Ff. Doct. Qq.

[2089] as far] so far Theobald (ed. 2).

[2090] warranty] Q_4 Q_5 Q_6. warrantie Q_2 Q_3 F_2 F_3 F_4. warrantis F_1. warrantize Capell conj. warranties Knight. warrantise Dyce.

[2091] unsanctified] unsanctied F_2 F_3.

have] Ff. been Q_2 Q_3. beene Q_4. bin Q_5 Q_6.

[2092] trumpet] trump Pope.

prayers] Qq. prayer Ff.

[2093] Shards] Ff. Omitted in Qq.

pebbles] Q_6 F_3 F_4. peebles The rest.

[2094] allow'd] Qq. allowed Ff.

crants] Crants Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. Rites Ff Q_6. chants Warburton. grants or wants or pants Edwards conj. (in jest). grants Heath conj.

[2095] strewments] 'struments Edwards conj. (in jest).

[2096] there] om. Pope.

[2097] a requiem] Qq. sage requiem Ff. safe requiem Jackson conj. sad requiem Collier MS. such requiem Dyce. false requiem Anon. conj.

[2098] peace-parted] peace-departed F_3 F_4.

[Coffin lay'd in. Capell.

[2099] [Scattering flowers] Johnson. om. Qq Ff.

Sweets ... farewell] Sweets to the sweet, farewell Qq. Sweets to the sweet farewell F_1 F_2. Sweets, to thee sweet farewell F_3 F_4.

[2100] shouldst] would'st F_3 F_4.

[2101] have] Qq. t'have Ff.

treble woe] Q_2 Q_3 Q_6. trebble woe Q_4 Q_5. terrible woer F_1. terrible wooer F_2 F_3 F_4. treble woes S. Walker conj.

[2102] treble] F_3 F_4. trebble F_1 F_2. double Qq. treble woes Rowe, reading line 234 as F_2 F_3 F_4.

cursed] curs'd Rowe.

[2103] ingenious] ingenuous Q_6.

[2104] [Leaps into the grave.] F_4. Leaps in the grave. F_1 F_2 F_3. om. Qq.

[2105] To o'ertop] To'retop Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. To retop Q_5. T'oretop Q_6.

[2106] [Advancing] Capell. Discovering himself. Pope. om. Qq Ff.

[2107] grief Bears] griefe Beares Qq. griefes Beares F_1 F_2. griefs Bears F_3. griefs Bear F_4.

[2108] Conjures] Conjure F_1.

[2109] This is] tis Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

[2110] [Leaps ...] Hamlet leaps ... Rowe. Hamlet leapes in after Leartes. (Q_1). om. Qq Ff.

[Grappling ...] Rowe. om. Qq Ff.

[2111] Thou ... throat] Divided as in Ff. One line in Qq.

[2112] For] Qq. Sir Ff.

splenitive] Warburton. spleenitive or spleenative Qq Ff. spleneticke Collier MS. See note (II).

and] Ff Q_6. om. Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5.

[2113] in me something] Qq. something in me Ff.

[2114] wisdom] wisedome Qq. wisenesse F_1 F_2. wiseness F_3 F_4.

Hold off] Qq. Away Ff.

hand.] hand, Q_2 Q_3. hand? Q_4 Q_5.

[2115] All. Gentlemen,—] Att. Gentlemen,— Capell. All. Gentlemen. Qq. Omitted in Ff.

Hor.] Hora. Qq. Gen. Ff.

[The Attendants ...] Capell, substantially. The Attendants part them. Rowe. om. Qq Ff.

[2116] this] his Rowe.

[2117] their] there F_1.

[2118] 'Swounds] S'wounds Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. Swounds Q_6. Come Ff.

thou'lt] Ff. th' owt Q_2 Q_3. th' out Q_4 Q_5. thou't Q_6.

[2119] Woo't] Wilt (Q_1) Q (1676).

[2120] woo't fast] Qq. om. Ff.

fast? woo't] storm, woo't Collier MS. storme or Collier MS. apud Hamilton.

[2121] drink up ... crocodile?] drink? ape, esel, crocodile! Becket conj.

eisel] Theobald. vessels (Q_1). Esill Qq. Esile (in italics) Ff. Yssel Keightley (Theobald conj.) Nile Hanmer. Elsil (in italics) Capell. Nilus Elze (Capell conj.) Weisel or Oesil Steevens conj. Isell Halliwell conj.

eat] woo't eat Hanmer. or eat Hanmer as misquoted by Johnson.

[2122] I'll do't] I'll do't, I'll do't Collier MS. I'll do it too Anon. conj.

thou] Ff Q_6. om. Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5.

here] hither F_3 F_4. hither but Pope.

[2123] in] in to F_4. into Rowe.

grave?] Ff Q_6. grave, The rest.

[2124] zone] sun Warburton.

[2125] an] Pope. and Qq Ff.

[2126] Queen.] Quee. Qq. Kin. F_1. King. F_2 F_3 F_4.

[2127] Queen ... Anon] King ... him. Queen. Anon Collier (Collier MS.)

[2128] thus] this Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5.

[2129] the] a Q_5 Q_6.

dove] Q_2 Q_3 Ff. doe Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

[2130] When that] When first Q (1676). E'er that Warburton. Ere that Johnson. Ere yet Johnson conj.

couplets] cuplets Qq. cuplet Ff.

[2131] loved] loud' F_1.

ever] well Q_6.

[2132] and dog] a dogge Q_4 Q_6. a dog Q_5. the dog Theobald (ed. 2).

[Exit.] Ff. Exit Hamlet and Horatio. Qq.

[2133] thee] Qq. you Ff.

[Exit Horatio.] Exit Hor. Pope. om. Ff.

[2134] [To Laertes] Rowe. om. Qq Ff.

your] you F_1 F_2.

[2135] An] In an Keightley.

shortly] Ff. thirtie Q_2. thereby Q_3 Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

[2136] Till] Tell Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5.

[2137] SCENE II.] Rowe. SCENE III. Pope. om. Ff.

A hall ...] Capell. A Hall. Pope. A Hall, in the Palace. Theobald.

[2138] sir] om. Pope.

shall you] Qq. let me Ff.

[2139] circumstance?] Theobald. circumstance. Qq Ff.

[2140] methought] my thought Q_2 Q_3. me thought The rest.

[2141] mutines in the] mutineers in the Rowe. mutineers in Pope.

bilboes.] bilboes; Rowe. bilboes, Ff. bilbo, Q_2 Q_3. bilbo's, Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

[2142] Rashly, And praised ... it, let] rashly, And praysd ... it: let Qq. rashly, (And praise ... it) let Ff. rashness (And prais'd ... it) lets Pope. rashness (And prais'd ... it) let Hanmer (ed. 2). rashly, And prais'd ... it—Let Steevens.

[2143] rashness for it, let] rashness, for it lets Tyrwhitt conj., putting And ... certain, lines 7-11, in a parenthesis.

[2144] let ... will.] Put in a parenthesis by Jennens.

[2145] know, Our] know; Or Warburton, reading lines 6, 7 as Pope. own, Our Collier MS.

[2146] sometime] Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. sometimes Q_5 Ff Q_6.

[2147] deep] Q_5 Q_6. deepe Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. deare F_1 F_2. dear F_3 F_4.

pall] Q_2 F_4. fall Q_3 Q_4 Q_6. fal Q_5. paule F_1 F_2 F_3. fail Pope.

learn] Qq. teach Ff.

[2148] scarf'd] wrapt Q (1676).

me, in the dark] me, in the darke Q_6. me in the darke Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. me in the darke, Ff (dark, F_3 F_4).

[2149] Groped I] I grop'd Q (1676).

[2150] again; making so] againe making, so Q_5.

[2151] bold, My ... manners,] bold, (My ... manners) Ff. bold My ... manners Qq.

[2152] fears] teares F_2 F_3. tears F_4.

unseal] F_3 F_4. unseale F_1 F_2. unfold Qq.

[2153] O] Oh Ff. A Qq. Ah Anon. conj.

O royal knavery!—] Omitted in Q (1676).

knavery!—] knavery, Qq. knavery: Ff. knavery! Rowe.

[2154] sorts] forts F_2.

reasons] Qq. reason Ff.

[2155] ho!] hoe Qq. hoo, Ff.

[2156] grinding] gringding F_2.

[2157] struck] F_1 F_3 F_4. strucke F_2. strooke Qq.

[2158] now] Qq. me F_1. om. F_2 F_3 F_4.

[2159] I beseech] Ay, 'beseech Capell.

[2160] villanies,—Or ... play,—I] villanies,—Or ... play;—I Capell. villaines, Or ... play, I Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. villaines, Ere ... play. I Ff (villains, F_3 F_4). villaines, Or ... play: I Q_6. villainy, (Ere ... prologue, to my bane They ... play:) I Theobald (Warburton and Bishop conj.) villains, and Ere ... brains, They having ... play; I Hanmer. villains, (Ere I could mark the prologue to my bane They had ... play:) I Warburton.

[2161] villanies] villainy Keightley.

[2162] brains] banes Chisselden conj. apud Theobald MS.

[2163] sat] sate Ff Q_6.

[2164] labour'd] laboured F_1 F_2 F_3.

[2165] yeoman's] yemans Q_2 Q_3 Q_4.

[2166] effect] Qq. effects Ff.

[2167] like] Qq. as Ff.

might] Qq. should Ff.

[2168] stand a comma] hold her olive Bailey conj.

a comma] a commere Theobald (Warburton). no comma Theobald conj. (withdrawn). a cement Hanmer. a co-mere Singer (ed. 2). a co-mate Becket conj. a column Jackson conj. commercing Anon. conj. a comare Nicholson conj.

a comma 'tween] as one atween Cartwright conj.

amities] enmities Theobald conj. (withdrawn).

[2169] such-like 'As'es] such like Assis Ff. such like, as sir Qq.

[2170] knowing of] Qq. know of Ff. knowing Pope.

[2171] the bearers] Ff. those bearers Qq.

[2172] Not] No F_4.

shriving-time] Hyphened by Theobald. thriving time Jennens.

allow'd] Q_5 Q_6. alow'd Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. allowed Ff.

[2173] ordinant] Qq. ordinate Ff.

[2174] Folded] I folded Rowe, reading the rest of the line with Ff.

the form of the] the forme of th' Qq. forme of the Ff (form F_4).

[2175] Subscribed] Subscribe Q_2 Q_3.

gave't] Q_6. gav't Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5 F_1. gav' F_2 F_3 F_4. gave Rowe.

[2176] changeling] change was Pope. changing Anon. conj.

[2177] sequent] Qq. sement Ff. sequell Collier MS.

[2178] know'st] Ff Q_6. knowest Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5.

[2179] So ... go] Pointed as in Qq. So ... Rosincrance, go F_1. So Guildenstare and Rosincros, goe F_2 F_3 (go F_3). So, Guildenstare and Rosincross, go F_4.

go] went Q (1676).

[2180] Why ... employment;] Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[2181] defeat] Qq. debate Ff.

[2182] Does] Q_5 Q_6. Dooes Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. Doth Ff.

[2183] the baser] Qq F_1. baser F_2 F_3 F_4.

the baser ... comes] baser natures come Hanmer.

[2184] fell incensed] fell-incensed Dyce, ed. 2 (S. Walker conj.)

[2185] thinks't thee] Dyce (S. Walker conj.) thinkst thee F_1. think'st thee F_2 F_3 F_4. thinke thee Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. think thee Q_5. think you Q_6. think'st thou Rowe.

upon—] Boswell. uppon? Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. upon? Q_5 Q_6. upon F_1 upon, F_2 F_3 F_4.

[2186] my king] your king Anon. conj.

[2187] Popp'd] Stept Q (1676).

[2188] Thrown ... life] His angle for my proper life thrown out Collier MS.

[2189] cozenage—] Boswell. cusnage, Q_2 Q_3. cosnage, Q_4 Q_5. coozenage; F_1. cozenage; F_2 F_3 F_4. cosenage, Q_6.

conscience,] conscience? Qq.

[2190] To quit ... here?] Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[2191] this] F_1. his F_2 F_3 F_4.

this arm] his own Collier MS.

and] om. Hanmer.

[2192] evil?] Rowe. evill. F_1 F_2. evil. F_3 F_4.

[2193] It will ... Horatio] Arranged as by Hanmer. Three lines, ending short, ... more ... Horatio, in Ff. Four, ending short ... more ... one ... Horatio, in Pope.

[2194] interim is] Hanmer. interim's Ff.

[2195] life's] life Reed (1803, 1813, 1821).

'One'] one Ff.

[2196] court his favours] Rowe. count his favours Ff. court his favour Theobald. count his fervour Jackson conj.

[2197] Enter Osric.] Enter young Osricke. F_1. Enter Osricke. F_2. Enter Osrick. F_3 F_4. Enter a Courtier. Qq.

[2198] SCENE IV. Pope.

[2199] Osr.] Ff. Cour. Qq.

[2200] I humbly ... water-fly?] One line in Ff. Two in Qq.

sir. Dost] Pointed as in Qq. sir, dost F_1 F_2. sir; dost F_3 F_4.

[2201] Dost ... dirt.] Marked as 'Aside' by Capell.

[2202] 'tis] It is Johnson.

chough] cough Capell (corrected in Errata).

say] saw F_1.

[2203] lordship] Q_5 Q_6. lordshippe Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. friendship Ff.

[2204] sir] Qq. om. Ff.

[2205] Put] Ff. om. Qq.

[2206] it is] Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. 'tis Ff Q_6.

[2207] But yet] Qq. om. Ff.

sultry] Rowe. soultry Q_4 Q_5 Ff Q_6. sully Q_2 Q_3.

[2208] hot, or my complexion—] Warburton. hot, or my complection. Q_2 Q_3. hot, or my complexion. Q_4 Q_5. hot for my complexion. Ff. hot, for my complexion. Q_6.

[2209] sultry] soultery Q_2 Q_3. soultry The rest.

[2210] But] om. Qq.

bade] bid F_4. bad The rest.

[2211] to you] unto you Q_6.

he] Ff. a Qq.

[2212] matter—] Rowe. matter. Qq Ff.

[2213] remember—] Pope. remember. Qq Ff.

[Hamlet ... hat.] Johnson. om. Qq Ff.

[2214] good my lord] Qq. in good faith Ff.

[2215] Sir, here ... unfellowed.] Qq. Sir, you are not ignorant of what excellence Laertes is at his weapon. Ff, omitting all the rest, which was first restored by Theobald.

[2216] gentleman] gentlemen Q_2 Q_3.

[2217] showing] shew Q (1676) and Theobald.

feelingly] sellingly Q_2 Q_3. seelingly Becket conj.

[2218] the card] the very card Capell.

[2219] in him] him Johnson conj.

part] parts Nicholson conj.

part ... see] port ... use Anon. conj.

[2220] dizzy] dizzie Q_4 Q_5 Q_6. dosie Q_2. dazzie Q_3.

[2221] yet but yaw] Q_2. yet but raw Q_3 Q_4 Q_5 Q_6. yet but slow Warburton. it but yaw Singer (ed. 2). wit but yaw Staunton conj.

yaw neither] yaw mynheer Bullock conj., reading wit for yet, as Staunton conj.

[2222] article] altitude Johnson conj. (withdrawn).

[2223] sir? why] Capell. sir, why Qq. sir?—[To Horatio] Why Theobald.

wrap] warp Becket conj.

[2224] Sir?] Capell. Sir. Qq. Sir,—Theobald.

[2225] Is't not ... another tongue?] Is't possible not to be understood in a mother tongue? Johnson conj. It is not ... another tongue. Heath conj. Is't possible not to understand in a mother tongue? Malone conj.

understand ... tongue? You] understand? In another tongue you Jennens.

in another] in's mother Staunton conj.

tongue?] Theobald. tongue, Qq.

[2226] You ... really] You will too't sir really Q_2. You will doo't sir really Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. You will doe't sir really Q_6. You will do't, sir, rarely Theobald. You do't, sir, rarely Heath conj. Given to Osric, Becket conj.

really] readily Jackson conj., reading the rest with Jennens.

[2227] Laertes?] Q_6. Laertes. Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5.

[2228] sir.] sir? Capell.

[2229] ignorant—] Theobald, ignorant. Qq.

[2230] me. Well, sir?] Edd. (Globe ed.) me, well sir. Qq. me. Well, sir. Theobald.

[2231] not ignorant] Q_2 Q_3. ignorant Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

is—] Malone. is: Capell. is. Qq. is at his weapon? Caldecott, from Ff.

[2232] but,] for, Capell.

[2233] for his] Q_6. for this Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5.

[2234] in his] in this Capell.

[2235] king, sir] sir king F_1.

hath wagered] hath wagerd Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. hath wager'd Q_6. ha's wag'd F_1. has wag'd F_2 F_3 F_4.

[2236] he has imponed] Theobald. hee has impaund Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. he has impawn'd Q_6. he impon'd Ff. he has deponed Johnson conj.

[2237] hanger] Qq. hangers Ff.

and so] Qq. or so Ff.

[2238] Hor. I knew ... done.] Qq. Omitted in Ff. Marked as 'Aside' by Theobald.

[2239] carriages] Ff Q_6. carriage The rest.

[2240] germane F_3 F_4. Germaine F_1. Germane F_2. Ierman Q_2 Q_3 German Q_4 Q_5. german Q_6.

[2241] matter if] Qq. matter: If Ff

a cannon] Qq (a canon Q_5). cannon Ff.

[2242] it might be] it be Q_2. it be might Q_3.

on:] Pope. on F_1. on, The rest.

[2243] French bet] Qq. French but F_1. French, but F_2 F_3 F_4.

[2244] French ... Why] French; but against the Danish, why Rowe.

[2245] this 'imponed,' as] this impon'd as Ff. this all Qq.

[2246] sir, that] Qq. that Ff.

[2247] yourself] your selfe Qq. you Ff.

[2248] he ... nine;] An interpolation from the margin, Mitford conj.

laid on] Q_5 Q_6. layd on Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. one Ff. won or on Mitford conj.

nine] Qq. mine Ff.

it] Qq. that Ff.

[2249] hall: if ... majesty, it] hall; if ... majestie, it Ff. hall, if ... maiestie, it Qq. hall, if ... majesty: it Seymour conj.

[2250] it is] Qq. 'tis Ff.

[2251] hold] holding Capell.

[2252] an] Capell. and Qq. if Ff.

I will] Qq. Ile F_1 F_2. I'le F_3. I'll F_4. I Collier MS. See note (II).

[2253] redeliver you e'en so] Ff. deliver you so Qq.

[2254] this] that Capell.

[2255] [Exit. F_2 F_3 F_4. om. Qq F_1.

[2256] Yours, yours. [Exit Osric.] He does] Capell. Yours, yours; he does Ff (hee F_1). Yours doo's Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. Yours does Q_6. Yours. He does Jennens.

[2257] it himself] it self Q (1676), reading with Qq.

for's] for his Q_5 Q_6.

turn] turne Qq. tongue Ff.

[2258] runs] ran Johnson conj.

[2259] He did comply with] Ff (Complie F_1). A did sir with Q_2. A did so sir with Q_3 Q_4 Q_5 Q_6. He did so, sir, with Q (1676) and Theobald. He did so with Rowe. He did complement with Hanmer. He did compliment with Warburton.

before he] Ff. before a Qq.

[2260] has he] Qq. had he Ff.

many] Qq. mine F_1. nine F_2 F_3 F_4.

breed] Q_5 Q_6. breede Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. Beauy F_1. Beavy F_2 F_3 F_4.

[2261] and outward] Ff. and out of an Qq. an outward Capell.

and ... a] and (out of an habit of encounter) a Jennens.

yesty] Ff. histy Q_2 Q_3. misty Q_4 Q_5 Q_6. hasty Anon. conj.

and outward ... a kind] and out of the habit of encounter get a kind Bailey conj.

[2262] collection] diction Bailey conj.

[2263] fond and winnowed] Ff. prophane and trennowed Q_2 Q_3. prophane and trennowned Q_4. profane and trennowned Q_5 Q_6. prophane and renowned Q (1676). fann'd and winnowed Hanmer (Warburton). sane and renowned Johnson conj. profane and tres-renowned Jennens. sound and winnowed Mason conj. fond and vinewed or fond and fennowed Nicholson conj. proven and renowned Bullock conj.

profound and renowned Bailey conj.

[2264] trial] triall Qq. tryalls F_1 F_2. tryals F_3 F_4.

[2265] Enter ... instructs me.] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

[2266] Osric] Ostricke Qq.

[2267] to use] use S. Walker conj. reading lines 192—195 as three lines of verse, ending use ... Laertes ... me.

[2268] fall] Q_2 Q_3. goe Q_4 Q_6. go Q_5.

[2269] [Exit Lord.] Theobald, om. Qq Ff.

[2270] lose this wager] Ff. loose Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. lose Q_6.

[2271] But] but Ff. om. Qq.

how ill all's] Qq. how all Ff. how all's Rowe. how ill all is Collier MS. (how ill is all according to Hamilton).

[2272] good my] my good Theobald (ed. 2).

lord,—] Capell. lord. Qq Ff.

[2273] gain-giving] Ff. gam-giuing Q_2 Q_3. game-giuing Q_4 Q_5 Q_6. boding Q (1676). misgiving Pope (ed. 2). 'gaingiving Capell.

[2274] obey it] Qq. obey. Ff.

[2275] there is] Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. there's a Ff. there is a Q_6.

[2276] now] Ff. om. Qq.

[2277] will] well Q_2 Q_3.

[2278] the readiness ... Let be.] See note (XXXII).

[2279] Enter ...] Ff, substantially. A table prepard, Trumpets, Drums and officers with Cushions, King, Queene, and all the state, Foiles, daggers, and Laertes. Qq.

Osric and other Attendants....] Osrick with other Attendants.... Theobald. with other Attendants.... Ff.

[2280] [The King ...] Gives him the hand of Laertes. Hanmer. King puts the hand of Laertes into the hand of Hamlet. Johnson. om. Qq Ff.

[2281] I've] Ff. I have Qq.

[2282] But ... knows,] As in Ff. One line in Qq. S. Walker would end lines 213, 214, pardon't ... knows.

[2283] This ... done] Three lines, ending heard ... distraction ... done, in Rowe.

[2284] This ... audience,] Omit, as spurious. Seymour conj.

[2285] punish'd] punished Rowe (ed. 2).

[2286] sore] Ff. a sore Qq.

distraction.] distraction: Q_4 Q_5. distraction, Q_2 Q_3. distraction; Q_6. distraction? Ff.

[2287] nature, honour] Qq. nature honour F_1. natures honour F_2 F_3 F_4. native honour Anon. conj.

[2288] madness:] madnesse. Qq. madnesse? F_1 F_2. madness? F_3 F_4.

[2289] wrong'd] Ff. wronged Qq.

[2290] Sir ... audience,] Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[2291] mine] (Q_1) Ff. my Qq.

[2292] brother] (Q_1) Qq. mother Ff.

[2293] masters] master S. Walker conj.

[2294] precedent] Johnson. president Qq Ff.

[2295] keep] F_3 F_4. keepe F_1 F_2. om. Qq.

ungored] ungord Q_2 Q_3. ungor'd Q_4 Q_5 Q_6. ungorg'd Ff.

till] Ff. all Qq.

[2296] offer'd] offered Q_5 Q_6.

[2297] I] Qq. I do F_1 F_3 F_4. I doe F_2.

[2298] I ... play] Divided as in Ff. Prose in Qq.

[2299] Come on.] Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[2300] darkest] Qq F_1. brightest F_2 F_3 F_4.

[2301] Stick ... indeed] Appear Q (1676).

Stick] {Strike} Keightley.

off] Ff Q_6. of The rest.

[2302] by this hand] on my honour Q (1676).

[2303] Give ... wager?] Divided as in Qq. Two lines, the first ending Osricke, in Ff.

[2304] them] Qq F_1. om. F_2 F_3 F_4.

Osric] Ostricke Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. Ostrick Q_5 Q_6.

Cousin] om. Pope, dividing as Ff.

Hamlet] Ham. Q_4 Q_5.

[2305] wager?] Capell. wager. Qq Ff.

Very well] Well Pope.

[2306] lord; Your ... laid the] lord, Your ... laid; the Heath conj.

[2307] has] Qq. hath Ff.

laid] layed Q_2 Q_3. layde Q_4. laide F_1.

the odds o' the] upon the Hanmer.

o' the] o' th' F_4. a' th Qq. a' th' F_1 F_2 F_3.

[2308] I do ... both] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[2309] But] 'Tis true he did neglect his exercises, But Keightley conj.

he is] he's Pope.

better'd] Ff. better Qq.

we] you Capell.

[2310] This is ... length?] Two lines in Qq. Four in Ff.

[2311] too] Ff Q_6. to Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5.

[2312] have] have have F_2.

length?] Rowe. length. Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5 Ff. length Q_6.

[They prepare....] Prepare.... Ff. Omitted in Qq. Prepares.... Rowe (ed. 2).

[2313] stoups] stoopes Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. stooops Q_5 Q_6. stopes Ff.

that] the Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

[2314] give] gives Theobald.

[2315] of the third] of a third F_3 F_4. to the third Q (1703).

[2316] union] Ff. Vnice Q_2. Onixe Q_3 Q_4. Onix Q_5. Onyx Q_6.

[2317] In ... cups] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[2318] trumpet] Qq. trumpets Ff.

[2319] trumpet] trumpets F_3 F_4.

[2320] heaven to] Q_2 Q_3 Ff. heavens to Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

[2321] 'Now ... Hamlet.'] Italicised by Capell.

[Trumpets the while. Qq. om. Ff.

[2322] Come, my lord.] Qq. Come on sir. Ff. So on, sir Rowe (ed. 2).

[They play.] Ff. om. Qq.

[2323] palpable] palbable Q_6.

[2324] Stay ... thine;] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[2325] [Trumpets ...] Malone. Drum, trumpets and shot. Florish, a peece goes off. Qq (after hit, line 268). Trumpets sound, and shot goes off. F_1 (after cup). Trumpets sound, shot goes off. F_2 F_3 F_4 (after cup). Drinks, and puts Poison in the Cup. Flourish. Ordinance within. Capell.

[2326] set it] Qq. set Ff.

[2327] Come.] Come: Ff. Come, Qq.

[They play.] Rowe. om. Qq. Ff.

[2328] A touch, a touch,] Ff. Omitted in Qq.

confess] confest Qq. confess't Q (1676) and Capell.

[2329] fat] faint Wyeth conj. hot Brady conj.

[2330] Here ... napkin] Qq. Heere's a napkin F_1. Here's a napkin F_2 F_3 F_4.

rub] wipe Q_6.

Here ... brows:] Here is a napkin, rub thy brows, my son. Collier MS.

[2331] Good] Thank you, good Capell.

Gertrude] Gertrude, Gertrude Keightley.

[2332] I will ... me.] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[Drinks. Hanmer. Drinks, and tenders the Cup to Hamlet. Capell.

[2333] [Aside] First marked by Rowe.

[2334] I ... by.] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[2335] My lord,] om. Pope.

[2336] it is ... against] Qq. 'tis ... 'gainst Ff. 'tis ... against Q (1676).

[2337] Come ... dally;] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

third, Laertes: you] Steevens. third, Laertes. You Johnson. third Laertes, you doe Qq. third. Laertes, you Ff.

[2338] afeard] F_3 F_4. affear'd F_1. affeard F_2. sure Qq. afraid Rowe.

[2339] [They play.] Play. Ff. om. Qq.

[2340] [Laertes ... Laertes.] Rowe. They catch one anothers Rapiers, and both are wounded, Laertes falles downe, the Queene falles downe and dies. (Q_1). In scuffling they change Rapiers. Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[2341] come, again.] come, againe. F_1. come againe. Qq F_2. come again. F_3 F_4.

[The Queen falls.] Queen falls. Capell. om. Qq Ff.

there, ho!] there.—Ho! Staunton. See note (XXXIII).

ho] Q_6. hoa Ff. howe Q_2 Q_3. hoe Q_4 Q_5.

[2342] is it] Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. is't Ff Q_6.

[2343] How is't, Laertes?] Host ist Laeres? Q_4.

[2344] Why ... Osric;] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

to mine] in my Q (1676) and Hanmer.

mine own] mine F_1. my F_2 F_3 F_4. my own Pope.

springe] Q_5. sprindge The rest.

Osric] Ostrick Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. Ostricke Q_6.

[2345] I am] I'm Pope.

[2346] swounds] F_3 F_4. sounds Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5 F_1 F_2. swounes Q_6.

[2347] O my ... drink!] Arranged as in Qq. One line in Ff.

[2348] poison'd] F_3 F_4. poysned Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. poyson'd F_1 F_2. poysoned Q_6.

[Dies.] Queen dies. Rowe. om. Qq Ff.

[2349] villany] villaine Q_5 Q_6.

Ho!] Ho Q_6. how Q_2 Q_3. Hoe Q_4 Q_5. How? Ff. How?—Jennens.

[2350] It is ... slain;] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

Hamlet: Hamlet] Hamlet. Hamlet Ff. Hamlet Qq.

[2351] medicine] Ff Q_6. medcin Q_2 Q_3 Q_4. medecine Q_5.

[2352] hour of] Ff. houres Qq.

[2353] thy hand] Ff Q_6. my hand Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5.

[2354] Unbated] Imbaited Theobald conj. (withdrawn).

[2355] lo,] so Q (1676).

[2356] poison'd] F_3 F_4. poyson'd F_1 F_2 Q_6. poysned Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5.

[2357] can] am Q_5 Q_6.

to blame] too blame Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5 F_1.

[2358] The ... work.] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[2359] The point envenom'd] The point—envenom'd Staunton.

[2360] envenom'd ... work.] One line in Keightley.

[2361] to thy] do thy Theobald (ed. 2).

[Stabs the King.] Rowe. Hurts the King. Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[2362] Here] Heare Q_2 Q_3.

Here ... Dane,] One line in Qq. Two, the first ending murdrous, in Ff.

incestuous] Ff Q_6. incestious The rest.

murderous] murdrous F_1 F_2. murd'rous F_3 F_4. om. Qq.

[2363] off this] Ff Q_6. of this The rest.

thy union] (Q_1) Ff. the Onixe Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. the Onyx Q_6. the union Theobald.

[2364] [King dies.] om. Qq.

[2365] He ... himself.] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[2366] temper'd] Q_6. temperd Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. temp'red Ff.

[2367] upon] on Theobald.

[2368] me!] me. Qq Ff.

[Dies.] om. Qq.

[2369] thee free] the free Theobald.

[2370] I am] I'm Pope.

[2371] to this] Qq F_1. at this F_2 F_3 F_4.

[2372] time—as ... arrest—O] time, (as ... arrest) oh Ff Q_6. time, as ... arrest, ô Q_2 Q_3. time as ... arrest. O Q_4 Q_5.

[2373] his] Qq F_1. this F_2 F_3 F_4.

you—] Pope. you, Q_2 Q_3 F_2 F_3 F_4. you! Q_4 Q_5. you. F_1. you; Q_6.

[2374] cause aright] Q_4 Q_5 Q_6. cause a right Q_2 Q_3. causes right Ff.

[2375] the] be F_3 F_4.

Never believe] Never; believe Hanmer.

[takes the cup. Collier MS. See note (II).

[2376] I am] I'm Pope.

antique] Q_6. anticke Q_2 Q_3. antike Q_4 Q_5 F_1 F_2. antick F_3 F_4.

[2377] As ... have't.] Divided as in Qq. The first line ends cup, in Ff.

[2378] thou'rt] Capell. th'art Qq. Ff.

[2379] by heaven,] om. Q (1676).

have't] F_1 F_2. hate Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. hav't Q_6 F_3 F_4.

[Struggling, Hamlet gets it. Collier MS. See note (II).

[2380] good Horatio] Ff. god Horatio Q_2 Q_3. God Horatio Q_4 Q_5 Q_6. God!—Horatio Capell.

[2381] live] Ff. I leave Qq. leave Grant White.

[2382] [firings within. Capell.

[2383] story] tale Pope.

[March ... shot within.] Steevens. March afarre off, and shout within. Ff. A march a farre off. Qq. Omitted by Capell.

this?] this? [Exit Osrick. Jennens.

[Enter Osrick. Qq Ff. Omitted first by Capell.

[2384] SCENE VI. Pope.

[2385] To the] To th' Q_2 Q_3 Ff. Th th' Q_4. Th' Q_5 Q_6.

[2386] To ... volley.] Divided as in Pope. One line in Qq Ff.

[2387] ambassadors] ambassador Hanmer.

[2388] quite] quie F_2.

o'er-crows] ore-growes Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

[2389] and less] or less F_4.

[2390] solicited.] Ff. solicited, Q_2 Q_3 Q_4 Q_5. solicited: Q_6. solicited,—Capell. so limited—Jackson conj.

solicited. The.... Hor. Now] solicited—[Dies.] Hor. The ... silence. Now Anon. conj.

is silence] is in silence Q_6. in silence Q (1676).

silence.] Qq. silence. O, o, o, o. F_1. silence, O, o, o, o, F_2. silence, O, o, o. F_3 F_4.

[Dies.] Ff. om. Qq.

[2391] Now ... prince,] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

cracks] cracke F_1.

sweet prince] be blest Collier MS.

prince] prience F_2.

[2392] flights] flight Q_5 Q_6. choires Q (1676).

sing] singe Q_4 Q_5. wing Warburton.

[March within.] Capell (after line 348). om. Qq Ff.

[2393] Enter....] Theobald. Enter Fortinbras and English Ambassador, ... Ff. Enter Fortenbrasse, with the Embassadors. Qq (Fortinbrasse Q_4 Q_5 Q_6).

[2394] this] the F_3 F_4.

you] Qq. ye Ff.

[2395] search.] search? Q_6.

[2396] This] Qq. His Ff.

cries on] cries out, Hanmer. cries,—on Jackson conj.

proud] prou'd Q_2 Q_3.

[2397] thine eternal] thine infernall Q_6. thy infernal Theobald.

[2398] shot] Qq. shoote F_1. shoot F_2 F_3 F_4.

[2399] struck] Rowe. strook Q_2 Q_3 F_3 F_4. strooke Q_4 Q_5 F_1.

First Amb.] 1. E. Capell. Embas. Qq. Amb. Ff.

[2400] life] breath Q (1676).

[2401] commandment] commandement Qq. command'ment Ff.

[2402] jump] apt Q (1676). full Pope.

[2403] Polack] F_3 F_4. Pollack Q_2 Q_3 Q_6. Pollock Q_4 Q_5. Polake F_1 F_2.

[2404] the view] publick view Q (1676).

[2405] to the yet] to th' yet Q_4 Q_5 Ff Q_6. to yet Q_2 Q_3.

[2406] carnal] cruell Q_4 Q_5 Q_6.

[2407] deaths] death's F_1 F_2.

forced cause] forc'd cause Ff. for no cause Qq.

[2408] noblest] nobless Q (1676) and Pope (ed. 2).

[2409] rights] Qq. Rites Ff.

[2410] Which ... me.] One line in Qq. Two, the first ending doth, in Ff.

now to] Qq. are to Ff.

vantage] interest Q (1676).

[2411] shall have also] Qq. shall have alwayes F_1. shall alwayes F_2 F_3. shall always F_4. shall likewise have Long MS.

[2412] And ... more:] One line in Qq. Two, the first ending mouth, in Ff.

on more] Ff. no more Qq.

[2413] same] scene Collier (Collier MS.)

[2414] Even ... mischance] One line in Qq. Two, the first ending wilde, in Ff.

while] Qq. whiles Ff.

[2415] plots and] Qq. plots, and Ff.

[2416] to the] off the F_3 F_4.

[2417] To ... passage,] One line in Qq. Two, the first ending royally: in Ff.

royally] Ff. royall Qq.

[2418] rites] Ff. right Qq. rights Q (1676).

[2419] bodies] Qq. body Ff.

[2420] amiss] amisse Qq. amis F_1. ami ess F_2.

[2421] [A dead march.] Capell.

Exeunt....] Exeunt solemnly,.... Capell. Exeunt. Qq. Exeunt Marching: after the which, a Peale of Ordenance are shot off. Ff (after which F_3 F_4. Ordnance F_2 F_3 F_4).

NOTES.

NOTE I.

ACT I. SCENE I. In this play the Acts and Scenes are marked in the Folios only as far as the second Scene of the second Act, and not at all in the Quartos.

NOTE II.

I. 1. 91. This and other emendations of the MS. corrector, not recorded by Mr Collier, are given on the authority of Mr Hamilton (An Enquiry into the Genuineness of the MS. Corrections in Mr J. Payne Collier's annotated Shakespeare, pp. 34—85).

NOTE III.

I. 3. 74. The following are the readings of the different editions and the emendations which have been proposed for this line:

'Are of a most select and generall chiefe in that:' (Q_1).

'Or of a most select and generous, chiefe in that:' Q_2 Q_3.

'Ar of a most select and generous, cheefe in that:' Q_4.

'Are of a most select and generous, chiefe in that:' Q_5 Q_6.

'Are of a most select and generous cheff in that.' Ff.

'Are most select and generous, chief in that.'

Rowe, Pope, Theobald, Hanmer, Warburton, Johnson, Capell, Steevens (1793), Rann, Caldecott, Singer, Harness, Delius, &c.

'Are most select, and generous, chief in that.' Steevens (1773).

'Are most select, and generous chief, in that.'

Steevens (1778 and 1785).

'Are of a most select and generous chief, in that.' Malone.

'Select and generous, are most choice in that.' Steevens conj.

'Are of a most select and generous choice in that.'

Collier MS., adopted by Elze, Collier, ed. 2, and Keightley.

'Are of a most select and generous sheaf in that.' Staunton.

'Are most select and generous in that.' Grant White.

'Are of a most select and generous class in that.' Bullock conj.

'Are of a most select and generous choice.' Lloyd conj.

NOTE IV.

I. 3. 109. The second and third Quartos include the words 'not ... thus' in a parenthesis. In the fourth, fifth, and sixth, the parenthesis ends at 'phrase;' an arrangement, which was adopted by Pope and corrected by Theobald at Warburton's suggestion. The Folios have no parenthesis.

NOTE V.

I. 3. 117. Malone conjectured that some epithet to 'blazes' has been omitted; and Coleridge 'did not doubt that a spondee had dropt out of the line.' He proposed either 'Go to, these blazes, daughter,' or 'these blazes, daughter, mark you.' Notes and Lectures, 1. p. 220 (ed. 1849).

NOTE VI.

I. 4. 36, 37. We have left this corrupt passage unaltered because none of the conjectures proposed appear to be satisfactory.

Rann, reading in his text:

'The dram of base

Doth all the noble substance of worth out

To his own scandal....'

gives some conjectures, without naming the authors, in a note thus: 'Doth all, &c. oft corrupt: oft work out: eat out: By it's own scandal.'

The first of these alterations, 'oft corrupt,' anticipates one which Mitford published as his own, and the third, 'eat out,' is borrowed from the author of 'the Revisal' (Heath).

Mr Grant White suggests that "the corruption lurks in a part of the passage hitherto unsuspected, and that 'Doth' is either a misprint of 'Hath,' or has the sense of 'accomplishes.'" Mr Keightley reads,

'The dram of evil

Doth all the noble substance, out o' doubt,

To his own scandal....'

marking the sentence as incomplete.

NOTE VII.

I. 4. 61. Steevens says 'The first Folio reads—remote.' We have not been able to find this reading in any copy of that edition which we have consulted. Sir Frederic Madden has kindly collated for us the four copies in the British Museum, all of which have 'remoued.' This is also the reading of Capell's copy, of Malone's, and of two others to which we have had access, and it is the reading in Mr Booth's reprint.

NOTE VIII.

I. 5. 80. 'A very learned lady,' probably Mrs Montagu, suggested to Johnson that this line 'O, horrible! O, horrible! most horrible!' should be given to Hamlet, and it is said that Garrick adopted this suggestion when he played Hamlet. Rann appears to be the first editor who put it in his text. Mr Verplanck and Mr Hudson have followed his example.

In the Quarto of 1603, (Q_1), the Ghost says 'O horrible, most horrible!' and Hamlet interrupts with 'O God!'

NOTE IX.

I. 5. 113-116. The second Quarto followed by the rest reads thus:

'Enter Horatio, and Marcellus.

Hora. My Lord, my Lord.

Mar. Lord Hamlet.

Hora. Heauens secure him.

Ham. So be it.

Mar. Illo, ho, ho, my Lord.'

The Folios have:

'Hor. & Mar. within. My Lord, my Lord.

Enter Horatio and Marcellus.

Mar. Lord Hamlet.

Hor. Heauen secure him.

Mar. So be it.

Hor. Illo, ho, ho, my Lord.'

Capell first transferred the stage direction 'Enter Horatio and Marcellus' to follow line 117, and added the direction 'within' to all the previous speeches. In this he has been followed by Steevens (1778) and all subsequent editors. As however the first Quarto, which was taken down probably during the representation of the play, puts the words Enter Horatio, and Marcellus opposite 'My Lord, my Lord,' it is probable that they really entered at that place but were supposed, it being night-time, not to be seen by Hamlet till they were close to him.

Capell followed the Quartos in assigning 'So be it' to Hamlet.

NOTE X.

I. 5. 157-160. The second Quarto followed substantially by the rest reads thus:

'Come hether Gentlemen,

And lay your hands againe vpon my sword,

Sweare by my sword

Neuer to speak of this that you haue heard.'

The first Folio has:

'Come hither Gentlemen,

And lay your hands again upon my sword,

Neuer to speake of this that you have heard:

Sweare by my Sword.'

The following Folios put a full stop after 'sword' in the second line.

Capell, taking the order of words from the Quartos, arranged as three lines, thus:

'Come hither, gentlemen, and lay your hands

Again upon my sword; Swear by my sword,

Never to speak of this that you have heard.'

The first Quarto supports the order of the words as found in the Folio. Perhaps we might follow it and arrange the words of the Folio in three lines ending 'hands' ... 'speak' ... 'sword.'

NOTE XI.

II. 1. 79. Theobald, who is followed by Hanmer, Warburton, and Johnson, reads 'loose' for 'foul'd,' on the authority as he says of 'the elder Quartos.' It is not the reading of any of the first six, but of those of 1676, 1683, 1695 and 1703. Had Capell been aware of this, he would scarcely have designated Theobald's mistake as 'a downright falsehood.' Theobald, at the time of writing his 'Shakespeare Restored,' knew of no Quarto earlier than that of 1637 (Shakespeare Restored, p. 70), and it is just possible that some copy of this edition (Q_6), from which that of 1676 was printed, may have had the reading 'loose.' We have given in the note to III. 4. 59 an instance of different readings in two copies of Q_6.

NOTE XII.

II. 2. 111, 112. In the Quartos Polonius's comment, 'that's an ill phrase ...,' is printed in italics like the letter, and there is some confusion in the next line. The second, third, fourth and fifth have 'but you shall heare: thus in her excellent white bosom, these &c.' The sixth puts a comma after 'heare.' In the Folios these last words are printed in Roman type as if they were part of Polonius's comment, thus: 'but you shall heare these in her excellent white bosome, these.'

Rowe printed: 'but you shall hear—These to her excellent white bosom, these—'

The succeeding editors followed Rowe, down to Capell who restored the word 'in' for 'to.' The reading and punctuation of our text was first given substantially by Jennens, and adopted by Malone.

NOTE XIII.

II. 2. 123. In the fourth and fifth Quartos the word 'Hamlet,' in italics, is by mistake printed not at the end of the letter but opposite to the first line of Polonius's speech.

NOTE XIV.

II. 2. 169. The Quartos have 'Enter Hamlet' after 'try it,' line 166, and 'Exit King and Queene' after the words 'both away,' line 168. The Folios have 'Enter Hamlet, reading on a Booke' after 'try it,' line 166, and 'Exit King & Queen' after 'presently,' line 169. The Quartos put commas at 'presently,' and 'leave,' reading 'Ile ... leave' as one line; the Folios put full stops, reading 'Oh give me leave. How does my good Lord Hamlet?' as one line.

The earlier editors down to Johnson inclusive made no change.

Capell supposed the words 'O, give me leave' to be addressed, not to Hamlet, but to the King and Queen, whose Exeunt he placed after these words. His arrangement has been followed by all subsequent editors, till we ventured, in the Globe edition, to recur to the old order. It appears to us that the words 'O, give me leave,' commencing with an exclamation, are more naturally addressed to Hamlet than to the King and Queen, with whom Polonius had been previously conversing.

Mr Dyce transferred the entrance of Hamlet to follow the Exeunt of the King and Queen, line 169. As in the first Quarto he is made to enter earlier, it is possible that he was in sight of the audience, though so intent on his book as not to observe the presence of the others.

NOTE XV.

II. 2. 564. Capell quotes 'braves' as the reading of the Quarto of 1605. His own copy has 'braines.' That in the British Museum reads 'braues.'

NOTE XVI.

III. 1. 86. In this doubtful passage we have retained the reading of the Quartos, although the players' Quartos of 1676, 1683, 1695, 1703, have, contrary to their custom, followed the Folios, which may possibly indicate that 'pith' was the reading according to the stage tradition.

NOTE XVII.

III. 2. 156, 157. Jennens prints in brackets the line of the Quartos which we have omitted, and conjectures, as Johnson had done before him, that a line is lost either before or after it, which should rhyme to 'love.' As in the Quartos the line 'For women feare too much, even as they love,' occurs at the top of a page, the omission is more likely to have been caused by a line having dropped out at the foot of the previous page. Mr Keightley marks the omission of a line after 'love.' Malone supposes that the 'Either none' of the Quartos in line 158 was the commencement of the lost line, which he suggests may have run as follows:

'Either none they feel, or an excess approve.'

Steevens proposes to retain the omitted line, reading 'lust' for 'love,' making a triplet rhyme with the preceding lines.

The Quarto probably gives us the author's first thought, incomplete, as well as the lines which he finally adopted, as they stand in the Folio. The thought will hardly bear to be expanded over four lines.

NOTE XVIII.

III. 2. 329. Mason conjectured that the words 'To withdraw with you' were spoken to the players whom Hamlet wished to get rid of, and proposed to read 'So, withdraw you,' or 'So withdraw, will you?' Malone adds the stage direction 'Taking Guil. aside.' Steevens supposes that the words 'To ... you' "may refer to some gesture which Guildenstern had used, and which, at first was interpreted by Hamlet into a signal for him to attend the speaker into another room. 'To withdraw with you?' (says he) 'Is that your meaning?'" Mr Staunton, agreeing substantially with Mason, proposes to read 'So,—[taking a recorder] withdraw with you.' He adds that the disputed words may have been intended to mark the departure of the players. Jackson (1819) proposed the same reading and explanation, adding a stage direction, 'To the Players, who exit.'

If the reading and punctuation given in our text be right, the words seem to be addressed to Guildenstern. Mr Knight, however, suggests that 'Rosencrantz and Guildenstern have intimated, by some signal, that they wish to speak with Hamlet in private.'

NOTE XIX.

III. 2. 366—371. In this passage we have followed the distribution of the Folios. In the Quartos it stands thus:

'They foole me to the top of my bent, I will come by and by,

Leaue me friends.

I will, say so. By and by is easily said,

'Tis now &c.'

In the Quarto of 1676 the words 'I will come ... said' are marked in inverted commas to indicate that they were omitted by the actors. Pope following the arrangement of the Quartos, reading 'I will say so' with the Quarto of 1676.

NOTE XX.

III. 4. 4. We have adopted Hanmer's correction 'sconce' for 'silence' because in the corresponding passage of the first Quarto Polonius says: 'I'le shrowde my selfe behinde the Arras.' The Quartos of 1676, 1683, 1695 and 1703 give 'I'll here conceal my self.'

In the Quarto of 1603 there is also a trace of the following speech of Hamlet, omitted in the subsequent Quartos but given in the Folios.

NOTE XXI.

III. 4. 51, 52. This speech is properly given to the Queen in the Folios, but is printed as prose. The second Quarto has:

'Quee. Ay me, what act?

Ham. That roares so low'd, and thunders in the Index,

Looke heere &c.'

This is followed by the subsequent Quartos, except the sixth, which has a colon at 'Index.' Warburton adopts the distribution of the Quartos, but alters the second line thus:

'Ham. That roars so loud, it thunders to the Indies.'

NOTE XXII.

III. 4. 71. The reading 'stoop' for 'step' is found in manuscript in the margin of a copy of the Quarto of 1637, which has been kindly lent us by Dr Ingleby. The other readings in this play referred to as 'Anon. conj. MS.' or 'Anon. MS.' are from the same source.

NOTE XXIII.

IV. 1. 40—44. In the second and third Quartos these lines stand literatim as follows:

'And whats vntimely doone,

Whose whisper ore the worlds dyameter,

As leuell as the Cannon to his blanck,

Transports his poysned shot, may misse our Name,

And hit the woundlesse ayre, ô come away,

My soule &c.'

The later Quartos, including those of 1676, 1683, 1695, and 1703, spelling apart, have the same reading.

In the first Folio, followed substantially by the rest, we find only these words:

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

My soule &c.'

Rowe, Pope, Hanmer and Warburton followed the Folios.

Theobald first adopted the text of the Quartos. In his Shakespeare Restored, p. 108, he had suggested 'Happily, slander,' or 'Happily, rumour;' in his edition he supplied the blank thus:

'And what's untimely done. For, haply, Slander

(Whose whisper &c.'

Hanmer, in his copy of Theobald's edition, erased the passage with a pen.

Johnson, and Steevens in his editions of 1773, 1778 and 1785, followed Theobald.

Capell filled the hiatus by 'So, haply, slander,' and was followed by Steevens (1793) and most modern editors. Mason seems not to have consulted Capell's edition, for in 1788 he puts forward this reading as a conjecture of his own.

Malone (1790) read: 'So viperous slander.'

Mr Staunton proposes 'Thus calumny,' but in his text follows Capell.

'Malice' or 'Envy,' in the sense in which it is often used by Shakespeare, would suit the passage as well as 'Slander.'

NOTE XXIV.

IV. 2. 1—3. The second and third Quartos begin the scene thus:

'Ham. Safely stowd, but soft, what noyse, who calls on Hamlet?'

The fourth and fifth have 'softly' for 'soft.'

The Folios have:

'Ham. Safely stowed.

Gentlemen within. Hamlet, Lord Hamlet.

Ham. What noise? Who cals on Hamlet?'

In the players' Quarto of 1676, and the following editions, which otherwise adhere to the reading of the old Quartos, the words 'but soft' are omitted. They omit also 'on'.

Capell gives:

'HAM.—— Safely stow'd. But, soft;

ROS. &c. [within.] Hamlet! lord Hamlet!

HAM. What noise? who calls on Hamlet? O, here they come.'

The arrangement adopted in our text was first given by Malone.

NOTE XXV.

IV. 5. 14—16. The Quartos have:

'Hora. Twere good she were spoken with, for shee may strew

Dangerous coniectures in ill breeding mindes,

Let her come in.'

The Folios,

'Qu. 'Twere good she were spoken with,

For she may strew dangerous coniectures

In ill breeding minds. Let her come in.'

Rowe followed the Folios; Pope, Theobald, Warburton and Capell, the Quartos. Hanmer continues the lines ''Twere good ... minds' to the Gentleman who had spoken the previous lines, and gives 'Let her come in &c.' to the Queen. Johnson follows Hanmer's distribution of the speeches, but substitutes 'Hor.' for 'Gent.' in lines 2 and 4; the arrangement proposed by Blackstone. Steevens (1773) assigned the speech ''Twere good ... spilt' (14—20) to Horatio, but restored it to the Queen in his next edition. Mr Grant White follows the Folios in giving the whole Speech to the Queen, but marks ''Twere good ... minds' as spoken aside, and 'Let ... in' 'To Hor.'

NOTE XXVI.

IV. 5. 148. In the Quartos the passage is thus printed:

'A noyse within.

Enter Ophelia.

Laer. Let her come in.

How now, what noyse is that?'

In the Folios:

'A noise within. Let her come in.

Enter Ophelia.

Laer. How now? what noise is that?'

Rowe followed the Folios, Pope the Quartos, reading 'Let ... that?' as one line. Theobald first transferred the stage direction, Enter Ophelia, to follow the first line of Laertes's speech.

NOTE XXVII.

IV. 5. 163. Capell was the first to print these words as not forming part of the song. In the Folios they are printed like the former lines in italics. As there is no change of type in the Quartos, it is impossible to say on which side their authority is. There is a comma after 'teare' (or 'tear') in all the Quartos and Folios, except the sixth Quarto, which has a full stop.

NOTE XXVIII.

IV. 5. 166. Ophelia's speech, or song, is printed as three lines in the Quarto, thus:

'Oph. You must sing a downe a downe,

And you call him a downe a. O how the wheele becomes it,

It is the false Steward that stole his Maisters daughter.'

It is printed as prose in the Folios; beginning, 'You must sing downe a-downe, &c.' There is no indication that any part was meant to be sung.

Johnson first printed 'You must sing ... call him a-down-a' in italics, as a snatch of song. Steevens (1778) put 'Down a down, as you call him a-down-a' in italics, a reading suggested by Capell's text, where 'Down' begins with a capital letter. The late Mr John Taylor, in a copy of the second Variorum edition (1813) now in the Library of Trinity College, Cambridge, has made the following note. "Ophelia gives the song without the Burthen first, and then she instructs them 'You must sing a-down a-down, and you (speaking to another) call him a-down-a."

NOTE XXIX.

IV. 5. 195. In the Folios Ophelia's song is printed in Italics, and the words 'And ... you' in Roman type, 'God buy ye' being in a separate line. In the second and third Quartos the whole is printed in Roman type, and ends thus:

'God a mercy on his soule, and of all Christians soules,

God buy you.'

We have indicated in the foot-note how the later Quartos differ from the earlier.

NOTE XXX.

IV. 7. 139. Pope in his second edition says that 'one edition has it, embaited or envenomed.' We have not been able to find this reading in any copy, but Theobald (Shakespeare Restored, p. 119) conjectured 'imbaited.' As this conjecture is not mentioned in his edition, we have here, as in other cases, recorded it as 'withdrawn.'

NOTE XXXI.

V. 1. 57, 58. Mr Collier in his first edition conjectured that 'Yaughan' might be 'a mis-spelt stage direction to inform the player that he was to yawn at this point.' Mr Staunton says, "Whether by 'Yaughan' a man or place is meant, or whether the word is a corruption, we are not qualified to determine." Mr Grant White says, "I suspect that 'Yaughan' is a misprint for 'Tavern.' But some local allusion understood at the day may lurk under it."

NOTE XXXII.

V. 2. 205, 206. The reading in the text is taken partly from the Folios and partly from the Quartos, altering however the punctuation. The second Quarto, followed substantially by the rest, has as follows:

'The readines is all, since no man of ought he leaues, knowes what

ist to leaue betimes, let be.'

The first Folio, followed, except in spelling, by the rest, has:

'The readinesse is all, since no man ha's ought of what he leaues.

What is't to leaue betimes?'

The Quartos of 1676, 1683, 1695 and 1703 have:

'The readiness is all, since no man of ought he leaves knows what

'tis to leave betimes, let be.'

Rowe, Pope and Theobald followed the Folios.

Hanmer:

'The readiness is all. Since no man owes aught of what he leaves,

what is't to leave betimes?'

Warburton:

'The readiness is all. Since no man, of ought he leaves, knows,

what is't to leave betimes? Let be.'

Johnson:

'The readiness is all. Since no man knows aught of what he

leaves, what is't to leave betimes?'

Steevens (1773, 1778, 1785) and Rann adopt the reading of Johnson, adding the words 'Let be.'

Warburton's reading was followed by Capell, Malone, Steevens (1793), the Editors of the three Variorum Shakespeares, 1803, 1813, 1821, Singer, Harness and Mr Collier.

Caldecott first adopted the reading given in our text. Mr Grant White follows him.

Becket would substitute 'has thought' for 'has aught.'

Mr Keightley prints thus, marking the sentence as unfinished:

'The readiness is all. Since no man, of aught he leaves, knows

what it is to leave betimes.... Let be.'

NOTE XXXIII.

V. 2. 290. Mr Staunton says, "The exclamation 'Ho!' meaning stop, should perhaps be addressed to the combatants, and not, as it is always printed, to those who are to raise the Queen."

The Tragicall Historie of

HAMLET

Prince of Denmarke.

[SC. I.]

Enter two Centinels.

1. Stand: who is that?

2. Tis I.

1. O you come most carefully vpon your watch,

2. And if you meete Marcellus and Horatio,

The partners of my watch, bid them make haste. 5

1. I will: See who goes there.

Enter Horatio and Marcellus.

Hor. Friends to this ground.

Mar. And leegemen to the Dane,

O farewell honest souldier, who hath releeued you?

1. Barnardo hath my place, giue you good night. 10

Mar. Holla, Barnardo.

2. Say, is Horatio there?

Hor. A peece of him.

2. Welcome Horatio, welcome good Marcellus.

Mar. What hath this thing appear'd againe to night. 15

2. I haue seene nothing.

Mar. Horatio sayes tis but our fantasie,

And wil not let beliefe take hold of him,

Touching this dreaded sight twice seene by vs,

Therefore I haue intreated him a long with vs 20

To watch the minutes of this night,

That if againe this apparition come,

He may approoue our eyes, and speake to it.

Hor. Tut, t'will not appeare.

2. Sit downe I pray, and let vs once againe 25

Assaile your eares that are so fortified,

What we haue two nights seene.

Hor. Wel, sit we downe, and let vs heare Bernardo speake

of this.

2. Last night of al, when yonder starre that's westward 30

from the pole, had made his course to

Illumine that part of heauen. Where now it burnes,

The bell then towling one.

Enter Ghost.

Mar. Breake off your talke, see where it comes againe.

2. In the same figure like the King that's dead, 35

Mar. Thou art a scholler, speake to it Horatio.

2. Lookes it not like the king?

Hor. Most like, it horrors mee with feare and wonder.

2. It would be spoke to.

Mar. Question it Horatio. 40

Hor. What art thou that thus vsurps the state, in

Which the Maiestie of buried Denmarke did sometimes

Walke? By heauen I charge thee speake.

Mar. It is offended.     exit Ghost.

2. See, it stalkes away. 45

Hor. Stay, speake, speake, by heauen I charge thee

speake.

Mar. Tis gone and makes no answer.

2. How now Horatio, you tremble and looke pale,

Is not this something more than fantasie? 50

What thinke you on't?

Hor. Afore my God, I might not this beleeue, without

the sensible and true auouch of my owne eyes.

Mar. Is it not like the King?

Hor. As thou art to thy selfe, 55

Such was the very armor he had on,

When he the ambitious Norway combated.

So frownd he once, when in an angry parle

He smot the sleaded pollax on the yce,

Tis strange. 60

Mar. Thus twice before, and iump at this dead hower,

With Marshall stalke he passed through our watch.

Hor. In what particular to worke, I know not,

But in the thought and scope of my opinion,

This bodes some strange eruption to the state. 65

Mar. Good, now sit downe, and tell me he that knowes

Why this same strikt and most obseruant watch,

So nightly toyles the subiect of the land,

And why such dayly cost of brazen Cannon

And forraine marte, for implements of warre, 70

Why such impresse of ship-writes, whose sore taske

Does not diuide the sunday from the weeke:

What might be toward that this sweaty march

Doth make the night ioynt labourer with the day,

Who is't that can informe me? 75

Hor. Mary that can I, at least the whisper goes so,

Our late King, who as you know was by Forten-Brasse

of Norway,

Thereto prickt on by a most emulous cause, dared to

The combate, in which our valiant Hamlet, 80

For so this side of our knowne world esteemed him,

Did slay this Fortenbrasse,

Who by a seale compact well ratified, by law

And heraldrie, did forfeit with his life all those

His lands which he stoode seazed of by the conqueror, 85

Against the which a moity competent,

Was gaged by our King:

Now sir, yong Fortenbrasse,

Of inapproued mettle hot and full,

Hath in the skirts of Norway here and there, 90

Sharkt vp a sight of lawlesse Resolutes

For food and diet to some enterprise,

That hath a stomacke in't: and this (I take it) is the

Chiefe head and ground of this our watch.

Enter the Ghost.

But loe, behold, see where it comes againe, 95

Ile crosse it, though it blast me: stay illusion,

If there be any good thing to be done,

That may doe ease to thee, and grace to mee,

Speake to mee.

If thou art priuy to thy countries fate, 100

Which happly foreknowing may preuent, O speake to me,

Or if thou hast extorted in thy life,

Or hoorded treasure in the wombe of earth,

For which they say you Spirites oft walke in death, speake

to me, stay and speake, speake, stoppe it Marcellus. 105

2. Tis heere.     exit Ghost.

Hor. Tis heere.

Marc. Tis gone, O we doe it wrong, being so maiesticall,

to offer it the shew of violence,

For it is as the ayre invelmorable, 110

And our vaine blowes malitious mockery.

2. It was about to speake when the Cocke crew.

Hor. And then it faded like a guilty thing,

Vpon a fearefull summons: I haue heard

The Cocke, that is the trumpet to the morning, 115

Doth with his earely and shrill crowing throate,

Awake the god of day, and at his sound,

Whether in earth or ayre, in sea or fire,

The strauagant and erring spirite hies

To his confines, and of the trueth heereof 120

This present obiect made probation.

Marc. It faded on the crowing of the Cocke,

Some say, that euer gainst that season comes,

Wherein our Sauiours birth is celebrated,

The bird of dawning singeth all night long, 125

And then they say, no spirite dare walke abroade,

The nights are wholesome, then no planet frikes,

No Fairie takes, nor Witch hath powre to charme,

So gratious, and so hallowed is that time.

Hor. So haue I heard, and doe in parte beleeue it: 130

But see the Sunne in russet mantle clad,

Walkes ore the deaw of yon his mountaine top,

Breake we our watch vp, and by my aduise,

Let vs impart what wee haue seene to night

Vnto yong Hamlet: for vpon my life 135

This Spirite dumbe to vs will speake to him:

Do you consent, wee shall acquaint him with it,

As needefull in our loue, fitting our duetie?

Marc. Lets doo't I pray, and I this morning know,

Where we shall finde him most conueniently. 140

Enter King, Queene, Hamlet, Leartes, Corambis, and the two Ambassadors, with Attendants.

[SC. II.]

King Lordes, we here haue writ to Fortenbrasse,

Nephew to olde Norway, who impudent

And bed-rid, scarcely heares of this his

Nephews purpose: and Wee heere dispatch

Yong good Cornelia, and you Voltemar 5

For bearers of these greetings to olde

Norway, giuing to you no further personall power

To businesse with the King,

Then those related articles do shew:

Farewell, and let your haste commend your dutie. 10

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

King. Wee doubt nothing, hartily farewel:

And now Leartes what's the newes with you?[2422]

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

Lea. My gratious Lord, your fauorable licence, 15

Now that the funerall rites are all performed,

I may haue leaue to go againe to France,

For though the fauour of your grace might stay mee,

Yet something is there whispers in my hart,

Which makes my minde and spirits bend all for France. 20

King Haue you your fathers leaue, Leartes?

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

And I beseech you grant your Highnesse leaue.

King With all our heart, Leartes fare thee well.

Lear. I in all loue and dutie take my leaue. 25

King. And now princely Sonne Hamlet,     Exit.

What meanes these sad and melancholy moodes?

For your intent going to Wittenberg,

Wee hold it most vnmeet and vnconuenient,

Being the Ioy and halfe heart of your mother. 30

Therefore let mee intreat you stay in Court,

All Denmarkes hope our coosin and dearest Sonne.

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

No nor the teares that still stand in my eyes,

Nor the distracted hauiour in the visage, 35

Nor all together mixt with outward semblance,

Is equall to the sorrow of my heart,

Him haue I lost I must of force forgoe,

These but the ornaments and sutes of woe.

King This shewes a louing care in you, Sonne Hamlet, 40

But you must thinke your father lost a father,

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

Generall ending. Therefore cease laments,

It is a fault gainst heauen, fault gainst the dead,

A fault gainst nature, and in reasons 45

Common course most certaine,

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

Que. Let not thy mother loose her praiers Hamlet,

Stay here with vs, go not to Wittenberg.

Ham. I shall in all my best obay you madam. 50

King Spoke like a kinde and a most louing Sonne,

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

But the great Canon to the clowdes shall tell

The rowse the King shall drinke vnto Prince Hamlet.

Exeunt all but Hamlet.

Ham. O that this too much grieu'd and sallied flesh 55

Would melt to nothing, or that the vniuersall

Globe of heauen would turne al to a Chaos!

O God within two moneths; no not two: maried,[2423]

Mine vncle: O let me not thinke of it,

My fathers brother: but no more like

My father, then I to Hercules.

Within two months, ere yet the salt of most

Vnrighteous teates had left their flushing

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

Deuoyd of reason would not haue made 65

Such speede: Frailtie, thy name is Woman,

Why she would hang on him, as if increase

Of appetite had growne by what it looked on.

O wicked wicked speede, to make such

Dexteritie to incestuous sheetes, 70

Ere yet the shooes were olde,

The which she followed my dead fathers corse

Like Nyobe, all teares: married, well it is not,

Nor it cannot come to good:

But breake my heart, for I must holde my tongue. 75

Enter Horatio and Marcellus.

Hor. Health to your Lordship.

Ham. I am very glad to see you, (Horatio) or I much

forget my selfe.

Hor. The same my Lord, and your poore seruant euer.

Ham. O my good friend, I change that name with you: 80

but what make you from Wittenberg Horatio?

Marcellus.

Marc. My good Lord.

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

But what is your affaire in Elsenoure? 85

Weele teach you to drinke deepe ere you depart.

Hor. A trowant disposition, my good Lord.

Ham. Nor shall you make mee truster

Of your owne report against your selfe:

Sir, I know you are no trowant: 90

But what is your affaire in Elsenoure?

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

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

I thinke it was to see my mothers wedding.

Hor. Indeede my Lord, it followed hard vpon. 95

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

Did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables,

Would I had met my deerest foe in heauen

Ere euer I had seene that day Horatio;

O my father, my father, me thinks I see my father, 100

Hor. Where my Lord?

Ham. Why, in my mindes eye Horatio.

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

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

I shall not looke vpon his like againe.

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

Ham. Saw, who?

Hor. My Lord, the King your father.

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

Hor. Ceasen your admiration for a while 110

With an attentiue eare, till I may deliuer,

Vpon the witnesse of these Gentlemen

This wonder to you.

Ham. For Gods loue let me heare it.

Hor. Two nights together had these Gentlemen, 115

Marcellus and Bernardo, on their watch,

In the dead vast and middle of the night.

Beene thus incountered by a figure like your father,

Armed to poynt, exactly Capapea

Appeeres before them thrise, he walkes 120

Before their weake and feare oppressed eies.

Within his tronchions length,

While they distilled almost to gelly.

With the act of feare stands dumbe,

And speake not to him: this to mee 125

In dreadfull secresie impart they did.

And I with them the third night kept the watch,

Where as they had deliuered forme of the thing.

Each part made true and good,

The Apparition comes: I knew your father, 130

These handes are not more like.

Ham. Tis very strange.

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

And wee did thinke it right done,

In our dutie to let you know it. 135

Ham. Where was this?

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

Ham. Did you not speake to it?

Hor. My Lord we did, but answere made it none,

Yet once me thought it was about to speake, 140

And lifted vp his head to motion,

Like as he would speake, but euen then

The morning cocke crew lowd, and in all haste,

It shruncke in haste away, and vanished

Our sight. 145

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

Hold you the watch to night?

All We do my Lord.

Ham. Armed say ye?

All Armed my good Lord. 150

Ham. From top to toe?

All. My good Lord, from head to foote.

Ham. Why then saw you not his face?

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

Ham. How look't he, frowningly? 155

Hor. A countenance more in sorrow than in anger.

Ham. Pale, or red?

Hor. Nay, verie pal

Ham. And fixt his eies vpon you.

Hor. Most constantly. 160

Ham. I would I had beene there.

Hor. It would a much amazed you.

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

Hor. While one with moderate pace

Might tell a hundred. 165

Mar. O longer, longer.

Ham. His beard was grisleld, no.

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

A sable siluer.

Ham. I wil watch to night, perchance t'wil walke againe. 170

Hor. I warrant it will.

Ham. If it assume my noble fathers person,

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

And bid me hold my peace, Gentlemen,

If you haue hither consealed this sight, 175

Let it be tenible in your silence still,

And whatsoeuer else shall chance to night,

Giue it an vnderstanding, but no tongue,

I will requit your loues, so fare you well,

Vpon the platforme, twixt eleuen and twelue, 180

Ile visit you.

All. Our duties to your honor.     exeunt.

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

Farewell, my fathers spirit in Armes,

Well, all's not well. I doubt some foule play, 185

Would the night were come,

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

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

[SC. III.]

Enter Leartes and Ofelia.

Leart. My necessaries are inbarkt, I must aboord,

But ere I part, marke what I say to thee:

I see Prince Hamlet makes a shew of loue

Beware Ofelia, do not trust his vowes,

Perhaps he loues you now, and now his tongue, 5

Speakes from his heart, but yet take heed my sister,

The Chariest maide is prodigall enough,

If she vnmaske hir beautie to the Moone.

Vertue it selfe scapes not calumnious thoughts,

Belieu't Ofelia, therefore keepe a loofe 10

Lest that he trip thy honor and thy fame.

Ofel. Brother, to this I haue lent attentiue eare,

And doubt not but to keepe my honour firme,

But my deere brother, do not you

Like to a cunning Sophister, 15

Teach me the path and ready way to heauen,

While you forgetting what is said to me,

Your selfe, like to a carelesse libertine

Doth giue his heart, his appetite at ful,

And little recks how that his honour dies. 20

Lear. No, feare it not my deere Ofelia,

Here comes my father, occasion smiles vpon a second leaue.

Enter Corambis.

Cor. Yet here Leartes? aboord, aboord, for shame,

The winde sits in the shoulder of your saile,

And you are staid for, there my blessing with thee 25

And these few precepts in thy memory.

"Be thou familiar, but by no meanes vulgare;

"Those friends thou hast, and their adoptions tried,

"Graple them to thee with a hoope of steele,

"But do not dull the palme with entertaine, 30

"Of euery new vnfleg'd courage,

"Beware of entrance into a quarrell; but being in,

"Beare it that the opposed may beware of thee,

"Costly thy apparrell, as thy purse can buy.

"But not exprest in fashion, 35

"For the apparell oft proclaimes the man."

And they of France of the chiefe rancke and station

Are of a most select and generall chiefe in that:

"This aboue all, to thy owne selfe be true,

And it must follow as the night the day, 40

Thou canst not then be false to any one,

Farewel, my blessing with thee.

Lear. I humbly take my leaue, farewell Ofelia,

And remember well what I haue said to you.     exit.

Ofel. It is already lock't within my hart, 45

And you your selfe shall keepe the key of it.

Cor. What i'st Ofelia he hath saide to you?

Ofel. Somthing touching the prince Hamlet.

Cor. Mary wel thought on, t'is giuen me to vnderstand,

That you haue bin too prodigall of your maiden presence 50

Vnto Prince Hamlet, if it be so,

As so tis giuen to mee, and that in waie of caution

I must tell you; you do not vnderstand your selfe

So well as befits my honor, and your credite.

Ofel. My lord, he hath made many tenders of his loue 55

to me.

Cor. Tenders, I, I, tenders you may call them.

Ofel. And withall, such earnest vowes.

Cor. Springes to catch woodcocks,

What, do not I know when the blood doth burne, 60

How prodigall the tongue lends the heart vowes,

In briefe, be more scanter of your maiden presence,

Or tendring thus you'l tender mee a foole.

Ofel. I shall obay my lord in all I may.

Cor. Ofelia, receiue none of his letters, 65

"For louers lines are snares to intrap the heart;

"Refuse his tokens, both of them are keyes

To vnlocke Chastitie vnto Desire;

Come in Ofelia, such men often proue,

"Great in their wordes, but little in their loue." 70

Ofel. I will my lord.     exeunt.

[SC. IV.]

Enter Hamlet, Horatio, and Marcellus.

Ham. The ayre bites shrewd; it is an eager and

An nipping winde, what houre i'st?

Hor. I think it lacks of twelue.     Sound Trumpets.

Mar. No, t'is strucke.

Hor. Indeed I heard it not, what doth this mean my lord? 5

Ham. O the king doth wake to night, & takes his rowse,

Keepe wassel, and the swaggering vp-spring reeles,

And as he dreames, his draughts of renish downe,

The kettle, drumme, and trumpet, thus bray out,

The triumphes of his pledge. 10

Hor. Is it a custome here?

Ham. I mary i'st and though I am

Natiue here, and to the maner borne,

It is a custome, more honourd in the breach,

Then in the obseruance. 15

Enter the Ghost.

Hor. Looke my Lord, it comes.

Ham. Angels and Ministers of grace defend vs,

Be thou a spirite of health, or goblin damn'd,

Bring with thee ayres from heauen, or blasts from hell:

Be thy intents wicked or charitable, 20

Thou commest in such questionable shape,

That I will speake to thee,

Ile call thee Hamlet, King, Father, Royall Dane,

O answere mee, let mee not burst in ignorance,

But say why thy canonizd bones hearsed in death 25

Haue burst their ceremonies: why thy Sepulcher,

In which wee saw thee quietly interr'd.

Hath burst his ponderous and marble Iawes,

To cast thee vp againe: what may this meane,

That thou, dead corse, againe in compleate steele, 30

Reuissets thus the glimses of the Moone,

Making night hideous, and we fooles of nature,

So horridely to shake our disposition,

With thoughts beyond the reaches of our soules?

Say, speake, wherefore, what may this meane? 35

Hor. It beckons you, as though it had something

To impart to you alone.

Mar. Looke with what courteous action

It waues you to a more remoued ground,

But do not go with it. 40

Hor. No, by no meanes my Lord.

Ham. It will not speake, then will I follow it.

Hor. What if it tempt you toward the flood my Lord.

That beckles ore his bace, into the sea,

And there assume some other horrible shape, 45

Which might depriue your soueraigntie of reason,

And driue you into madnesse: thinke of it.

Ham. Still am I called, go on, ile follow thee.

Hor. My Lord, you shall not go.

Ham. Why what should be the feare? 50

I do not set my life at a pinnes fee,

And for my soule, what can it do to that?

Being a thing immortall, like it selfe,

Go on, ile follow thee.

Mar. My Lord be rulde, you shall not goe. 55

Ham. My fate cries out, and makes each pety Artiue

As hardy as the Nemeon Lyons nerue,

Still am I cald, vnhand me gentlemen;

By heauen ile make a ghost of him that lets me,

Away I say, go on, ile follow thee. 60

Hor. He waxeth desperate with imagination.

Mar. Something is rotten in the state of Denmarke.

Hor. Haue after; to what issue will this sort?

Mar. Lets follow, tis not fit thus to obey him.     exit.

Enter Ghost and Hamlet.

Ham. Ile go no farther, whither wilt thou leade me? 65

Ghost Marke me.

Ham. I will.

Ghost I am thy fathers spirit, doomd for a time

To walke the night, and all the day

Confinde in flaming fire, 70

Till the foule crimes done in my dayes of Nature

Arepurged and burnt away.

Ham. Alas poore Ghost.

Ghost Nay pitty me not, but to my vnfolding

Lend thy listning eare, but that I am forbid 75

To tell the secrets of my prison house

I would a tale vnfold, whose lightest word

Would harrow vp thy soule, freeze thy yong blood,

Make thy two eyes like stars start from their spheres,

Thy knotted and combined locks to part, 80

And each particular haire to stand on end

Like quils vpon the fretfull Porpentine,

But this same blazon must not be, to eares of flesh and blood

Hamlet, if euer thou didst thy deere father loue.

Ham. O God. 85

Gho. Reuenge his foule, and most vnnaturall murder:

Ham. Murder.

Ghost Yea, murder in the highest degree,

As in the least tis bad,

But mine most foule, beastly, and vnnaturall. 90

Ham. Haste me to knowe it, that with wings as swift as

meditation, or the thought of it, may sweepe to my reuenge.

Ghost O I finde thee apt, and duller shouldst thou be

Then the fat weede which rootes it selfe in ease

On Lethe wharffe: briefe let me be. 95

Tis giuen out, that sleeping in my orchard,

A Serpent stung me; so the whole eare of Denmarke

Is with a forged Prosses of my death rankely abusde:

But know thou noble Youth: he that did sting

Thy fathers heart, now weares his Crowne. 100

Ham. O my prophetike soule, my vncle! my vncle!

Ghost Yea he, that incestuous wretch, wonne to his will with gifts,

O wicked will, and gifts! that haue the power

So to seduce my most seeming vertuous Queene,

But vertne, as it neuer will be moued, 105

Though Lewdnesse court it in a shape of heauen,

So Lust, though to a radiant angle linckt,

Would fate it selfe from a celestiall bedde,

And prey on garbage: but soft, me thinkes

I sent the mornings ayre, briefe let me be, 110

Sleeping within my Orchard, my custome alwayes

In the after noone, vpon my secure houre

Thy vncle came, with iuyce of Hebona

In a viall, and through the porches of my eares

Did powre the leaprous distilment, whose effect 115

Hold such an enmitie with blood of man,

That swift as quickesiluer, it posteth through

The naturall gates and allies of the body,

And turnes the thinne and wholesome blood

Like eager dropings into milke. 120

And all my smoothe body, barked, and tetterd ouer.

Thus was I sleeping by a brothers hand

Of Crowne, of Queene, of life, of dignitie

At once depriued, no reckoning made of,

But sent vnto my graue, 125

With all my accompts and sinnes vpon my head,

O horrible, most horrible!

Ham. O God!

Ghost If thou hast nature in thee, beare it not,

But howsoeuer, let not thy heart 130

Conspire against thy mother aught,

Leaue her to heauen,

And to the burthen that her conscience beares.

I must be gone, the Glo-worme shewes the Martin

To be neere, and gin's to pale his vneffectuall fire: 135

Hamlet adue, adue, adue: remember me.     [Exit

Ham. O all you hoste of heauen! O earth, what else?

And shall I couple hell; remember thee?

Yes thou poore Ghost; from the tables

Of my memorie, ile wipe away all sawes of Bookes, 140

All triuiall fond conceites

That euer youth, or else obseruance noted,

And thy remembrance, all alone shall sit.

Yes, yes, by heauen, a damnd pernitious villaine,

Murderons, bawdy, smiling damned villaine, 145

(My tables) meet it is I set it downe,

That one may smile, and smile, and be a villayne;

At least I am sure, it may be so in Denmarke.

So vncle, there you are, there you are.

Now to the words; it is adue adue: remember me, 150

Soe t'is enough I haue sworne.

Hor. My lord, my lord.     Enter. Horatio, and Marcellus.

Mar. Lord Hamlet.

Hor. Ill, lo, lo, ho, ho.

Mar. Ill, lo, lo, so, ho, so, come boy, come. 155

Hor. Heauens secure him.

Mar. How i'st my noble lord?

Hor. What news my lord?

Ham. O wonderfull, wonderful.

Hor. Good my lord tel it. 160

Ham. No not I, you'l reueale it.

Hor. Not I my Lord by heauen.

Mar. Nor I my Lord.

Ham. How say you then? would hart of man

Once thinke it? but you'l be secret. 165

Both. I by heauen, my lord.

Ham. There's neuer a villaine dwelling in all Denmarke,

But hee's an arrant knaue.

Hor. There need no Ghost come from the graue to tell

you this. 170

Ham. Right, you are in the right, and therefore

I holde it meet without more circumstance at all,

Wee shake hands and part; you as your busines

And desiers shall leade you: for looke you,

Euery man hath busines, and desires, such 175

As it is, and for my owne poore parte, ile go pray.

Hor. These are but wild and wherling words, my Lord.

Ham. I am sory they offend you; hartely, yes faith hartily.

Hor. Ther's no offence my Lord.

Ham. Yes by Saint Patrike but there is Horatio,180

And much offence too, touching this vision,

It is an honest ghost, that let mee tell you,

For your desires to know what is betweene vs,

Or'emaister it as you may:

And now kind frends, as yon are frends, 185

Schollers and gentlmen,

Grant mee one poore request.

Both. What i'st my Lord?

Ham. Neuer make known what you haue seene to night

Both. My Lord, we will not. 190

Ham. Nay but sweare.

Hor. In faith my Lord not I.

Mar. Nor I my Lord in faith.

Ham. Nay vpon my sword, indeed vpon my sword.

Gho. Sweare. 195

The Gost vnder the stage.

Ham. Ha, ha, come you here, this fellow in the sellerige,

Here consent to sweare.

Hor. Propose the oth my Lord.

Ham. Neuer to speake what you haue seene to night,

Sweare by my sword. 200

Gost. Sweare.

Ham. Hic & vbique; nay then weele shift our ground:

Come hither Gentlemen, and lay your handes

Againe vpon this sword, neuer to speake

Of that which you haue seene, sweare by my sword. 205

Ghost Sweare.

Ham. Well said old Mole, can'st worke in the earth?

so fast, a worthy Pioner, once more remoue.

Hor. Day and night, but this is wondrous strange.

Ham. And therefore as a stranger giue it welcome, 210

There are more things in heauen and earth Horatio,

Then are Dream't of, in your philosophie,

But come here, as before you neuer shall

How strange or odde soere I beare my selfe,

As I perchance hereafter shall thinke meet, 215

To put an Anticke disposition on,

That you at such times seeing me, neuer shall

With Armes, incombred thus, or this head shake,

Or by pronouncing some vndoubtfull phrase,

As well well, wee know, or wee could and if we would, 220

Or there be, and if they might, or such ambiguous:

Giuing out to note, that you know aught of mee,

This not to doe, so grace, and mercie

At your most need helpe you, sweare

Ghost. sweare. 225

Ham. Rest, rest, perturbed spirit: so gentlemen,

In all my loue I do commend mee to you,

And what so poore a man as Hamlet may,

To pleasure you, God willing shall not want,

Nay come lett's go together, 230

But stil your fingers on your lippes I pray,

The time is out of ioynt, O cursed spite,

That euer I was borne to set it right,

Nay come lett's go together.     Exeunt.

[SC. V.]

Enter Corambis, and Montano.

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

And this same mony with my blessing to him,

And bid him ply his learning good Montano.

Mon. I will my lord.

Cor. You shall do very well Montano, to say thus, 5

I knew the gentleman, or know his father,

To inquire the manner of his life,

As thus; being amongst his acquaintance,

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

At game, or drincking, swearing, or drabbing, 10

You may go so farre.

Mon. My lord, that will impeach his reputation.

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

Now happely hee closeth with you in the consequence,

As you may bridle it not disparage him a iote. 15

What was I a bout to say,

Mon. He closeth with him in the consequence.

Cor. I, you say right, he closeth with him thus,

This will hee say, let mee see what hee will say,

Mary this, I saw him yesterday, or tother day, 20

Or then, or at such a time, a dicing,

Or at Tennis, I or drincking drunke, or entring

Of a howse of lightnes viz. brothell,

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

By indirections, finde directions forth, 25

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

Mon. I haue my lord.

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

Mon. I will my lord.

Cor. And bid him ply his musicke 30

Mon. My lord I wil.     exit.

Enter, Ofelia.

Cor. Farewel, how now Ofelia, what's the news with you?

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

So great an alteration in a Prince,

So pitifull to him, fearefull to mee, 35

A maidens eye ne're looked on.

Cor. Why what's the matter my Ofelia?

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

Hee is bereft of all the wealth he had,

The Iewell that ador'nd his feature most 40

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

Hee found mee walking in the gallery all alone,

There comes hee to mee, with a distracted looke,

His garters lagging downe, his shooes vntide,

And fixt his eyes so stedfast on my face, 45

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

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

And there he holdes my pulse till with a sigh

He doth vnclaspe his holde, and parts away

Silent, as is the mid time of the night: 50

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

For thus his head ouer his shoulder looked,

He seemed to finde the way without his eies:

For out of doores he went without their helpe,

And so did leaue me. 55

Cor. Madde for thy loue,

What haue you giuen him any crosse wordes of late?

Ofelia I did repell his letters, deny his gifts,

As you did charge me.

Cor. Why that hath made him madde: 60

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

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

To leaue their wantonnesse. Well, I am sory

That I was so rash: but what remedy?

Lets to the King, this madnesse may prooue, 65

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

[SC. VI.]

Enter King and Queene, Rossencraft, and Gilderstone.

King Right noble friends, that our deere cosin Hamlet

Hath lost the very heart of all his sence,

It is most right, and we most sory for him:

Therefore we doe desire, euen as you tender

Our care to him, and our great loue to you, 5

That you will labour but to wring from him

The cause and ground of his distemperancie.

Doe this, the king of Denmarke shal be thankefull.

Ros. My Lord, whatsoeuer lies within our power

Your maiestie may more commaund in wordes 10

Then vse perswasions to your liege men, bound

By loue, by duetie, and obedience.

Guil. What we may doe for both your Maiesties

To know the griefe troubles the Prince your sonne,

We will indeuour all the best we may, 15

So in all duetie doe we take our leaue.

King Thankes Guilderstone, and gentle Rossencraft.

Que. Thankes Rossencraft, and gentle Gilderstone.

Enter Corambis and Ofelia.

Cor. My Lord, the Ambassadors are ioyfully

Return'd from Norway. 20

King Thou still hast beene the father of good news.

Cor. Haue I my Lord? I assure your grace,

I holde my duetie as I holde my life,

Both to my God, and to my soueraigne King:

And I beleeue, or else this braine of mine 25

Hunts not the traine of policie so well

As it had wont to doe, but I haue found

The very depth of Hamlets lunacie.

Queene God graunt he hath.

Enter the Ambassadors.

King Now Voltemar, what from our brother Norway?30

Volt. Most faire returnes of greetings and desires,

Vpon our first he sent forth to suppresse

His nephews leuies, which to him appear'd

To be a preparation gainst the Polacke:

But better look't into, he truely found 35

It was against your Highnesse, whereat grieued,

That so his sickenesse, age, and impotence,

Was falsely borne in hand, sends out arrests

On Fortenbrasse, which he in briefe obays,

Receiues rebuke from Norway: and in fine, 40

Makes vow before his vncle, neuer more

To giue the assay of Armes against your Maiestie,

Whereon olde Norway ouercome with ioy,

Giues him three thousand crownes in annuall fee,

And his Commission to employ those souldiers, 45

So leuied as before, against the Polacke,

With an intreaty heerein further shewne,

That it would please you to giue quiet passe

Through your dominions, for that enterprise

On such regardes of safety and allowances 50

As therein are set downe.

King It likes vs well, and at fit time and leasure

Weele reade and answere these his Articles,

Meane time we thanke you for your well

Tooke labour: go to your rest, at night weele feast togither: 55

Right welcome home.     exeunt Ambassadors.

Cor. This busines is very well dispatched.

Now my Lord, touching the yong Prince Hamlet,

Certaine it is that hee is madde: mad let vs grant him then:

Now to know the cause of this effect, 60

Or else to say the cause of this defect,

For this effect defectiue comes by cause.

Queene Good my Lord be briefe.

Cor. Madam I will: my Lord, I haue a daughter,

Haue while shee's mine: for that we thinke 65

Is surest, we often loose: now to the Prince.

My lord, but note this letter,

The which my daughter in obedience

Deliuer'd to my handes.

King Reade it my Lord. 70

Cor. Marke my Lord.

Doubt that in earth is fire,

Doubt that the starres doe moue,

Doubt trueth to be a liar,

But doe not doubt I loue. 75

To the beautifull Ofelia:

Thine euer the most vnhappy Prince Hamlet.

My Lord, what doe you thinke of me?

I, or what might you thinke when I sawe this?

King As of a true friend and a most louing subiect. 80

Cor. I would be glad to prooue so.

Now when I saw this letter, thus I bespake my maiden:

Lord Hamlet is a Prince out of your starre,

And one that is vnequall for your loue:

Therefore I did commaund her refuse his letters, 85

Deny his tokens, and to absent her selfe.

Shee as my childe obediently obey'd me.

Now since which time, seeing his loue thus cross'd,

Which I tooke to be idle, and but sport,

He straitway grew into a melancholy, 90

From that vnto a fast, then vnto distraction,

Then into a sadnesse, from that vnto a madnesse,

And so by continuance, and weakenesse of the braine

Into this frensie, which now possesseth him:

And if this be not true, take this from this. 95

King Thinke you t'is so?

Cor. How? so my Lord, I would very faine know

That thing that I haue saide t'is so, positiuely,

And it hath fallen out otherwise.

Nay, if circumstances leade me on, 100

Ile finde it out, if it were hid

As deepe as the centre of the earth.

King. How should wee trie this same?

Cor. Mary my good lord thus,

The Princes walke is here in the galery, 105

There let Ofelia, walke vntill hee comes:

Your selfe and I will stand close in the study,

There shall you heare the effect of all his hart,

And if it proue any otherwise then loue,

Then let my censure faile an other time. 110

King. see where hee comes poring vppon a booke.

Enter Hamlet.

Cor. Madame, will it please your grace

To leaue vs here?

Que. With all my hart.     exit.

Cor. And here Ofelia, reade you on this booke, 115

And walke aloofe, the King shal be vnseene.

Ham. To be, or not to be, I there's the point,

To Die, to sleepe, is that all? I all:

No, to sleepe, to dreame, I mary there it goes, 120

For in that dreame of death, when wee awake,

And borne before an euerlasting Iudge,

From whence no passenger euer retur'nd,

The vndiscouered country, at whose sight

The happy smile, and the accursed damn'd. 125

But for this, the ioyfull hope of this,

Whol'd beare the scornes and flattery of the world,

Scorned by the right rich, the rich curssed of the poore?

The widow being oppressed, the orphan wrong'd,

The taste of hunger, or a tirants raigne, 130

And thousand more calamities besides,

To grunt and sweate vnder this weary life,

When that he may his full Quietus make,

With a bare bodkin, who would this indure,

But for a hope of something after death?

Which pusles the braine, and doth confound the sence, 135

Which makes vs rather beare those euilles we haue,

Than flie to others that we know not of.

I that, O this conscience makes cowardes of vs all,

Lady in thy orizons, be all my sinnes remembred.

Ofel. My Lord, I haue sought opportunitie, which now 140

I haue, to redeliuer to your worthy handes, a small remembrance,

such tokens which I haue receiued of you.

Ham. Are you faire?

Ofel. My Lord.

Ham. Are you honest? 145

Ofel. What meanes my Lord?

Ham. That if you be faire and honest,

Your beauty should admit no discourse to your honesty.

Ofel. My Lord, can beauty haue better priuiledge than

with honesty? 150

Ham. Yea mary may it; for Beauty may transforme

Honesty, from what she was into a bawd:

Then Honesty can transforme Beauty:

This was sometimes a Paradox,

But now the time giues it scope. 155

I neuer gaue you nothing.

Ofel. My Lord, you know right well you did,

And with them such earnest vowes of loue,

As would haue moou'd the stoniest breast aliue,

But now too true I finde, 160

Rich giftes waxe poore, when giuers grow vnkinde.

Ham. I neuer loued you.

Ofel. You made me beleeue you did.

Ham. O thou shouldst not a beleeued me!

Go to a Nunnery goe, why shouldst thou 165

Be a breeder of sinners? I am my selfe indifferent honest,

But I could accuse my selfe of such crimes

It had beene better my mother had ne're borne me,

O I am very prowde, ambitious, disdainefull,

With more sinnes at my becke, then I haue thoughts 170

To put them in, what should such fellowes as I

Do, crawling between heauen and earth?

To a Nunnery goe, we are arrant knaues all,

Beleeue none of vs, to a Nunnery goe.

Ofel. O heauens secure him! 175

Ham. Wher's thy father?

Ofel. At home my lord.

Ham. For Gods sake let the doores be shut on him,

He may play the foole no where but in his

Owne house: to a Nunnery goe. 180

Ofel. Help him good God.

Ham. If thou dost marry, Ile giue thee

This plague to thy dowry:

Be thou as chaste as yce, as pure as snowe,

Thou shalt not scape calumny, to a Nunnery goe. 185

Ofel. Alas, what change is this?

Ham. But if thou wilt needes marry, marry a foole,

For wisemen know well enough,

What monsters you make of them, to a Nunnery goe.

Ofel. Pray God restore him. 190

Ham. Nay, I haue heard of your paintings too,

God hath giuen you one face,

And you make your selues another,

You fig, and you amble, and you nickname Gods creatures,

Making your wantonnesse, your ignorance, 195

A pox, t'is scuruy, Ile no more of it,

It hath made me madde: Ile no more marriages,

All that are married but one, shall liue,

The rest shall keepe as they are, to a Nunnery goe,

To a Nunnery goe.     exit. 200

Ofe. Great God of heauen, what a quicke change is this?

The Courtier, Scholler, Souldier, all in him,

All dasht and splinterd thence, O woe is me,

To a seene what I haue seene, see what I see.     exit.

[SC. VII.]

King Loue? No, no, that's not the cause,     Enter King and Corambis.

Some deeper thing it is that troubles him.

Cor. Wel, something it is: my Lord, content you a while,

I will my selfe goe feele him: let me worke,

Ile try him euery way: see where he comes, 5

Send you those Gentlemen, let me alone

To finde the depth of this, away, be gone.     exit King.

Now my good Lord, do you know me?     Enter Hamlet.

Ham. Yea very well, y'are a fishmonger.

Cor. Not I my Lord. 10

Ham. Then sir, I would you were so honest a man,

For to be honest, as this age goes,

Is one man to be pickt out of tenne thousand.

Cor. What doe you reade my Lord?

Ham. Wordes, wordes. 15

Cor. What's the matter my Lord?

Ham. Betweene who?

Cor. I meane the matter you reade my Lord.

Ham. Mary most vile heresie:

For here the Satyricall Satyre writes,

That olde men haue hollow eyes, weake backes,

Grey beardes, pittifull weake hammes, gowty legges,

All which sir, I most potently beleeue not:

For sir, your selfe shalbe olde as I am,

If like a Crabbe, you could goe backeward. 25

Cor. How pregnant his replies are, and full of wit:

Yet at first he tooke me for a fishmonger:

All this comes by loue, the vemencie of loue,

And when I was yong, I was very idle,

And suffered much extasie in loue, very neere this: 30

Will you walke out of the aire my Lord?

Ham. Into my graue.

Cor. By the masse that's out of the aire indeed,

Very shrewd answers,

My lord I will take my leaue of you. 35

Enter Gilderstone, and Rossencraft.

Ham. You can take nothing from me sir,

I will more willingly part with all,

Olde doating foole.

Cor. You seeke Prince Hamlet, see, there he is.     exit.

Gil. Health to your Lordship. 40

Ham. What, Gilderstone, and Rossencraft,

Welcome kinde Schoole-fellowes to Elsanoure.

Gil. We thanke your Grace, and would be very glad

You were as when we were at Wittenberg.

Ham. I thanke you, but is this visitation free of 45

Your selues, or were you not sent for?

Tell me true, come, I know the good King and Queene

Sent for you, there is a kinde of confession in your eye:

Come, I know you were sent for.

Gil. What say you? 50

Ham. Nay then I see how the winde sits,

Come, you were sent for.

Ross. My lord, we were, and willingly if we might,

Know the cause and ground of your discontent.

Ham. Why I want preferment. 55

Ross. I thinke not so my lord.

Ham. Yes faith, this great world you see contents me not,

No nor the spangled heauens, nor earth, nor sea,

No nor Man that is so glorious a creature,

Contents not me, no nor woman too, though you laugh. 60

Gil. My lord, we laugh not at that.

Ham. Why did you laugh then,

When I said, Man did not content mee?

Gil. My Lord, we laughed, when you said, Man did not

content you. 65

What entertainement the Players shall haue,

We boorded them a the way: they are comming to you.

Ham. Players, what Players be they?

Ross. My Lord, the Tragedians of the Citty,

Those that you tooke delight to see so often. 70

Ham. How comes it that they trauell? Do they grow restie?

Gil. No my Lord, their reputation holds as it was wont.

Ham. How then?

Gil. Yfaith my Lord, noueltie carries it away,

For the principall publike audience that 75

Came to them, are turned to priuate playes,

And to the humour of children.

Ham. I doe not greatly wonder of it,

For those that would make mops and moes

At my vncle, when my father liued, 80

Now giue a hundred, two hundred pounds

For his picture: but they shall be welcome,

He that playes the King shall haue tribute of me,

The ventrous Knight shall vse his foyle and target,

The louer shall sigh gratis, 85

The clowne shall make them laugh

That are tickled in the lungs, or the blanke verse shall halt for't,

And the Lady shall haue leaue to speake her minde freely.

The Trumpets sound, Enter Corambis.

Do you see yonder great baby?

He is not yet out of his swadling clowts. 90

Gil. That may be, for they say an olde man

Is twice a childe.

Ham. Ile prophecie to you, hee comes to tell mee a the Players,

You say true, a monday last, t'was so indeede.

Cor. My lord, I haue news to tell you. 95

Ham. My Lord, I haue newes to tell you:

When Rossios was an Actor in Rome.

Cor. The Actors are come hither, my lord.

Ham. Buz, buz.

Cor. The best Actors in Christendome, 100

Either for Comedy, Tragedy, Historie, Pastorall,

Pastorall, Historicall, Historicall, Comicall,

Comicall historicall, Pastorall, Tragedy historicall:

Seneca cannot be too heauy, nor Plato too light:

For the law hath writ those are the onely men. 105

Ha. O Iepha Iudge of Israel! what a treasure hadst thou?

Cor. Why what a treasure had he my lord?

Ham. Why one faire daughter, and no more,

The which he loued passing well.

Cor. A, stil harping a my daughter! well my Lord, 110

If you call me Iepha, I hane a daughter that

I loue passing well.

Ham. Nay that followes not.

Cor. What followes then my Lord?

Ham. Why by lot, or God wot, or as it came to passe, 115

And so it was, the first verse of the godly Ballet

Wil tel you all: for look you where my abridgement comes:

Welcome maisters, welcome all,     Enter players.

What my olde friend, thy face is vallanced

Since I saw thee last, com'st thou to beard me in Denmarke? 120

My yong lady and mistris, burlady but your

Ladiship is growne by the altitude of a chopine higher than you were:

Pray God sir your voyce, like a peece of vncurrant

Golde, be not crack't in the ring: come on maisters,

Weele euen too't, like French Falconers, 125

Flie at any thing we see, come, a taste of your

Quallitie, a speech, a passionate speech.

Players What speech my good lord?

Ham. I heard thee speake a speech once,

But it was neuer acted: or if it were, 130

Neuer aboue twice, for as I remember,

It pleased not the vulgar, it was cauiary

To the million: but to me

And others, that receiued it in the like kinde,

Cried in the toppe of their iudgements, an excellent play, 135

Set downe with as great modestie as cunning:

One said there was no sallets in the lines to make the sauory,

But called it an honest methode, as wholesome as sweete.

Come, a speech in it I chiefly remember

Was Æneas tale to Dido, 140

And then especially where he talkes of Princes slaughter,

If it liue in thy memory beginne at this line,

Let me see.

The rugged Pyrrus, like th'arganian beast:

No t'is not so, it begins with Pirrus: 145

O I haue it.

The rugged Pirrus, he whose sable armes,

Blacke as his purpose did the night resemble,

When he lay couched in the ominous horse,

Hath now his blacke and grimme complexion smeered 150

With Heraldry more dismall, head to foote,

Now is he totall guise, horridely tricked

With blood of fathers, mothers, daughters, sonnes,

Back't and imparched in calagulate gore,

Rifted in earth and fire, olde grandsire Pryam seekes:

So goe on.

Cor. Afore God, my Lord, well spoke, and with good accent.

Play. Anone he finds him striking too short at Greeks,

His antike sword rebellious to his Arme,

Lies where it falles, vnable to resist. 160

Pyrrus at Pryam driues, but all in rage,

Strikes wide, but with the whiffe and winde

Of his fell sword, th' unnerued father falles.

Cor. Enough my friend, t'is too long.

Ham. It shall to the Barbers with your beard: 165

A pox, hee's for a Iigge, or a tale of bawdry,

Or else he sleepes, come on to Hecuba, come.

Play. But who, O who had seene the mobled Queene?

Cor. Mobled Queene is good, faith very good.

Play. All in the alarum and feare of death rose vp, 170

And o're her weake and all ore-teeming loynes, a blancket

And a kercher on that head, where late the diademe stoode,

Who this had seene with tongue inuenom'd speech,

Would treason haue pronounced,

For if the gods themselues had seene her then, 175

When she saw Pirrus with malitious strokes,

Mincing her husbandes limbs,

It would have made milch the burning eyes of heauen,

And passion in the gods.

Cor. Looke my lord if he hath not changde his colour, 180

And hath teares in his eyes: no more good heart, no more.

Ham. T'is well, t'is very well, I pray my lord,

Will you see the Players well bestowed,

I tell you they are the Chronicles

And briefe abstracts of the time, 185

After your death I can tell you,

You were better haue a bad Epiteeth,

Then their ill report while you liue.

Cor. My lord, I will vse them according to their deserts.

Ham. O farre better man, vse euery man after his deserts, 190

Then who should scape whipping?

Vse them after your owne honor and dignitie,

The lesse they deserue, the greater credit's yours.

Cor. Welcome my good fellowes.     exit.

Ham. Come hither maisters, can you not play the murder 195

of Gonsago?

Players Yes my Lord.

Ham. And could'st not thou for a neede study me

Some dozen or sixteene lines,

Which I would set downe and insert? 200

Players Yes very easily my good Lord.

Ham. T'is well, I thanke you: follow that lord:

And doe you heare sirs? take heede you mocke him not.

Gentlemen, for your kindnes I thanke you,

And for a time I would desire you leaue me. 205

Gil. Our loue and duetie is at your commaund.

Exeunt all but Hamlet.

Ham. Why what a dunghill idiote slaue am I?

Why these Players here draw water from eyes:

For Hecuba, why what is Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba?

What would he do and if he had my losse? 210

His father murdred, and a Crowne bereft him,

He would turne all his teares to droppes of blood,

Amaze the standers by with his laments,

Strike more then wonder in the iudiciall eares,

Confound the ignorant, and make mute the wise, 215

Indeede his passion would be generall.

Yet I like to an asse and Iohn a Dreames,

Hauing my father murdred by a villaine,

Stand still, and let it passe, why sure I am a coward:

Who pluckes me by the beard, or twites my nose, 220

Giue's me the lie i'th throate downe to the lungs,

Sure I should take it, or else I haue no gall,

Or by this I should a fatted all the region kites

With this slaues offell, this damned villaine,

Treacherous, bawdy, murderous villaine: 225

Why this is braue, that I the sonne of my deare father,

Should like a scalion, like a very drabbe

Thus raile in wordes. About my braine,

I haue heard that guilty creatures sitting at a play,

Hath, by the very cunning of the scene, confest a murder 230

Committed long before.

This spirit that I haue seene may be the Diuell,

And out of my weakenesse and my melancholy,

As he is very potent with such men,

Doth seeke to damne me, I will haue sounder proofes, 235

The play's the thing,

Wherein I'le catch the conscience of the King.     exit.

[SC. VIII.]

Enter the King, Queene, and Lordes.

King Lordes, can you by no meanes finde

The cause of our sonne Hamlets lunacie?

You being so neere in loue, euen from his youth,

Me thinkes should gaine more than a stranger should.

Gil. My lord, we haue done all the best we could, 5

To wring from him the cause of all his griefe,

But still he puts vs off, and by no meanes

Would make an answere to that we exposde.

Ross. Yet was he something more inclin'd to mirth

Before we left him, and I take it, 10

He hath giuen order for a play to night,

At which he craues your highnesse company.

King With all our heart, it likes vs very well:

Gentlemen, seeke still to increase his mirth,

Spare for no cost, our coffers shall be open, 15

And we vnto your selues will still be thankefull.

Both In all wee can, be sure you shall commaund.

Queene Thankes gentlemen, and what the Queene of Denmarke

May pleasure you, be sure you shall not want.

Gil. Weele once againe vnto the noble Prince. 20

King Thanks to you both: Gertred you'l see this play.

Queene My lord I will, and it ioyes me at the soule

He is inclin'd to any kinde of mirth.

Cor. Madame, I pray be ruled by me:

And my good Soueraigne, giue me leaue to speake, 25

We cannot yet finde out the very ground

Of his distemperance, therefore

I holde it meete, if so it please you,

Else they shall not meete, and thus it is.

King What i'st Corambis? 30

Cor. Mary my good lord this, soone when the sports are done,

Madam, send you in haste to speake with him,

And I my selfe will stand behind the Arras,

There question you the cause of all his griefe,

And then in loue and nature vnto you, hee'le tell you all: 35

My Lord, how thinke you on't?

King It likes vs well, Gertred, what say you?

Queene With all my heart, soone will I send for him.

Cor. My selfe will be that happy messenger,

Who hopes his griefe will be reueal'd to her.     exeunt omnes 40

[SC. IX.]

Enter Hamlet and the Players.

Ham. Pronounce me this speech trippingly a the tongue

as I taught thee,

Mary and you mouth it, as a many of your players do

I'de rather heare a towne bull bellow,

Then such a fellow speake my lines. 5

Nor do not saw the aire thus with your hands,

But giue euery thing his action with temperance.

O it offends mee to the soule, to heare a rebustious periwig fellow,

To teare a passion in totters, into very ragges,

To split the eares of the ignoraut, who for the

Most parte are capable of nothing but dumbe shewes and noises,

I would haue such a fellow whipt, for o're doing, tarmagant

It out, Herodes Herod.

players My Lorde, wee haue indifferently reformed that

among vs. 15

Ham. The better, the better, mend it all together:

There be fellowes that I haue seene play,

And heard others commend them, and that highly too,

That hauing neither the gate of Christian, Pagan,

Nor Turke, haue so strutted and bellowed, 20

That you would a thought, some of Natures journeymen

Had made men, and not made them well,

They imitated humanitie, so abhominable:

Take heede, auoyde it.

players I warrant you my Lord. 25

Ham. And doe you heare? let not your Clowne speake

More then is set downe, there be of them I can tell you

That will laugh themselues, to set on some

Quantitie of barren spectators to laugh with them,

Albeit there is some necessary point in the Play 30

Then to be obserued: O t'is vile, and shewes

A pittifull ambition in the foole that vseth it.

And then you haue some agen, that keepes one sute

Of ieasts, as a man is knowne by one sute of

Apparell, and Gentlemen quotes his ieasts downe 35

In their tables, before they come to the play, as thus:

Cannot you stay till I eate my porrige? and, you owe me

A quarters wages: and, my coate wants a cullison:

And, your beere is sowre: and, blabbering with his lips,

And thus keeping in his cinkapase of ieasts, 40

When, God knows, the warme Clowne cannot make a iest

Vnlesse by chance, as the blinde man catcheth a hare:

Maisters tell him of it.

players We will my Lord.

Ham. Well, goe make you ready.     exeunt players. 45

Horatio. Heere my Lord.

Ham. Horatio, thou art euen as iust a man,

As e're my conuersation cop'd withall.

Hor. O my lord!

Ham. Nay why should I flatter thee? 50

Why should the poore be flattered?

What gaine should I receiue by flattering thee,

That nothing hath but thy good minde?

Let flattery sit on those time-pleasing tongs,

To glose with them that loues to heare their praise, 55

And not with such as thou Horatio.

There is a play to night, wherein one Sceane they haue

Comes very neere the murder of my father,

When thou shalt see that Act afoote,

Marke thou the King, doe but obserue his lookes, 60

For I mine eies will riuet to his face:

And if he doe not bleach, and change at that,

It is a damned ghost that we haue seene,

Horatio, haue a care, obserue him well.

Hor. My lord, mine eies shall still be on his face, 65

And not the smallest alteration

That shall appeare in him, but I shall note it.

Ham. Harke, they come.

Enter King, Queene, Corambis, and other Lords.

King How now son Hamlet, how fare you, shall we haue a play?

Ham. Yfaith the Camelions dish, not capon cramm'd, 70

feed a the ayre.

I father: My lord, you playd in the Vniuersitie.

Cor. That I did my L: and I was counted a good actor.

Ham. What did you enact there?

Cor. My lord, I did act Julius Cæsar, I was killed 75

in the Capitoll, Brutus killed me.

Ham. It was a brute parte of him,

To kill so capitall a calfe.

Come, be these Players ready?

Queene Hamlet come sit downe by me. 80

Ham. No by my faith mother, heere's a mettle more attractive:

Lady will you giue me leaue, and so forth:

To lay my head in your lappe?

Ofel. No my lord.

Ham. Vpon your lap, what do you thinke I meant contrary matters?85

Enter in a Dumbe Shew, the King and the Queene, he sits downe in an Arbor, she leaues him: Then enters Lucianus with poyson in a Viall, and powres it in his eares, and goes away: Then the Queene commeth and findes him dead: and goes away with the other.

Ofel. What meanes this my Lord?     Enter the Prologue.

Ham. This is myching Mallico, that meanes my chiefe.

Ofel. What doth this meane my lord?

Ham. You shall heare anone, this fellow will tell you all.

Ofel. Will he tell vs what this shew meanes? 90

Ham. I, or any shew you'le shew him,

Be not afeard to shew, hee'le not be afeard to tell:

O these Players cannot keepe counsell, thei'le tell all.

Prol. For vs, and for our Tragedie,

Heere stowping to your clemencie, 95

We begge your hearing patiently.

Ham. I'st a prologue, or a poesie for a ring?

Ofel. T'is short my Lord.

Ham. As womens loue.

Enter the Duke and Dutchesse.

Duke Full fortie yeares are past, their date is gone, 100

Since happy time ioyn'd both our hearts as one:

And now the blood that fill'd my youthfull veines,

Runnes weakely in their pipes, and all the straines

Of musicke, which whilome pleasde mine eare,

Is now a burthen that Age cannot beare: 105

And therefore sweete Nature must pay his due,

To heauen must I, and leaue the earth with you.

Dutchesse O say not so, lest that you kill my heart,

When death takes you, let life from me depart.

Duke Content thy selfe, when ended is my date, 110

Thou maist (perchance) haue a more noble mate,

More wise, more youthfull, and one.

Dutchesse O speake no more, for then I am accurst,

None weds the second, but she kils the first:

A second time I kill my Lord that's dead, 115

When second husband kisses me in bed.

Ham. O wormewood, wormewood!

Duke I doe beleeue you sweete, what now you speake,

But what we doe determine oft we breake,

For our demises stil are ouerthrowne, 120

Our thoughts are ours, their end's none of our owne:

So thinke you will no second husband wed,

But die thy thoughts, when thy first Lord is dead.

Dutchesse Both here and there pursue me lasting strife,

I once a widdow, euer I be wife. 125

Ham. If she should breake now.

Duke T'is deepely sworne, sweete leaue me here a while,

My spirites growe dull, and faine I would beguile the tedious

time with sleepe.

Dutchesse Sleepe rocke thy braine, 130

And neuer come mischance betweene vs twaine.     exit Lady

Ham. Madam, how do you like this play?

Queene The Lady protests too much.

Ham. O but shee'le keepe her word.

King Haue you heard the argument, is there no offence 135

in it?

Ham. No offence in the world, poyson iniest, poison in iest.

King What do you call the name of the play?

Ham. Mouse-trap: mary how trapically: this play is

The image of a murder done in guyana, Albertus 140

Was the Dukes name, his wife Baptista,

Father, it is a knauish peece a worke: but what

A that, it toucheth not vs, you and I that haue free

Soules, let the galld iade wince, this is one

Lucianus nephew to the King. 145

Ofel. Ya're as good as a Chorus my lord.

Ham. I could interpret the loue you beare, if I sawe the

poopies dallying.

Ofel. Y'are very pleasant my lord.

Ham. Who I, your onlie jig-maker, why what shoulde 150

a man do but be merry? for looke how cheerefully my mother

lookes, my father died within these two houres.

Ofel. Nay, t'is twice two months, my Lord.

Ham. Two months, nay then let the diuell weare blacke,

For i'le haue a sute of Sables: Iesus, two months dead, 155

And not forgotten yet? nay then there's some

Likelyhood, a gentlemans death may outliue memorie,

But by my faith hee must build churches then,

Or els hee must follow the olde Epitithe,

With hoh, with ho, the hobi-horse is forgot. 160

Ofel. Your iests are keene my Lord.

Ham. It would cost you a groning to take them off.

Ofel. Still better and worse.

Ham. So you must take your husband, begin. Murdred

Begin, a poxe, leaue thy damnable faces and begin, 165

Come, the croking rauen doth bellow for reuenge.

Murd. Thoughts blacke, hands apt, drugs fit, and time agreeing.

Confederate season, else no creature seeing:

Thou mixture rancke, of midnight weedes collected,

With Hecates bane thrise blasted, thrise infected, 170

Thy naturall magicke, and dire propertie,

One wholesome life vsurps immediately.     exit.

Ham. He poysons him for his estate.

King Lights, I will to bed.

Cor. The king rises, lights hoe. 175

Exeunt King and Lordes.

Ham. What, frighted with false fires?

Then let the stricken deere goe weepe,

The Hart vngalled play,

For some must laugh, while some must weepe,

Thus runnes the world away. 180

Hor. The king is mooued my lord.

Hor. I Horatio, i'le take the Ghosts word

For more then all the coyne in Denmarke.

Enter Rossencraft and Gilderstone.

Ross. Now my lord, how i'st with you?

Ham. And if the king like not the tragedy, 185

Why then belike he likes it not perdy.

Ross. We are very glad to see your grace so pleasant,

My good lord, let vs againe intreate

To know of you the ground and cause of your distemperature.

Gil. My lord, your mother craues to speake with you. 190

Ham. We shall obey, were she ten times our mother.

Ross. But my good Lord, shall I intreate thus much?

Ham. I pray will you play vpon this pipe?

Ross. Alas my lord I cannot.

Ham. Pray will you. 195

Gil. I haue no skill my Lord.

Ham. Why looke, it is a thing of nothing,

T'is but stopping of these holes,

And with a little breath from your lips,

It will giue most delicate musick. 200

Gil. But this cannot wee do my Lord.

Ham. Pray now, pray hartily, I beseech you.

Ross. My lord wee cannot.

Ham. Why how vnworthy a thing would you make of me?

You would seeme to know my stops, you would play vpon mee, 205

You would search the very inward part of my hart,

And diue into the secreet of my soule.

Zownds do you thinke I am easier to be pla'yd

On, then a pipe? call mee what Instrument

You will, though you can frett mee, yet you can not 210

Play vpon mee, besides, to be demanded by a spunge.

Ros. How a spunge my Lord?

Ham. I sir, a spunge, that sokes vp the kings

Countenance, fauours, and rewardes, that makes

His liberalitie your store house: but such as you, 215

Do the king, in the end, best seruise;

For hee doth keep you as an Ape doth nuttes,

In the corner of his Iaw, first mouthes you,

Then swallowes you: so when hee hath need

Of you, t'is but squeesing of you, 220

And spunge, you shall be dry againe you shall.

Ros. Wel my Lord wee'le take our leaue.

Ham. Farewell, farewell, God blesse you.

Exit Rossencraft and Gilderstone.

Enter Corambis.

Cor. My lord, the Queene would speake with you.

Ham. Do you see yonder clowd in the shape of a camell?

Cor. T'is like a camell in deed.

Ham. Now me thinkes it's like a weasel.

Cor. T'is back't like a weasell.

Ham. Or like a whale.

Cor. Very like a whale.     exit Coram. 230

Ham. Why then tell my mother i'le come by and by.

Good night Horatio.

Hor. Good night vnto your Lordship.     exit Horatio.

Ham. My mother she hath sent to speake with me:

O God, let ne're the heart of Nero enter 235

This soft bosome.

Let me be cruell, not vnnaturall.

I will speake daggers, those sharpe wordes being spent,

To doe her wrong my soule shall ne're consent.     exit.

[SC. X.]

Enter the King.

King O that this wet that falles vpon my face

Would wash the crime cleere from my conscience!

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

The earth doth still crie out vpon my fact,

Pay me the murder of a brother and a king, 5

And the adulterous fault I haue committed:

O these are sinnes that are vnpardonable:

Why say thy sinnes were blacker then is ieat,

Yet may contrition make them as white as snowe:

I but still to perseuer in a sinne, 10

It is an act gainst the vniuersall power,

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

Aske grace of heauen to keepe thee from despaire.

Hee kneeles. enters Hamlet

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

And thus hee dies: and so am I reuenged: 15

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

And how his soule stoode to the state of heauen

Who knowes, saue the immortall powres,

And shall I kill him now,

When he is purging of his soule? 20

Making his way for heauen, this is a benefit,

And not reuenge: no, get thee vp agen,

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

Or in the incestuous pleasure of his bed,

Or at some act that hath no relish 25

Of saluation in't, then trip him

That his heeles may kicke at heauen,

And fall as lowe as hel: my mother stayes,

This phisicke but prolongs thy weary dayes.     exit Ham.

King My wordes fly vp, my sinnes remaine below. 30

No King on earth is safe, if Gods his foe.     exit King.

[SC. XI.]

Enter Queene and Corambis.

Cor. Madame, I heare yong Hamlet comming,

I'le shrowde my selfe behinde the Arras.     exit Cor.

Queene Do so my Lord.

Ham. Mother, mother, O are you here?

How i'st with you mother? 5

Queene How i'st with you?

Ham. I'le tell you, but first weele make all safe.

Queene Hamlet, thou hast thy father much offended.

Ham. Mother, you haue my father much offended.

Queene How now boy? 10

Ham. How now mother! come here, sit downe, for you

shall heare me speake.

Queene What wilt thou doe? thou wilt not murder me:

Helpe hoe.

Cor. Helpe for the Queene. 15

Ham. I a Rat, dead for a Duckat.

Rash intruding foole, farewell,

I tooke thee for thy better.

Queene Hamlet, what hast thou done?

Ham. Not so much harme, good mother, 20

As to kill a king, and marry with his brother.

Queene How! kill a king!

Ham. I a King: nay sit you downe, and ere you part,

If you be made of penitrable stuffe,

I'le make your eyes looke downe into your heart, 25

And see how horride there and blacke it shews.

Queene Hamlet, what mean'st thou by these killing words?

Ham. Why this I meane, see here, behold this picture,

It is the portraiture, of your deceased husband,

See here a face, to outface Mars himselfe, 30

An eye, at which his foes did tremble at,

A front wherin all vertues are set downe

For to adorne a king, and guild his crowne,

Whose heart went hand in hand euen with that vow,

He made to you in marriage, and he is dead. 35

Murdred, damnably murdred, this was your husband,

Looke you now, here is your husband,

With a face like Vulcan.

A looke fit for a murder and a rape,

A dull dead hanging looke, and a hell-bred eie, 40

To affright children and amaze the world:

And this same haue you left to change with this.

What Diuell thus hath cosoned you at hob-man blinde?

A! haue you eyes and can you looke on him

That slew my father, and your deere husband, 45

To liue in the incestuous pleasure of his bed?

Queene O Hamlet, speake no more.

Ham. To leaue him that bare a Monarkes minde,

For a king of clowts, of very shreads.

Queene Sweete Hamlet cease. 50

Ham. Nay but still to persist and dwell in sinne,

To sweate vnder the yoke of infamie,

To make increase of shame, to seale damnation.

Queene Hamlet, no more.

Ham. Why appetite with you is in the waine, 55

Your blood runnes backeward now from whence it came,

Who'le chide hote blood within a Virgins heart,

When lust shall dwell within a matrons breast?

Queene Hamlet, thou cleaues my heart in twaine.

Ham. O throw away the worser part of it, and keepe the 60

better.

Enter the ghost in his night gowne.

Saue me, saue me, you gratious

Powers aboue, and houer ouer mee,

With your celestiall wings.

Doe you not come your tardy sonne to chide, 65

That I thus long haue let reuenge slippe by?

O do not glare with lookes so pittifull!

Lest that my heart of stone yeelde to compassion,

And euery part that should assist reuenge,

Forgoe their proper powers, and fall to pitty. 70

Ghost Hamlet, I once againe appeare to thee,

To put thee in remembrance of my death:

Doe not neglect, nor long time put it off.

But I perceiue by thy distracted lookes,

Thy mother's fearefull, and she stands amazde: 75

Speake to her Hamlet, for her sex is weake,

Comfort thy mother, Hamlet, thinke on me.

Ham. How i'st with you Lady?

Queene Nay, how i'st with you

That thus you bend your eyes on vacancie, 80

And holde discourse with nothing but with ayre?

Ham. Why doe you nothing heare?

Queene Not I.

Ham. Nor doe you nothing see?

Queene No neither.

Ham. No, why see the king my father, my father, in the habite

As he liued, looke you how pale he lookes,

See how he steales away out of the Portall,

Looke, there he goes.     exit ghost.

Queene Alas, it is the weaknesse of thy braine, 90

Which makes thy tongue to blazon thy hearts griefe:

But as I haue a soule, I sweare by heauen,

I neuer knew of this most horride murder:

But Hamlet, this is onely fantasie,

And for my loue forget these idle fits. 95

Ham. Idle, no mother, my pulse doth beate like yours,

It is not madnesse that possesseth Hamlet.

O mother, if euer you did my deare father loue,

Forbeare the adulterous bed to night,

And win your selfe by little as you may, 100

In time it may be you wil lothe him quite:

And mother, but assist mee in reuenge,

And in his death your infamy shall die.

Queene Hamlet, I vow by that maiesty,

That knowes our thoughts, and lookes into our hearts, 105

I will conceale, consent, and doe my best,

What stratagem soe're thou shalt deuise.

Ham. It is enough, mother good night:

Come sir, I'le prouide for you a graue,

Who was in life a foolish prating knaue. 110

Exit Hamlet with the dead body.

Enter the King and Lordes.

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

finde him?

Queene Alas my lord, as raging as the sea:

Whenas he came, I first bespake him faire,

But then he throwes and tosses me about, 115

As one forgetting that I was his mother:

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

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

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

The good olde man he killes. 120

King Why this his madnesse will vndoe our state.

Lordes goe to him, inquire the body out.

Gil. We will my Lord.     Exeunt Lordes.

King Gertred, your sonne shall presently to England,

His shipping is already furnished, 125

And we haue sent by Rossencraft and Gilderstone,

Our letters to our deare brother of England,

For Hamlets welfare and his happinesse:

Happly the aire and climate of the Country

May please him better than his natiue home: 130

See where he comes.

Enter Hamlet and the Lordes.

Gil. My lord, we can by no meanes

Know of him where the body is.

King Now sonne Hamlet, where is this dead body?

Ham. At supper, not where he is eating, but 135

Where he is eaten, a certaine company of politicke wormes

are euen now at him.

Father, your fatte King, and your leane Beggar

Are but variable seruices, two dishes to one messe:

Looke you, a man may fish with that worme 140

That hath eaten of a King,

And a Beggar eate that fish,

Which that worme hath caught.

King What of this?

Ham. Nothing father, but to tell you, how a King 145

May go a progresse through the guttes of a Beggar.

King But sonne Hamlet, where is this body?

Ham. In heau'n, if you chance to misse him there,

Father, you had best looke in the other partes below

For him, and if you cannot finde him there, 150

You may chance to nose him as you go vp the lobby.

King Make haste and finde him out.

Ham. Nay doe you heare? do not make too much haste,

I'le warrant you hee'le stay till you come.

King Well sonne Hamlet, we in care of you: but specially155

in tender preseruation of your health,

The which we price euen as our proper selfe,

It is our minde you forthwith goe for England,

The winde sits faire, you shall aboorde to night,

Lord Rossencraft and Gilderstone shall goe along with you.160

Ham. O with all my heart: farewel mother.

King Your louing father, Hamlet.

Ham. My mother I say: you married my mother,

My mother is your wife, man and wife is one flesh,

And so (my mother) farewel: for England hoe. 165

Exeunt all but the king.

King Gertred, leaue me,

And take your leaue of Hamlet,

To England is he gone, ne're to returne:

Our Letters are vnto the King of England,

That on the sight of them, on his allegeance, 170

He presently without demaunding why,

That Hamlet loose his head, for he must die,

There's more in him than shallow eyes can see:

He once being dead, why then our state is free.     exit.

[SC. XII.]

Enter Fortenbrasse, Drumme and Souldiers.

Fort. Captaine, from vs goe greete

The king of Denmarke:

Tell him that Fortenbrasse nephew to old Norway,

Craues a free passe and conduct over his land,

According to the Articles agreed on: 5

You know our Randevous, goe march away.     exeunt all.

[SC. XIII.]

Enter King and Queene.

King Hamlet is ship't for England, fare him well,

I hope to heare good newes from thence ere long,

If every thing fall out to our content,

As I doe make no doubt but so it shall.

Queene God grant it may, heav'ns keep my Hamlet safe: 5

But this mischance of olde Corambis death,

Hath piersed so the yong Ofeliaes heart,

That she, poore maide, is quite bereft her wittes.

King Alas deere heart! And on the other side,

We vnderstand her brother's come from France, 10

And he hath halfe the heart of all our Land,

And hardly hee'le forget his fathers death,

Vnlesse by some meanes he be pacified.

Qu. O see where the yong Ofelia is!

Enter Ofelia playing on a Lute, and her haire downe singing.

Ofelia How should I your true love know 15

From another man?

By his cockle hatte, and his staffe,

And his sandall shoone.

White his shrowde as mountaine snowe,

Larded with sweete flowers, 20

That bewept to the graue did not goe

With true louers showers:

He is dead and gone Lady, he is dead and gone,

At his head a grasse greene turffe,

At his heeles a stone.

King How i'st with you sweete Ofelia?

Ofelia Well God yeeld you,

It grieues me to see how they laid him in the cold ground,

I could not chuse but weepe:

And will he not come againe? 30

And will he not come againe?

No, no, hee's gone, and we cast away mone,

And he neuer will come againe.

His beard as white as snowe:

All flaxen was his pole, 35

He is dead, he is gone,

And we cast away moane:

God a mercy on his soule.

And of all christen soules I pray God.

God be with you Ladies, God be with you.     exit Ofelia. 40

King A pretty wretch! this is a change indeede:

O Time, how swiftly runnes our ioyes away?

Content on earth was neuer certaine bred,

To day we laugh and liue, to morrow dead.

How now, what noyse is that? 45

A noyse within. Enter Leartes.

Lear. Stay there vntill I come,

O thou vilde king, giue me my father:

Speake, say, where's my father?

King Dead.

Lear. Who hath murdred him? speake, i'le not 50

Be juggled with, for he is murdred.

Queene True, but not by him.

Lear. By whome, by heau'n I'le be resolued.

King Let him goe Gertred, away, I feare him not,

There's such diuinitie doth wall a king, 55

That treason dares not looke on.

Let him goe Gertred, that your father is murdred,

T'is true, and we most sory for it,

Being the chiefest piller of our state:

Therefore will you like a most desperate gamster, 60

Swoop-stake-like, draw at friend, and foe, and all?

Lear. To his good friends thus wide I'le ope mine arms,

And locke them in my hart, but to his foes,

I will no reconcilement but by bloud.

King Why now you speake like a most louing sonne: 65

And that in soule we sorrow for for his death,

Your selfe ere long shall be a witnesse,

Meane while be patient, and content your selfe.

Enter Ofelia as before.

Lear. Who's this, Ofelia? O my deere sister!

I'st possible a yong maides life, 70

Should be as mortall as an olde mans sawe?

O heau'ns themselues! how now Ofelia?

Ofel. Wel God a mercy, I a bin gathering of floures:

Here, here is rew for you,

You may call it hearb a grace a Sundayes, 75

Heere's some for me too: you must weare your rew

With a difference, there's a dazie.

Here Loue, there's rosemary for you

For remembrance: I pray Loue remember,

And there's pansey for thoughts. 80

Lear. A document in madnes, thoughts, remembrance:

O God, O God!

Ofelia There is fennell for you, I would a giu'n you

Some violets, but they all withered, when

My father died: alas, they say the owle was 85

A Bakers daughter, we see what we are,

But can not tell what we shall be.

For bonny sweete Robin is all my joy.

Lear. Thoughts & afflictions, torments worse than hell.

Ofel. Nay Loue, I pray you make no words of this now: 90

I pray now, you shall sing a downe,

And you a downe a, t'is a the Kings daughter

And the false steward, and if any body

Aske you of any thing, say you this.

To morrow is saint Valentines day, 95

All in the morning betime,

And a maide at your window,

To be your Valentine:

The yong man rose, and dan'd his clothes,

And dupt the chamber doore, 100

Let in the maide, that out a maide

Neuer departed more.

Nay I pray marke now,

By gisse, and by saint Charitie,

Away, and fie for shame: 105

Yong men will doo't when they come too't:

By cocke they are too blame.

Quoth she, before you tumbled me,

You promised me to wed.

So would I a done, by yonder Sunne, 110

If thou hadst not come to my bed.

So God be with you all, God bwy Ladies.

God bwy you Loue.     exit Ofelia.

Lear. Griefe vpon griefe, my father murdered,

My sister thus distracted: 115

Cursed be his soule that wrought this wicked act.

King Content you good Leartes for a time,

Although I know your griefe is as a floud,

Brimme full of sorrow, but forbeare a while,

And thinke already the reuenge is done 120

On him that makes you such a haplesse sonne.

Lear. You haue preuail'd my Lord, a while I'le striue,

To bury griefe within a tombe of wrath,

Which once vnhearsed, then the world shall heare

Leartes had a father he held deere. 125

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

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

[SC. XIV.]

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, 5

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 10

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 15

To meete him on the east side of the Cittie

To morrow morning.

Queene O faile not, good Horatio, and withall, commend me

A mothers care to him, bid him a while

Be wary of his presence, lest that he 20

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, 25

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: 30

And by great chance he had his fathers Seale,

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. 35

Horat. Madam adue.

[SC. XV.]

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. 5

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, 10

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, 15

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, 20

Among the foyles shall a keene rapier lie,

Steeped in a mixture 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, 25

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 you 30

Such a report of singularitie,

Will bring him on, although against his will.

And lest that all should misse,

I'le haue a potion that shall ready stand,

In all his heate when that he calles for drinke, 35

Shall be his period and our happinesse.

Lear. T'is excellent, O would the time were come!

Here comes the Queene.     enter the Queene.

King How now Gertred, why looke you heauily?

Queene O my Lord, the yong Ofelia

Hauing made a garland of sundry sortes of floures,

Sitting vpon a willow by a brooke,

The enuious sprig broke, into the brooke she fell,

And for a while her clothes spread wide abroade,

Bore the yong Lady vp: and there she sate smiling, 45

Euen Mermaide-like, twixt heauen and earth,

Chaunting olde sundry tunes vncapable

As it were of her distresse, but long it could not be,

Till that her clothes, being heauy with their drinke,

Dragg'd the sweete wretch to death. 50

Lear. So, she is drownde:

Too much of water hast thou Ofelia,

Therefore I will not drowne thee in my teares,

Reuenge it is must yeeld this heart releefe,

For woe begets woe, and griefe hangs on griefe.     exeunt. 55

[SC. XVI.]

Enter Clowne and an other.

Clowne I say no, she ought not to be buried

In christian buriall.

2. Why sir?

Clowne Mary because shee's drownd.

2. But she did not drowne her selfe. 5

Clowne No, that's certaine, the water drown'd her.

2. Yea but it was against her will.

Clowne No, I deny that, for looke you sir, I stand here,

If the water come to me, I drowne not my selfe:

But if I goe to the water, and am there drown'd, 10

Ergo I am guiltie of my owne death:

Y'are gone, goe y'are gone sir.

2. I but see, she hath christian buriall,

Because she is a great woman.

Clowne Mary more's the pitty, that great folke 15

Should haue more authoritie to hang or drowne

Themselues, more than other people:

Goe fetch me a stope of drinke, but before thou

Goest, tell me one thing, who buildes strongest,

Of a Mason, a Shipwright, or a Carpenter? 20

2. Why a Mason, for he buildes all of stone,

And will indure long.

Clowne That's prety, too't agen, too't agen.

2. Why then a Carpenter, for he buildes the gallowes,

And that brings many a one to his long home. 25

Clowne Prety agen, the gallowes doth well, mary howe

dooes it well? the gallowes dooes well to them that doe ill,

goe get thee gone:

And if any one aske thee hereafter, say,

A Graue-maker, for the houses he buildes 30

Last till Doomes-day. Fetch me a stope of beere, goe.

Enter Hamlet and Horatio.

Clowne A picke-axe and a spade,

A spade for and a winding sheete,

Most fit it is, for t'will be made,     he throwes vp a shouel.

For such a ghest most meete. 35

Ham. Hath this fellow any feeling of himselfe,

That is thus merry in making of a graue?

See how the slaue joles their heads against the earth.

Hor. My lord, Custome hath made it in him seeme nothing.

Clowne A pick-axe and a spade, a spade, 40

For and a winding sheete,

Most fit it is for to be made,

For such a ghest most meet.

Ham. Looke you, there's another Horatio.

Why mai't not be the scull of some Lawyer? 45

Me thinkes he should indite that fellow

Of an action of Batterie, for knocking

Him about the pate with's shouel: now where is your

Quirkes and quillets now, your vouchers and

Double vouchers, your leases and free-holde, 50

And tenements? why that same boxe there will scarse

Holde the conueiance of his land, and must

The honor lie there? O pittifull transformance!

I prethee tell me Horatio,

Is parchment made of sheep-skinnes? 55

Hor. I my Lorde, and of calues-skinnes too.

Ham. Ifaith they prooue themselues sheepe and calues

That deale with them, or put their trust in them.

There's another, why may not that be such a ones

Scull, that praised my Lord such a ones horse, 60

When he meant to beg him? Horatio, I prethee

Lets question yonder fellow.

Now my friend, whose graue is this?

Clowne Mine sir.

Ham. But who must lie in it? 65

Clowne If I should say, I should, I should lie in my throat sir.

Ham. What man must be buried here?

Clowne No man sir.

Ham. What woman?

Clowne. No woman neither sir, but indeede 70

One that was a woman.

Ham. An excellent fellow by the Lord Horatio,

This seauen yeares haue I noted it: the toe of the pesant,

Comes so neere the heele of the courtier,

That hee gawles his kibe, I prethee tell mee one thing, 75

How long will a man lie in the ground before hee rots?

Clowne Ifaith sir, if hee be not rotten before

He be laide in, as we haue many pocky corses,

He will last you, eight yeares, a tanner

Will last you eight yeares full out, or nine. 80

Ham. And why a tanner?

Clowne Why his hide is so tanned with his trade,

That it will holde out water, that's a parlous

Deuourer of your dead body, a great soaker.

Looke you, heres a scull hath bin here this dozen yeare, 85

Let me see, I euer since our last king Hamlet

Slew Fortenbrasse in combat, yong Hamlets father,

Hee that's mad.

Ham. I mary, how came he madde?

Clowne Ifaith very strangely, by loosing of his wittes. 90

Ham. Vpon what ground?

Clowne A this ground, in Denmarke.

Ham. Where is he now?

Clowne Why now they sent him to England.

Ham. To England! wherefore? 95

Clowne Why they say he shall haue his wittes there,

Or if he haue not, t'is no great matter there,

It will not be seene there.

Ham. Why not there?

Clowne Why there they say the men are as mad as he. 100

Ham. Whose scull was this?

Clowne This, a plague on him, a madde rogues it was,

He powred once a whole flagon of Rhenish of my head,

Why do not you know him? this was one Yorickes scull.

Ham. Was this? I prethee let me see it, alas poore Yoricke 105

I knew him Horatio,

A fellow of infinite mirth, he hath caried mee twenty times

vpon his backe, here hung those lippes that I haue Kissed a

hundred times, and to see, now they abhorre me: Wheres

your iests now Yoricke? your flashes of meriment: now go 110

to my Ladies chamber, and bid her paint her selfe an inch

thicke, to this she must come Yoricke. Horatio, I prethee

tell me one thing, doost thou thinke that Alexander looked

thus?

Hor. Euen so my Lord. 115

Ham. And smelt thus?

Hor. I my lord, no otherwise.

Ham. No, why might not imagination worke, as thus of

Alexander, Alexander died, Alexander was buried, Alexander

became earth, of earth we make clay, and Alexander being 120

but clay, why might not time bring to passe, that he might

stoppe the boung hole of a beere barrell?

Imperious Cæsar dead and turnd to clay,

Might stoppe a hole, to keepe the winde away.

Enter King and Queene, Leartes, and other lordes, with a Priest after the coffin.

Ham. What funerall's this that all the Court laments? 125

It shews to be some noble parentage:

Stand by a while.

Lear. What ceremony else? say, what ceremony else?

Priest My Lord, we haue done all that lies in vs,

And more than well the church can tolerate, 130

She hath had a Dirge sung for her maiden soule:

And but for fauour of the king, and you,

She had beene buried in the open fieldes,

Where now she is allowed christian buriall.

Lear. So, I tell thee churlish Priest, a ministring Angell 135

shall my sister be, when thou liest howling.

Ham. The faire Ofelia dead!

Queene Sweetes to the sweete, farewell:

I had thought to adorne thy bridale bed, faire maide,

And not to follow thee vnto thy graue. 140

Lear. Forbeare the earth a while: sister farewell:

Leartes leapes into the graue.

Now powre your earth on, Olympus hie,

And make a hill to o're top olde Pellon:     Hamlet leapes in after Leartes

Whats he that coniures so?

Ham. Beholde tis I, Hamlet the Dane. 145

Lear. The diuell take thy soule.

Ham. O thou praiest not well,

I prethee take thy hand from off my throate,

For there is something in me dangerous,

Which let thy wisedome feare, holde off thy hand: 150

I lou'de Ofelia as deere as twenty brothers could:

Shew me what thou wilt doe for her:

Wilt fight, wilt fast, wilt pray,

Wilt drinke vp vessels, eate a crocadile? Ile doot:

Com'st thou here to whine? 155

And where thou talk'st of burying thee a liue,

Here let vs stand: and let them throw on vs,

Whole hills of earth, till with the heighth therof,

Make Oosell as a Wart.

King. Forbeare Leartes, now is hee mad, as is the sea,

Anone as milde and gentle as a Doue:

Therfore a while giue his wilde humour scope.

Ham. What is the reason sir that you wrong mee thus?

I neuer gaue you cause: but stand away,

A Cat will meaw, a Dog will haue a day. 165

Exit Hamlet and Horatio.

[SC. XVII.]

Queene. Alas, it is his madnes makes him thus,

And not his heart, Leartes.

King. My lord, t'is so: but wee'le no longer trifle,

This very day shall Hamlet drinke his last,

For presently we meane to send to him, 5

Therfore Leartes be in readynes.

Lear. My lord, till then my soule will not bee quiet.

King. Come Gertred, wee'l haue Leartes, and our sonne,

Made friends and Louers, as befittes them both,

Euen as they tender vs, and loue their countrie. 10

Queene God grant they may.     exeunt omnes.

[SC. XVIII.]

Enter Hamlet and Horatio

Ham. Beleeue mee, it greeues mee much Horatio,

That to Leartes I forgot my selfe:

For by my selfe me thinkes I feele his griefe,

Though there's a difference in each others wrong.

Enter a Bragart Gentleman.

Horatio, but marke yon water-flie, 5

The Court knowes him, but hee knowes not the Court.

Gent. Now God saue thee, sweete prince Hamlet.

Ham. And you sir: foh, how the muske-cod smels!

Gen. I come with an embassage from his maiesty to you

Ham. I shall sir giue you attention: 10

By my troth me thinkes t'is very colde.

Gent. It is indeede very rawish colde.

Ham. T'is hot me thinkes.

Gent. Very swoltery hote:

The King, sweete Prince, hath layd a wager on your side, 15

Six Barbary horse, against six french rapiers,

With all their acoutrements too, a the carriages:

In good faith they are very curiously wrought.

Ham. The cariages sir, I do not know what you meane.

Gent. The girdles, and hangers sir, and such like. 20

Ham. The worde had beene more cosin german to the

phrase, if he could haue carried the canon by his side,

And howe's the wager? I vnderstand you now.

Gent. Mary sir, that yong Leartes in twelue venies

At Rapier and Dagger do not get three oddes of you, 25

And on your side the King hath laide,

And desires you to be in readinesse.

Ham. Very well, if the King dare venture his wager,

I dare venture my skull: when must this be?

Gent. My Lord, presently, the king, and her maiesty, 30

With the rest of the best iudgement in the Court,

Are comming downe into the outward pallace.

Ham. Goe tell his maiestie, I wil attend him.

Gent. I shall deliuer your most sweet answer.     exit.

Ham. You may sir, none better, for y'are spiced, 35

Else he had a bad nose could not smell a foole.

Hor. He will disclose himselfe without inquirie.

Ham. Beleeue me Horatio, my hart is on the sodaine

Very sore, all here about.

Hor. My lord, forbeare the challenge then. 40

Ham. No Horatio, not I, if danger be now,

Why then it is not to come, theres a predestiuate prouidence

in the fall of a sparrow: heere comes the King.

Enter King, Queene, Leartes, Lordes.

King Now sonne Hamlet, we hane laid vpon your head,

And make no question but to haue the best. 45

Ham. Your maiestie hath laide a the weaker side.

King. We doubt it not, deliuer them the foiles.

Ham. First Leartes, heere's my hand and loue,

Protesting that I neuer wrongd Leartes.

If Hamlet in his madnesse did amisse, 50

That was not Hamlet, but his madnes did it,

And all the wrong I e're did to Leartes,

I here proclaime was madnes, therefore lets be at peace,

And thinke I haue shot mine arrow o're the house,

And hurt my brother. 55

Lear. Sir I am satisfied in nature,

But in termes of honor I'le stand aloofe,

And will no reconcilement,

Till by some elder maisters of our time

I may be satisfied. 60

King Giue them the foyles.

Ham. I'le be your foyle Leartes, these foyles,

Haue all a laught, come on sir:     a hit.

Lear. No none.     Heere they play:

Ham. Iudgement. 65

Gent. A hit, a most palpable hit.

Lear. Well, come againe.     They play againe.

Ham. Another. Iudgement.

Lear. I, I grant, a tuch, a tuch.

King Here Hamlet, the king doth drinke a health to thee70

Queene Here Hamlet, take my napkin, wipe thy face.

King Giue him the wine.

Ham. Set it by, I'le haue another bowt first,

I'le drinke anone.

Queene Here Hamlet, thy mother drinkes to thee. 75

Shee drinkes.

King Do not drinke Gertred: O t'is the poysned cup!

Ham. Leartes come, you dally with me,

I pray you passe with your most cunningst play.

Lear. I! say you so? haue at you,

He hit you now my Lord: 80

And yet it goes almost against my conscience.

Ham. Come on sir.

They catch one anothers Rapiers, and both are wounded, Leartes falles downe, the Queene falles downe and dies.

King Looke to the Queene.

Queene O the drinke, the drinke, Hamlet, the drinke.

Ham. Treason, ho, keepe the gates. 85

Lords How ist my Lord Leartes?

Lear. Euen as a coxcombe should,

Foolishly slaine with my owne weapon:

Hamlet, thou hast not in thee halfe an houre of life,

The fatall Instrument is in thy hand. 90

Vnbated and invenomed: thy mother's poysned

That drinke was made for thee.

Ham. The poysned Instrument within my hand?

Then venome to thy venome, die damn'd villaine:

Come drinke, here lies thy vnion here.     The king dies. 95

Lear. O he is justly serued:

Hamlet, before I die, here take my hand,

And withall, my loue: I doe forgiue thee.     Leartes dies.

Ham. And I thee, O I am dead Horatio, fare thee well.

Hor. No, I am more an antike Roman, 100

Then a Dane, here is some poison left.

Ham. Vpon my loue I charge thee let it goe,

O fie Horatio, and if thou shouldst die,

What a scandale wouldst thou leaue behinde?

What tongue should tell the story of our deaths, 105

If not from thee? O my heart sinckes Horatio,

Mine eyes haue lost their sight, my tongue his vse:

Farewel Horatio, heauen receiue my soule.     Ham. dies.

Enter Voltemar and the Ambassadors from England. Enter Fortenbrasse with his traine.

Fort. Where is this bloudy sight?

Hor. If aught of woe or wonder you'ld behold,

Then looke vpon this tragicke spectacle.

Fort. O imperious death! how many Princes

Hast thou at one draft bloudily shot to death?

Ambass. Our ambassie that we haue brought from England,

Where be these Princes that should heare vs speake? 115

O most most vnlooked for time! vnhappy country.

Hor. Content your selues, Ile shew to all, the ground,

The first beginning of this Tragedy:

Let there a scaffold be rearde vp in the market place,

And let the State of the world be there: 120

Where you shall heare such a sad story tolde,

That neuer mortall man could more vnfolde.

Fort. I haue some rights of memory to this kingdome,

Which now to claime my leisure doth inuite mee:

Let foure of our chiefest Captaines 125

Beare Hamlet like a souldier to his graue:

For he was likely, had he liued,

To a prou'd most royall.

Take vp the bodie, such a fight as this

Becomes the fieldes, but here doth much amisse. 130

Finis.

FOOTNOTES:

[2422] Leartes] Leartes, B. Mus. copy.

newes] news B. Mus. copy.

[2423] God] God, B. Mus. copy.

moneths] months B. Mus. copy.

maried,] married B. Mus. copy.

KING LEAR.

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ[C].

LEAR, king of Britain.

KING OF FRANCE.

DUKE OF BURGUNDY.

DUKE OF CORNWALL.

DUKE OF ALBANY.

EARL OF KENT.

EARL OF GLOUCESTER.

EDGAR, son to Gloucester.

EDMUND, bastard son to Gloucester.

CURAN, a courtier.

Old Man, tenant to Gloucester.

Doctor.

Fool.

OSWALD, steward to Goneril.

A captain employed by Edmund.

Gentleman attendant on Cordelia.

Herald.

Servants to Cornwall.

GONERIL,

daughters to Lear.

REGAN,

CORDELIA,

Knights of Lear's train, Captains, Messengers, Soldiers, and Attendants.

SCENE: Britain.

[C] DRAMATIS PERSONÆ. First given by Rowe.

THE TRAGEDY OF

KING LEAR.

ACT I.

SCENE I. King Lear's palace.

Enter KENT, GLOUCESTER, and EDMUND.[2424]

Kent. I thought the king had more affected the Duke[2425][2426]

of Albany than Cornwall.[2425][2426]

Glou. It did always seem so to us: but now, in the[2425][2426][2427]

division of the kingdom, it appears not which of the dukes[2425][2426][2428]

he values most; for equalities are so weighed that curiosity[2425][2426][2429] 5

in neither can make choice of either's moiety.[2425][2426]

Kent. Is not this your son, my lord?[2425]

Glou. His breeding, sir, hath been at my charge: I[2425]

have so often blushed to acknowledge him that now I am[2425]

brazed to it.[2425][2430] 10

Kent. I cannot conceive you.[2425]

Glou. Sir, this young fellow's mother could: whereupon[2425]

she grew round-wombed, and had indeed, sir, a son for her[2425]

cradle ere she had a husband for her bed. Do you smell a[2425]

fault?[2425] 15

Kent. I cannot wish the fault undone, the issue of it[2425]

being so proper.[2425]

Glou. But I have, sir, a son by order of law, some year[2425][2431]

elder than this, who yet is no dearer in my account: though[2425][2432]

this knave came something saucily into the world before he[2425][2433] 20

was sent for, yet was his mother fair; there was good sport[2425]

at his making, and the whoreson must be acknowledged.[2425][2434]

Do you know this noble gentleman, Edmund?[2425][2435]

Edm. No, my lord.[2425][2436]

Glou. My lord of Kent: remember him hereafter as my[2425][2437] 25

honourable friend.[2425][2437]

Edm. My services to your lordship.[2425]

Kent. I must love you, and sue to know you better.[2425]

Edm. Sir, I shall study deserving.[2425][2438]

Glou. He hath been out nine years, and away he shall[2425] 30

again. The king is coming.[2425][2439]

Sennet. Enter one bearing a coronet, KING LEAR, CORNWALL, ALBANY, GONERIL, REGAN, CORDELIA, and Attendants.[2440]

Lear. Attend the lords of France and Burgundy, Gloucester.[2441]

Glou. I shall, my liege.     [Exeunt Gloucester and Edmund.[2442]

Lear. Meantime we shall express our darker purpose.[2443]

Give me the map there. Know we have divided[2444] 35

In three our kingdom: and 'tis our fast intent[2445]

To shake all cares and business from our age,[2446]

Conferring them on younger strengths, while we[2447][2448]

Unburthen'd crawl toward death. Our son of Cornwall,[2448]

And you, our no less loving son of Albany,[2448][2449] 40

We have this hour a constant will to publish[2448]

Our daughters' several dowers, that future strife[2448][2450]

May be prevented now. The princes, France and Burgundy,[2448][2451]

Great rivals in our youngest daughter's love,[2452]

Long in our court have made their amorous sojourn, 45

And here are to be answer'd. Tell me, my daughters,[2453]

Since now we will divest us both of rule,[2454]

Interest of territory, cares of state,[2454][2455]

Which of you shall we say doth love us most?

That we our largest bounty may extend 50

Where nature doth with merit challenge. Goneril,[2456]

Our eldest-born, speak first.[2457]

Gon. Sir, I love you more than words can wield the matter,[2457][2458]

Dearer than eye-sight, space and liberty,[2459]

Beyond what can be valued, rich or rare, 55

No less than life, with grace, health, beauty, honour,

As much as child e'er loved or father found;[2460]

A love that makes breath poor and speech unable;

Beyond all manner of so much I love you.[2461]

Cor. [Aside] What shall Cordelia do? Love, and be silent.[2462]60

Lear. Of all these bounds, even from this line to this,

With shadowy forests and with champains rich'd,[2463][2464][2465]

With plenteous rivers and wide-skirted meads,[2464]

We make thee lady. To thine and Albany's issue[2466]

Be this perpetual. What says our second daughter,[2467] 65

Our dearest Regan, wife to Cornwall? Speak.[2468]

Reg. I am made of that self metal as my sister,[2469]

And prize me at her worth. In my true heart[2470]

I find she names my very deed of love;[2471]

Only she comes too short: that I profess[2471][2472] 70

Myself an enemy to all other joys[2471]

Which the most precious square of sense possesses,[2473]

And find I am alone felicitate[2474][2475]

In your dear highness' love.[2474]

Cor. [Aside] Then poor Cordelia![2476][2477][2478]

And yet not so, since I am sure my love's[2479][2480] 75

More ponderous than my tongue.[2477][2480][2481]

Lear. To thee and thine hereditary ever

Remain this ample third of our fair kingdom,

No less in space, validity and pleasure,

Than that conferr'd on Goneril. Now, our joy,[2482][2483][2484] 80

Although the last, not least, to whose young love[2483][2485]

The vines of France and milk of Burgundy[2483]

Strive to be interess'd, what can you say to draw[2483][2486]

A third more opulent than your sisters? Speak.[2483][2487]

Cor. Nothing, my lord. 85

Lear. Nothing![2488]

Cor. Nothing.[2488]

Lear. Nothing will come of nothing: speak again.[2489]

Cor. Unhappy that I am, I cannot heave[2490][2491]

My heart into my mouth: I love your majesty[2490] 90

According to my bond; nor more nor less.[2490][2492]

Lear. How, how, Cordelia! mend your speech a little,[2493]

Lest it may mar your fortunes.[2494]

Cor. Good my lord,

You have begot me, bred me, loved me: I[2495][2496]

Return those duties back as are right fit,[2496][2497] 95

Obey you, love you, and most honour you.

Why have my sisters husbands, if they say[2498]

They love you all? Haply, when I shall wed,[2498][2499][2500]

That lord whose hand must take my plight shall carry[2500]

Half my love with him, half my care and duty:[2500] 100

Sure, I shall never marry like my sisters,[2500][2501][2502]

To love my father all.[2502][2503]

Lear. But goes thy heart with this?

Cor. Ay, good my lord.[2504]

Lear. So young, and so untender?

Cor. So young, my lord, and true. 105

Lear. Let it be so; thy truth then be thy dower:[2505]

For, by the sacred radiance of the sun,

The mysteries of Hecate, and the night;[2506]

By all the operation of the orbs[2507]

From whom we do exist and cease to be; 110

Here I disclaim all my paternal care,

Propinquity and property of blood,

And as a stranger to my heart and me

Hold thee from this for ever. The barbarous Scythian,[2508]

Or he that makes his generation messes[2509] 115

To gorge his appetite, shall to my bosom[2509][2510]

Be as well neighbour'd, pitied and relieved,[2510]

As thou my sometime daughter.

Kent. Good my liege,—[2511]

Lear. Peace, Kent![2512]

Come not between the dragon and his wrath.[2512] 120

I loved her most, and thought to set my rest

On her kind nursery. Hence, and avoid my sight![2513]

So be my grave my peace, as here I give

Her father's heart from her! Call France. Who stirs?

Call Burgundy. Cornwall and Albany,[2514] 125

With my two daughters' dowers digest this third:[2515]

Let pride, which she calls plainness, marry her.

I do invest you jointly with my power,[2516]

Pre-eminence and all the large effects[2517]

That troop with majesty. Ourself, by monthly course,[2518] 130

With reservation of an hundred knights

By you to be sustain'd, shall our abode

Make with you by due turns. Only we still retain[2519]

The name and all the additions to a king;[2520][2521]

The sway, revenue, execution of the rest,[2520][2522] 135

Beloved sons, be yours: which to confirm,

This coronet part betwixt you.[2523]

Kent. Royal Lear,

Whom I have ever honour'd as my king,[2524]

Loved as my father, as my master follow'd,[2525]

As my great patron thought on in my prayers,—[2526] 140

Lear. The bow is bent and drawn; make from the shaft.

Kent. Let it fall rather, though the fork invade[2527]

The region of my heart: be Kent unmannerly,

When Lear is mad. What wouldst thou do, old man?[2528]

Think'st thou that duty shall have dread to speak, 145

When power to flattery bows? To plainness honour's bound,[2529]

When majesty stoops to folly. Reverse thy doom,[2530]

And in thy best consideration check[2531]

This hideous rashness: answer my life my judgement,[2532]

Thy youngest daughter does not love thee least; 150

Nor are those empty-hearted whose low sound[2533]

Reverbs no hollowness.[2533]

Lear. Kent, on thy life, no more.[2534]

Kent. My life I never held but as a pawn[2535]

To wage against thy enemies, nor fear to lose it,[2536]

Thy safety being the motive.[2537]

Lear. Out of my sight! 155

Kent. See better, Lear, and let me still remain

The true blank of thine eye.

Lear. Now, by Apollo,—

Kent. Now, by Apollo, king,[2538][2539]

Thou swear'st thy gods in vain.[2538]

Lear. O, vassal! miscreant!

[Laying his hand on his sword.[2540]

Alb. } Dear sir, forbear.[2541] 160

Corn.}

Kent. Do;[2542]

Kill thy physician, and the fee bestow[2543][2544]

Upon the foul disease. Revoke thy doom;[2543][2545]

Or, whilst I can vent clamour from my throat,[2543]

I'll tell thee them dost evil.[2543]

Lear. Hear me, recreant![2546][2547] 165

On thy allegiance, hear me![2546][2548]

Since thou hast sought to make us break our vow,[2549]

Which we durst never yet, and with strain'd pride[2550]

To come between our sentence and our power,[2551]

Which nor our nature nor our place can bear, 170

Our potency made good, take thy reward.[2552]

Five days we do allot thee, for provision[2553]

To shield thee from diseases of the world,[2554]

And on the sixth to turn thy hated back[2555]

Upon our kingdom: if on the tenth day following[2556] 175

Thy banish'd trunk be found in our dominions,

The moment is thy death. Away! By Jupiter,[2557]

This shall not be revoked.

Kent. Fare thee well, king: sith thus thou wilt appear,[2558]

Freedom lives hence, and banishment is here.[2559] 180

[To Cordelia] The gods to their dear shelter take thee, maid,[2560]

That justly think'st and hast most rightly said![2561]

[To Regan and Goneril] And your large speeches may your deeds approve,[2562]

That good effects may spring from words of love.

Thus Kent, O princes, bids you all adieu; 185

He'll shape his old course in a country new.     [Exit.[2563]

Flourish. Re-enter GLOUCESTER, with FRANCE, BURGUNDY, and Attendants.[2564]

Glou. Here's France and Burgundy, my noble lord.[2565]

Lear. My lord of Burgundy,[2566][2567]

We first address towards you, who with this king[2566][2568]

Hath rivall'd for our daughter: what, in the least,[2566][2569] 190

Will you require in present dower with her,[2566]

Or cease your quest of love?[2566][2570]

Bur. Most royal majesty,[2571]

I crave no more than what your highness offer'd,[2571][2572]

Nor will you tender less.[2571][2573]

Lear. Right noble Burgundy,[2574]

When she was dear to us, we did hold her so;[2574][2575] 195

But now her price is fall'n. Sir, there she stands:[2574][2576]

If aught within that little seeming substance,[2574][2577]

Or all of it, with our displeasure pieced,[2574][2578]

And nothing more, may fitly like your grace,[2579]

She's there, and she is yours.

Bur. I know no answer. 200

Lear. Will you, with those infirmities she owes,[2580]

Unfriended, new adopted to our hate,

Dower'd with our curse and stranger'd with our oath,[2581]

Take her, or leave her?[2582]

Bur. Pardon me, royal sir;[2583][2584]

Election makes not up on such conditions.[2584][2585] 205

Lear. Then leave her, sir; for, by the power that made me,

I tell you all her wealth. [To France] For you, great king,[2586]

I would not from your love make such a stray,

To match you where I hate; therefore beseech you

To avert your liking a more worthier way[2587] 210

Than on a wretch whom nature is ashamed

Almost to acknowledge hers.

France. This is most strange,[2588]

That she, that even but now was your best object,[2588][2589]

The argument of your praise, balm of your age,[2588][2590]

Most best, most dearest, should in this trice of time[2588][2591] 215

Commit a thing so monstrous, to dismantle[2588]

So many folds of favour. Sure, her offence[2588][2592]

Must be of such unnatural degree[2588]

That monsters it, or your fore-vouch'd affection[2593][2594]

Fall'n into taint: which to believe of her,[2594][2595] 220

Must be a faith that reason without miracle[2596]

Could never plant in me.[2596]

Cor. I yet beseech your majesty,—[2597][2598]

If for I want that glib and oily art,[2598][2599]

To speak and purpose not, since what I well intend,[2600]

I'll do't before I speak,—that you make known[2601] 225

It is no vicious blot, murder, or foulness,[2602]

No unchaste action, or dishonour'd step,[2603]

That hath deprived me of your grace and favour;[2604]

But even for want of that for which I am richer,[2605]

A still-soliciting eye, and such a tongue[2606] 230

As I am glad I have not, though not to have it[2607]

Hath lost me in your liking.

Lear. Better thou[2608][2609]

Hadst not been born than not to have pleased me better.[2609][2610]

France. Is it but this, a tardiness in nature[2611]

Which often leaves the history unspoke[2612][2613] 235

That it intends to do? My lord of Burgundy,[2613][2614]

What say you to the lady? Love's not love[2613][2615]

When it is mingled with regards that stand[2613][2616]

Aloof from the entire point. Will you have her?[2617]

She is herself a dowry.[2618]

Bur. Royal Lear,[2619][2620] 240

Give but that portion which yourself proposed,[2620]

And here I take Cordelia by the hand,[2620]

Duchess of Burgundy.[2620]

Lear. Nothing: I have sworn; I am firm.[2621]

Bur. I am sorry then you have so lost a father[2622] 245

That you must lose a husband.

Cor. Peace be with Burgundy![2623][2624]

Since that respects of fortune are his love,[2623][2625]

I shall not be his wife.[2623]

France. Fairest Cordelia, that art most rich being poor,[2626]

Most choice forsaken, and most loved despised, 250

Thee and thy virtues here I seize upon:[2627]

Be it lawful I take up what's cast away.[2628]

Gods, gods! 'tis strange that from their cold'st neglect[2629]

My love should kindle to inflamed respect.

Thy dowerless daughter, king, thrown to my chance,[2630] 255

Is queen of us, of ours, and our fair France:

Not all the dukes of waterish Burgundy[2631]

Can buy this unprized precious maid of me.[2632]

Bid them farewell, Cordelia, though unkind:[2633][2634]

Thou losest here, a better where to find.[2634] 260

Lear. Thou hast her, France: let her be thine, for we[2635]

Have no such daughter, nor shall ever see[2635]

That face of hers again. Therefore be gone[2636]

Without our grace, our love, our benison.[2637][2638]

Come, noble Burgundy.[2637] 265

[Flourish. Exeunt all but France, Goneril, Regan, and Cordelia.[2639]

France. Bid farewell to your sisters.[2640]

Cor. The jewels of our father, with wash'd eyes[2641][2642]

Cordelia leaves you: I know you what you are;[2642][2643]

And, like a sister, am most loath to call[2642]

Your faults as they are named. Use well our father:[2642][2644] 270

To your professed bosoms I commit him:[2645]

But yet, alas, stood I within his grace,

I would prefer him to a better place.[2646]

So farewell to you both.

Reg. Prescribe not us our duties.[2647]

Gon. Let your study[2648] 275

Be to content your lord, who hath received you[2648]

At fortune's alms. You have obedience scanted,[2648][2649]

And well are worth the want that you have wanted.[2650]

Cor. Time shall unfold what plaited cunning hides:[2651]

Who cover faults, at last shame them derides.[2652] 280

Well may you prosper!

France. Come, my fair Cordelia.

[Exeunt France and Cordelia.[2653]

Gon. Sister, it is not a little I have to say of what most[2654][2655][2656]

nearly appertains to us both. I think our father will hence[2655][2657]

to-night.[2655]

Reg. That's most certain, and with you; next month[2658] 285

with us.

Gon. You see how full of changes his age is; the observation[2659]

we have made of it hath not been little: he always[2660]

loved our sister most; and with what poor judgement he hath

now cast her off appears too grossly.[2661] 290

Reg. 'Tis the infirmity of his age: yet he hath ever but

slenderly known himself.

Gon. The best and soundest of his time hath been but

rash; then must we look to receive from his age, not alone[2662]

the imperfections of long ingrafted condition, but therewithal[2663] 295

the unruly waywardness that infirm and choleric[2664]

years bring with them.

Reg. Such unconstant starts are we like to have from[2665]

him as this of Kent's banishment.

Gon. There is further compliment of leave-taking between[2666] 300

France and him. Pray you, let's hit together: if our[2667]

father carry authority with such dispositions as he bears,[2668]

this last surrender of his will but offend us.

Reg. We shall further think on 't.[2669]

Gon. We must do something, and i' the heat.     [Exeunt.305

SCENE II. The Earl of Gloucester's castle.

Enter EDMUND, with a letter.[2670]

Edm. Thou, nature, art my goddess; to thy law[2671]

My services are bound. Wherefore should I[2671]

Stand in the plague of custom, and permit[2671][2672]

The curiosity of nations to deprive me,[2671][2673]

For that I am some twelve or fourteen moonshines[2671] 5

Lag of a brother? Why bastard? wherefore base?[2671][2674]

When my dimensions are as well compact,[2671][2675]

My mind as generous and my shape as true,[2671]

As honest madam's issue? Why brand they us[2671][2676]

With base? with baseness? bastardy? base, base?[2671][2677] 10

Who in the lusty stealth of nature take[2671]

More composition and fierce quality[2671]

Than doth, within a dull, stale, tired bed,[2671][2678]

Go to the creating a whole tribe of fops,[2671][2679]

Got 'tween asleep and wake? Well then,[2671][2680] 15

Legitimate Edgar, I must have your land:[2671]

Our father's love is to the bastard Edmund[2671]

As to the legitimate: fine word,'legitimate!'[2671][2681]

Well, my legitimate, if this letter speed[2671]

And my invention thrive, Edmund the base[2671][2676] 20

Shall top the legitimate. I grow; I prosper:[2671][2682]

Now, gods, stand up for bastards![2671]

Enter GLOUCESTER.[2671]

Glou. Kent banish'd thus! and France in choler parted![2671][2683][2684]

And the king gone to-night! subscribed his power![2671][2684][2685]

Confined to exhibition! All this done[2671][2684][2686] 25

Upon the gad! Edmund, how now! what news?[2671][2684]

Edm. So please your lordship, none.

[Putting up the letter.[2687]

Glou. Why so earnestly seek you to put up that letter?[2688]

Edm. I know no news, my lord.

Glou. What paper were you reading? 30

Edm. Nothing, my lord.

Glou. No? What needed then that terrible dispatch of[2689]

it into your pocket? the quality of nothing hath not such

need to hide itself. Let's see: come, if it be nothing, I shall[2690]

not need spectacles. 35

Edm. I beseech you, sir, pardon me: it is a letter from[2691]

my brother, that I have not all o'er-read; and for so much[2692]

as I have perused, I find it not fit for your o'er-looking.[2693]

Glou. Give me the letter, sir.

Edm. I shall offend, either to detain or give it. The[2694] 40

contents, as in part I understand them, are to blame.[2694][2695]

Glou. Let's see, let's see.

Edm. I hope, for my brother's justification, he wrote

this but as an essay or taste of my virtue.[2696]

Glou. [Reads] 'This policy and reverence of age makes[2697] 45

the world bitter to the best of our times; keeps our fortunes[2698]

from us till our oldness cannot relish them. I begin to find

an idle and fond bondage in the oppression of aged tyranny;

who sways, not as it hath power, but as it is suffered. Come[2699]

to me, that of this I may speak more. If our father would 50

sleep till I waked him, you should enjoy half his revenue for

ever, and live the beloved of your brother, EDGAR.'

Hum! Conspiracy!—'Sleep till I waked him, you should[2700]

enjoy half his revenue!'—My son Edgar! Had he a hand

to write this? a heart and brain to breed it in? When[2701] 55

came this to you? who brought it?[2702]

Edm. It was not brought me, my lord; there's the cunning

of it; I found it thrown in at the casement of my closet.

Glou. You know the character to be your brother's?

Edm. If the matter were good, my lord, I durst swear 60

it were his; but, in respect of that, I would fain think it[2703][2704]

were not.[2703]

Glou. It is his.[2705]

Edm. It is his hand, my lord; but I hope his heart is[2706]

not in the contents. 65

Glou. Hath he never heretofore sounded you in this[2707]

business?

Edm. Never, my lord: but I have heard him oft maintain[2708]

it to be fit, that, sons at perfect age, and fathers declining,[2709]

the father should be as ward to the son, and the[2710] 70

son manage his revenue.[2711]

Glou. O villain, villain! His very opinion in the letter!

Abhorred villain! Unnatural, detested, brutish villain!

worse than brutish! Go, sirrah, seek him; ay, apprehend[2712]

him: abominable villain! Where is he? 75

Edm. I do not well know, my lord. If it shall please[2713]

you to suspend your indignation against my brother till you

can derive from him better testimony of his intent, you[2714]

should run a certain course; where, if you violently proceed[2715]

against him, mistaking his purpose, it would make a great 80

gap in your own honour and shake in pieces the heart of[2716]

his obedience. I dare pawn down my life for him that he[2717]

hath wrote this to feel my affection to your honour and to[2718]

no further pretence of danger.[2719]

Glou. Think you so? 85

Edm. If your honour judge it meet, I will place you

where you shall hear us confer of this and by an auricular[2720]

assurance have your satisfaction, and that without any further

delay than this very evening.

Glou. He cannot be such a monster—[2721] 90

Edm. Nor is not, sure.[2722]

Glou. To his father, that so tenderly and entirely loves[2722]

him. Heaven and earth! Edmund, seek him out; wind me[2722][2723]

into him, I pray you: frame the business after your own[2724]

wisdom. I would unstate myself, to be in a due resolution. 95

Edm. I will seek him, sir, presently, convey the business[2725]

as I shall find means, and acquaint you withal.[2726]

Glou. These late eclipses in the sun and moon portend[2727][2728]

no good to us: though the wisdom of nature can reason it[2729]

thus and thus, yet nature finds itself scourged by the sequent[2730] 100

effects: love cools, friendship falls off, brothers divide:

in cities, mutinies; in countries, discord; in palaces,[2731]

treason; and the bond cracked 'twixt son and father. This[2732][2733]

villain of mine comes under the prediction; there's son[2733]

against father: the king falls from bias of nature; there's[2733] 105

father against child. We have seen the best of our time:[2733]

machinations, hollowness, treachery and all ruinous disorders[2733]

follow us disquietly to our graves. Find out this[2733]

villain, Edmund; it shall lose thee nothing; do it carefully.[2734]

And the noble and true-hearted Kent banished! his offence, 110

honesty! 'Tis strange.     [Exit.[2735]

Edm. This is the excellent foppery of the world, that[2736]

when we are sick in fortune—often the surfeit of our own[2737]

behaviour—we make guilty of our disasters the sun, the

moon and the stars: as if we were villains by necessity,[2738] 115

fools by heavenly compulsion, knaves, thieves and treachers,[2739]

by spherical predominance, drunkards, liars and adulterers,[2740]

by an enforced obedience of planetary influence;

and all that we are evil in, by a divine thrusting on: an admirable

evasion of whoremaster man, to lay his goatish 120

disposition to the charge of a star! My father compounded[2741]

with my mother under the dragon's tail, and my nativity

was under Ursa major; so that it follows I am rough and

lecherous. Tut, I should have been that I am, had the[2742]

maidenliest star in the firmament twinkled on my bastardizing.[2743] 125

Edgar—[2744][2745][2746]

Enter EDGAR.

And pat he comes like the catastrophe of the old comedy:[2744][2745]

my cue is villanous melancholy, with a sigh like Tom o'[2745][2747]

Bedlam. O, these eclipses do portend these divisions! fa,[2745][2748][2749]

sol, la, mi.[2749][2750] 130

Edg. How now, brother Edmund! what serious contemplation

are you in?

Edm. I am thinking, brother, of a prediction I read

this other day, what should follow these eclipses.[2727]

Edg. Do you busy yourself about that?[2751] 135

Edm. I promise you, the effects he writ of succeed[2752]

unhappily; as of unnaturalness between the child and the[2753]

parent; death, dearth, dissolutions of ancient amities; divisions[2753][2754]

in state, menaces and maledictions against king and[2753]

nobles; needless diffidences, banishment of friends, dissipation[2753] 140

of cohorts, nuptial breaches, and I know not what.[2753][2755]

Edg. How long have you been a sectary astronomical?[2753]

Edm. Come, come; when saw you my father last?[2753]

Edg. Why, the night gone by.[2756]

Edm. Spake you with him? 145

Edg. Ay, two hours together.[2757]

Edm. Parted you in good terms? Found you no displeasure

in him by word or countenance?[2758]

Edg. None at all.

Edm. Bethink yourself wherein you may have offended[2759] 150

him: and at my entreaty forbear his presence till some[2760]

little time hath qualified the heat of his displeasure, which

at this instant so rageth in him that with the mischief of[2761]

your person it would scarcely allay.[2762]

Edg. Some villain hath done me wrong. 155

Edm. That's my fear. I pray you, have a continent[2763]

forbearance till the speed of his rage goes slower and, as I[2763]

say, retire with me to my lodging, from whence I will fitly[2763]

bring you to hear my lord speak: pray ye, go; there's my[2763][2764]

key: if you do stir abroad, go armed.[2763] 160

Edg. Armed, brother![2763]

Edm. Brother, I advise you to the best: go armed: I[2763][2765]

am no honest man if there be any good meaning towards[2766]

you: I have told you what I have seen and heard; but[2767]

faintly, nothing like the image and horror of it: pray you,[2767] 165

away.

Edg. Shall I hear from you anon?

Edm. I do serve you in this business.     [Exit Edgar.[2768]

A credulous father, and a brother noble,

Whose nature is so far from doing harms 170

That he suspects none; on whose foolish honesty

My practices ride easy. I see the business.

Let me, if not by birth, have lands by wit:

All with me's meet that I can fashion fit.     [Exit.[2769]

SCENE III. The Duke of Albany's palace.

Enter GONERIL and OSWALD, her steward.[2770]

Gon. Did my father strike my gentleman for chiding

of his fool?

Osw. Yes, madam.[2771][2772]

Gon. By day and night he wrongs me; every hour[2773][2774]

He flashes into one gross crime or other,[2774] 5

That sets us all at odds: I'll not endure it:

His knights grow riotous, and himself upbraids us[2775]

On every trifle. When he returns from hunting,[2776]

I will not speak with him; say I am sick:

If you come slack of former services, 10

You shall do well; the fault of it I'll answer.

Osw. He's coming, madam; I hear him.     [Horns within.[2777]

Gon. Put on what weary negligence you please,[2778][2779]

You and your fellows; I'ld have it come to question:[2778][2780]

If he distaste it, let him to our sister,[2778][2781] 15

Whose mind and mine, I know, in that are one,[2778]

Not to be over-ruled. Idle old man,[2782]

That still would manage those authorities[2782]

That he hath given away! Now, by my life,[2782]

Old fools are babes again, and must be used[2782][2783] 20

With checks as flatteries, when they are seen abused.[2782][2784]

Remember what I tell you.

Osw. Very well, madam.[2785]

Gon. And let his knights have colder looks among you;[2786]

What grows of it, no matter; advise your fellows so:[2786][2787]

I would breed from hence occasions, and I shall,[2788] 25

That I may speak: I'll write straight to my sister,[2788][2789]

To hold my very course. Prepare for dinner.     [Exeunt.[2789][2790]

SCENE IV. A hall in the same.

Enter KENT, disguised.[2791]

Kent. If but as well I other accents borrow,[2792][2793]

That can my speech defuse, my good intent[2792][2794]

May carry through itself to that full issue[2792]

For which I razed my likeness. Now, banish'd Kent,[2792][2795]

If thou canst serve where thou dost stand condemn'd,[2792] 5

So may it come, thy master whom thou lovest[2792][2796]

Shall find thee full of labours.[2792]

Horns within. Enter LEAR, Knights, and Attendants.[2797]

Lear. Let me not stay a jot for dinner; go get it ready.

[Exit an Attendant.] How now! what art thou?[2798]

Kent. A man, sir. 10

Lear. What dost thou profess? What wouldst thou

with us?

Kent. I do profess to be no less than I seem; to serve

him truly that will put me in trust; to love him that is honest;

to converse with him that is wise and says little; to fear[2799] 15

judgement; to fight when I cannot choose, and to eat no fish.

Lear. What art thou?[2800]

Kent. A very honest-hearted fellow, and as poor as

the king.

Lear. If thou be as poor for a subject as he is for a[2801] 20

king, thou art poor enough. What wouldst thou?[2802]

Kent. Service.

Lear. Who wouldst thou serve?[2803]

Kent. You.

Lear. Dost thou know me, fellow? 25

Kent. No, sir; but you have that in your countenance

which I would fain call master.

Lear. What's that?[2804]

Kent. Authority.

Lear. What services canst thou do?[2805] 30

Kent. I can keep honest counsel, ride, run, mar a[2806]

curious tale in telling it, and deliver a plain message

bluntly: that which ordinary men are fit for, I am qualified

in, and the best of me is diligence.

Lear. How old art thou? 35

Kent. Not so young, sir, to love a woman for singing,[2807]

nor so old to dote on her for any thing: I have years on my

back forty eight.

Lear. Follow me; thou shalt serve me: if I like thee no[2808][2809]

worse after dinner, I will not part from thee yet. Dinner,[2809][2810] 40

ho, dinner! Where's my knave? my fool? Go you, and[2810]

call my fool hither.     [Exit an Attendant.[2811]

Enter OSWALD.[2812]

You, you, sirrah, where's my daughter?[2813]

Osw. So please you,—     [Exit.[2814]

Lear. What says the fellow there? Call the clotpoll[2815] 45

back. [Exit a Knight.] Where's my fool, ho? I think[2816]

the world's asleep.

Re-enter Knight.[2817]

How now! where's that mongrel?

Knight. He says, my lord, your daughter is not well.[2818]

Lear. Why came not the slave back to me when I 50

called him?

Knight. Sir, he answered me in the roundest manner,[2819][2820]

he would not.

Lear. He would not![2821]

Knight. My lord, I know not what the matter is; but,[2819] 55

to my judgement, your highness is not entertained with that

ceremonious affection as you were wont; there's a great

abatement of kindness appears as well in the general dependants[2822]

as in the duke himself also and your daughter.

Lear. Ha! sayest thou so? 60

Knight. I beseech you, pardon me, my lord, if I be[2819]

mistaken; for my duty cannot be silent when I think

your highness wronged.[2823]

Lear. Thou but rememberest me of mine own conception:[2824]

I have perceived a most faint neglect of late; which I[2825] 65

have rather blamed as mine own jealous curiosity than as[2826]

a very pretence and purpose of unkindness: I will look[2827]

further into't. But where's my fool? I have not seen him[2828]

this two days.[2829]

Knight. Since my young lady's going into France, sir,[2830] 70

the fool hath much pined away.

Lear. No more of that; I have noted it well. Go you,[2831]

and tell my daughter I would speak with her. [Exit an Attendant.][2832]

Go you, call hither my fool.     [Exit an Attendant.

Re-enter OSWALD.[2833]

O, you sir, you, come you hither, sir: who am I, sir?[2834] 75

Osw. My lady's father.

Lear. My lady's father! my lord's knave: you whoreson

dog! you slave! you cur!

Osw. I am none of these, my lord; I beseech your[2835][2836][2837]

pardon.[2835][2837] 80

Lear. Do you bandy looks with me, you rascal?

[Striking him.[2838]

Osw. I'll not be struck, my lord.[2839]

Kent. Nor tripped neither, you base foot-ball player.[2840]

[Tripping up his heels.

Lear. I thank thee, fellow; thou servest me, and I'll[2841]

love thee.[2841] 85

Kent. Come, sir, arise, away! I'll teach you differences:[2842]

away, away! If you will measure your lubber's length again,[2843]

tarry: but away! go to; have you wisdom? so.[2844]

[Pushes Oswald out.

Lear. Now, my friendly knave, I thank thee: there's[2845]

earnest of thy service.     [Giving Kent money.[2846] 90

Enter Fool.

Fool. Let me hire him too: here's my coxcomb.[2847]

[Offering Kent his cap.

Lear. How now, my pretty knave! how dost thou?

Fool. Sirrah, you were best take my coxcomb.

Kent. Why, fool?[2848]

Fool. Why, for taking one's part that's out of favour:[2849] 95

nay, an thou canst not smile as the wind sits, thou'lt catch[2850]

cold shortly: there, take my coxcomb: why, this fellow hath[2851]

banished two on's daughters, and done the third a blessing[2852]

against his will; if thou follow him, thou must needs wear

my coxcomb. How now, nuncle! Would I had two coxcombs 100

and two daughters![2853]

Lear. Why, my boy?

Fool. If I gave them all my living, I'ld keep my coxcombs[2854]

myself. There's mine; beg another of thy daughters.

Lear. Take heed, sirrah; the whip. 105

Fool. Truth's a dog must to kennel; he must be whipped[2855]

out, when Lady the brach may stand by the fire and[2856]

stink.

Lear. A pestilent gall to me![2857]

Fool. Sirrah, I'll teach thee a speech.[2858] 110

Lear. Do.[2859]

Fool. Mark it, nuncle:[2860]

Have more than thou showest,[2861]

Speak less than thou knowest,[2861]

Lend less than thou owest,[2861] 115

Ride more than thou goest,[2861]

Learn more than thou trowest,[2861]

Set less than thou throwest;[2861]

Leave thy drink and thy whore,[2861]

And keep in-a-door,[2861][2862] 120

And thou shalt have more[2861]

Than two tens to a score.[2861]

Kent. This is nothing, fool.[2863]

Fool. Then 'tis like the breath of an unfee'd lawyer,[2864]

you gave me nothing for't. Can you make no use of[2865] 125

nothing, nuncle?[2866]

Lear. Why, no, boy; nothing can be made out of

nothing.

Fool. [To Kent] Prithee, tell him, so much the rent of[2867]

his land comes to: he will not believe a fool. 130

Lear. A bitter fool![2868]

Fool. Dost thou know the difference, my boy, between[2868][2869]

a bitter fool and a sweet fool?[2868][2870]

Lear. No, lad; teach me.[2868]

Fool. That lord that counsell'd thee[2871][2872][2873] 135

To give away thy land,[2872][2873]

Come place him here by me;[2872][2873]

Do thou for him stand:[2872][2873][2874]

The sweet and bitter fool[2872][2873]

Will presently appear;[2872][2873]

The one in motley here,[2872][2873] 140

The other found out there.[2872][2873]

Lear. Dost thou call me fool, boy?[2872][2875]

Fool. All thy other titles thou hast given away; that[2872]

thou wast born with.[2872] 145

Kent. This is not altogether fool, my lord.[2872]

Fool. No, faith, lords and great men will not let me; if[2872]

I had a monopoly out, they would have part on't: and[2872][2876][2877]

ladies too, they will not let me have all the fool to myself;[2872][2877][2878]

they'll be snatching. Give me an egg, nuncle, and I'll give[2872][2879] 150

thee two crowns.

Lear. What two crowns shall they be?

Fool. Why, after I have cut the egg in the middle and[2880]

eat up the meat, the two crowns of the egg. When thou

clovest thy crown i' the middle and gavest away both parts,[2881] 155

thou borest thine ass on thy back o'er the dirt: thou hadst[2882]

little wit in thy bald crown when thou gavest thy golden

one away. If I speak like myself in this, let him be whipped[2883]

that first finds it so.[2884]

[Singing] Fools had ne'er less wit in a year;[2885][2886] 160

For wise men are grown foppish,

And know not how their wits to wear,[2887]

Their manners are so apish.

Lear. When were you wont to be so full of songs, sirrah?[2888]

Fool. I have used it, nuncle, ever since thou madest thy[2889] 165

daughters thy mother: for when thou gavest them the rod[2890]

and puttest down thine own breeches,

[Singing] Then they for sudden joy did weep,[2885][2891][2892]

And I for sorrow sung,[2892]

That such a king should play bo-peep,[2892] 170

And go the fools among.[2892][2893]

Prithee, nuncle, keep a schoolmaster that can teach thy

fool to lie: I would fain learn to lie.[2894]

Lear. An you lie, sirrah, we'll have you whipped.[2895]

Fool. I marvel what kin thou and thy daughters are: 175

they'll have me whipped for speaking true, thou'lt have me[2896]

whipped for lying, and sometimes I am whipped for holding[2897]

my peace. I had rather be any kind o' thing than a fool:[2898]

and yet I would not be thee, nuncle; thou hast pared thy

wit o' both sides and left nothing i' the middle. Here comes[2899] 180

one o' the parings.[2898][2900]

Enter GONERIL.

Lear. How now, daughter! what makes that frontlet on?[2901][2902][2903]

Methinks you are too much of late i' the frown.[2902][2904]

Fool. Thou wast a pretty fellow when thou hadst no

need to care for her frowning; now thou art an O without[2905] 185

a figure: I am better than thou art now; I am a fool, thou

art nothing. [To Gon.] Yes, forsooth, I will hold my[2906]

tongue; so your face bids me, though you say nothing.

Mum, mum:[2907]

He that keeps nor crust nor crumb,[2908] 190

Weary of all, shall want some.

[Pointing to Lear] That's a shealed peascod.[2909]

Gon. Not only, sir, this your all-licensed fool,[2910][2911]

But other of your insolent retinue[2910][2912]

Do hourly carp and quarrel, breaking forth[2910] 195

In rank and not to be endured riots. Sir,[2910][2913]

I had thought, by making this well known unto you,[2910][2914]

To have found a safe redress; but now grow fearful,[2910]

By what yourself too late have spoke and done,[2910]

That you protect this course and put it on[2910][2915] 200

By your allowance; which if you should, the fault[2910][2916][2917]

Would not 'scape censure, nor the redresses sleep,[2910][2917][2918]

Which, in the tender of a wholesome weal,[2910]

Might in their working do you that offence[2910]

Which else were shame, that then necessity[2910][2919] 205

Will call discreet proceeding.[2910][2920]

Fool. For, you know, nuncle,[2921]

The hedge-sparrow fed the cuckoo so long,[2922]

That it had it head bit off by it young.[2922][2923]

So out went the candle, and we were left darkling. 210

Lear. Are you our daughter?

Gon. Come, sir,[2924]

I would you would make use of that good wisdom[2925][2926]

Whereof I know you are fraught, and put away[2925][2927]

These dispositions that of late transform you[2925][2928] 215

From what you rightly are.[2925]

Fool. May not an ass know when the cart draws the

horse? Whoop, Jug! I love thee.

Lear. Doth any here know me? This is not Lear:[2929][2930]

Doth Lear walk thus? speak thus? Where are his eyes?[2931] 220

Either his notion weakens, his discernings[2932]

Are lethargied—Ha! waking? 'tis not so.[2933]

Who is it that can tell me who I am?[2929][2934]

Fool. Lear's shadow.[2935]

Lear. I would learn that; for, by the marks of sovereignty[2936][2937] 225

knowledge and reason, I should be false persuaded[2936][2938]

I had daughters.[2936]

Fool. Which they will make an obedient father.[2936][2939][2940]

Lear. Your name, fair gentlewoman?[2939]

Gon. This admiration, sir, is much o' the savour[2941][2942] 230

Of other your new pranks. I do beseech you[2941]

To understand my purposes aright:[2941][2943]

As you are old and reverend, you should be wise.[2941][2944]

Here do you keep a hundred knights and squires;[2941][2945]

Men so disorder'd, so debosh'd and bold,[2941][2946] 235

That this our court, infected with their manners,[2941]

Shows like a riotous inn: epicurism and lust[2941][2947]

Make it more like a tavern or a brothel[2941][2948]

Than a graced palace. The shame itself doth speak[2941][2949]

For instant remedy: be then desired[2941][2950] 240

By her that else will take the thing she begs[2941]

A little to disquantity your train,[2941][2951]

And the remainder that shall still depend,[2941][2952]

To be such men as may besort your age,[2941]

Which know themselves and you.[2941][2953]

Lear. Darkness and devils![2941] 245

Saddle my horses; call my train together.[2941]

Degenerate bastard! I'll not trouble thee:[2941]

Yet have I left a daughter.[2941]

Gon. You strike my people, and your disorder'd rabble[2954]

Make servants of their betters.[2954] 250

Enter ALBANY.[2955]

Lear. Woe, that too late repents,—[To Alb.] O, sir, are you come?[2956]

Is it your will? Speak, sir. Prepare my horses.[2957]

Ingratitude, thou marble-hearted fiend,

More hideous when thou show'st thee in a child

Than the sea-monster![2958]

Alb. Pray, sir, be patient.[2959][2960] 255

Lear. [To Gon.] Detested kite! thou liest.[2959][2961][2962]

My train are men of choice and rarest parts,[2962]

That all particulars of duty know,

And in the most exact regard support

The worships of their name. O most small fault,[2963] 260

How ugly didst thou in Cordelia show!

That, like an engine, wrench'd my frame of nature[2964]

From the fix'd place, drew from my heart all love

And added to the gall. O Lear, Lear, Lear![2965]

Beat at this gate, that let thy folly in     [Striking his head.[2966]265

And thy dear judgement out! Go, go, my people.[2967]

Alb. My lord, I am guiltless, as I am ignorant[2968]

Of what hath moved you.[2969]

Lear. It may be so, my lord.[2970]

Hear, nature, hear; dear goddess, hear![2970][2971]

Suspend thy purpose, if thou didst intend[2970] 270

To make this creature fruitful:[2970]

Into her womb convey sterility:

Dry up in her the organs of increase,

And from her derogate body never spring[2972]

A babe to honour her! If she must teem, 275

Create her child of spleen, that it may live

And be a thwart disnatured torment to her.[2973]

Let it stamp wrinkles in her brow of youth;

With cadent tears fret channels in her cheeks;[2974]

Turn all her mother's pains and benefits[2975] 280

To laughter and contempt; that she may feel[2976]

How sharper than a serpent's tooth it is

To have a thankless child! Away, away!     [Exit.[2977]

Alb. Now, gods that we adore, whereof comes this?[2978]

Gon. Never afflict yourself to know the cause,[2979] 285

But let his disposition have that scope

That dotage gives it.

Re-enter LEAR.[2980]

Lear. What, fifty of my followers at a clap!

Within a fortnight!

Alb. What's the matter, sir?[2981]

Lear. I'll tell thee. [To Gon.] Life and death! I am ashamed[2982]290

That thou hast power to shake my manhood thus;

That these hot tears, which break from me perforce,[2983]

Should make thee worth them. Blasts and fogs upon thee![2984][2985]

The untented woundings of a father's curse[2985]

Pierce every sense about thee! Old fond eyes,[2986] 295

Beweep this cause again, I'll pluck ye out[2987]

And cast you with the waters that you lose,[2988]

To temper clay. Yea, is it come to this?[2989]

Let it be so: yet have I left a daughter,[2990]

Who, I am sure, is kind and comfortable:[2991] 300

When she shall hear this of thee, with her nails

She'll flay thy wolvish visage. Thou shalt find[2992]

That I'll resume the shape which thou dost think

I have cast off for ever: thou shalt, I warrant thee.

[Exeunt Lear, Kent, and Attendants.[2993]

Gon. Do you mark that, my lord?[2994] 305

Alb. I cannot be so partial, Goneril,

To the great love I bear you,—[2995][2996]

Gon. Pray you, content. What, Oswald, ho![2995][2997][2998]

[To the Fool] You, sir, more knave than fool, after your master.[2995][2997][2999]

Fool. Nuncle Lear, nuncle Lear, tarry; take the fool[3000][3001] 310

with thee.[3000][3002]

A fox, when one has caught her,[3002]

And such a daughter,

Should sure to the slaughter,

If my cap would buy a halter:[3003] 315

So the fool follows after.     [Exit.[3004]

Gon. This man hath had good counsel: a hundred knights![3005][3006]

'Tis politic and safe to let him keep[3005][3007]

At point a hundred knights: yes, that on every dream,[3008]

Each buzz, each fancy, each complaint, dislike, 320

He may enguard his dotage with their powers

And hold our lives in mercy. Oswald, I say![3009]

Alb. Well, you may fear too far.

Gon. Safer than trust too far:[3010]

Let me still take away the harms I fear,

Not fear still to be taken: I know his heart.[3011] 325

What he hath utter'd I have writ my sister:

If she sustain him and his hundred knights,[3012]

When I have show'd the unfitness,—

Re-enter OSWALD.[3013]

How now, Oswald![3014]

What, have you writ that letter to my sister?[3014][3015]

Osw. Yes, madam.[3016] 330

Gon. Take you some company, and away to horse:[3017]

Inform her full of my particular fear,[3018]

And thereto add such reasons of your own

As may compact it more. Get you gone;[3019]

And hasten your return. [Exit Oswald.] No, no, my lord,[3020] 335

This milky gentleness and course of yours[3021]

Though I condemn not, yet, under pardon,[3022]

You are much more attask'd for want of wisdom[3023]

Than praised for harmful mildness.[3024]

Alb. How far your eyes may pierce I cannot tell:[3025] 340

Striving to better, oft we mar what's well.[3025][3026]

Gon. Nay, then—[3027]

Alb. Well, well; the event.     [Exeunt.[3028]

SCENE V. Court before the same.

Enter LEAR, KENT, and Fool.[3029]

Lear. Go you before to Gloucester with these letters.[3030]

Acquaint my daughter no further with any thing you know

than comes from her demand out of the letter. If your diligence

be not speedy, I shall be there afore you.[3031]

Kent. I will not sleep, my lord, till I have delivered 5

your letter.     [Exit.

Fool. If a man's brains were in's heels, were't not in[3032]

danger of kibes?

Lear. Ay, boy.

Fool. Then, I prithee, be merry; thy wit shall ne'er go[3033] 10

slip-shod.

Lear. Ha, ha, ha!

Fool. Shalt see thy other daughter will use thee kindly;

for though she's as like this as a crab's like an apple, yet I[3034]

can tell what I can tell.[3035] 15

Lear. Why, what canst thou tell, boy?[3036]

Fool. She will taste as like this as a crab does to a[3037]

crab. Thou canst tell why one's nose stands i' the middle[3038]

on's face?[3039]

Lear. No. 20

Fool. Why, to keep one's eyes of either side's nose,[3040]

that what a man cannot smell out he may spy into.[3041]

Lear. I did her wrong—[3042]

Fool. Canst tell how an oyster makes his shell?[3043]

Lear. No. 25

Fool. Nor I neither; but I can tell why a snail has a

house.

Lear. Why?

Fool. Why, to put's head in; not to give it away to his[3044]

daughters, and leave his horns without a case.[3045] 30

Lear. I will forget my nature.—So kind a father!—Be

my horses ready?

Fool. Thy asses are gone about 'em. The reason why[3046]

the seven stars are no more than seven is a pretty reason.[3047]

Lear. Because they are not eight?[3048] 35

Fool. Yes, indeed: thou wouldst make a good fool.[3049]

Lear. To take 't again perforce! Monster ingratitude![3050]

Fool. If thou wert my fool, nuncle, I'ld have thee beaten[3051]

for being old before thy time.

Lear. How's that? 40

Fool. Thou shouldst not have been old till thou hadst[3052]

been wise.

Lear. O, let me not be mad, not mad, sweet heaven![3053][3054]

Keep me in temper: I would not be mad![3053]

Enter Gentleman.[3055]

How now! are the horses ready?[3056] 45

Gent. Ready, my lord.[3057]

Lear. Come, boy.[3058]

Fool. She that's a maid now and laughs at my departure[3059]

Shall not be a maid long, unless things be cut shorter.[3060]

[Exeunt.

FOOTNOTES:

[2424] ACT I. SCENE I.] Actus Primus. Scæna Prima. Ff. See note (I).

King Lear's palace.] A Palace. Rowe. The King's Palace. Theobald. A State-room in King Lear's Palace. Capell.

Edmund.] F_4. Edmond. F_1 F_2 F_3. Bastard. Qq.

[2425] Kent. I ... coming.] Spurious, according to Seymour.

[2426] I thought ... moiety.] Verse, S. Walker conj., ending the lines Duke ... always ... division ... dukes ... pois'd ... choice ... moiety.

[2427] so] om. F_2 F_3 F_4.

[2428] of the ... of the] O' th' ... o' th' S. Walker conj.

kingdom] F_4. kingdome F_1 F_2 F_3. kingdomes Qq.

[2429] equalities] Q_1 Q_2. qualities Ff. equalties Q_3.

weighed] pois'd So quoted by S. Walker.

[2430] to it] Qq. too't F_1 F_2. to't F_3 F_4.

[2431] sir, a son] sir a sonne Q_1 Q_2. a sonne, sir F_1 F_2. a sonne Q_3. a son, sir F_3 F_4.

year] yeares Q_3.

[2432] this, ... account:] this, ... account; Theobald. this, ... account, Qq. this; ... account, Ff.

[2433] something] somewhat F_3 F_4.

into] Q_1 Q_2. to Ff. in Q_3.

[2434] and the] and he Q_3.

[2435] noble gentleman] Q_1 Q_2 F_1. nobleman F_2 F_3 F_4. noble gentlemen Q_3.

[2436] Edm.] Ff. Bast. Qq. (and throughout).

[2437] My ... friend.] Prose in Q_1 Q_2. Two lines, the first ending Kent, in Ff. See note (II).

[2438] deserving] your deserving Pope.

[2439] again.] again. [Trumpets sound, within. Theobald.

[2440] Sennet.] Ff. Sound a Sennet, Q_1 Q_2. Sunday a Cornet, Q_3.

Enter one bearing a coronet, King ... Attendants.] Enter King ... Attendants. Ff. Enter one bearing a Coronet, then Lear, then the Dukes of Albany and Cornwall, next Gonorill, Regan, Cordelia, with followers. Qq.

[2441] SCENE II. Pope.

the lords] Ff. my lords Qq.

Gloucester] om. Pope.

[2442] my liege] Q_1 Q_3. my leige Q_2. my Lord Ff.

[Exeunt....] Capell. Exit. Ff. om. Qq.

[2443] shall] F_3 F_4. shal F_1 F_2. will Qq.

darker] dark Q_3.

purpose] Ff. purposes Qq.

[2444] Give ... there.] F_1 F_2. The map there; Qq. Give me the map here. F_3 F_4.

Know] Qq. Know, that Ff.

[2445] In] Into F_4.

our] om. Q_3.

fast] Ff. first Qq. om. Pope. See note (III).

[2446] from our age] Ff. of our state Qq.

[2447] Conferring] Ff. Confirming Qq.

strengths,] Ff. yeares, Qq.

[2448] while we ... now.] Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[2449] loving son] lov'd Seymour conj.

[2450] daughters'] Capell. daughters F_1 F_2. daughter's F_3 F_4.

[2451] now] om. Hanmer.

The princes] Ff. The two great princes Qq. om. Seymour conj.

[2452] youngest] Q_1 Q_2 yongest F_1 Q_3. yonger F_2. younger F_3 F_4.

[2453] Tell me, my] Tell my F_3 F_4. Tell me, Pope.

[2454] Since ... state,] Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[2455] cares] and cares Hanmer.

[2456] Where ... challenge.] Ff. Where merit doth most challenge it: Qq, ending the line at it. Capell, reading with Qq, divides the lines as Ff.

[2457] Our ... more] As one line, S. Walker conj.

[2458] Sir,] Put in a line by itself, Johnson. Erased in Collier MS.

Sir, I love] Sir, I Do love Steevens, ending line 52 at I.

Sir, I ... matter,] I love you sir, Pope. Sir, I do love you Far more ... matter: love you Capell.

I love] Ff. I do love Qq.

words] Qq. word Ff.

wield] Q_1 Q_3 F_4. weild Q_2 F_1 F_2 F_3. yield Capell conj.

[2459] and] Ff. or Qq.

[2460] much as] Ff. much a Qq.

e'er] e're F_3 F_4. ere Q_1 Q_2 F_1 F_2. eare Q_3.

found] Ff. friend Qq.

[2461] manner of so] manner. So Becket conj.

[2462] [Aside] Pope. om. Qq Ff.

do?] Pope. do, Qq. speake? F_1 F_2. speak? F_3 F_4.

[2463] shadowy] Ff. shady Qq.

[2464] and with ... rivers] Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[2465] champains] F_1. champions F_2 F_3 F_4.

[2466] Albany's] F_4. Albanies Q_1 F_1 F_2. Albaines Q_2. Albaenids Q_3. Albanie's F_3.

issue] Qq. issues Ff.

[2467] What says] om. Seymour conj.

[2468] wife to] Q_1 Q_2. wife of Ff Q_3.

Cornwall? Speak.] Pope. Cornwall, speake. Q_1 Q_3. Cornwell, speake? Q_2. Cornwall? Ff (omitting Speak).

[2469] I am] Ff. Sir I am Qq. I'm Pope. Sir, I'm Dyce, ed. 2, putting Sir in a separate line.

that self metal] that selfe-mettle F_1 F_2. that self-metal F_3 F_4. the selfe-same mettall Q_1. the selfe same mettall Q_2. the selfe-same mettell Q_3.

as my sister] Ff. that my sister is Qq.

[2470] me] you Mason conj.

worth. In ... heart] worth. In ... heart, Ff. worth in ... heart, Qq. worth, in ... heart. Theobald (Bishop conj.) worth, in ... heart Tyrwhitt conj.

[2471] I find ... joys,] Three lines in Ff. Two, the first ending short, in Qq.

[2472] comes too short] Ff. came short Qq.

short:] Theobald. short, Qq Ff.

that] in that Keightley.

[2473] precious square] precious spirit Hanmer. spacious sphere Singer (ed. 2). precious sphere Collier (Collier MS.) spacious square Keightley (Grant White conj. withdrawn).

sense] sense' Smith apud Grey conj.

possesses] Qq. professes Ff.

precious treasure Bailey conj.

[2474] And ... love.] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[2475] alone] all one Q_3.

[2476] [Aside] Pope. om Qq Ff.

[2477] Then ... tongue.] As in Ff. Two lines, the first ending sure, in Qq.

[2478] Cordelia] Cord. Q_2.

[2479] love's] Q_1 Ff Q_3. loves Q_2.

[2480] love's ... tongue.] love, ... tongue, outvalues theirs. Seymour conj.

[2481] ponderous] Ff. richer Qq. plenteous Collier MS. precious Grant White conj.

my tongue] their tongue Warburton conj.

[2482] conferr'd] Ff. confirm'd Qq.

[2483] See note (IV).

[2484] Now] Ff. but now Qq.

[2485] the last, not] Qq. our last and Ff. our last, not Pope.

least, ... love] least; ... love, Ff. least in our deere love, Qq. least; in whose young love Hanmer.

[2486] interess'd] Malone. interest Ff. int'ress'd Theobald.

can you say] say you Pope.

draw] Ff. win Qq.

[2487] opulent] opilent F_1.

[2488] Lear. Nothing! Cor. Nothing.] Omitted in Qq. Lear. How! Cor. Nothing. Capell.

[2489] Nothing will come] Ff. How, nothing can come Qq.

[2490] Unhappy ... less] As in Ff. Prose in Qq.

[2491] heave] have Q_3.

[2492] nor more] Qq. no more Ff.

[2493] How, how, Cordelia!] Go too, go too, Q_1 Q_3. Goe to, goe to, Q_2.

mend] mend me Capell, reading with Qq.

[2494] it] Qq. you Ff.

[2495] begot] bgot Q_1 (Cap.)

[2496] I ... fit,] As in Pope. One line in Qq Ff.

[2497] are] is Keightley.

[2498] Why ... all?] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[2499] Haply] Q_1 Q_3. Happely Q_2. Happily Ff.

[2500] Haply ... never] Arranged as in Ff. Three lines, ending hand ... him, ... never, in Qq.

[2501] marry] Matry Q_1 (Cap.) Mary Q_2.

[2502] marry ... all.] Arranged as in Pope. One line in Qq.

[2503] To ... all.] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

[2504] thy heart with this?] Ff. this with thy heart! Qq (tis Q_3).

Ay, good my] I good my Q_1 Q_2. I goe my Q_3. I my good Ff.

[2505] Let] Ff. Well let Qq.

thy truth] the truth F_3 F_4.

[2506] mysteries] F_2 F_3 F_4. mistresse Qq. miseries F_1.

Hecate] F_3 F_4. Heccat Qq F_1. Hecat F_2.

night] Ff. might Qq.

[2507] operation] Qq F_1. operations F_2 F_3 F_4.

[2508] this] this tyme Anon. conj. MS. See note (V).

ever. The] Ff. ever, the Qq.

barbarous] barbarious Q_3.

[2509] Or ... appetite,] Arranged as in Ff. Two lines, the first ending generation, in Qq.

[2510] shall to my bosom Be] Ff. Shall be Q_1 Q_3. Shall bee Q_2.

[2511] liege,—] liege— Rowe. liege. Qq Ff.

[2512] Peace ... wrath.] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

Peace, Kent!... between] Peace,—come not 'tween Seymour conj.

[2513] and] om. Pope.

[To Cor. Rowe. To Kent. Heath conj.

[2514] Burgundy.] Burgundy— Rowe. Burgundy, Qq Ff.

[Exit an Att. Capell. Exit Edmund. Capell conj. MS.

[2515] daughters' dowers] Warburton. daughters dowres F_1 F_3 F_4. daughters dower Qq. daughters, dowres F_2.

this] Qq. the Ff.

[2516] with] Ff. in Qq.

[2517] Pre-eminence] Malone. Preheminence Qq Ff.

[2518] Ourself] We Seymour conj.

[2519] turns] turnes Qq. turne F_1 F_2. turn F_3 F_4.

we still] Qq. we shall Ff. om. Pope. we Capell.

[2520] The name ... rest,] As in Qq. The first line ends sway, in Ff. Three lines, ending king; ... sway, ... rest, in Steevens (1793).

[2521] name, and ... king;] name; but ... king, Theobald conj. (withdrawn).

and all] om. Capell, reading The name ... sway, as one line.

additions] Qq. addition Ff.

[2522] of the rest] om. Pope. office Theobald conj. (withdrawn). of th' hest Warburton. and the rest Capell. interest Heath conj. all the rest Jennens conj. [offers it. (a stage direction) Anon. conj.

[2523] betwixt] Qq. betweene F_1 F_2. between F_3 F_4.

[Giving the crown. Pope.

[in Action of preventing him. Capell.

[2524] my king] a king F_4.

[2525] follow'd] Ff. followed Qq.

[2526] As my great] Qq F_1 As my F_2 F_3 F_4. And as my Rowe.

prayers,—] prayers— Rowe. praiers. Q_1 Q_3 F_1 F_2. prayers. Q_2 F_3 F_4.

[2527] Let it ... hollowness] As in Ff (except line 146). The lines end rather, ... heart, ... mad ... duty ... bowes, folly, ... consideration ... life, ... least, ... sound ... hollownesse in Qq.

[2528] mad] man Q_2.

wouldst] F_4. wouldest F_1 F_2 F_3. wilt Qq.

[2529] When ... bound,] One line in Johnson. Two in Ff.

honour's] Ff. honours Qq. honour Is Pope.

[2530] stoops to folly] Qq. falls to folly Ff. to folly falls Pope, ending the lines honour ... falls.

folly.] Johnson, folly; Rowe. folly, Qq Ff.

Reverse thy doom] Qq. reserve thy state Ff.

[2531] And ... consideration] with better judgment Pope, reading Reserve ... check as one line.

[2532] answer ... judgement] with my life I answer Pope.

[2533] sound Reverbs] Qq. sounds Reverbe Ff.

[2534] Kent,] om. Seymour conj.

thy life] my life F_3 F_4.

[2535] as a] as F_1

[2536] thy] Qq. thine Ff.

enemies] foes Pope.

nor] Qq. nere F_1 F_2. ne're F_3. ne'er F_4.

[2537] the motive] Qq. motive Ff.

[2538] Now ... vain.] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[2539] Apollo,—] Apollo— Q_1 Q_3. Appollo, Q_2. Apollo, F_1 Apollo. F_2 F_3 F_4.

[2540] swear'st] swearest Q_2 Q_3.

O, vassal! miscreant!] O vassal! miscreant. Ff. Vassall, recreant. Qq. O, vassal! recreant! Collier.

[Laying....] Rowe. om. Qq Ff. In Action of drawing his Sword. Capell.

[2541] Alb. Corn. Dear sir, forbear.] Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[2542] Do] Qq. om. Ff. Put in a separate line first by Steevens (1793).

[2543] Kill ... evil.] Divided as in Ff. The lines end physition, ... disease, ... clamour ... evill in Qq.

[2544] the fee] Qq. thy fee Ff.

[2545] Upon the] Upon thy Capell.

thy doom] thy doome Qq. thy gift Ff (guift F_1). the gift Rowe (ed. 2).

[2546] Hear ... me!] Arranged as by Capell. One line in Qq Ff.

[2547] recreant] Ff. om. Qq.

[2548] On thy ... me!] Omitted by Pope.

thy] Qq. thine Ff.

[2549] Since] Qq. That Ff.

vow] Qq. vowes Ff.

[2550] strain'd] Ff. straied Qq.

[2551] between] Q_3. betweene Q_1 Q_2. betwixt Ff.

sentence] sentences F_1.

[2552] Our ... made] Nor ... make Heath conj. Or ... make Johnson conj. Make we our potency Becket conj.

made] Q_2 Ff. make Q_1 Q_3.

[2553] Five] Ff. Foure Qq.

[2554] diseases] Q_1 Q_2. disasters Ff. defeases Q_3.

[2555] sixth] F_4. sixt F_1 F_2 F_3. fift Qq.

[2556] on] Q_1 Q_2 F_1. om. F_2 F_3 F_4. one Q_3.

tenth] seventh Collier (Collier MS.)

[2557] The ... Away!] That ... Away—begone! Seymour conj., ending the line begone!

death. Away! By] death: away. By Pope, death, away, By Q_1 Q_3 (ending the line away). death, away, by Q_2 (ending the line Jupiter). death, away. By Ff.

[2558] Fare] Ff. Why fare Qq.

sith thus] Ff. since thus Q_2. since Q_1 Q_3.

[2559] Freedom] Ff. Friendship Qq.

[2560] [To Cordelia] Hanmer. om. Qq Ff.

dear shelter] Ff. protection Qq.

thee, maid] F_4. thee maid F_1 F_2 F_3. the maid Q_1 Q_3. the maide Q_2.

[2561] justly] Ff. rightly Qq.

think'st] F_1 F_2 F_3. thinkes Q_1. thinks Q_2 Q_3 F_4.

hast] Q_2 Ff. hath Q_1 Q_3.

rightly] Ff. justly Qq.

[2562] [To Regan....] To Gon. and Regan. Hanmer. om. Qq Ff.

your large speeches] you, large speechers, Capell.

[2563] course] corse Anon. conj. (Gent. Mag. LX. 402).

[2564] Flourish.] F_1. om. Qq F_2 F_3 F_4.

Re-enter....] Capell. Enter France and Burgundy with Glocester. Qq (Burgundie Q_2. Gloster Q_2). Enter Gloster with France, and Burgundy, Attendants. Ff.

[2565] SCENE III. Pope.

Glou.] Glo. Q_1 Q_3. Glost. Q_2. Cor. Ff.

[2566] My ... love?] Arranged as in Ff. Four lines, ending you, ... daughter, ... present ... love? in Qq.

[2567] My] They are welcome both: my Seymour conj.

lord] L. Q_2.

[2568] towards] Qq. toward Ff.

this] Ff. a Qq.

[2569] Hath] Have Pope.

in the least] at least Pope. is the least Long MS.

[2570] Most] Ff. om. Qq.

[2571] royal ... less.] Divided as in Ff. Two lines, the first ending what, in Qq.

[2572] what] Qq F_3 F_4. hath F_1 F_2.

offer'd] Ff. offered Qq.

[2573] less.] F_4. lesse? Qq F_1 F_2. less? F_3.

[2574] Right ... pieced,] Arranged as in Ff. Four lines, ending us, ... fallen; ... little ... peec'st, in Qq.

[2575] did hold] Qq F_1. held F_2 F_3 F_4.

[2576] price] prise Q_2.

fall'n] F_3 F_4. fallen Qq F_1 F_2.

[2577] little seeming] little, seeming, Capell. little, seeming Steevens (1778). little-seeming S. Walker conj.

[2578] with our] without Q_3.

pieced] peec'st Qq. piec'd Ff. pierc'd Pope.

[2579] more] Ff. else Qq.

[2580] Will] Ff. Sir, will Q_1 Q_3. Sir will Q_2.

[2581] Dower'd] Dow'rd F_1. Dowr'd F_2 F_3 F_4. Couered Q_1 Q_2. Covered Q_3.

[2582] her?] Rowe. her. Qq Ff.

[2583] Pardon ... conditions.] Divided as in Ff. The first line ends at up in Qq.

[2584] me] om. Pope.

[2585] makes not up on] mates not upon Jackson conj.

up on] Qq. up in Ff. upon Mason conj.

[2586] [To France] Pope. om. Qq Ff.

[2587] worthier] worthy Pope.

[2588] This ... degree] Arranged as in Ff. Six lines, ending now ... praise, ... deerest, ... thing ... favour, ... degree, in Qq.

[2589] she, that] Q_2. she that Q_1 Q_3. she whom F_1. she who F_2 F_3 F_4.

best] Qq F_2 F_3 F_4. om. F_1. blest Collier (Collier MS.)

[2590] The ... praise] Your praise's argument Pope.

[2591] Most best, most] Qq. The best, the Ff.

Most ... dearest] Dearest and best Pope.

[2592] her offence] th' offence Pope.

[2593] That monsters it] As monstrous is Rowe. As monsters it Hanmer. That masters it Becket conj. That man starts at Jackson conj., reading the rest with Johnson conj.

or] ere Theobald conj. (withdrawn). your] Ff. you Qq.

fore-vouch’d] fore-voucht Ff. for voucht Qq.

affection] Ff. affections Qq.

[2594] or ... Fall’n] or your fore-vouch’d affection Could not fall Rowe. or you for vouch'd affection Fall Johnson conj.

[2595] Fall’n] Falne Q_1 Q_2. Falen Q_3. Fall Ff. Could not fall Rowe. Falls Johnson conj. See note (VI).

[2596] reason without miracle Could] reason without A miracle should Hanmer. without miracle, Reason could Seymour conj.

[2597] Could] Qq. Should Ff.

plant] Q_2 Ff. plaint Q_1 Q_3.

majesty,—] A full stop in F_1; comma in the rest.

[2598] majesty,—If for] majesty If (for Pope. majesty, (if so Hanmer, ending the lines so ... speak.

[2599] If for] Seeing Capell conj.

[2600] well] Qq. will Ff.

[2601] make known] Ff. may know Qq. May know [To France. Jennens.

[2602] murder, or] Q_1. murder or Q_2. murther, or Ff Q_3. nor other Singer, ed. 2 (Collier MS.), umber, or S. Walker conj. misdeed or Keightley. no slur, or Cartwright conj.

burden, or Bailey conj.

[2603] unchaste] Ff. uncleane Qq.

dishonour’d] dishonord Q_2. dishonored F_2. dishonoured The rest.

step] stoop Collier (Collier MS.)

[2604] grace and] grace’s Anon. conj.

[2605] for want] the want Hanmer.

I am] I’m Pope.

richer] Ff. rich Qq.

[2606] still-soliciting] Hyphen inserted by Theobald.

[2607] As] Qq. That Ff.

I have not] I've not Pope.

[2608] Better] Ff. Go to, goe to, better Q_1. Goe to, goe to, better Q_2. Go to, go to, better Q_3.

[2609] Better ... better.] Divided as by Pope. The first line ends borne, in Qq, at hadst, in Ff. Capell, reading with Ff, divides as Qq.

[2610] to have] Qq. t have F_1. t' have F_2 F_3 F_4. have Pope.

[2611] but this] Ff. no more but this Qq.

[2612] Which] Ff. That Qq.

[2613] Which ... stand] Arranged as in Ff. Three lines, ending do, ... lady?... stands, in Qq.

[2614] to do] om. Seymour conj.

[2615] Love's] Ff. Love is Qq.

[2616] regards that stand] Pope. respects that stands Qq. regards, that stands Ff. regards, and stands Capell.

[2617] the] Qq. th' Ff.]

point. Will] Steevens. point, will Q_1 Ff Q_3. point wil Q_2. point. Say will Pope.

[2618] a dowry] Ff. and dower Q_1 Q_3. and dowre Q_2.

[2619] Royal ... Burgundy.] Divided as in Ff. Three lines, ending portion ... lake ... Burgundy, in Q_1 Q_3. Three lines, ending portion ... Cordelia ... Burgundie, in Q_2.

[2620] Lear] Q_1 Q_3. Leir Q_2. King Ff.

[2621] I have sworn; I am firm.] Ff (substantially). I have sworne. Qq. I've sworn. Pope. I've sworn; I'm firm. Anon. conj.

[2622] I am] I'm Pope.

[2623] Peace ... wife.] Arranged as in Ff. Two lines, the first ending respects, in Qq.

[2624] Burgundy] Burguny F_2.

[2625] respects of fortune] respects Of fortune Qq. respect and fortunes Ff.

[2626] that] thou Hanmer.

[2627] seize] cease Q_2.

[2628] Be it] Be't Pope.

[2629] cold'st] couldst Q_2. cold Anon. conj. MS. See note (V).

[2630] my chance] Ff. thy chance Qq. the chance Anon. conj. MS. See note (V).

[2631] of] Ff. in Qq.

[2632] Can] Ff. Shall Qq.

[2633] unkind] unkinn'd Staunton conj.

[2634] unkind: Thou] unkinde, Thou Ff. unkinde Thou Qq.

[2635] for we ... see] Divided as in Ff. One line in Qq.

[2636] [To Cor. Anon. conj.

[2637] Without ... Burgundy.] Divided as in Ff. One line in Qq.

[2638] our love] without our love Johnson conj.

[2639] [Flourish.] Ff. om. Qq.

Exeunt....] Exit Lear and Burgundy. Qq. Exeunt. Ff. Exeunt Lear, Burgundy, Cornwal, Albany, Gloster, and Attendants. Capell.

[2640] SCENE IV. Pope.

sisters.] sisters? Q_2.

[2641] The jewels] Ye jewels Rowe (ed. 2).

[2642] The ... father:] Arranged as in Ff. Four lines, ending father, ... are, ... faults ... father, in Qq.

[2643] you what] what Rowe (ed. 2).

[2644] Use] Qq. Love Ff.

[2645] professed] professing Pope.

[2646] prefer] perfer F_2.

[2647] Reg.... Gon.] Ff. Gonorill ... Regan. Qq.

duties] Qq. dutie F_1. duty F_2 F_3 F_4.

[2648] Let ... scanted,] Arranged as in Ff. Three lines, ending lord, ... almes, ... scanted, in Qq.

[2649] At] As Capell.

[2650] worth ... wanted] Ff. worth the worth that you have wanted Qq. worthy to want that you have wanted Hanmer. worth the want that you have vaunted Warburton. worth the want that you have wasted Heath conj. worth to want the worth that you have wanted Capell. worth to want that you have wanted Eccles conj. worth the wit that you have wanted Jackson conj. worthy want that worth have wanted Badham conj.

[2651] plaited] Pope (ed. 2). pleated Q_1 Q_2. pleeted Q_3. plighted Ff. pleached Theobald conj. (withdrawn). plated Malone conj. (withdrawn).

[2652] cover] Steevens. covers Qq. Ff. cover'd Hanmer, reading the rest of the line as Ff. covert Rann (Mason conj.), reading the rest as Ff.

cover faults, at] cover-faults at Singer (ed. 2), reading the rest as Ff.

shame them derides] Qq. with shame derides Ff. their shame derides Anon. conj.

[2653] my] Ff. om. Qq.

[Exeunt....] F_3 F_4. Exit.... Qq F_1 F_2.

[2654] SCENE V. Pope.

[2655] Sister ... to-night.] Prose in Capell. Three lines, ending say, ... both ... to night, in Qq Ff.

[2656] a little I have] Qq. little I have Ff. little I've Pope.

most] om. Capell conj.

[2657] hence] go hence Rowe.

[2658] most] om. Pope, reading as verse.

[2659] is; the] is the Q_2.

[2660] hath not been] Qq. hath beene Ff.

[2661] too] Qq F_1. too too F_2 F_3 F_4.

gross'y] grossely Ff. grosse Qq.

[2662] to receive from his age] Qq. from his age, to receive Ff.

[2663] imperfections] Ff. imperfection Qq.

ingrafted] Qq. ingraffed F_1 F_2. engraffed F_3 F_4.

[2664] the] Ff. om. Qq.

[2665] starts] Q_2 Ff. stars Q_1 Q_3.

[2666] There is] Then his Anon. conj.

compliment] complement Qq Ff. the compliment Anon. conj.

[2667] France] Burgundy Hanmer.

Pray you] Ff. Pray Qq.

let's hit] lets hit Qq. let us sit Ff. let us hit Theobald.

[2668] authority with] authority, with Hanmer.

dispositions] Qq. disposition Ff.

[2669] on't] Qq. of it Ff.

[2670] SCENE II.] om. Rowe. SCENE VI. Pope. The whole scene is transferred to the beginning of ACT II. by Eccles.

The ... castle.] A Castle belonging to the Earl of Glo'ster. Pope. A Hall in the Earl of Gloster's Castle. Capell.

Enter ... letter.] Theobald. Enter Bastard solus. Qq. Enter Bastard. Ff.

[2671] Thou ... news?] Verse in Ff. Prose in Qq.

[2672] in] to Hanmer.

plague] plage Warburton. place Simpson conj.

[2673] curiosity] nicety Pope. curtesie Theobald (Thirlby conj.)

[2674] Why ... base?] and why bastard? base? Hanmer.

[2675] dimensions] Ff. dementions Qq.

[2676] As ... base?] Arranged as in Ff. Jennens, reading as Qq, ends the lines issue?... bastardy?

[2677] With ... base?] With Base? With basenes Bastardie? Base, Base? F_1 and substantially F_2 F_3 F_4. with base, base bastardy? Qq (bastardie? Q_2).

[2678] dull, stale] Ff. stale dull Qq.

tired] tyred Ff. lied Q_1 Q_3. lyed Q_2.

[2679] the creating] th' creating Ff. the creating of Qq. creating Pope.

[2680] 'tween asleep] atween sleep Dodd conj.

asleep] a-sleep Pope. a sleepe Q_2 F_1 F_2 a sleep F_3 F_4 sleepe Q_1. sleep Q_3.

then,] Ff the Qq then, good brother, Hanmer.

[2681] fine word, 'legitimate!'] Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[2682] top the] Capell. tooth' Qq. to' th' F_1 F_2. to th' F_3 F_4. be th' Pope, ed. 2 (Theobald). toe th' Hanmer. out th' or rout th' Jennens conj. foe the Mason conj.

legitimate.] legitimate: Qq Ff. legitimate— Rowe, reading to th' with F_3 F_4.

[2683] SCENE VII. Pope.

[2684] Kent ... gad!] Put in the margin by Eccles.

[2685] subscribed] subscrib'd Q_1 Q_3. subscribd Q_2. Perscrib'd Ff.

[2686] this done] Q_1 F_1 Q_3. this donne Q_2. this gone F_2 F_3 F_4. is gone Pope.

[2687] [Putting....] Rowe. om. Qq Ff.

[2688] Why] Whe F_2.

[2689] needed] Ff. needs Q_1 Q_3. needes Q_2.

terrible] terribe Q_2.

[2690] hide] hid Q_3.

[2691] Edm.] Bast. Q_1 Ff Q_3. Ba. Q_2. (Cap. Dev. Mus. per. and Bodl. 1, 2). om. Q_2 (Mus. imp.)

[2692] and] Ff. om. Qq.

[2693] o'er-looking] ore-looking Ff. liking Qq. overlooking Warburton.

[2694] I ... blame.] Prose in Qq Three lines ending it: ... them ... blame, in Ff.

[2695] to blame] Q_3 F_3 F_4. too blame Q_1 Q_2 F_1 F_2.

[2696] essay or taste] assay or test Johnson conj.

[2697] [Reads] Ff. A Letter. Qq.

and reverence] Ff. Omitted in Qq. in reverence Hanmer.

age] ages Pope (ed. 2).

[2698] to the best] to best F_2 F_3 F_4.

[2699] who] which Rowe.

[2700] Sleep] F_3 F_4. sleepe F_1 F_2. slept Qq.]

waked] wakt Qq. wake Ff.

[2701] brain] a brain Rowe.

[2702] this to you] Qq F_3 F_4. you to this F_1 F_2.

[2703] were his ... were not.] was his ... is not. Seymour conj.

[2704] his ... respect of] his but in respect, of Q_2.

[2705] It is his.] Ff. It is his? Q_2. Is it his? Q_1 Q_3.

[2706] but] Qq F_1. om. F_2 F_3 F_4.

[2707] Hath] Qq. Has Ff.

heretofore] Qq. before Ff.

[2708] heard him oft] Ff. often heard him Qq.

[2709] at] being at Hanmer.

perfect] perfit Q_1.

declining] Qq. declin'd F_1 F_3 F_4. declind F_2.

[2710] the father] Ff. his father Qq.

as ward] as a ward Q_3.

[2711] his] Ff. the Qq.

[2712] sirrah] Ff. sir Qq.

ay,] I, Q_1 Q_3. I Q_2. Ile F_1 F_2. I'le F_3 F_4. om. Anon. conj. MS. See note (V).

[2713] lord] L. F_1 F_2.

[2714] his] Ff. this Qq.

[2715] should] Q_2 Ff (shold F_1). shal Q_1. shall Q_3.

[2716] own] om. F_2 F_3 F_4.

[2717] that] Ff. om. Qq.

[2718] wrote] Qq. writ Ff.

[2719] further] Qq. om. Ff.

[2720] auricular] Ff. aurigular Qq.

[2721] monster—] Dyce. monster. Qq Ff.

[2722] Edm. Nor ... earth!] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

[2723] me] you Johnson conj. (withdrawn).

[2724] him, I pray you: frame] Ff. him, I pray you frame Qq.

the] Ff. your Qq.

[2725] will] Ff. shall Qq.

[2726] find] Ff. see Qq.

[2727] eclipses] elipses F_2.

[2728] moon] the moon Capell conj.

[2729] the wisdom of nature] your wisdom Lettsom conj.

nature] mankind Hanmer. man Keightley (Lettsom conj.)

it] Ff. om. Qq.

[2730] sequent] frequent Theobald.

[2731] discord] Ff. discords Qq.

in palaces] pallaces Q_1 Q_2. pallcies Q_3.

[2732] treason] treasons Qq.

and the bond] Ff. the bond Qq.

'twixt] Ff. betweene Qq.

[2733] This villain ... graves.] Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[2734] villain] villanie Q_3.

[2735] honesty] Ff. honest Qq.

'Tis strange] Ff. strange, strange! Q_1. Strange strange! Q_2. Straing, strange! Q_3.

[Exit.] Ff. om. Qq.

[2736] SCENE VIII. Pope.

[2737] surfeit] Q_2. surfet Q_1 Q_3. surfets F_1 F_2 F_3. surfeits F_4. forfeit Collier conj.

[2738] the stars] Qq. starres F_1 F_2 F_3. stars F_4.

by] Qq. on Ff.

[2739] treachers] Ff. trecherers Qq. treacherous Pope.

[2740] spherical] F_3 F_4. sphericall F_1. sphæricall F_2. spirituall Qq.

[2741] disposition to] Qq. disposition on Ff.

to the charge] on the charge Pope, on the change Warburton.

a star] F_3 F_4. a starre F_1 F_2. stars Q_1. starres Q_2. hars Q_3.

[2742] lecherous] treacherous Theobald conj. (withdrawn).]

Tut] Steevens. Fut Q_1 Q_2. But Q_3. om. Ff.

that] what Pope.

[2743] maidenliest] F_3 F_4. maidenlest Q_1 Q_2 F_1 F_2. maidenleast Q_3.

in] Ff. of Qq.

bastardizing] Ff. bastardy Qq.

[2744] Edgar— ... And pat] Steevens (1778). Edgar, Enter Edgar. & out Q_1 Q_3. Edgar; and out Q_2 (Enter Edgar, in margin). Enter Edgar. Pat: Ff. Enter Edgar. Edgar! Pat; Capell. Edgar—Enter Edgar. Pat!— Steevens (1773).

[2745] Edgar— ... divisions!] Marked as 'Aside' by Capell.

[2746] SCENE IX. Pope.

[2747] my cue] Ff. mine Qq.

sigh] sighe F_1. sith Q_2.

Tom o'] Ff. them of Qq.

[2748] do portend] portent Q_3. portend Pope.

[2749] fa, ... mi.] fa, ... me. Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[2750] [Humming. Hanmer.

[2751] about] Qq. with Ff.

[2752] you] Qq F_1. om. F_2 F_3 F_4.

writ] Qq. writes Ff.

[2753] as of ... Come, come;] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

[2754] amities] Q_2. armies Q_1 Q_3.

[2755] cohorts] Qq. courts Steevens 1773 (as misquoted by Johnson in note). comforts Jennens.

[2756] Why, the] Q_2. Why the Q_1 Q_3. The Ff.

[2757] Ay,] I, Ff. om. Qq.

[2758] or] Qq. nor Ff.

[2759] may] om. F_3 F_4.

[2760] till] Qq. untill F_1 F_2. until F_3 F_4.

[2761] with] without Hanmer. but with Johnson conj.

[2762] person] parson Q_2.

scarcely] Ff. scarse Q_1 Q_3. scarce Q_2.

[2763] fear ... Edm. Brother,] Ff. feare brother, Qq (omitting the rest).

[2764] pray ye] pray you Rowe.

[2765] go armed] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

[2766] towards] Qq. toward Ff.

[2767] heard; but faintly,] heard, but faintly, Qq. heard: But faintly. Ff. heard, but faintly; Pope.

[2768] SCENE X. Pope.

I do] I Pope. I'll Heath conj.

[Exit Edgar.] Exit Fdgar. Q_2. Exit Edgar. Q_1 Q_3 (after line 167). Exit. Ff (after line 167).

[2769] All with me's] All's with me Capell conj.

[2770] SCENE III.] SCENE II. Rowe and Eccles. SCENE XI. Pope.

The ...] Rowe. A room in the ... Capell.

Oswald, her Steward.] Collier, a Gentleman. Q_1 Q_3. Gentleman. Q_2. Steward. Ff.

[2771] Osw.] Collier. Gent. Qq. Ste. F_1 Stew. F_2 F_3 F_4.

[2772] Yes] Qq. I Ff. Ay Rowe.

[2773] night] Qq. night, Ff. night! Capell.

[2774] every ... other,] Divided as in Ff. One line in Qq.

[2775] upbraids] obrayds Q_2.

[2776] trifle. When] Ff. trifle when Qq (trifell Q_2).

[2777] [Horns within.] Capell. om. Qq Ff.

[2778] Put on ... one,] Verse in Ff. Prose in Qq.

[2779] weary] wary Anon. conj. (Gent. Mag. LX. 402).

[2780] fellows] F_3 F_4. fellowes F_1 F_2. fellow-servants Q_1 Q_3. fellow servants Q_2.

to] Ff. in Qq.

[2781] distaste] Ff. dislike Qq.

our] Qq. my Ff.

[2782] Not to be ... abused.] Verse first by Theobald. Prose in Qq. Omitted in Ff, Rowe, Pope and Hanmer.

[2783] fools] folks Warburton.

[2784] checks ... abused] checks; as flatteries, when they are seen, are abus'd Keightley.

as ... abused] Qq. like flatt'rers when they're seen t' abuse us. Theobald. as flatteries, when they are seen abuses. or as flatteries when they are seen t' abuse us. Theobald conj. (withdrawn). not flatt'ries when they're seen abused. Warburton. by flatteries when they're seen abused. Jennens. of flatteries when they're seen abused. Badham conj. Halliwell supposes that a line is omitted.

[2785] tell you] Qq. have said Ff. have said to you Keightley.

Very well] Qq. Well Ff.

[2786] And let ... so:] As in Capell. Verse first by Hanmer. Prose in Qq Ff.

[2787] advise] and advise Hanmer, ending the line advise.

[2788] I would ... speak:] As in Capell. Prose in Qq. Omitted in Ff, and subsequent editions down to Johnson's.

[2789] I'll ... dinner.] As in Hanmer. Prose in Qq Ff.

[2790] very] Qq. om. Ff.

[Exeunt.] Qq. Exit. Ff.

Prepare] Ff. goe prepare Q_1 Q_2. go prepare Q_3. Go and prepare Hanmer.

dinner] dinner now Keightley.

[2791] SCENE IV.] Rowe continues the scene. SCENE XII. Pope. SCENE III. Eccles.

A hall in the same.] Malone. An outer Hall in the same. Capell. An open Place before the Palace. Theobald.

Enter Kent, disguised.] Rowe. Enter Kent. Qq Ff.

[2792] If ... labours.] Verse in Ff. Prose in Qq.

[2793] well] will F_1.

[2794] That ... defuse] Qq Ff. And ... disuse Rowe. And ... diffuse Theobald. That ... deface Capell. That ... diffuse Steevens. That ... disuse Long MS. That ... disguise Jennens conj. That ... defeat Anon. conj.

[2795] razed] raz'd Q_2. raizd Q_1 Q_3. raiz'd F_1 F_2. rais'd F_3 F_4.

Now] om. Pope.

[2796] So ... come,] Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[2797] thee full] the full Q_1 Q_2.

labours] Ff. labour Qq.

Horns within.] Omitted in Qq.

Knights, and Attendants.] Rowe. and Attendants. Ff. Omitted in Qq. Gentleman, Knights, and Attendants. Capell.

[2798] [Exit an Attendant.] To an Attendant, who goes out. Capell. om. Qq Ff.

[To Kent. Theobald.

[2799] and says] to say Hanmer (Warburton).

[2800] art] are F_2.

[2801] be] Qq. be'st F_1 F_3 F_4. best F_2.

he is] Qq. he's Ff.

[2802] thou art] thar't Q_2.

[2803] Who] Qq F_1. Whom F_2 F_3 F_4.

[2804] What's] What's is Q_3.

[2805] services] service Q_3.

thou] om. Q_2.

[2806] counsel] counsaile Q_1 Q_2 F_1. counsaill Q_3. counsailes F_2. counsels F_3 F_4.

[2807] sir] Ff. om. Qq.

singing] sighing Anon. conj.

[2808] thou] that F_2.

[2809] me: if ... dinner, I] me; if ... dinner, I Rowe. me, if ... dinner, I Qq Ff. me, if ... dinner. I Jennens.

[2810] from ... dinner!] from thee. Yet no dinner ho? dinner— Hanmer.

Dinner, ho, dinner] Dinner, ho dinner Q_2.

[2811] hither] hether Q_1 Q_2.

[To an Attendant. Capell.

[Exit....] Dyce.

[2812] Enter Oswald.] Enter Steward. Capell. Enter Steward (after daughter?). Qq Ff. Enter Steward (after fool?). Johnson.

[2813] You, you,] F_3 F_4. You you F_1 F_2. You Qq.

[2814] Osw.] Collier. Steward Qq. Ste. F_1. Stew. F_2 F_3 F_4.

you,—] you— Q_1 Ff Q_3. you, Q_2.

[Exit.] Ff. om. Qq.

[2815] clotpoll] clotpole Ff. clat-pole Qq. clodpoll Johnson.

[2816] [Exit a Knight.] Dyce. om. Qq Ff.

fool, ho?] fool? Ho! Rowe. foole? ho, Q_1 Q_3. foole, ho Q_2. foole? Ho, Ff.

[2817] world's] worlds F_2.

Re-enter Knight.] Dyce. om. Qq Ff.

[2818] Knight.] F_4. Knigh. F_1 F_2 F_3. Kent. Qq.

daughter] daughters F_1 F_2.

[2819] Knight.] F_4. Knigh. F_1 F_2 F_3. Servant. Qq.

[2820] me] om. F_3 F_4.

[2821] He] A Q_2.

[2822] of kindness] Omitted in Qq.

dependants] dependance S. Walker conj.

[2823] wronged] is wrong'd Q_1 Q_3.

[2824] mine] my F_3 F_4.

[2825] faint] fain Becket conj.

[2826] mine own] my own Rowe (ed. 2).

[2827] purpose] Ff. purport Qq.

[2828] into 't Q_2 F_2 F_3 F_4. into it Q_1 Q_3. intoo't F_1.

where's] wheres F_2.

my] Ff. this Qq.

[2829] this] these Pope.

[2830] Knight.] Ff. Servant. Qq.

[2831] well] Ff. om. Qq.

[To one Attendant. Capell.

[2832] [Exit an Attendant.] Dyce. om. Qq Ff.

[2833] [to Another. Capell.

[Exit....] Dyce. om. Qq Ff.

Re-enter Oswald.] Re-enter Steward, brought back by an Attendant. Capell (after O, line 75). Enter Steward. Ff (after sir? line 75). Omitted in Qq.

[2834] you, come ... sir] Ff. you sir, come you hither Qq. come ... sir Rowe.

[2835] I am ... pardon.] Two lines in Ff.

[2836] these] Ff. this Qq.

[2837] your pardon] Ff. you pardon me Qq.

[2838] looks] locks Becket conj.

[Striking him.] Rowe. om. Qq Ff, and Capell.

[2839] struck] Q_2. strucke Q_1 Q_3. strucken Ff.

[in Posture of defending himself. Capell.

[2840] player.] player? Hanmer.

[Tripping ... heels.] Rowe. om. Qq Ff.

[2841] I ... thee.] Two lines in Ff.

[2842] arise, away] Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[2843] lubber's length] lubbers length Q_2 (Cap. & Dev.) lubbers, length Q_2 (Mus. per. & imp. & Bodl. 1, 2). lubbers-length Anon. conj. MS. See note (V).

[2844] tarry] tarry again Theobald (ed. 2).

go to] Omitted in Qq.

have you wisdom? so.] Theobald. have you wisedome, so. Ff. you have wisedome. Qq.

[Pushes....] Pushes the Steward out. Theobald. om. Qq Ff.

[2845] my] Ff. om. Qq.

there's] their's Q_2.

[2846] [Giving....] Capell. Giving money. Johnson. om. Qq Ff.

[2847] SCENE XIII. Pope.

[Offering....] Offering his cap. Capell. Giving his cap. Rowe. om. Qq Ff.

[2848] Kent. Why, fool?] Kent. Why foole? Qq. Lear. Why my Boy? Ff.

[2849] Why, for] Why for Qq. Why? for Ff.

one's] on's Q_2.

that's] that is F_4.

[2850] an] Pope. & F_1. and The rest. as Warburton.

thou'lt] Ff. thou't Qq.

[2851] hath] Qq. ha's F_1. has F_2 F_3 F_4.

[2852] on's] of his Q_1 Q_3.

done] Qq. did Ff.

[2853] and two] an' two (i.e. if two) Farmer conj.

[2854] gave] give F_3 F_4.

all my] Ff. any Qq.

I'ld] I'll Rowe.

coxcombs] Q_2. coxcombes F_1. coxcombe Q_1 Q_3 F_2. coxcomb F_3 F_4.

[2855] Truth's a] Ff. Truth is, a Q_1. Truth is a Q_2 Q_3.

must to] Ff. that must to Qq.

[2856] Lady the brach] lady, the brach, Malone (Steevens). Lady oth'e brach Q_1 Q_3. Ladie oth'e brach Q_2. the Lady Brach Ff. the lady's brach Letherland conj. Lie the brach Archibald Smith conj.

[2857] gall] Ff. gull Qq.

[2858] [To Kent. Rowe.

[2859] Lear] Ken. Capell.

[2860] nuncle] unckle Q_1 Q_3. uncle Q_2.

[2861] Have ... score.] As in Ff. Prose in Qq.

[2862] in-a-door] Capell. in a doore Qq. in a dore F_1 F_2. in dore F_3. in door F_4. within door Pope.

[2863] Kent.] Ff. Lear. Qq.

[2864] 'tis] F_1 F_2 F_3. om. Qq. it is F_4.

[2865] gave] give F_3 F_4.

[2866] nuncle] Ff. uncle Qq.

[2867] [To Kent] Rowe. om. Qq Ff.

[2868] Lear. A ... teach me.] Put in the margin by Pope, who omits altogether lines 135-142. Hanmer puts lines 131-142 in the margin.

[2869] my boy] nuncle Capell.

[2870] sweet fool] Qq. sweet one Ff.

[2871] [Sings. Anon. conj.

[2872] That lord ... snatching.] Omitted in Ff.

[2873] That lord ... there.] Eight lines in Capell. Four in Qq.

[2874] Do] Or do Hanmer (in margin) and Capell. And do Grant White.

thou] thou there Edd. conj.

[2875] boy] om. Pope.

[2876] out] Qq. on't Pope.

[2877] on't: and ladies too,] Capell. on't, and lodes too, Q_1 Q_3. an't, and lodes too, Q_2 (Cap. and Dev.) an't, and Ladies too, Q_2 (Bodl. 1, 2. Mus. per. and imp.) on 't: nay the ladies too, Pope. on't: and the ladies too, Steevens (1773). on't, and loads too: Collier.

[2878] they will] they'll Pope.

all the fool] Q_2. all foole Q_1 Q_3

[2879] Give ... egg, nuncle] Qq. Nunckle, give me an egge Ff.

[2880] in the] Qq. i' th' F_1 F_3 F_4. ith' F_2.

[2881] crown] crownes F_1.

i' the] it'h Q_2. i' th' F_1 F_3 F_4. ith' F_2. in the Q_1 Q_3.

[2882] borest] Qq. boar'st F_1 F_2 F_3. bor'st F_4.

on thy] at'h Q_2. at thy Anon. conj. MS. See note (V).

o'er] over Capell.

[2883] one] crown Johnson.

[2884] so] sooth Warburton.

[2885] [Singing] Rowe. om. Qq Ff.

[2886] had ne'er] ne'er had Pope.

wit] Qq. grace Ff.

[2887] And] Ff. They Qq.

know not how] well may fear Collier MS.]

to] Ff. do Q_1 Q_3. doe Q_2.

[2888] When] Since when Hanmer.

[2889] ever] Qq. ere F_1 F_2. e're F_3 F_4.

[2890] mother] Qq. mothers Ff.

[2891] Then they] First printed as part of the song by Theobald. As prose in Ff.

[2892] for ... among.] Verse in Ff. Prose in Qq.

[2893] fools] F_3 F_4. fooles Qq. foole F_1 F_2.

[2894] learn to lie] learne to lye Q_2 (Bodl. 1, 2. Mus. per. and imp.) learne lye Q_2 (Cap. and Dev.)].

[2895] An] Knight. And Q_2 Ff. If Q_1 Q_3.

sirrah] Omitted in Qq.

[2896] thou'lt] Ff. thou wilt Qq.

[2897] sometimes] Ff. sometime Qq.

[2898] o'] Ff. of Qq.

[2899] o' both] Ff a both Qq.

i' the] i' th' Ff. in the Qq.

Here] Heare F_2.

[2900] o' the] of the Capell.

[2901] SCENE XIV. Pope.

[2902] How ... frown.] Prose in Ff. Two lines in Qq.

[2903] daughter] our daughter Keightley.

on?] Ff. on, Qq.

[2904] Methinks] Omitted in Ff.

of late] Ff. alate Qq.

[2905] frowning] Ff. frowne Qq.

now thou] Q_2 (Bodl. 1, 2. Mus. per. and imp.) Ff. thou, thou Q_1 Q_2 (Cap. and Dev.) Q_3.

[2906] [To Gon.] Pope. om. Qq Ff.

[2907] Mum, mum:] Omitted by Pope.

[Singing. Rowe.

[2908] nor crust] Ff. neither crust Qq.

[2909] [Pointing to Lear] Johnson. Speaking to Lear. Warburton. To Kent, shewing Lear. Capell.

That's] Thou art Warburton.

shealed] shell'd Capell.

peascod] Pope (ed. 2). pescod Qq Ff.

[2910] Not ... proceeding] Verse in Ff. Prose in Qq.

[2911] this] thus Johnson.

[2912] other] others Johnson.

[2913] and ... riots. Sir,] Pointed as by Capell. (not ... riots) Sir, Q_1. (not ... riots,) Sir Q_2. (not ... endur'd) riots Sir. F_1 and F_2 F_3 F_4 substantially. (not ... riots) Sir Q_3.

Sir,] om. Theobald.

[2914] had] om. Pope.

[2915] put it on] Ff. put on Qq.

[2916] which] om. Pope.

[2917] if you should ... Would] did you not ... Would or if you should ... Shall Seymour conj.

[2918] redresses] Ff. redresse Q_1 Q_3. redresse, Q_2.

[2919] Which] Ff. that Qq.

[2920] Will] Ff. must Qq.

proceeding] Ff. proceedings Qq.

[2921] know] Ff. trow Qq.

[2922] The ... young.] As verse first by Pope. Prose in Qq Ff.

[2923] it had it head] Qq. it's had it head F_1. it had its head F_2. it had it's head F_3 F_4.

by it] F_1 F_2. beit Q_1 Q_2. be it Q_3. by it's F_3 F_4.

[2924] Come, sir,] Omitted in Ff.

[2925] I ... are.] Verse in Ff. Prose in Qq.

[2926] that] Qq. your Ff.

[2927] Whereof] Wherewith Jennens conj.

[2928] that ... transform] Qq. which ... transport Ff.

[2929] Doth ... am?] Verse in Ff. Prose in Qq.

[2930] Doth] Qq. Do's F_1 F_3 F_4. Dos F_2.

Doth ... Lear:] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

This] Ff. why this Qq.

[2931] Doth] Qq. Do's Ff.

[2932] notion weakens] Ff. notion, weaknesse, Q_1 Q_3. notion, weaknes Q_2.

his discernings] Ff. or his discernings Qq. or's discernings S. Walker conj.

[2933] lethargied—] Rowe. lethargied. Ff. lethergy, Q_1 Q_3. lethergie, Q_2.

lethargied—Ha! waking] lethargied or waking Edwards conj.

Ha! waking?] sleeping or waking; ha! sure Qq.

[2934] is it that] is it then Roderick conj. is't S. Walker conj.

[2935] Fool. Lear's shadow.] Pointed as in Ff. Lears shadow? Qq (continuing it to 'Lear'). Omitted by Rann. Fool. Lear's shadow,— Singer.

[2936] Lear. I would ... father.] Steevens (1773). I would ... father. Qq. Omitted in Ff. See note (VII).

[2937] that] om. Pope.

sovereignty] substantiality Jennens.

[2938] false] fast Jennens. halfe Anon. conj. MS. See note (V).

persuaded I] persuaded.—I Tyrwhitt conj. persuaded That I S. Walker conj.

[2939] Fool. Which ... father. Lear.] Omitted by Pope. See note (VII).

[2940] Which they will] Q_3. Which they, will Q_1 Q_2. Which of thee will Jennens.

[2941] This ... daughter.] Verse in Ff. Prose in Qq.

[2942] This admiration, sir,] Ff. Come sir, this admiration Qq. Come, sir; This admiration Steevens (1778).

o' the] o' th' F_1 F_3 F_4. oth' F_2. of the Qq.

savour] Q_1 Q_2 Ff. favour Q_3 and Capell.

[2943] To] Ff. om. Qq.

aright:] aright, Boswell conj., reading line 233 with Ff.

[2944] As ... you should] Q_1 Q_3. As you are old and reverend, should Q_2. As you are old, and reverend, should Ff. You, as you are old and reverend, should Rowe. You, as you're old and rev'rend, should Pope. Being old ... you should Seymour conj.

you should] om. Steevens conj.

[2945] a hundred] Ff. a 100. Q_2. one hundred Q_1 Q_3.

[2946] debosh'd] Ff. deboyst Qq. debauch'd Pope.

[2947] a riotous inn] an inn Steevens conj.

[2948] Make it more] Rowe. make more Qq. Makes it more Ff.

a brothel] a brothell Ff. brothell Qq.

[2949] graced] grac'd Ff. great Qq.

The] om. Pope.

[2950] then] Ff. thou Qq. you Anon. conj. MS. See note (V).

[2951] A little] Of fifty Pope.

[2952] remainder] Qq. remainders Ff.

[2953] Which] Ff. and Q_1 Q_3. that Q_2.

[2954] You ... betters.] Verse first in Rowe (ed. 2). Prose in Qq Ff.

[2955] Enter Albany.] Ff. Enter Duke. Qq.

[2956] SCENE XV. Pope. The rest of the Scene, except lines 340, 341, is prose in Qq.

Woe, ... repents,—] Woe!... repents— Rowe. Woe, ... repents: Ff. We that too late repent's us; Q_1 Q_3. We that too late repent's, Q_2. We ... repent. Anon. conj. MS. Fool! that too late repent'st— Jennens. Woe's him that too late repents— Keightley. See note (V).

[To Alb.] Rowe. om. Qq Ff.

O, sir ... come?] Qq. Omitted in Ff, and restored by Theobald.

[2957] will?... Prepare my] Ff. will that we prepare any Qq (wee Q_2. prepar Q_3).

[2958] Than the] Than i' th' Upton conj.

[2959] Alb. Pray, sir, be patient. Lear.] Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[2960] sir] you, sir Hanmer.

[2961] [To Gon.] Rowe. om. Qq Ff.

[2962] liest. My train are] lessen my traine and Q_1 Q_3. list my traine, and Q_2.

[2963] worships] worship Collier MS.

name] names Rowe.

[2964] That] Qq. Which Ff.

[2965] Lear, Lear, Lear!] As in Ff. Twice in Qq.

[2966] [Striking his head.] Pope. om. Qq Ff.

[2967] dear] clear Anon. conj.

Go ... people.] Ff. Goe, goe, my people? Q_1 Q_2. Go, go; my people! Q_3. Go, go:—my people! Malone conj.

[2968] I am ... I am] I'm ... I'm Pope.

[2969] Of what ... you.] Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[2970] It ... fruitful!] Three lines in Malone, ending nature, hear! ... if ... fruitful!

[2971] Hear] F_3 F_4. Heare F_1 F_2 harke Qq.

nature, hear; dear] Nature! hear, dear Grant White.

hear; dear] Warburton. heare deere Qq F_1 F_2. hear dear F_3. hear, dear F_4.

hear!] om. Qq. hear a father! Pope.

[2972] derogate] degenerate Anon. MS. See note (V).

[2973] thwart] Ff. thourt Qq.

disnatured] disnatur'd Ff. disnetur'd Q_1 Q_2. disventur'd Q_3. disfeatur'd Henderson and Anon. MS. See note (V).

[2974] cadent] Ff. accent Q_1 Q_2. accient Q_3. candent Theobald (Warburton). acrid or ardent Anon. conj.

[2975] mother's pains] mother pains Becket conj.

[2976] feel] feele, that she may feele, Q_2.

[2977] Away, away!] Away, away. Ff. goe, goe, my people? Qq.

[Exit.] Ff. om. Qq.

[2978] Now ... this?] Two lines in Ff.

whereof] wherefore Johnson.

[2979] the cause] Qq. more of it F_1. of it F_2 F_3 F_4. of what Hanmer.

[2980] That] that Qq. As Ff.

dotage] fretfulness and wayward dotage Seymour conj.

Re-enter Lear.] Steevens. Enter Lear. Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[2981] What's] Ff. What is Qq.

[2982] I'll ... ashamed] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

[To Gon.] Theobald.

[2983] which] Ff. that Qq.

[2984] Should ... thee!] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

thee worth them. Blasts] thee worth them, Blastes Ff. the worst blasts Qq.

[2985] upon thee! The untented] upon thee: Th' untented Ff. upon the untender Q_1 Q_2 (Cap. and Dev.) Q_3. upon the untented Q_2 (Bodl. 1, 2. Mus. per. and imp.) upon the untainted Anon. conj. MS. See note (V). upon thee! The unshented Becket conj. upon thee! The indented Jackson conj.

[2986] Pierce] Ff. pierce Q_2 (Bodl. 1, 2. Mus. per. and imp.) peruse Q_1 Q_2 (Cap. and Dev.) Q_3.

sense] fence Warburton.

thee! Old] thee. Old Ff. the olde Q_1 the old Q_2 Q_3.

[2987] this cause] Qq F_1. thee once F_2 F_3 F_4. her once Rowe.

ye] Ff. you Qq.

[2988] cast you] Ff. you cast Qq.

lose] F_3 F_4. loose F_1 F_2. make Qq.

[2989] Yea, is it come to this?] Q_1 Q_3. yea, i'st come to this? Q_2. Ha? Ff. Ha! is it come to this? Pope.

[2990] Let it be so:] Ff (ending line 298 at so). Omitted in Qq. Arranged as by Pope.

yet have I left a] Qq. I have another Ff.

[2991] Who] Ff. whom Qq.

[2992] flay] Malone. fley Q_1 Q_3. flea Q_2 Ff.

wolvish] wolfish Theobald.

[2993] thou ... thee.] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

[Exeunt....] Exeunt Lear, Kent, Gen. and Att. Capell. Exit. Qq. om. Ff. Exit Lear and Attendants. Rowe (ed. 1). Ex. Lear and Attendants. Rowe (ed. 2).

[2994] SCENE XVI. Pope.

my lord] Qq. om. Ff.

[2995] To the ... master.] As in Ff. Capell ends the lines content ... ho!... master. S. Walker would end them content.— ... fool, ... master.

[2996] you,—] Theobald. you. Qq Ff.

[2997] Pray ... more] Ff. Come sir, no more; you, more Q_1 Q_3. Come sir no more, you, more Q_2.

[2998] content] be content Rowe.

[2999] [To the Fool] Johnson.

[3000] Nuncle ... thee] Two lines in Ff.

[3001] take] Ff. and take Qq.

[3002] with thee. A fox] with thee: A fox Ff. with a fox Qq.

[3003] buy] by F_2.

[3004] [Exit.] Ff. om. Qq.

[3005] This ... unfitness] Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[3006] This ... knights!] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

[3007] 'Tis] Is't Hanmer.

[3008] At point] Omitted by Pope.

[3009] in mercy] at mercy Pope.

[3010] too far] om. Steevens (1793).

[3011] taken] harm'd Pope.

[3012] she] F_1 F_2. she'll F_3 F_4.

[3013] unfitness,—] unfitness— Rowe. unfitnesse. Ff.

Re-enter Oswald.] Collier. Enter Steward. Ff. om. Qq.

[3014] How now, Oswald! What] Ff. Gon. What Oswald, ho. Oswald. Heere madam. Gon. What Qq.

[3015] that] Ff. this Qq.

[3016] Yes] Qq. I Ff. Ay Rowe.

[3017] and] om. Pope.

[3018] fear] F_3 F_4. feare F_1 F_2. feares Q_1 Q_2. fears Q_3.

[3019] Get] So get Pope. Go, get Jennens.

[3020] And hasten ... lord] And hasten your returne: no, no, my lord Ff. and after your returne—now my lord Q_1 Q_3. and after your returne now my lord Q_2 (Cap. and Dev.) & hasten your returne now my lord Q_2 (Bodl. 1, 2. Mus. per. and imp.)

[Exit Oswald.] Exit Steward. Rowe. om. Qq Ff.

[3021] milky] Ff. milkie Q_2 (Bodl. 1, 2. Mus. per. and imp.) mildie Q_1 Q_2 (Cap. and Dev.) Q_3.

gentleness and] gentle, easy Jennens.

[3022] condemn not] Ff. dislike not Qq. condemn it not Pope.

pardon] your pardon Jennens.

[3023] You are] F_2 F_3 F_4. Your are F_1. y'are Qq.

attask'd for] attaskt for Q_2 (Bodl. 1, 2. Mus. per. and imp.) alapt Q_1 Q_2 (Cap. and Dev.) Q_3. at task for F_1 F_3 F_4 at taske for F_2. taskt for Anon. conj. See note (VIII). ajapt for Becket conj. attack'd for Collier conj.

[3024] Than] By those who judge, than Seymour conj.

praised] prais'd Ff. praise Qq.

harmful] harmless Rowe (ed. 2).

[3025] How ... well.] Verse in Q_1 Ff Q_3. Prose in Q_2.

[3026] better, oft] Ff. better ought, Qq.

[3027] then—] Q_1 Ff Q_3. then. Q_2.

[3028] the event.] Q_1 Q_3. the event, Q_2. the 'vent. Ff.

[Exeunt.] Q_2 Ff. Exit. Q_1 Q_3.

[3029] SCENE V.] SCENE XVII. Pope. SCENE IV. Eccles.

Court....] Capell. A court-yard belonging to the Duke of Albany's Palace. Theobald.

Enter Lear, Kent, and Fool.] Q_1 Q_3. Enter Lear. Q_2. Enter Lear, Kent, Gentleman, and Foole. Ff. Enter Lear, Kent, Gentlemen, and Fool. Warburton.

[3030] Lear.] Lear [to a Gentleman. Jennens.

letters.] letters.—You with this to my daughter Regan. [to Kent. Jennens.

[3031] afore] Ff. before Qq.

[3032] brains] brain Pope.

were] where Q_2.

in's] F_1. ins F_2. in his Qq F_3 F_4.

were't] Rowe. wert Qq Ff.

[3033] prithee] prethee Q_1 F_2 Q_3. prethe Q. prythee F_1 F_3 F_4.

ne'er] nere Qq. net Ff.

[3034] she's] F_1 F_3 F_4. shees Q_2. shes F_2. she is Q_1 Q_3.

crab's] crabbe is Q_1. crab is Q_2. crabb is Q_3.

[3035] can tell what] Ff. con, what Qq.

[3036] Why, ... thou] Qq. What can'st Ff.

[3037] She will] Ff. Shee'l Q_1 Sheel Q_2. She'l Q_3.

does] do's Ff. doth Qq.

[3038] Thou canst] F_1 F_2. Thou canst not Qq. canst thou F_3 F_4.

stands] stande Q_2.

i' the] in the Qq.

[3039] on's] Ff. of his Qq. of one's Pope.

[3040] one's] ones Ff. his Qq.

of] Ff. on Qq.

side's] Q_2 F_1 F_3 F_4. sides F_2. side his Q_1 Q_3. side one's Pope.

[3041] he] a Q_2.

[3042] wrong—] Theobald. wrong. Q_2 Ff. wrong! Q_1 Q_3.

[3043] shell?] Ff. shell. Qq.

[3044] put's] put his Qq.

to his] Q_2 Ff. unto his Q_1 Q_3.

[3045] daughters] Ff. daughter Qq.

[3046] 'em] them Qq.

[3047] more] Qq F_4. mo F_1 F_2. moe F_3.

[3048] eight?] Capell. eight. Qq Ff.

[3049] indeed] om. Qq.

[3050] take 't] take it Capell.

Monster] Ff. Monster, Qq.

[3051] thou wert] Qq F_1. you wert F_2. you were F_3 F_4.

[3052] till] before Qq.

[3053] O, let ... mad!] Verse by Pope. Prose in Qq Ff.

[3054] not mad] Omitted in Qq.

heaven!] Ff. heaven! I would not bee mad, Qq (be Q_2).

[3055] Enter Gentleman.] Theobald. Omitted in Qq Ff.

[3056] How now!] Omitted in Qq.

[3057] Gent.] Ff. Servant. Qq.

[3058] [Exit. Qq. Exeunt Lear, and Gentleman. Capell.

[3059] that's a] that is Qq.

[3060] unless] except Qq.

[Exeunt.] Ff. Exit. Qq. To the Audience, as he goes out. Capell.

ACT II.

SCENE I. The Earl of Gloucester's castle.

Enter EDMUND and CURAN, meeting.[3061]

Edm. Save thee, Curan.[3062]

Cur. And you, sir. I have been with your father, and[3063][3064]

given him notice that the Duke of Cornwall and Regan his[3063][3065]

duchess will be here with him this night.[3063][3066]

Edm. How comes that?[3062] 5

Cur. Nay, I know not. You have heard of the news

abroad, I mean the whispered ones, for they are yet but[3067]

ear-kissing arguments?[3068]

Edm. Not I: pray you, what are they?[3069]

Cur. Have you heard of no likely wars toward, 'twixt[3070][3071][3072] 10

the Dukes of Cornwall and Albany?[3070][3071][3073]

Edm. Not a word.[3070]

Cur. You may do then in time. Fare you well, sir.     [Exit.[3074]

Edm. The duke be here to-night? The better! best![3075][3076][3077]

This weaves itself perforce into my business.[3076] 15

My father hath set guard to take my brother;[3076]

And I have one thing, of a queasy question,[3076][3078]

Which I must act: briefness and fortune, work![3076][3079]

Brother, a word; descend: brother, I say![3076]

Enter EDGAR.[3080]

My father watches: O sir, fly this place;[3076][3081] 20

Intelligence is given where you are hid;[3076]

You have now the good advantage of the night:[3076][3082]

Have you not spoken 'gainst the Duke of Cornwall?[3076][3083]

He's coming hither, now, i' the night, i' the haste,[3076][3084]

And Regan with him: have you nothing said[3076] 25

Upon his party 'gainst the Duke of Albany?[3076][3085]

Advise yourself.[3076][3086]

Edg. I am sure on't, not a word.[3076]

Edm. I hear my father coming: pardon me:[3076][3087]

In cunning I must draw my sword upon you:[3076][3087]

Draw: seem to defend yourself: now quit you well.[3076][3088] 30

Yield: come before my father. Light, ho, here![3076][3089]

Fly, brother. Torches, torches! So farewell.

[Exit Edgar.[3076][3090]

Some blood drawn on me would beget opinion

[Wounds his arm.[3076][3091]

Of my more fierce endeavour: I have seen drunkards[3076][3092]

Do more than this in sport. Father, father![3076][3093] 35

Stop, stop! No help?[3076]

Enter GLOUCESTER, and Servants with torches.[3094]

Glou. Now, Edmund, where's the villain?[3076][3095]

Edm. Here stood he in the dark, his sharp sword out,[3076]

Mumbling of wicked charms, conjuring the moon[3076][3096]

To stand 's auspicious mistress.[3076]

Glou. But where is he?[3076] 40

Edm. Look, sir, I bleed.[3076]

Glou. Where is the villain, Edmund?[3076][3097]

Edm. Fled this way, sir. When by no means he could—[3076][3098]

Glou. Pursue him, ho!—Go after. [Exeunt some Servants.] 'By no means' what?[3076][3099]

Edm. Persuade me to the murder of your lordship;[3076]

But that I told him the revenging gods[3076][3100] 45

'Gainst parricides did all their thunders bend,[3076][3101]

Spoke with how manifold and strong a bond[3076]

The child was bound to the father; sir, in fine,[3076][3102]

Seeing how loathly opposite I stood[3076]

To his unnatural purpose, in fell motion[3076][3103] 50

With his prepared sword he charges home[3076]

My unprovided body, lanced mine arm:[3076][3104]

But when he saw my best alarum'd spirits[3076][3105]

Bold in the quarrel's right, roused to the encounter,[3076][3106]

Or whether gasted by the noise I made,[3076][3107] 55

Full suddenly he fled.[3076][3108]

Glou. Let him fly far:[3076]

Not in this land shall he remain uncaught;[3076]

And found—dispatch. The noble duke my master,[3076][3109]

My worthy arch and patron, comes to-night:[3076][3110]

By his authority I will proclaim it,[3076] 60

That he which finds him shall deserve our thanks,[3076][3111]

Bringing the murderous caitiff to the stake;[3076][3112]

He that conceals him, death.[3076][3113]

Edm. When I dissuaded him from his intent[3076]

And found him pight to do it, with curst speech[3076] 65

I threaten'd to discover him: he replied,[3076]

'Thou unpossessing bastard! dost thou think,[3076]

If I would stand against thee, could the reposure[3076][3114][3115]

Of any trust, virtue, or worth, in thee[3076][3114]

Make thy words faith'd? No: what I should deny—[3076][3114][3116] 70

As this I would; ay, though thou didst produce[3076][3117]

My very character—I'ld turn it all[3076][3118]

To thy suggestion, plot, and damned practice:[3076][3119]

And thou must make a dullard of the world,[3076][3120]

If they not thought the profits of my death[3076] 75

Were very pregnant and potential spurs[3076][3121]

To make thee seek it.'[3076]

Glou. Strong and fasten'd villain![3076][3122]

Would he deny his letter? I never got him.[3076][3123]

[Tucket within.

Hark, the duke's trumpets! I know not why he comes.[3076][3124]

All ports I'll bar; the villain shall not 'scape;[3076] 80

The duke must grant me that: besides, his picture[3076]

I will send far and near, that all the kingdom[3076]

May have due note of him; and of my land,[3076][3125]

Loyal and natural boy, I'll work the means[3076]

To make thee capable.[3076] 85

Enter CORNWALL, REGAN, and Attendants.[3126]

Corn. How now, my noble friend! since I came hither,[3076][3127]

Which I can call but now, I have heard strange news.[3076][3128]

Reg. If it be true, all vengeance comes too short[3076]

Which can pursue the offender. How dost, my lord?[3076][3129]

Glou. O, madam, my old heart is crack'd, is crack'd![3076][3130] 90

Reg. What, did my father's godson seek your life?[3076]

He whom my father named? your Edgar?[3076][3131]

Glou. O, lady, lady, shame would have it hid![3076][3132]

Reg. Was he not companion with the riotous knights[3076][3133]

That tend upon my father?[3076][3134] 95

Glou. I know not, madam: 'tis too bad, too bad.[3076][3135]

Edm. Yes, madam, he was of that consort.[3076][3136]

Reg. No marvel then, though he were ill affected:

'Tis they have put him on the old man's death,

To have the waste and spoil of his revenues.[3137] 100

I have this present evening from my sister

Been well inform'd of them, and with such cautions

That if they come to sojourn at my house,[3138]

I'll not be there.[3138]

Corn. Nor I, assure thee, Regan.[3139][3140]

Edmund, I hear that you have shown your father[3139][3141] 105

A child-like office.[3139]

Edm. 'Twas my duty, sir.[3142]

Glou. He did bewray his practice, and received[3143]

This hurt you see, striving to apprehend him.

Corn. Is he pursued?

Glou. Ay, my good lord.[3144]

Corn. If he be taken, he shall never more[3145] 110

Be fear'd of doing harm: make your own purpose,[3145]

How in my strength you please. For you, Edmund,[3145][3146]

Whose virtue and obedience doth this instant[3145][3147]

So much commend itself, you shall be ours:[3145][3148]

Natures of such deep trust we shall much need:[3145][3149] 115

You we first seize on.[3145][3149]

Edm. I shall serve you, sir,[3150][3151]

Truly, however else.[3150]

Glou. For him I thank your grace.[3152]

Corn. You know not why we came to visit you,—[3153]

Reg. Thus out of season, threading dark-eyed night:[3154]

Occasions, noble Gloucester, of some poise,[3155] 120

Wherein we must have use of your advice:[3156]

Our father he hath writ, so hath our sister,

Of differences, which I least thought it fit[3157]

To answer from our home; the several messengers[3158]

From hence attend dispatch. Our good old friend, 125

Lay comforts to your bosom and bestow[3159]

Your needful counsel to our business,[3159][3160]

Which craves the instant use.[3159][3161]

Glou. I serve you, madam:[3162]

Your graces are right welcome.     [Flourish. Exeunt.[3162][3163]

SCENE II. Before Gloucester's castle.

Enter KENT and OSWALD, severally.[3164]

Osw. Good dawning to thee, friend: art of this house?[3165][3166]

Kent. Ay.

Osw. Where may we set our horses?

Kent. I' the mire.[3167]

Osw. Prithee, if thou lovest me, tell me.[3168] 5

Kent. I love thee not.

Osw. Why then I care not for thee.

Kent. If I had thee in Lipsbury pinfold, I would make[3169]

thee care for me.

Osw. Why dost thou use me thus? I know thee not. 10

Kent. Fellow, I know thee.

Osw. What dost thou know me for?

Kent. A knave; a rascal; an eater of broken meats; a

base, proud, shallow, beggarly, three-suited, hundred-pound,[3170]

filthy, worsted-stocking knave; a lily-livered, action-taking[3171] 15

knave; a whoreson, glass-gazing, superserviceable, finical[3172]

rogue; one-trunk-inheriting slave; one that wouldst be a[3173]

bawd in way of good service, and art nothing but the composition

of a knave, beggar, coward, pandar, and the son

and heir of a mongrel bitch: one whom I will beat into[3174] 20

clamorous whining, if thou deniest the least syllable of thy[3175]

addition.

Osw. Why, what a monstrous fellow art thou, thus to[3176]

rail on one that is neither known of thee nor knows thee![3177]

Kent. What a brazen-faced varlet art thou, to deny 25

thou knowest me! Is it two days ago since I tripped up[3178][3179]

thy heels and beat thee before the king? Draw, you rogue:[3179]

for, though it be night, yet the moon shines; I'll make a[3180]

sop o' the moonshine of you: draw, you whoreson cullionly[3181]

barber-monger, draw.     [Drawing his sword.[3182] 30

Osw. Away! I have nothing to do with thee.

Kent. Draw, you rascal: you come with letters against[3183]

the king, and take vanity the puppet's part against the

royalty of her father: draw, you rogue, or I'll so carbonado[3184]

your shanks: draw, you rascal; come your ways.[3185] 35

Osw. Help, ho! murder! help!

Kent. Strike, you slave; stand, rogue; stand, you neat[3186]

slave, strike.     [Beating him.[3187]

Osw. Help, ho! murder! murder!

Enter EDMUND, with his rapier drawn, CORNWALL, REGAN, GLOUCESTER, and Servants.[3188]

Edm. How now! What's the matter?     [Parting them.[3189][3190][3191] 40

Kent. With you, goodman boy, an you please: come,[3192]

I'll flesh you; come on, young master.[3193]

Glou. Weapons! arms! What's the matter here?[3194]

Corn. Keep peace, upon your lives;[3195]

He dies that strikes again. What is the matter?[3195][3196] 45

Reg. The messengers from our sister and the king.[3197]

Corn. What is your difference? speak.[3198]

Osw. I am scarce in breath, my lord.

Kent. No marvel, you have so bestirred your valour.[3199]

You cowardly rascal, nature disclaims in thee: a tailor made[3199][3200] 50

thee.[3199]

Corn. Thou art a strange fellow: a tailor make a man?[3199][3201]

Kent. Ay, a tailor, sir: a stone-cutter or a painter[3202]

could not have made him so ill, though he had been but[3203]

two hours at the trade.[3204] 55

Corn. Speak yet, how grew your quarrel?[3205]

Osw. This ancient ruffian, sir, whose life I have spared[3206]

at suit of his gray beard,—[3207]

Kent. Thou whoreson zed! thou unnecessary letter![3208]

My lord, if you will give me leave, I will tread this unbolted[3209] 60

villain into mortar, and daub the walls of a jakes[3210]

with him. Spare my gray beard, you wagtail?[3211]

Corn. Peace, sirrah![3212][3213]

You beastly knave, know you no reverence?[3212][3214]

Kent. Yes, sir; but anger hath a privilege.[3215] 65

Corn. Why art thou angry?

Kent. That such a slave as this should wear a sword,

Who wears no honesty. Such smiling rogues as these,[3216]

Like rats, oft bite the holy cords a-twain[3217]

Which are too intrinse to unloose; smooth every passion[3218] 70

That in the natures of their lords rebel;[3219]

Bring oil to fire, snow to their colder moods;[3220]

Renege, affirm, and turn their halcyon beaks[3221]

With every gale and vary of their masters,[3222]

Knowing nought, like dogs, but following.[3223][3224] 75

A plague upon your epileptic visage![3223]

Smile you my speeches, as I were a fool?[3223][3225]

Goose, if I had you upon Sarum plain,[3226]

I'ld drive ye cackling home to Camelot.[3227]

Corn. What, art thou mad, old fellow?[3228] 80

Glou. How fell you out? say that.[3228][3229]

Kent. No contraries hold more antipathy

Than I and such a knave.

Corn. Why dost thou call him knave? What is his fault?[3230]

Kent. His countenance likes me not. 85

Corn. No more perchance does mine, nor his, nor hers.[3231]

Kent. Sir, 'tis my occupation to be plain:

I have seen better faces in my time

Than stands on any shoulders that I see[3232]

Before me at this instant.

Corn. This is some fellow,[3233][3234] 90

Who, having been praised for bluntness, doth affect[3233]

A saucy roughness, and constrains the garb[3233][3235]

Quite from his nature: he cannot flatter, he,—[3233][3236]

An honest mind and plain,—he must speak truth![3233][3237]

An they will take it, so; if not, he's plain.[3233][3238] 95

These kind of knaves I know, which in this plainness[3233][3239]

Harbour more craft and more corrupter ends[3233][3240]

Than twenty silly ducking observants[3233][3241]

That stretch their duties nicely.[3233]

Kent. Sir, in good faith, in sincere verity,[3242] 100

Under the allowance of your great aspect,[3243]

Whose influence, like the wreath of radiant fire

On flickering Phœbus' front,—

Corn. What mean'st by this?[3244]

Kent. To go out of my dialect, which you discommend[3245]

so much. I know, sir, I am no flatterer: he that beguiled[3246] 105

you in a plain accent was a plain knave; which, for my

part, I will not be, though I should win your displeasure to[3247]

entreat me to't.[3247][3248]

Corn. What was the offence you gave him?[3249]

Osw. I never gave him any:[3250][3251] 110

It pleased the king his master very late[3251][3252]

To strike at me, upon his misconstruction;[3251][3253]

When he, conjunct, and flattering his displeasure,[3254]

Tripp'd me behind; being down, insulted, rail'd,

And put upon him such a deal of man,[3255] 115

That worthied him, got praises of the king[3255]

For him attempting who was self-subdued;

And in the fleshment of this dread exploit[3256]

Drew on me here again.[3257]

Kent. None of these rogues and cowards[3258]

But Ajax is their fool.[3258][3259]

Corn. Fetch forth the stocks! 120

You stubborn ancient knave, you reverend braggart,[3260]

We'll teach you—[3261]

Kent. Sir, I am too old to learn:[3262]

Call not your stocks for me: I serve the king,[3262]

On whose employment I was sent to you:[3262][3263]

You shall do small respect, show too bold malice[3264] 125

Against the grace and person of my master,

Stocking his messenger.[3265]

Corn. Fetch forth the stocks! As I have life and honour,[3266][3267]

There shall he sit till noon.[3266]

Reg. Till noon! till night, my lord, and all night too.[3268] 130

Kent. Why, madam, if I were your father's dog,[3269]

You should not use me so.[3269][3270]

Reg. Sir, being his knave, I will.

Corn. This is a fellow of the self-same colour[3271]

Our sister speaks of. Come, bring away the stocks!

[Stocks brought out.[3272]

Glou. Let me beseech your grace not to do so: 135

His fault is much, and the good king his master[3273]

Will check him for't: your purposed low correction[3273]

Is such as basest and contemned'st wretches[3273][3274]

For pilferings and most common trespasses[3273]

Are punish'd with: the king must take it ill,[3273] 140

That he, so slightly valued in his messenger,[3273][3275]

Should have him thus restrain'd.[3273][3275]

Corn. I'll answer that.

Reg. My sister may receive it much more worse,[3276]

To have her gentleman abused, assaulted,[3277]

For following her affairs. Put in his legs.[3278] 145

[Kent is put in the stocks.[3279]

Come, my good lord, away.     [Exeunt all but Gloucester and Kent.[3280]

Glou. I am sorry for thee, friend; 'tis the duke's pleasure,[3281]

Whose disposition, all the world well knows,

Will not be rubb'd nor stopp'd: I'll entreat for thee.[3282]

Kent. Pray, do not, sir: I have watch'd and travell'd hard;[3283] 150

Some time I shall sleep out, the rest I'll whistle.[3284]

A good man's fortune may grow out at heels:

Give you good morrow!

Glou. The duke's to blame in this; 'twill be ill taken.

[Exit.[3285]

Kent. Good king, that must approve the common saw, 155

Thou out of heaven's benediction comest[3286]

To the warm sun!

Approach, thou beacon to this under globe,[3287][3288]

That by thy comfortable beams I may[3287]

Peruse this letter! Nothing almost sees miracles[3287][3289] 160

But misery: I know 'tis from Cordelia,[3287][3290]

Who hath most fortunately been inform'd[3287][3291]

Of my obscured course; and shall find time[3287][3292][3293]

From this enormous state, seeking to give[3287][3293][3294]

Losses their remedies. All weary and o'er-watch'd,[3287][3295] 165

Take vantage, heavy eyes, not to behold[3296]

This shameful lodging.[3297]

Fortune, good night: smile once more; turn thy wheel![3297]

[Sleeps.[3298]

SCENE III. A wood.

Enter EDGAR.[3299]

Edg. I heard myself proclaim'd;[3300]

And by the happy hollow of a tree

Escaped the hunt. No port is free; no place,

That guard and most unusual vigilance[3301]

Does not attend my taking. Whiles I may 'scape[3302] 5

I will preserve myself: and am bethought

To take the basest and most poorest shape[3303]

That ever penury in contempt of man

Brought near to beast: my face I'll grime with filth,

Blanket my loins, elf all my hair in knots,[3304] 10

And with presented nakedness out-face

The winds and persecutions of the sky.[3305]

The country gives me proof and precedent[3306]

Of Bedlam beggars, who with roaring voices

Strike in their numb'd and mortified bare arms[3307] 15

Pins, wooden pricks, nails, sprigs of rosemary;[3308]

And with this horrible object, from low farms,[3309]

Poor pelting villages, sheep-cotes and mills,[3310]

Sometime with lunatic bans, sometime with prayers,[3311]

Enforce their charity. Poor Turlygod! poor Tom![3312] 20

That's something yet: Edgar I nothing am.     [Exit.

SCENE IV. Before Gloucester's castle. Kent in the stocks.

Enter LEAR, Fool, and Gentleman.[3313]

Lear. 'Tis strange that they should so depart from home,[3314]

And not send back my messenger.[3315]

Gent. As I learn'd,[3316]

The night before there was no purpose in them[3316][3317]

Of this remove.[3316][3318]

Kent. Hail to thee, noble master!

Lear. Ha![3319][3320] 5

Makest thou this shame thy pastime?[3320]

Kent. No, my lord.[3321]

Fool. Ha, ha! he wears cruel garters. Horses are tied[3322][3323]

by the heads, dogs and bears by the neck, monkeys by the[3322][3324]

loins, and men by the legs: when a man's over-lusty at[3322][3325]

legs, then he wears wooden nether-stocks.[3322][3326] 10

Lear. What's he that hath so much thy place mistook[3327]

To set thee here?[3327]

Kent. It is both he and she;[3328]

Your son and daughter.[3328]

Lear. No.

Kent. Yes. 15

Lear. No, I say.

Kent. I say, yea.[3329]

Lear. No, no, they would not.[3330]

Kent. Yes, they have.[3330]

Lear. By Jupiter, I swear, no. 20

Kent. By Juno, I swear, ay.[3331]

Lear. They durst not do't;[3332]

They could not, would not do't; 'tis worse than murder,[3332][3333]

To do upon respect such violent outrage:

Resolve me with all modest haste which way

Thou mightst deserve, or they impose, this usage,[3334] 25

Coming from us.

Kent. My lord, when at their home

I did commend your highness' letters to them,

Ere I was risen from the place that show'd[3335]

My duty kneeling, came there a reeking post,[3336]

Stew'd in his haste, half breathless, panting forth[3337] 30

From Goneril his mistress salutations;[3338]

Deliver'd letters, spite of intermission,[3339]

Which presently they read: on whose contents[3340]

They summon'd up their meiny, straight took horse;[3341]

Commanded me to follow and attend 35

The leisure of their answer; gave me cold looks:

And meeting here the other messenger,[3342]

Whose welcome, I perceived, had poison'd mine—

Being the very fellow that of late[3343]

Display'd so saucily against your highness— 40

Having more man than wit about me, drew:[3344]

He raised the house with loud and coward cries.

Your son and daughter found this trespass worth

The shame which here it suffers.[3345]

Fool. Winter's not gone yet, if the wild geese fly that way.[3346][3347] 45

Fathers that wear rags[3346][3348]

Do make their children blind;[3346][3348]

But fathers that bear bags[3346][3348]

Shall see their children kind.[3346][3348]

Fortune, that arrant whore,[3346][3348] 50

Ne'er turns the key to the poor.[3346][3348]

But, for all this, thou shalt have as many dolours for thy[3346][3349][3350]

daughters as thou canst tell in a year.[3346][3349]

Lear. O, how this mother swells up toward my heart!

Hysterica passio, down, thou climbing sorrow,[3351] 55

Thy element's below! Where is this daughter?

Kent. With the earl, sir, here within.[3352][3353]

Lear. Follow me not; stay here.     [Exit.[3352][3354]

Gent. Made you no more offence but what you speak of?[3355]

Kent. None.[3356][3357] 60

How chance the king comes with so small a train?[3357][3358]

Fool. An thou hadst been set i' the stocks for that[3359][3360]

question, thou hadst well deserved it.[3361]

Kent. Why, fool?

Fool. We'll set thee to school to an ant, to teach thee 65

there's no labouring i' the winter. All that follow their[3360][3362]

noses are led by their eyes but blind men; and there's not[3362]

a nose among twenty but can smell him that's stinking. Let[3363]

go thy hold when a great wheel runs down a hill, lest it

break thy neck with following it; but the great one that[3364] 70

goes up the hill, let him draw thee after. When a wise man[3365]

gives thee better counsel, give me mine again: I would have

none but knaves follow it, since a fool gives it.

That sir which serves and seeks for gain,[3366][3367]

And follows but for form,[3367] 75

Will pack when it begins to rain,[3367][3368]

And leave thee in the storm.[3367][3369]

But I will tarry; the fool will stay,[3367][3370]

And let the wise man fly:[3367][3371]

The knave turns fool that runs away;[3367][3372] 80

The fool no knave, perdy.[3367][3372]

Kent. Where learned you this, fool?

Fool. Not i' the stocks, fool.[3360][3373]

Re-enter LEAR, with GLOUCESTER.[3374]

Lear. Deny to speak with me? They are sick? they are weary?[3375]

They have travell'd all the night? Mere fetches;[3376][3377] 85

The images of revolt and flying off.[3377][3378]

Fetch me a better answer.[3379]

Glou. My dear lord,[3380]

You know the fiery quality of the duke;[3380]

How unremoveable and fix'd he is[3380]

In his own course.[3380] 90

Lear. Vengeance! plague! death! confusion![3380][3381]

Fiery? what quality? Why, Gloucester, Gloucester,[3380][3382]

I'ld speak with the Duke of Cornwall and his wife.[3380]

Glou. Well, my good lord, I have inform'd them so.[3383]

Lear. Inform'd them! Dost thou understand me, man?[3383] 95

Glou. Ay, my good lord.

Lear. The king would speak with Cornwall; the dear father[3384]

Would with his daughter speak, commands her service:[3385]

Are they inform'd of this? My breath and blood![3386]

'Fiery'? 'the fiery duke'? Tell the hot duke that—[3387] 100

No, but not yet: may be he is not well:[3388]

Infirmity doth still neglect all office[3389]

Whereto our health is bound; we are not ourselves[3389][3390]

When nature being oppress'd commands the mind[3389][3391]

To suffer with the body: I'll forbear;[3389] 105

And am fall'n out with my more headier will,[3392]

To take the indisposed and sickly fit[3393]

For the sound man. [Looking on Kent] Death on my state! wherefore[3393][3394]

Should he sit here? This act persuades me[3393][3395]

That this remotion of the duke and her[3393] 110

Is practice only. Give me my servant forth.[3396]

Go tell the duke and's wife I'ld speak with them,[3397]

Now, presently: bid them come forth and hear me,

Or at their chamber-door I'll beat the drum

Till it cry sleep to death.[3398] 115

Glou. I would have all well betwixt you.     [Exit.[3399]

Lear. O me, my heart, my rising heart! But down![3400]

Fool. Cry to it, nuncle, as the cockney did to the eels[3401]

when she put 'em i' the paste alive; she knapped 'em o' the[3402]

coxcombs with a stick, and cried 'Down, wantons, down!' 120

'Twas her brother that, in pure kindness to his horse, buttered[3403]

his hay.

Re-enter GLOUCESTER, with CORNWALL, REGAN, and Servants.[3404]

Lear. Good morrow to you both.

Corn. Hail to your grace!

[Kent is set at liberty.[3405]

Reg. I am glad to see your highness.

Lear. Regan, I think you are; I know what reason[3406] 125

I have to think so: if thou shouldst not be glad,[3407]

I would divorce me from thy mother's tomb,[3408]

Sepulchring an adultress. [To Kent] O, are you free?[3409]

Some other time for that. Beloved Regan,

Thy sister's naught: O Regan, she hath tied[3410][3411] 130

Sharp-tooth'd unkindness, like a vulture, here:[3410]

[Points to his heart.[3412]

I can scarce speak to thee; thou'lt not believe[3413]

With how depraved a quality—O Regan![3414]

Reg. I pray you, sir, take patience: I have hope[3415]

You less know how to value her desert 135

Than she to scant her duty.[3416]

Lear. Say, how is that?[3417][3418]

Reg. I cannot think my sister in the least[3417]

Would fail her obligation: if, sir, perchance[3417][3419]

She have restrain'd the riots of your followers,[3417]

'Tis on such ground and to such wholesome end[3417] 140

As clears her from all blame.[3417]

Lear. My curses on her!

Reg. O, sir, you are old;

Nature in you stands on the very verge[3420][3421]

Of her confine: you should be ruled and led[3420][3422]

By some discretion that discerns your state[3420] 145

Better than you yourself. Therefore I pray you[3420][3423]

That to our sister you do make return;[3420]

Say you have wrong'd her, sir.

Lear. Ask her forgiveness?[3424]

Do you but mark how this becomes the house:[3425]

[Kneeling] 'Dear daughter, I confess that I am old;[3426] 150

Age is unnecessary: on my knees I beg

That you'll vouchsafe me raiment, bed and food.'

Reg. Good sir, no more; these are unsightly tricks:

Return you to my sister.

Lear. [Rising] Never, Regan:[3427]

She hath abated me of half my train; 155

Look'd black upon me; struck me with her tongue,[3428]

Most serpent-like, upon the very heart:

All the stored vengeances of heaven fall[3429]

On her ingrateful top! Strike her young bones,[3429][3430]

You taking airs, with lameness.[3429]

Corn. Fie, sir, fie![3431] 160

Lear. You nimble lightnings, dart your blinding flames[3432]

Into her scornful eyes. Infect her beauty,

You fen-suck'd fogs, drawn by the powerful sun[3433]

To fall and blast her pride.[3433][3434]

Reg. O the blest gods! so will you wish on me,[3435] 165

When the rash mood is on.[3435][3436]

Lear. No, Regan, thou shalt never have my curse:

Thy tender-hefted nature shall not give[3437][3438]

Thee o'er to harshness: her eyes are fierce, but thine[3438][3439]

Do comfort and not burn. 'Tis not in thee[3438] 170

To grudge my pleasures, to cut off my train,[3438]

To bandy hasty words, to scant my sizes,

And in conclusion to oppose the bolt

Against my coming in: thou better know'st[3440]

The offices of nature, bond of childhood, 175

Effects of courtesy, dues of gratitude;[3441]

Thy half o' the kingdom hast thou not forgot,[3442]

Wherein I thee endow'd.

Reg. Good sir, to the purpose.[3443]

Lear. Who put my man i' the stocks?     [Tucket within.[3444]

Corn. What trumpet's that?

Reg. I know't; my sister's: this approves her letter,[3445] 180

That she would soon be here.

Enter OSWALD.[3446]

Is your lady come?

Lear. This is a slave whose easy-borrow'd pride[3447]

Dwells in the fickle grace of her he follows.[3448]

Out, varlet, from my sight!

Corn. What means your grace?

Lear. Who stock'd my servant? Regan, I have good hope[3449] 185

Thou didst not know on't. Who comes here?

Enter GONERIL.[3450]

O heavens,

If you do love old men, if your sweet sway[3451][3452]

Allow obedience, if yourselves are old,[3451][3453]

Make it your cause; send down, and take my part![3451]

[To Gon.] Art not ashamed to look upon this beard?[3454] 190

O Regan, wilt thou take her by the hand?[3455]

Gon. Why not by the hand, sir? How have I offended?

All's not offence that indiscretion finds[3456]

And dotage terms so.

Lear. O sides, you are too tough;

Will you yet hold? How came my man i' the stocks?[3457] 195

Corn. I set him there, sir: but his own disorders[3458]

Deserved much less advancement.[3459]

Lear. You! did you?

Reg. I pray you, father, being weak, seem so.[3460]

If, till the expiration of your month,[3461]

You will return and sojourn with my sister, 200

Dismissing half your train, come then to me:

I am now from home and out of that provision[3462]

Which shall be needful for your entertainment.

Lear. Return to her, and fifty men dismiss'd?

No, rather I abjure all roofs, and choose 205

To wage against the enmity o' the air,[3463][3464]

To be a comrade with the wolf and owl,—[3463][3465]

Necessity's sharp pinch! Return with her?

Why, the hot-blooded France, that dowerless took[3466][3467]

Our youngest born, I could as well be brought[3467] 210

To knee his throne, and, squire-like, pension beg[3468]

To keep base life afoot. Return with her?

Persuade me rather to be slave and sumpter

To this detested groom.     [Pointing at Oswald.[3469]

Gon. At your choice, sir.

Lear. I prithee, daughter, do not make me mad:[3470] 215

I will not trouble thee, my child; farewell:

We'll no more meet, no more see one another:

But yet thou art my flesh, my blood, my daughter;

Or rather a disease that's in my flesh,[3471]

Which I must needs call mine: thou art a boil,[3472] 220

A plague-sore, an embossed carbuncle,[3473][3474]

In my corrupted blood. But I'll not chide thee;[3473]

Let shame come when it will, I do not call it:[3475]

I do not bid the thunder-bearer shoot,[3476]

Nor tell tales of thee to high-judging Jove:[3477] 225

Mend when thou canst; be better at thy leisure:

I can be patient; I can stay with Regan,

I and my hundred knights.

Reg. Not altogether so:[3478][3479]

I look'd not for you yet, nor am provided[3478][3480]

For your fit welcome. Give ear, sir, to my sister;[3478][3481] 230

For those that mingle reason with your passion[3478][3482]

Must be content to think you old, and so—[3483]

But she knows what she does.

Lear. Is this well spoken?[3484]

Reg. I dare avouch it, sir: what, fifty followers?[3485]

Is it not well? What should you need of more? 235

Yea, or so many, sith that both charge and danger[3486]

Speak 'gainst so great a number? How in one house[3487]

Should many people under two commands

Hold amity? 'Tis hard, almost impossible.[3488]

Gon. Why might not you, my lord, receive attendance 240

From those that she calls servants or from mine?

Reg. Why not, my lord? If then they chanced to slack you,[3489]

We could control them. If you will come to me,[3490]

For now I spy a danger, I entreat you[3491]

To bring but five and twenty: to no more[3492] 245

Will I give place or notice.

Lear. I gave you all—[3493]

Reg. And in good time you gave it.

Lear. Made you my guardians, my depositaries,

But kept a reservation to be follow'd[3494]

With such a number. What, must I come to you[3495] 250

With five and twenty, Regan? said you so?[3496]

Reg. And speak't again, my lord; no more with me.[3497]

Lear. Those wicked creatures yet do look well-favour'd,[3498][3499]

When others are more wicked; not being the worst[3498][3500]

Stands in some rank of praise. [To Gon.] I'll go with thee:[3501] 255

Thy fifty yet doth double five and twenty,

And thou art twice her love.[3502]

Gon. Hear me, my lord:

What need you five and twenty, ten, or five,

To follow in a house where twice so many

Have a command to tend you?

Reg. What need one?[3503] 260

Lear. O, reason not the need: our basest beggars[3504]

Are in the poorest thing superfluous:

Allow not nature more than nature needs,

Man's life's as cheap as beast's: thou art a lady;[3505]

If only to go warm were gorgeous, 265

Why, nature needs not what thou gorgeous wear'st,[3506]

Which scarcely keeps thee warm. But for true need,—[3507]

You heavens, give me that patience, patience I need![3508]

You see me here, you gods, a poor old man,[3509]

As full of grief as age; wretched in both: 270

If it be you that stirs these daughters' hearts[3510]

Against their father, fool me not so much[3511]

To bear it tamely; touch me with noble anger,[3512]

And let not women's weapons, water-drops,[3513]

Stain my man's cheeks! No, you unnatural hags, 275

I will have such revenges on you both[3514]

That all the world shall—I will do such things,—[3515]

What they are, yet I know not, but they shall be

The terrors of the earth. You think I'll weep;[3516]

No, I'll not weep:[3517] 280

I have full cause of weeping; but this heart[3517][3518]

Shall break into a hundred thousand flaws,[3517][3519]

Or ere I'll weep. O fool, I shall go mad!

[Exeunt Lear, Gloucester, Kent, and Fool.[3520]

Corn. Let us withdraw; 'twill be a storm.

[Storm and tempest.[3521][3522]

Reg. This house is little: the old man and his people[3522][3523] 285

Cannot be well bestow'd.[3522][3524]

Gon. 'Tis his own blame; hath put himself from rest,[3522][3525]

And must needs taste his folly.[3522][3526]

Reg. For his particular, I'll receive him gladly,

But not one follower.

Gon. So am I purposed.[3527][3528] 290

Where is my lord of Gloucester?[3528]

Corn. Follow'd the old man forth: he is return'd.[3529]

Re-enter GLOUCESTER.

Glou. The king is in high rage.

Corn. Whither is he going?[3530][3531]

Glou. He calls to horse; but will I know not whither.[3530][3532]

Corn. 'Tis best to give him way; he leads himself.[3533] 295

Gon. My lord, entreat him by no means to stay.

Glou. Alack, the night comes on, and the bleak winds[3534]

Do sorely ruffle; for many miles about[3535][3536]

There's scarce a bush.[3535][3537]

Reg. O, sir, to wilful men

The injuries that they themselves procure 300

Must be their schoolmasters. Shut up your doors:

He is attended with a desperate train;

And what they may incense him to, being apt[3538]

To have his ear abused, wisdom bids fear.

Corn. Shut up your doors, my lord; 'tis a wild night:[3539] 305

My Regan counsels well: come out o' the storm.     [Exeunt.[3540]

FOOTNOTES:

[3061] ACT II. SCENE I.] ACT II. SCENE II. Eccles.

The ... castle.] A Castle belonging to the Earl of Gloster. Rowe. A Room in Gloster's Castle. Capell. A court within the castle of the earl of Gloster. Malone.

Enter ... meeting.] Enter Bastard, and Curan meetes him. Q_1 Q_3. Enter Bast. and Curan meeting. Q_2. Enter Bastard, and Curan, severally. Ff.

[3062] Edm.] Bast. Qq Ff.

[3063] And ... night.] Prose in Qq. Four lines, ending bin ... notice ... Duchesse ... night, in Ff.

[3064] you] your F_1.

[3065] Regan] Omitted in Qq.

[3066] this night] Ff. to night Qq.

[3067] they] Ff. there Qq.

[3068] ear-kissing] Ff. eare-bussing Qq.

[3069] Not I: pray] Ff. Not, I pray Qq.

[3070] Cur. Have ... word.] Omitted in Q_1 Q_3.

[3071] Have ... Albany?] Prose in Qq. Two lines, the first ending toward, in Ff.

[3072] toward] Ff. towards Q_2.

[3073] the] Ff. the two Q_2.

[3074] You ... sir.] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

do] om. Qq.

[Exit.] om. Q_2.

[3075] SCENE II. Pope.

[3076] The duke ... consort.] Verse in Ff. Prose in Qq.

[3077] better! best!] Pope. better best, Qq Ff. better, best, Rowe.

[3078] queasy] quesie Qq. queazie F_1 F_3. queazy F_2 F_4.

[3079] Which ... work] Which must aske breefenesse and fortune helpe Qq (breefnes Q_2). Which must aske breefnes and fortune's helpe. Anon. conj. MS. See note (V).

[3080] Enter Edgar.] To him, enter Edgar. Theobald. Enter Edgar. After which, line 18, in Q_1 Q_3; opposite line 15 in Q_2; after worke, line 18, in Ff.

[3081] sir] om. Qq.

[3082] You have] You've Pope.

[3083] 'gainst] Ff. gainst Q_2. against Q_1 Q_3.

Cornwall?] Cornwall ought, Qq.

[3084] hither] hether Qq.

i' the night] i' th' night Ff (ith' F_2). in the night Qq.

i' the haste] haste Pope. in haste Hanmer.

[3085] Upon ... 'gainst] Against his party, for Johnson conj.

'gainst] against Qq.

[3086] yourself.] your— Qq.

I am] I'm Pope.

[3087] me: In cunning] Ff. me in crauing Qq.

[3088] Draw:] Omitted in Qq.

Draw ... well.] One line in Capell. Two, the first ending your selfe, in Ff.

[3089] ho,] hoa, Ff. heere, Q_1 Q_3. here, Q_2.

[3090] brother] brother flie Qq.

Torches, torches] Qq F_1. Torches F_2 F_3 F_4.

[Exit Edgar.] Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[3091] [Wounds his arm.] Rowe. om. Qq Ff.

[3092] I have] I've Pope.

[3093] Father, father] Why, father, father Capell. Father, father, father Keightley.

[3094] and ... torches.] Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[3095] SCENE III. Pope.

where's] where is Q_2.

[3096] Mumbling] Ff. warbling Qq.

stand's] Q_2. stand his Q_1 Q_3. stand Ff.

mistress.] mistress:—Capell. mistress,—Dyce (reading stand with Ff).

[3097] villain, Edmund] villaine Edmund Q_2.

[3098] sir. When] Capell. sir, when Qq Ff.

could—] Qq F_3 F_4. could. F_1. could F_2.

[3099] ho] om. Qq.

after.... By] after. By Ff. after, by Q_1 Q_2. after him, by Q_3.

[Exeunt some Servants.] Dyce. Exit Servant. Capell. om. Qq Ff.

[3100] revenging] Ff. revengive Qq.

[3101] their thunders] Qq. the thunder Ff. their thunder Heath conj.

[3102] in fine] Ff. in a fine Qq.

[3103] in] Ff. with Qq.

[3104] lanced] lanc'd Theobald. launcht Q_1 Q_3. lancht Q_2. latch'd Ff.

mine] my Theobald.

[3105] But when] Qq. And when Ff. But whether Collier (Collier MS.)

alarum'd] F_1 F_2 F_3. alarumd Qq. alarm'd F_4. alarmed Rowe.

[3106] quarrel's right] quarrels, rights Q_2.

[3107] gasted] 'gasted Capell. 'ghasted Jennens.

[3108] Full] Ff. but Qq.

[3109] And found—dispatch.] Steevens. and found; dispatch, Q_1 Ff Q_3. and found, dispatch, Q_2. and found; dispatch— Pope. for dispatch Hanmer. and found, dispatch'd.—Warburton. Unfound; dispatch.—Singer conj. (withdrawn). And found,—! Dispatch— Brae conj.

[3110] worthy] worth F_4.

arch and patron] and arch-patron Theobald. arch-patron Anon. MS. See note (V).

[3111] which] who Theobald (ed. 2).

[3112] caitiff] caytiffe Q_1 Q_3. caytife Q_2. coward Ff.

[3113] death.] shall abide the death. Seymour conj.

[3114] could the reposure.... Make] the reposal.... Would make Hanmer.

[3115] could the reposure] Qq. would the reposall Ff (reposal F_3 F_4).

[3116] what I should] Qq. what should I Ff. by what I should Rowe. what I'd Hanmer. when I should Warburton.

[3117] ay, though] I though Qq. though Ff. although Rowe (ed. 2).

[3118] I'ld] I'll F_4. would Hanmer.

[3119] damned practice] damn'd pretense Collier conj.

practice] F_3 F_4. practise F_1 F_2. pretence Qq.

[3120] must] maist Anon. conj. MS. See note (V).

[3121] very] om. Steevens's reprint of Q_1. See note (IX).

spurs] spurres Qq. spirits Ff.

[3122] Strong and fasten'd] Strong and fastened Q_1. Strong and fastned Q_2 Q_3. O strange and fastned Ff. O strange, fasten'd Pope. Strange, and fasten'd Capell MS.

[3123] I never got him.] Qq. said he? Ff. said he? hark! Hanmer.

[Tucket within.] Ff (after seek it, line 77). Omitted in Qq. Trumpets within. Rowe.

[3124] why] Qq. wher F_1. where F_2 F_3 F_4. wher' Knight.

[3125] due] Ff. om. Qq.

[3126] Enter ...] Ff. Enter the Duke of Cornwall. Qq.

[3127] SCENE IV. Pope.

[3128] strange news] strange newes Qq. strangenesse F_1 F_2. strangeness F_3 F_4.

[3129] dost] Qq F_1. does F_2 F_3 F_4.

[3130] O, madam,] Omitted in Qq.

is ... is] Qq. is ... it's Ff.

[3131] named? your Edgar?] nam'd, your Edgar? Ff. named your Edgar? Q_1 Q_2. named your Edgar. Q_3. nam'd, your Edgar? He? Hanmer. nam'd? your heir, your Edgar? Collier (Collier MS.) nam'd? your Edgar, Gloster? Lettsom conj.

[3132] O] Ff. I Qq. Ay Anon. conj.

it] om. Q_3.

[3133] not] om. Collier MS.

[3134] tend upon] Theobald. tends upon Qq. tended upon Ff. tended on Hanmer.

[3135] 'tis] it is Capell, ending lines 95, 96 at madam ... was.

[3136] madam] madam, yes Collier (Collier MS.)

of that consort] Ff. Omitted in Qq and Capell. one of that consort Dyce conj.

[3137] the waste and spoil of his] the wast and spoyle of his Q_2 (Bodl. 1, 2. Mus. per. and imp.) these—and waste of this his Q_1 Q_3. these—and wast of this his Q_2 (Cap. and Dev.) th' expence and wast of his F_1. th' expence and wast of F_2 F_3 F_4.

[3138] That ... there.] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[3139] Nor ... office.] As in Ff. Prose in Qq.

[3140] assure] I assure Theobald (ed. 2).

[3141] hear] F_3 F_4. heare F_1 F_2. heard Qq.

[3142] 'Twas] Twas Qq. It was F_1 F_2. It is F_3 F_4. It's Pope.

[3143] bewray] Ff. betray Qq.

[3144] lord] lord, he is Hanmer.

[3145] If he ... seize on.] Verse in Ff. Prose in Qq.

[3146] For] Qq F_1. as for F_2 F_3 F_4.

Edmund] good Edmund Keightley.

[3147] doth this instant] in this instance Warburton. doth, in this instance Jennens (Heath conj.) doth, at this instant Capell conj.

[3148] commend] commends Warburton.

[3149] need: You we] Ff. need, you we Q_1 Q_3. need you, we Q_2.

[3150] I shall ... else.] Arranged as by Pope. One line in Qq Ff.

[3151] sir] Ff. om. Qq and Jennens, who ends the line at truly.

[3152] For him] om. Pope.

[3153] came] come Capell conj.

you,—] you— Rowe (ed. 1). you? Qq F_1 F_2. you. F_3 F_4. you Rowe (ed. 2), continuing the next line to 'Corn.'

[3154] threading] thredding Ff. threatning Qq. treading Theobald conj.

[3155] poise] poyse Q_2 (Bodl. 1, 2. Mus. per. and imp.) prize Q_1 Ff Q_3. prise Q_2 (Cap. and Dev.) price Capell (Johnson conj.)

[3156] advice:] advices: Capell. After this Keightley marks a line omitted.

[3157] differences] Ff. diferences Q_2 (Bodl. 1, 2. Mus. per. and imp.) defences Q_1 Q_2 (Cap. and Dev.) Q_3.

least] Edd. lest Q_2 (Bodl. 1, 2. Mus. per. and imp.) best Q_1 Q_2 (Cap. and Dev.) Ff Q_3. See note (VIII).

[3158] home] Q_2 (Bodl. 1, 2. Mus. per. and imp.) Ff. hand Q_1 Q_2 (Cap. and Dev.) Q_3.

[3159] Lay ... use.] As in Ff. Two lines, the first ending counsell, in Qq.

[3160] business] businesse Q_1 Q_3. busines Q_2. businesses Ff.

[3161] craves] Qq Ff. crave Rowe.

[Exit. Q_1 Q_3. Exeunt. Q_2.

[3162] I serve ... welcome.] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[3163] [Flourish. Exeunt.] Exeunt. Flourish. F_1. Exeunt. F_2 F_3 F_4. om. Qq.

[3164] SCENE II.] SCENE V. Pope. Rowe and Theobald continue the Scene. SCENE III. Eccles.

Before....] Before the Castle. Capell.

Enter....] Collier. Enter Kent, and Steward severally. Ff. Enter Kent, and Steward. Qq.

[3165] Osw.] Collier. Steward. or Stew. Qq Ff.

[3166] dawning] Ff. euen Qq (deuen Q_2 (Bodl. 1)). evening Pope. downing Warburton. awning Jackson conj.

this] Ff. the Qq.

[3167] I' the] I' th' F_1. It'h Q_2. I th' F_2 F_3 F_4. In the Q_1 Q_3.

[3168] Prithee] Prythee F_1 F_3 F_4. Prethee Qq F_2.

lovest] lov'st Ff. love Qq.

[3169] Lipsbury] Ledbury Jennens conj. Finsbury Collier (Collier MS.)

I would] I'd Capell MS.

[3170] three suited] third-suited Farmer conj. tree-suited Jackson conj. thread-suited Anon. conj.

three-suited, hundred-pound] three shewted hundred pound Qq (snyted Q_2 Bodl. 1). three-suited-hundred pound F_1. three-suited, hundred pound F_2 F_3 F_4 (thre F_3).

[3171] worsted-stocking] worsted-stocken Qq (wosted stocken Q_2 Bodl. 1). woosted-stocking F_1 F_2 F_3. woosted stocking F_4.

[3172] knave; a] om. Ff.

superservicable, finical] super-finicall Qq.

[3173] one-trunk-inheriting] F_3 F_4. one trunke-inheriting F_1 F_2. No hyphen in Qq.

[3174] one] Ff. om. Qq.

[3175] clamorous] Qq F_3 F_4. clamours F_1 F_2.

deniest] deny'st Ff. deny Q_1 Q_3. denie Q_2.

thy] Ff. the Qq.

[3176] Why] Ff. om. Qq.

[3177] on one] against one Capell MS.

that is] Ff. that's Qq.

[3178] ago] om. Ff.

[3179] tripped ... thee] tript ... thee Ff. beate thee, and tript up thy heeles Qq (beat Q_2).

[3180] yet] Ff. om. Qq.

[3181] sop] fop Theobald conj. (withdrawn).

o' the] o' th' F_3 F_4. oth' F_1 F_2. of the Qq.

of you] Ff. a' you Qq.

draw] Qq. om. Ff.

cullionly] cullyonly Q_1 Q_2. cullyenly F_1 F_2. cully only Q_3. culleinly F_3 F_4.

[3182] [Drawing his sword.] Rowe.

[3183] come with] Ff. bring Qq.

[3184] royalty of her] royalty, her Capell.

[3185] shanks:] shankes, Qq Ff. shanks— Rowe.

[3186] rogue; stand, you] rogue, stand you Qq Ff. rogue, stand; you Steevens (1778).

[3187] [Beating him.] Rowe.

[3188] murder! murder!] murther, murther. Ff. murther, helpe. Qq.

Enter....] Edd. (Globe ed.) Enter Edmund with his Rapier drawne, Glocester, the Duke and Dutchesse. Qq (Gloster Q_2). Enter Bastard, Cornewall, Regan, Gloster, Servants. Ff (Servant. F_2 F_3 F_4). Enter Edmund. Stauton (Dyce).

[3189] SCENE VI. Pope.

[3190] Edm.] Bast. Qq Ff.

[3191] [Parting them.] Edd. Part. Ff. om. Qq. See note (X).

[3192] an] Staunton. and Qq. if Ff.

[3193] flesh] Ff. fleash Qq. you] Qq. ye Ff.

Enter Cornwall, Regan, Gloucester, and Servants. Staunton. Enter Gloster. Dyce (ed. 2).

[3194] Weapons! arms!] Capell. Weapons? Armes? Ff. Weapons, armes, Qq.

Enter Cornwall, Regan, and Servants. Dyce (ed. 2).

[3195] Keep ... matter?] As in Cappell. Prose in Qq Ff.

[3196] What is] Ff. what's Qq.

[3197] messengers] messenger Grant White.

king.] Qq. king? Ff.

[3198] What is] Ff. What's Q_1 Q_3. Whats Q_2.

difference? speak.] Rowe. difference, speake? Qq Ff.

[3199] No ... man?] Prose in Qq Ff. Four lines, ending valour, ... thee; ... fellow: ... man? in Capell.

[3200] in] all share in Rowe.

[3201] man?] Ff. man. Qq.

[3202] Ay,] I, Qq. om. Ff.

sir:] sir; Q_2 F_2 F_3 F_4. sir, Q_1 F_1 Q_3.

[3203] he] Q_1 Q_3. hee Q_2. they Ff.

[3204] hours] Q_3. houres Q_1 Q_2. yeares F_1 F_2 F_3. years F_4.

at the] Qq. oth' F_1 F_2. o' th' F_3 F_4.

[3205] yet] you Pope.

[3206] This ... spared] Prose in Qq Ff. One line of verse in Capell.

ruffian] ruffen Q_2.

[3207] gray beard,—] gray beard—- Rowe. gray-beard. Qq F_1 F_2. gray beard. F_3 F_4.

[3208] zed!] C! Johnson conj.

[3209] you will] you'l Q_2.

[3210] walls] wals Q_1 Q_3. walles Q_2. wall Ff.

of a jakes] of a Iaques Q_1. of a iaques Q_2. of a Iakes F_1 F_2. of Iaques Q_3. of a Jakes F_3 F_4.

[3211] gray beard] Q_2. gray-beard Q_1 Ff Q_3.

[3212] Peace ... reverence?] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[3213] sirrah] Ff. sir Qq.

[3214] know you no reverence?] Ff. you have no reverence. Qq.

[3215] hath] Ff. has Qq.

[3216] Who] Ff. That Qq.

as these] Put at the beginning of line 69 by Pope (reading those as Qq). om. Hanmer.

[3217] the holy] Ff. those Qq. those holy Jennens. the boly Grimes conj. MS.

a-twain F_3 F_4. a twaine F_1 F_2. in twaine Qq. Malone would read with Qq, ending line 69, which are.

[3218] Which are too intrinse] Malone. Which are t' intrince, F_1. Which art t' intrince, F_2 F_3 F_4. Which are to intrench, Qq. Too intricate Pope. Too 'intrinsecate Theobald. Too intrinsick Hanmer. Too intresse or Too intrigue Singer conj.

to unloose;] t' unloose: Ff. to inloose Qq. to enloose Seymour conj.

smooth] sooth Pope. smothe (i.e. smother) Becket conj.

[3219] natures] nature Pope.

rebel] rebels Pope.

[3220] Bring] Qq. Being Ff.

fire] Ff. stir Qq.

their] Qq. the Ff.

[3221] Renege F_2 F_3 F_4. Reneag Qq. Revenge F_1.

[3222] gale] gall F_1.

vary] varry F_1.

[3223] Knowing ... fool?] Two lines, the first ending epeliptick, in Q_2.

[3224] Knowing] As knowing Pope. And knowing Collier (Collier MS.) Knowing of Anon. conj.

nought] Qq. naught Ff.

dogs] F_4. dogges F_1 F_2 F_3. daies Q_1 Q_2. dayes Q_2.

[3225] Smile you] F_4. Smoile you Q_1 F_1 F_2 Q_3 F_3. smoyle you Q_2. Smile at Collier MS. Smile you at Keightley.

[3226] if] Q_1 Ff Q_3. and Q_2.

[3227] drive ye] Ff. send you Qq. drive you Capell.

Camelot] Ff. Camulot Qq.

[3228] What, ... out?] As one line in Steevens (1793).

[3229] out? say that.] Pope. out, say that? Qq Ff.

say that.] om. Seymour conj.

[3230] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

What is his fault] Ff. What's his offence Qq.

[3231] does] Q_2. do's Ff. doth Q_1 Q_3.

nor ... nor] Ff. or ... or Qq.

[3232] Than] Q_1. Then Ff Q_3. That Q_2.

stands] stand Pope.

[3233] This ... nicely.] As in Ff. Nine lines, ending praised ... ruffines, ... nature, ... plaine, ... so, ... know, ... craft, ... ducking ... nicely, in Qq.

[3234] some] Ff. a Qq.

[3235] roughness] ruffines Qq.

[3236] cannot] can't Pope.

[3237] An ... plain] he must be plaine Qq.

[3238] An] Pope. And Ff. and Qq.

take it, so] Rowe. take it so Q_1 Ff Q_3. tak't so Q_2.

[3239] plainness] A full stop here in F_2 F_3 F_4.

[3240] more] far Pope.

[3241] silly] silky Hanmer (Warburton).

silly ducking] Qq. silly-ducking Ff.

[3242] faith, in] Ff. sooth, or in Qq.

[3243] great] Ff. grand Q_1 Q_3. graund Q_2.

[3244] On] Ff. In Qq. Or Rowe.

flickering] Pope. flitkering Q_1 Q_2. fletkering Q_3. flicking Ff.

front,—] front— Rowe. front. Qq Ff.

by] thou by Qq.

[3245] dialect] Ff. dialogue Qq.

[3246] he] but he Hanmer.

beguiled] beguil'd F_3 F_4. beguild The rest.

[3247] to entreat] that entreat Badham conj.

[3248] to't] F_3 F_4. too't Q_2 F_1 F_2. to it Q_1 Q_3.

[3249] What was] Ff. What's Qq.

[3250] I ... any] Never any Hanmer.

[3251] I ... misconstruction;] As in Ff. Two lines, the first ending master, in Qq.

[3252] late] lately Rowe.

[3253] misconstruction] misinstruction Anon. conj. MS. See note (V).

[3254] conjunct] coniunct Qq. compact Ff.

[3255] man, That] Ff. man, that That Q_1 Q_3. man, that, That Q_2. man That't Anon. conj.

[3256] fleshment] Ff. flechuent Q_1 Q_2. flechvent Q_3.

dread] Qq. dead Ff. dear Anon. conj.

[3257] again] om. Steevens (1793).

[3258] None ... fool] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[3259] Ajax] F_2 F_3 F_4. A'Iax Qq. Aiax F_1.

their] there F_1.

fool] foil Hanmer (Warburton).

Fetch ... stocks!] Fetch ... stocks? Ff (stockes? F_2). Bring ... stockes ho? Qq. Fetch ... stocks, ho! Steevens (1778).

[3260] stubborn ancient] stubborn-ancient S. Walker conj.

ancient] Ff. miscreant Qq (ausrent Q_2 Bodl. 1).

reverend] rev'rend Pope. reverent Q_2 Ff. unreverent Q_1. unreverant Q_3.

[3261] you—] Theobald, you. Qq Ff.

Sir,] Ff. om. Qq.

[3262] Sir, I am ... you] As in Ff. I am ... you As two lines, the first ending me, in Qq.

[3263] employment] imployment Ff. imploiments Q_1. imployments Q_2 Q_3.

[3264] shall] Ff. should Qq.

respect] Qq. respects Ff.

[3265] Stocking] Ff. Stopping Qq.

[3266] Fetch ... noon.] As in Qq. Two lines, the first ending stocks; in Ff.

[3267] stocks!] stockes? Q_2. stockes; Q_1 F_2. stocks; F_1 F_3 F_4.

and honour] om. Hanmer.

[3268] noon!] noone? Ff. noone. Qq.

[3269] Why, ... so.] As in Ff. Prose in Qq.

[3270] should] Ff. could Q_1 Q_2. cold Q_3.

[3271] self-same colour] same nature Q_1 Q_3. selfe same nature Q_2.

[3272] speaks of] speakes off Q_1 Q_3. speake of Q_2.

Come] om. Pope.

[Stocks brought out.] As in Dyce. After line 132 in Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[3273] His ... restrain'd.] See note (XI).

[3274] basest] belest Q_2 (Bodl. 1).

contemned'st] Capell. temnest Qq (contaned Q_2 Bodl. 1). the meanest Pope.

[3275] he, so ... Should] he so ... Should F_1 F_2. hee's so ... should Qq. he's so ... Should F_3 F_4. he's so ... To Rowe.

[3276] much more] yet much Hanmer.

[3277] gentleman] gentlemen Q_2.

[3278] For ... legs.] Omitted in Ff.

[3279] Put in his legs] A stage-direction. Seymour conj.

[Kent ...] As in Pope. After line 142 in Rowe. om. Qq Ff.

[3280] Come] Qq. Corn. Come Ff.

good lord] Q_2. lord Q_1 Ff Q_3. lord, let's Capell conj. MS.

[Exeunt ...] Exeunt Cor. Reg. Edm. Ste. and Ser. Capell. Exit. Q_1 Ff Q_3. om. Q_2. Exeunt Regan and Cornwall. Pope.

[3281] SCENE VI. Pope and Hanmer (a misprint). SCENE VII. Warburton.

I am] I’m Pope.

duke's] duke F_1.

[3282] rubb'd] ruled Anon. conj.

[3283] Pray] Ff. Pray you Qq.

I have] I've Pope.

travell’d] travel’d F_3 F_4. travaild Qq. travail’d F_1 F_2.

[3284] Some time] Sometime Q_2.

out] out Q_2.

[3285] The ... taken.] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

to blame] Q_2 F_3 F_4. too blame Q_1 F_1 F_2 Q_3.

'twill ... taken.] [to Edm.] 'twill be ill taken. Capell conj. MS. (withdrawn).

taken] Ff. tooke Qq.

[Exit.] om. Q_2. Exeunt Gloster, Edmund, and Servants. Capell conj. MS. (withdrawn).

[3286] Thou] That Johnson.

[3287] Approach ... remedies.] Put in the margin by Hanmer.

[3288] [Looking up to the moon. Pope. Addressing the absent sun, and wishing for its return. Rann (Malone conj.)

[3289] miracles] Ff. my wracke Q_1 Q_2 (Cap. Dev. Mus. per. & imp. and Bodl. 2) Q_3. my rackles Q_2 (Bodl. 1).

[3290] misery: I know] miserie. I know Ff. misery, I know Qq. misery, I know.—Jennens.

[Reading the letter. Johnson. Opening the letter. Jennens.

[3291] most] not Q_2 (Bodl. 1).

[3292] course; and] course. And Ff. course, and Qq. course. I Rowe. See note (XII).

[3293] shall ... From] she'll ... For Daniel conj. she’ll ... From Staunton.

[3294] state, seeking] state-seeking Johnson conj. state’s sinking Jackson conj.

[3295] o'er-watch’d,] o’re-watch’d Ff. ouer-watcht, Q_1 Q_3. ouerwatch Q_2. o’er-watch’d! S. Walker conj.

[3296] Take] Late Q_2 (Bodl. 1).

[3297] This ... wheel!] As in Pope. In Qq Ff the first line ends goodnight.

[3298] smile ... turn] Smile once more, turn Ff. Smile, once more turne Q_1 Q_2. Smile once more turne Q_3.

[Sleeps.] sleepes. Q_2. He sleepes. Q_1 Q_3. om. Ff.

[3299] SCENE III.] Steevens. SCENE VII. Pope. SCENE VIII. Johnson. SCENE IV. Eccles. The Folios, Rowe, Warburton, and Capell continue the scene.

A wood.] Staunton. A part of a Heath. Theobald. A part of the heath. Steevens. A part of the neighbouring country. Eccles. The open country. Dyce.

Enter Edgar.] Qq Ff. Enter Edgar, at a Distance. Capell.

[3300] I heard] F_1 F_2 F_3. I heare Qq. I have heard F_4. I've heard Pope.

[3301] unusual] unusall Q_1 F_1 F_2 Q_3.

[3302] Does] Do's Ff. Dost Qq. Doth Anon. conj. MS. See note (V).

taking. Whiles] Ff. taking while Qq.

[3303] most] the Pope.

[3304] elf] elfe F_1. else Qq F_2. put F_3 F_4. tye Anon. MS. See note (V).

hair] F_4. haire Q_1 Q_2. haires F_1 F_2. heare Q_3. hairs F_3.

in] Ff. with Qq.

[3305] winds] F_3 F_4. windes F_1 F_2. winde Q_1. wind Q_2 Q_3.

persecutions] Ff. persecution Qq.

[3306] precedent] Johnson, president Qq Ff.

[3307] Strike] Stick S. Walker conj.

and] om. Q_2 (Bodl. 1).

bare] Qq. om. Ff.

[3308] Pins] Pies Q_2 (Bodl. 1).

wooden] Q_1 Q_2 F_3 F_4 wodden Q_2 F_1 F_2.

[3309] from] frame Q_2 (Bodl. 1).

farms] F_4. farmes F_1 F_2 F_3. seruice Qq.

[3310] sheep-cotes] sheep-coates Qq. sheeps-coates F_1. sheepes-coates F_2. sheep's-coats F_3. sheeps-coats F_4.

mills] miles Q_3.

[3311] Sometime] Qq. Sometimes Ff.

sometime] Qq F_1. sometimes F_2 F_3 F_4.

[3312] their] reer Warburton conj.

Turlygod] Tuelygod Q_2 (Bodl. 1). Turlygood Theobald. Turlurù Hanmer. Turlupin Warburton conj.

[3313] SCENE IV.] Steevens. SCENE VIII. Pope. SCENE IX. Warburton (an error). SCENE IX. Johnson. Ff, Rowe and Capell continue the Scene.

Before ... castle.] Changes again to the Earl of Glo'ster's Castle. Pope.

Kent ...] Dyce.

Enter ...] Ff. Enter King, and a Knight. Q_1 Q_3. Enter King. Q_2.

[3314] home] Ff. hence Qq.

[3315] messenger] messengers F_1 F_2.

[3316] As I ... remove.] As in Ff. Two lines, the first ending was, in Qq.

[3317] in them] Ff. om. Qq.

[3318] this] Ff. his Qq.

[3319] Ha!] Ha? F_1 F_2 F_3. Ha, F_4. How, Qq.

[3320] Ha!... pastime?] Arranged as by Steevens (1793), who reads, How! One line in Qq Ff.

thy] ahy F_1.

[3321] this] om. Pope. thy Theobald.

Kent. No, my lord.] Omitted in Qq.

[3322] Ha, ... nether-stocks.] Prose in Ff. Five lines in Qq.

[3323] he] Ff. looke, he Qq.

cruel] cruell F_1 F_2. crewell Q_1 Q_2. crewill Q_3. crewel F_3 F_4.

tied] tide tide F_2.

[3324] heads] Ff. heeles Qq. head Boswell.

[3325] man's] Q_1 Q_3. mans Q_2. man F_1. man is F_2 F_3 F_4.

[3326] then] hen Q_1. When Q_3.

wooden] wodden F_1 F_2.

nether-stocks] neather-stockes Q_1. neatherstockes Q_2. neather-stocke Q_3. nether socks Heath conj.

[3327] What's ... here?] As in Rowe. Prose in Qq. Three lines in Ff.

[3328] It ... daughter.] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[3329] I say, yea.] But I say, yea. Hanmer.

[3330] Lear. No ... have.] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

[3331] Kent. By ... ay. Lear.] Omitted in Qq.

[3332] do't ... do't] do it ... do it Q_1 Q_3.

[3333] could ... would] Ff. would ... could Qq.

[3334] mightst] maist Q_1 Q_3. may'st Q_2.]

impose] Ff. purpose Qq.

[3335] show'd] shew'd Pope. shewed Qq Ff.

[3336] came there] came Pope. there came Jennens (a misprint).

[3337] panting] painting F_1.

[3338] salutations] Qq F_1. salutation F_2 F_3 F_4.

[3339] Deliver'd] Ff. Delivered Qq.

[3340] whose] Qq. those Ff.

[3341] meiny] F_3 F_4. meiney F_1 F_2. men Qq.

[3342] And] I, Jennens.

[3343] that] Qq. which Ff.

[3344] drew] I drew Rowe.

[3345] The shame] Ff. This shame Qq.

[3346] Fool. Winters ... year.] Omitted in Qq.

[3347] Winter's] F_3 F_4. Winters F_1 F_2.

wild] wil'd F_1.

[3348] Fathers ... poor.] As in Pope. Three lines in Ff.

[3349] this, ... daughters] this, it follows ... daughters dear Collier (Collier MS.), reading 52, 53 as four lines of rhyme.

[3350] for thy] F_1. for thy deare F_2. for thy dear F_3 F_4. from thy dear Theobald.

[3351] Hysterica] F_4. Historica Qq F_1 F_2. Hystorica F_3.

[3352] With ... not;] As in Qq Ff. One line in Steevens (1793).

[3353] here] Ff. om. Qq.

[3354] here.] Ff. there. Q_1 Q_3. there? Q_2.

[Exit.] Ff. om. Qq.

[3355] Made ... of?] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

but] Ff. then Qq.

[3356] None] Ff. No Qq.

[3357] None ... train?] None: How ... number? Ff. No, how ... traine? Qq.

[3358] train] traine Qq. number Ff.

[3359] An] Pope. And Q_2 Ff. If Q_1 Q_3.

[3360] i' the] i' th' F_1 F_3 F_4. ith' F_2. in the Qq.

[3361] thou hadst] Qq. thou'dst Ff.

deserved] deserve, Pope, reading thou'dst with Ff.

[3362] All ... men;] All men are led by their eyes, but blind men, and they follow their noses, Johnson conj.

[3363] twenty] Ff. a hundred Q_1 Q_3. a 100. Q_2.

stinking] sinking Mason conj.

[3364] following it] Qq. following Ff.

[3365] up the hill] Qq. upward Ff.

him] it Hanmer.

[3366] [Sings. Anon. conj.

That sir] That, sir, F_4.

which] Ff. that Qq.

and seeks] om. Qq.

[3367] That ... perdy.] Italics in Q_1 Q_3. Roman in Q_2 Ff.

[3368] begins] begin Q_2.

begins to rain] 'gins rain Capell.

[3369] the storm] a storm F_4.

[3370] But] And F_3 F_4.

[3371]

wise man] Qq F_4. wiseman F_1

F_2 F_3.

[3372] The knave ... knave,] The fool turns knave, that runs away, The knave no fool, Collier, ed. 2 (Johnson conj.) The fool turns knave, that runs away; The fool's no knave, Heath conj. The fool turns knave, that runs away; The fool no knave, Capell.

[3373] fool] om. Qq.

[3374] Re-enter ...] Capell. Enter Lear and Glocester. Qq (Gloster Q_2). Enter Lear, and Gloster: Ff (Glocester. Q_1 Q_3. Glower. F_2), after line 81.

[3375] SCENE IX. Pope. SCENE X. Warburton.

Deny ... weary?] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

They are ... they are] they're ... they're Pope.

sick?... weary?] Johnson. sicke, ... weary, Qq Ff.

[3376] have travell'd] F_4. have travail'd F_1 F_2. have travel'd F_3. traveld Q_1. traveled Q_2 Q_3.

all the] Ff. hard to Qq.

[3377] fetches; The] fetches, The Ff. Iustice, I the Qq. fetches; ay, The Capell conj. fetches all—The Steevens conj. fetches these; The Keightley.

[3378] images] image' S. Walker conj.

[3379] Fetch] Bring Pope.

[3380] My dear ... wife.] As in Ff. Prose in Qq.

[3381] plague! death!] plague, death, Ff. death, plague, Qq.

[3382] Fiery? what quality?] Ff. what fiery quality; Qq. Fiery? what fiery quality? Pope.

Gloucester, Gloucester] Gloster, Gloster Qq Ff. Glo'ster Pope.

Fiery? what? quality? Taylor conj. MS.

[3383] Glo. Well ... man?] Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[3384] The ... father] One line in Qq. Two, the first ending Cornwall, in Ff.

father] fate Q_2 (Bodl. 1).

[3385] with his] with the Q_2 (Bodl. 1).

commands her service] Qq (come and tends seruise Q_2 Bodl. 1). commands, tends, service Ff. commands tends service Rowe (ed. 1). commands, tends service Rowe (ed. 2).

[3386] Are ... blood!] Omitted in Qq.

[3387] 'Fiery'?... that—] Ff. Fiery duke, tell the hot duke that Lear, Qq (The fierie Q_2 Bodl. 1).

that—] that— [Glocester offers to go. Johnson.

[3388] No] Mo Q_2 (Bodl. 1).

[3389] Infirmity ... forbear;] Divided as in Ff. Three lines, the first two ending health ... opprest, in Qq.

[3390] Whereto] Ff. where to Qq.

we are] we're Pope.

[3391] commands] cōmand Q_2.

[3392] fall'n] F_3 F_4. fallen Qq F_1 F_2.

headier] heady Pope.

[3393] To ... her] Divided as in Ff. Three lines, the first two ending man, ... here? in Qq.

[3394] [Looking on Kent] Johnson. om. Qq Ff.

wherefore] but wherefore Pope.

[3395] act] very act Keightley.

persuades] persuadeth Hanmer. almost persuades Steevens conj. alone persuades Seymour conj.

[3396] practice only. Give] practise only. Give F_1. practise, onely give Qq. practise onely, Give F_2. practice onely, Give F_3. practice only, give F_4.

[3397] Go tell] Tell Qq.

and's] and his Capell.

I'ld F_4. Il'd F_2 F_3. Ile Qq.

[3398] sleep to death] Printed in italics by Johnson. death to sleep Mason conj.

[3399] I would] I'd Capell.

[Exit.] Ff. om. Qq.

[3400] O ... down!] O my heart! my heart. Qq.

[3401] cockney] cokney Q_2 (Cap. Dev. Mus. per. & imp. and Bodl. 2). coknay Q_2 (Bodl. 1). cook-maid Badham conj.

[3402] she] Qq F_1. hee F_2. he F_3 F_4.

put 'em i' the] put vm it'h Q_2. put 'em i' th' F_1 F_2 F_3. put them up i' th Q_1 Q_3. put them i' th' F_4.

paste] pâst Q_2 (Cap. Dev. Mus. per. & imp. and Bodl. 2). past Q_2 (Bodl. 1). pasty Pope.

she] Qq Ff. he Rowe.

knapped 'em o' the] knapt 'em o' th' Ff. knapt vm ath Qq.

[3403] her] his F_3 F_4.

[3404] Re-enter....] Capell. Enter Duke and Regan. Qq. Enter Cornewall Regan, Gloster, Servants. Ff.

[3405] SCENE X. POPE. SCENE XI. Warburton.

[Kent is set....] Rowe. Kent here set at liberty. Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[3406] you] your F_1.

[3407] shouldst not be] wert not Pope.

[3408] divorce] deuose Q_2 (Bodl. 1).

mother's] mother F_1.

tomb] fruit Q_2 (Bodl. 1).

[3409] [To Kent] Rowe. om. Qq Ff.

O] Ff. yea Qq.

[3410] sister's] F_3 F_4. sisters F_1 F_2. sister is Qq.

[3411] tied Sharp-tooth'd unkindness,] tired Sharp-tooth'd unkindness, Sympson conj. tired, (Sharp-tooth'd unkindness!) Roderick conj.

[3412] here:] heere. Q_1. heere, F_1 Q_3. heare, Q_2. here, The rest.

[Points to his heart.] Pope. om. Qq Ff.

[3413] thou'lt] Ff. thou't Q_1 Q_3. thout Q_2.

[3414] With how depraved] Of how deprived Q_1 Q_2 (deptoued Q_2 (Bodl. 1)). Of how depriyed Q_3. Of how deprav’d Johnson and Anon. conj. MS. See note (V).

quality—] Rowe. quality, Qq. quality. Ff.

[3415] you] om. Qq.

[3416] scant] Ff. slacke Q_1 Q_2. slack Q_3. scan Hanmer.

[3417] Lear. Say, ... blame.] Omitted in Qq.

[3418] Say, how is] How is Pope. Ha! how's Capell conj.

[3419] sir,] om. Pope.

[3420] Nature ... return;] Divided as in Ff. Four lines, the first three ending confine, ... discretion ... your selfe, in Qq.

[3421] in you] on you Qq.

[3422] her] his F_1.

[3423] you] om. Qq.

[3424] her, sir.] her sir. Q_1 Q_3. her sir? Q_2. her. Ff.

Ask her] Ask of her Keightley, omitting sir with Ff.

[3425] but] om. Qq.

becomes the house:] becometh us: Hanmer. becometh—thus. Johnson conj.

the house:] the house, Q_2. the house? The rest. the use? Theobald. me now: Jennens. the mouth? Collier MS.

[3426] [Kneeling] The King kneeling. Hanmer. Om. Qq Ff. Kneeling. Johnson, after line 151.

[3427] [Rising] Dyce (Collier MS.) om. Qq Ff.

Never] No Qq.

[3428] black] backe Q_1. back Q_3. blank Theobald.

struck] stroke Q_1 Q_3. strooke Q_2 Ff.

[3429] All ... lameness.] Divided as in Ff. Two lines, the first ending top, in Qq.

[3430] ingrateful] ungrateful Johnson (1771).

top] head Pope.

[3431] You taking] Infecting Pope.

Fie, sir, fie] Fie, fie sir Q_1 Q_3. Fie fie sir Q_2.

[3432] Lear.] om. Q_2.

[3433] sun To] Edd. sunne, To or sun, To Qq Ff.

[3434] To fall] Do, fall Johnson conj. O, fall Capell. To-fall Porson conj. MS. Fall ye Anon. conj. MS. See note (V).

and blast her pride.] Qq. and blister. Ff.

[3435] O the ...] Divided as in Qq. The first line ends Gods! in Ff.

[3436] mood is on.] F_3 F_4. moode is on. F_1 F_2. mood— Qq. mood's on. Steevens (1793), dividing as in Ff.

[3437] Thy] The Qq.

tender-hefted] Ff. tender hested Q_1. tēder hested Q_2. tender hasted Q_3. tender-hearted Rowe (ed. 2) and Pope. tender Seymour conj., ending lines 164—168 gods!... mood ... have ... give.

[3438] Thy ... train,] Divided as in Ff. Three lines, the first two ending ore ... burn, in Qq.

[3439] Thee] the Q_2.

o'er] are Q_3.

harshness] rashness Johnson.

her] no, her Seymour conj.

[3440] know'st] knowest Qq.

[3441] dues] and dues Rowe.

[3442] hast thou] thou hast Rowe (ed. 2).

[3443] endow'd] Ff. endowed Q_1 Q_3. indow'd Q_2.

to the] too'th Q_2.

[3444] [Tucket within.] Ff, after line 178. Transferred by Collier. Trumpets within. Rowe.

[3445] know't; my] know't, my F_1 F_4. know't my Qq F_2 F_3.

sister's] sister Q_3.

letter] Ff. letters Qq.

[3446] Enter Oswald.] Dyce. Enter Steward. Qq, after that? line 179. Enter Steward. Ff, after stocks? line 179. Enter Oswald. Collier, after line 179.

[3447] easy-borrow'd] Capell. easie borrowed Qq Ff. easy-borrowed Theobald.

[3448] fickle] Qq. fickly F_1 F_2. sickly F_3 F_4.

he] a Q_2.

[3449] SCENE XI. Pope. SCENE XII. Warburton.

Lear.] Ff. Gon. Qq.

stock'd] stockt Ff. strucke Q_1 Q_3. struck Q_2.

I have] I've Pope.

[3450] Thou ... heavens,] As in Pope. Two lines, the first ending ant or on't, in Qq Ff.

on't] Ff. ant Q_1 Q_2. ont Q_3.

Who] Ff. Lear. Who Qq.

Enter Goneril.] As in Johnson. After grace? (line 184) in Qq Ff.

heavens] gods Anon. conj.

[3451] If ... part!] As in Ff. Three lines, the first two ending alow (allow Q_2 Cap.) ... cause, in Qq.

[3452] your] Ff. you Qq.

[3453] Allow] Hallow Theobald (Warburton).

if] if you Ff.

[3454] [To Gon.] Johnson.

[3455] wilt thou] Qq. will you Ff.

[3456] finds] fines Warburton conj.

[3457] Will ... stocks?] As in Qq. Two lines in Ff.

yet hold?] hold yet? Capell conj.

[3458] sir] Q_2 Ff. om. Q_1 Q_3.

[3459] much less] no less Hanmer. much more Johnson conj.

[3460] weak] 'wake Hanmer.

seem so] deem't so Warburton.

[3461] month] F_4. moneth Qq F_1 F_2 F_3.

[3462] I am] I'm Pope.

[3463] To wage ... owl,—] Theobald transposed these lines.

[3464] wage] wage war Keightley.

o' the] oth' F_1 F_2. o' th' F_3 F_4. of the Qq.

[3465] owl,—] owle, or owl, Qq Ff. howl Collier (Collier MS.)

[3466] hot-blooded] Pope. hot-bloodied Ff. hot blood in Qq (bloud Q_2).

[3467] took ... brought] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[3468] knee] knee to Anon. conj. MS. See note (V).

beg] bag Q_2.

[3469] [Pointing ...] Dyce. Looking on the Steward. Johnson.

[3470] I] Ff. Now I Qq.

[3471] that's in] Ff. that lies within Qq.

[3472] boil] Malone. byle Q_1 F_1 F_2 Q_3. bile Q_2 F_3 F_4.

[3473] A ... In my] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[3474] plague-sore] Hyphened in F_3 F_4.

an] Qq. or Ff.

[3475] call it] callit Q_2 (Dev.)

[3476] thunder-bearer] thunder-beater Warburton.

[3477] takes] tailes Q_2.

high-judging Hyphened in Ff.

[3478] Not ... passion] Arranged as in Ff. Four lines, ending yet, ... welcome, ... those ... passion, in Qq.

[3479] altogether so] Ff. altogether so sir Qq. all together Pope. allto so Seymour conj.

[3480] look'd] Ff. looke Qq.

[3481] sir] Q_2 Ff. om. Q_1 Q_3.

[3482] your] you F_2.

[3483] you old] Ff. you are old Qq.

so—] Rowe. so, Qq Ff.

[3484] spoken] Ff. spoken now Qq.

[3485] what, fifty] Rowe. what fifty Qq Ff.

[3486] sith that] since Pope.

[3487] Speak] F_3 F_4. Speake F_1 F_2. Speakes Qq.

one house] Ff. a house Qq.

[3488] almost] om. Seymour conj.

[3489] Why ... you,] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

chanced] chanc'd Ff. chancst Q_1. chanc'st Q_2. chancest Q_3.

you] Qq. ye Ff.

[3490] you will] you'll Pope.

[3491] For ... danger,] Put in parenthesis in Q_1 Ff Q_3.

[3492] but] om. F_3 F_4.

[3493] all—] Rowe. all. Qq Ff.

[3494] kept] keep F_3 F_4.

follow'd] Pope. followed Qq Ff.

[3495] What] om. Pope.

[3496] twenty, Regan?] Capell. twenty, Regan, Q_1 Q_3. twentie, Regan Q_2. twenty? Regan, Ff.

[3497] speak't] speak it Capell.

[3498] wicked ... wicked] wrinkled ... wrinkled Warburton.

[3499] look] seeme Q_1 Q_3. seem Q_2.

[3500] the] om. Pope.

[3501] [To Gon.] Hanmer.

[3502] art] hast Pope.

[3503] need] needs Q_1 Q_3. needes Q_2.

[3504] need] deed Qq.

[3505] life's as] Q_1 Q_3. life as Q_2. life is Ff.

beast's] Capell. beasts Qq F_3 F_4. beastes F_1 F_2. beasts' Hanmer.

[3506] wear'st] Ff. wearest Qq.

[3507] warm. But ... need,—] warm; but ... need,— Warburton. warme, but ... need, Qq Ff.

[3508] that patience, patience] that patience which Pope. that: patience, patience Jennens. patience:—patience Mason conj. patience!—that or that patience that Ritson conj. that patience Grant White (Malone conj.) but patience! that Collier MS. but patience that Collier conj. your patience that Nicholson conj.

[3509] man] fellow Qq.

[3510] stirs] F_4. stirres Q_1 Q_2 F_1 F_2 F_3. stirrs Q_3. stir Rowe.

[3511] so] Ff. too Q_1. to Q_2 Q_3.

[3512] tamely] lamely Qq.

[3513] And let] O let Qq.

[3514] [Storm heard at a distance. Capell conj. MS.

[3515] shall—] Q_1 Ff Q_3. shall, Q_2.

things,—] Capell. things, Qq Ff.

[3516] earth.] earth; Q_1 Q_3 F_3. earth, Q_2 F_4. earth? F_1 F_2.

[3517] No ... flaws,] Arranged as by Steevens (1778). Two lines, the first ending weeping, in Qq Ff.

[3518] I have] Though I have Hanmer, dividing as Qq Ff, and reading with Pope.

but this] This Pope.

[3519] into a hundred thousand] Ff. in a 100. thousand Q_2. in a thousand Q_1 Q_3. into a thousand Pope.

flaws] flowes Qq.

[3520] Or ere] Q_2 F_1 F_2. Ere Q_1 Q_3. Or e'er F_3 F_4.

I'll] ile Qq. Ile F_1. I F_2 F_3 F_4.

[Exeunt ... Fool.] Q_1 Q_3, substantially. Exeunt Lear, Leister, Kent.... Q_2. Exeunt. Ff. Exeunt ... Gentleman, and Fool. Capell.

[3521] Corn.] Ff. Duke. Qq.

withdraw; 'twill] withdraw us; it will Keightley.

[Storm and tempest.] Ff, after weeping, line 281. Transferred by Pope. Omitted in Qq. Storm heard at a Distance. Capell, after 'Exeunt ... Fool.'

SCENE XII. Pope. Scene xiii. Warburton.

[3522] Let ... folly.] As in Qq Ff. Four lines, ending house ... cannot ... put ... folly, in Capell. Keightley ends them storm ... people ... blame; ... folly.

[3523] little] small Pope.

and his] Qq. an'ds F_1. and's F_2 F_3 F_4.

[3524] bestow'd] Ff. bestowed Qq.

[3525] blame; hath] Boswell. blame hath Qq Ff. blame, he 'ath Hanmer. blame; he hath Capell.

[3526] And] He Collier MS.

[3527] Gon.] Ff. Duke. Qq.

purposed] puspos'd Q_2.

[3528] So ... Gloucester?] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[3529] Corn.] Ff. Reg. Qq.

Follow'd] Pope. Followed Qq Ff. Follow Johnson (1771).

Re-enter....] As in Dyce. Enter.... Qq Ff, after line 291. Re-enter.... Capell, after line 291.

[3530] rage. Corn. ... whither.] As in Ff. rage, and will I know not whether. Qq.

[3531] Whither] F_3 F_4. Whether F_1 F_2.

[3532] whither] F_3 F_4. whether F_1 F_2.

[3533] Corn.] Ff. Reg. Q_1 Q_3. Re. Q_2.

best] good Qq.

[3534] bleak] Q_2. bleake Q_1 Q_3. high Ff.

[3535] Do ... bush.] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[3536] ruffle] Ff. russell Q_1 Q_3. russel Q_2. rustle Capell.

[3537] There's] There is Q_3.

scarce] not Qq.

[3538] to] too Q_1 F_1 Q_3.

[3539] wild] wil'd F_1 F_2.

[3540] Regan] Reg Q_2.

o' the] oth' F_1 F_2. o' th' F_3 F_4. ath Q_1 Q_3. at'h Q_2.

[Exeunt.] Exeunt omnes. Q_1 Q_3.

ACT III.

SCENE I. A heath.

Storm still. Enter KENT and a Gentleman, meeting.[3541]

Kent. Who's there, besides foul weather?[3542]

Gent. One minded like the weather, most unquietly.

Kent. I know you. Where's the king?

Gent. Contending with the fretful elements;[3543]

Bids the wind blow the earth into the sea, 5

Or swell the curled waters 'bove the main,[3544]

That things might change or cease; tears his white hair,[3545]

Which the impetuous blasts, with eyeless rage,[3545]

Catch in their fury, and make nothing of;[3545]

Strives in his little world of man to out-scorn[3545][3546][3547] 10

The to-and-fro-conflicting wind and rain.[3545][3546][3548]

This night, wherein the cub-drawn bear would couch,[3545][3549]

The lion and the belly-pinched wolf[3545][3550]

Keep their fur dry, unbonneted he runs,[3545]

And bids what will take all.[3545]

Kent. But who is with him? 15

Gent. None but the fool; who labours to out-jest

His heart-struck injuries.[3551]

Kent. Sir, I do know you;

And dare, upon the warrant of my note,[3552]

Commend a dear thing to you. There is division,[3553]

Although as yet the face of it be cover'd[3554] 20

With mutual cunning, 'twixt Albany and Cornwall;[3555]

Who have—as who have not, that their great stars[3556][3557]

Throned and set high?—servants, who seem no less,[3556][3558]

Which are to France the spies and speculations[3556][3559]

Intelligent of our state; what hath been seen,[3556][3560] 25

Either in snuffs and packings of the dukes,[3556]

Or the hard rein which both of them have borne[3556][3561]

Against the old kind king, or something deeper,[3556]

Whereof perchance these are but furnishings,—[3556][3562]

But true it is, from France there comes a power[3563][3564] 30

Into this scatter'd kingdom; who already,[3564][3565][3566]

Wise in our negligence, have secret feet[3564][3565][3567]

In some of our best ports, and are at point[3564][3565]

To show their open banner. Now to you:[3564][3565]

If on my credit you dare build so far[3564][3565] 35

To make your speed to Dover, you shall find[3564]

Some that will thank you, making just report[3564]

Of how unnatural and bemadding sorrow[3564][3568]

The king hath cause to plain.[3564][3569]

I am a gentleman of blood and breeding,[3564][3569] 40

And from some knowledge and assurance offer[3564][3569][3570]

This office to you.[3564][3569][3570]

Gent. I will talk further with you.[3571]

Kent. No, do not.

For confirmation that I am much more[3572]

Than my out-wall, open this purse and take 45

What it contains. If you shall see Cordelia,—

As fear not but you shall,—show her this ring,[3573]

And she will tell you who your fellow is[3574]

That yet you do not know. Fie on this storm!

I will go seek the king.

Gent. Give me your hand:[3575] 50

Have you no more to say?[3575]

Kent. Few words, but, to effect, more than all yet;

That when we have found the king,—in which your pain[3576]

That way, I'll this,—he that first lights on him[3576]

Holla the other.     [Exeunt severally.[3576][3577] 55

SCENE II. Another part of the heath. Storm still.[3578]

Enter LEAR and Fool.

Lear. Blow, winds, and crack your cheeks! rage! blow![3579]

You cataracts and hurricanoes, spout[3580][3581]

Till you have drench'd our steeples, drown'd the cocks![3580][3582]

You sulphurous and thought-executing fires,[3580][3583]

Vaunt-couriers to oak-cleaving thunderbolts,[3580][3584] 5

Singe my white head! And thou, all-shaking thunder,[3580][3585]

Smite flat the thick rotundity o' the world![3580][3586]

Crack nature's moulds, all germins spill at once[3580][3587]

That make ingrateful man![3580][3588]

Fool. O nuncle, court holy-water in a dry house is[3589] 10

better than this rain-water out o' door. Good nuncle, in,[3589][3590]

and ask thy daughters' blessing: here's a night pities neither[3589][3591]

wise man nor fool.[3589][3592]

Lear. Rumble thy bellyful! Spit, fire! spout, rain![3593]

Nor rain, wind, thunder, fire, are my daughters: 15

I tax not you, you elements, with unkindness;[3594]

I never gave you kingdom, call'd you children,[3595]

You owe me no subscription: then let fall[3596][3597]

Your horrible pleasure; here I stand, your slave,[3596][3598]

A poor, infirm, weak and despised old man:[3596] 20

But yet I call you servile ministers,[3596]

That have with two pernicious daughters join'd[3596][3599]

Your high-engender'd battles 'gainst a head[3596][3600]

So old and white as this. O! O! 'tis foul![3596][3601]

Fool. He that has a house to put's head in has a good[3602] 25

head-piece.

The cod-piece that will house[3603]

Before the head has any,[3603]

The head and he shall louse;[3603]

So beggars marry many.[3603] 30

The man that makes his toe[3603][3604]

What he his heart should make[3603][3605]

Shall of a corn cry woe,[3603][3606]

And turn his sleep to wake.[3603]

For there was never yet fair woman but she made mouths[3607] 35

in a glass.

Lear. No, I will be the pattern of all patience;[3608]

I will say nothing.

Enter KENT.

Kent. Who's there?

Fool. Marry, here's grace and a cod-piece; that's a 40

wise man and a fool.

Kent. Alas, sir, are you here? things that love night[3609][3610]

Love not such nights as these; the wrathful skies[3609]

Gallow the very wanderers of the dark,[3609][3611]

And make them keep their caves: since I was man,[3609][3612] 45

Such sheets of fire, such bursts of horrid thunder,[3609]

Such groans of roaring wind and rain, I never[3609][3613]

Remember to have heard: man's nature cannot carry[3609]

The affliction nor the fear.[3609]

Lear. Let the great gods,[3609][3614]

That keep this dreadful pother o'er our heads,[3609][3615] 50

Find out their enemies now. Tremble, thou wretch,[3609]

That hast within thee undivulged crimes,[3609]

Unwhipp'd of justice: hide thee, thou bloody hand;[3609]

Thou perjured, and thou simular man of virtue[3609][3616]

That art incestuous: caitiff, to pieces shake,[3609][3617] 55

That under covert and convenient seeming[3609][3618]

Hast practised on man's life: close pent-up guilts,[3609][3619]

Rive your concealing continents and cry[3609][3620]

These dreadful summoners grace. I am a man[3609]

More sinn'd against than sinning.[3621]

Kent. Alack, bare-headed![3622] 60

Gracious my lord, hard by here is a hovel;[3622]

Some friendship will it lend you 'gainst the tempest:[3622]

Repose you there; while I to this hard house—[3622][3623]

More harder than the stones whereof 'tis raised;[3622][3624]

Which even but now, demanding after you,[3622][3625] 65

Denied me to come in—return, and force[3622]

Their scanted courtesy.[3622]

Lear. My wits begin to turn.[3626]

Come on, my boy: how dost, my boy? art cold?

I am cold myself. Where is this straw, my fellow?[3627]

The art of our necessities is strange,[3628] 70

That can make vile things precious. Come, your hovel.[3628][3629][3630]

Poor fool and knave, I have one part in my heart[3628][3630][3631]

That's sorry yet for thee.[3632]

Fool. [Singing] He that has and a little tiny wit,—[3633][3634][3635]

With hey, ho, the wind and the rain,—[3634][3636] 75

Must make content with his fortunes fit,[3634]

For the rain it raineth every day.[3634][3637]

Lear. True, my good boy. Come, bring us to this hovel.     [Exeunt Lear and Kent.[3638]

Fool. This is a brave night to cool a courtezan. I'll[3639][3640][3641]

speak a prophecy ere I go:[3639][3640][3642] 80

When priests are more in word than matter;[3639][3643]

When brewers mar their malt with water;[3639]

When nobles are their tailors' tutors;[3639]

No heretics burn'd, but wenches' suitors;[3639]

When every case in law is right;[3639] 85

No squire in debt, nor no poor knight;[3639][3644]

When slanders do not live in tongues,[3639][3645]

Nor cutpurses come not to throngs;[3639][3646]

When usurers tell their gold i' the field,[3639]

And bawds and whores do churches build;[3639] 90

Then shall the realm of Albion[3639][3647]

Come to great confusion:[3639][3647]

Then comes the time, who lives to see't,[3639][3648]

That going shall be used with feet.[3639][3648]

This prophecy Merlin shall make; for I live before his time. 95

[Exit.[3649]

SCENE III. Gloucester's castle.

Enter GLOUCESTER and EDMUND.[3650]

Glou. Alack, alack, Edmund, I like not this unnatural[3651]

dealing. When I desired their leave that I might pity him,[3651]

they took from me the use of mine own house; charged[3651][3652]

me, on pain of their perpetual displeasure, neither to speak[3651][3653]

of him, entreat for him, nor any way sustain him.[3651][3654] 5

Edm. Most savage and unnatural![3651][3655]

Glou. Go to; say you nothing. There's a division betwixt[3651][3656]

the dukes, and a worse matter than that: I have received[3651]

a letter this night; 'tis dangerous to be spoken; I[3651]

have locked the letter in my closet: these injuries the king[3651] 10

now bears will be revenged home; there is part of a power[3651][3657]

already footed: we must incline to the king. I will seek[3651][3658]

him and privily relieve him: go you, and maintain talk[3651]

with the duke, that my charity be not of him perceived: if[3651]

he ask for me, I am ill and gone to bed. Though I die[3651][3659] 15

for it, as no less is threatened me, the king my old master[3651][3660]

must be relieved. There is some strange thing toward,[3651][3661]

Edmund; pray you, be careful.     [Exit.[3651]

Edm. This courtesy, forbid thee, shall the duke[3662][3663]

Instantly know, and of that letter too:[3662] 20

This seems a fair deserving, and must draw me[3662][3664]

That which my father loses; no less than all:[3662][3665]

The younger rises when the old doth fall.     [Exit.[3662][3666]

SCENE IV. The heath. Before a hovel.[3667]

Enter LEAR, KENT, and FOOL.

Kent. Here is the place, my lord; good my lord, enter:[3668]

The tyranny of the open night's too rough[3668][3669]

For nature to endure.     [Storm still.[3668][3670]

Lear. Let me alone.[3671]

Kent. Good my lord, enter here.[3671]

Lear. Wilt break my heart?[3672]

Kent. I had rather break mine own. Good my lord, enter.[3673] 5

Lear. Thou think'st 'tis much that this contentious storm[3674]

Invades us to the skin: so 'tis to thee;[3675]

But where the greater malady is fix'd

The lesser is scarce felt. Thou'ldst shun a bear,[3676]

But if thy flight lay toward the raging sea[3677] 10

Thou'ldst meet the bear i' the mouth. When the mind's free[3678]

The body's delicate: the tempest in my mind[3679]

Doth from my senses take all feeling else

Save what beats there. Filial ingratitude![3680]

Is it not as this mouth should tear this hand[3681] 15

For lifting food to't? But I will punish home.[3682]

No, I will weep no more. In such a night[3683]

To shut me out! Pour on; I will endure.[3683]

In such a night as this! O Regan, Goneril!

Your old kind father, whose frank heart gave you all,—[3684] 20

O, that way madness lies; let me shun that;

No more of that.

Kent. Good my lord, enter here.[3685]

Lear. Prithee, go in thyself; seek thine own ease:[3686]

This tempest will not give me leave to ponder

On things would hurt me more. But I'll go in. 25

[To the Fool] In, boy; go first. You houseless poverty,—[3687][3688][3689]

Nay, get thee in. I'll pray, and then I'll sleep.

[Fool goes in.[3688][3690]

Poor naked wretches, wheresoe'er you are,

That bide the pelting of this pitiless storm,[3691]

How shall your houseless heads and unfed sides, 30

Your loop'd and window'd raggedness, defend you[3692]

From seasons such as these? O, I have ta'en

Too little care of this! Take physic, pomp;

Expose thyself to feel what wretches feel,

That thou mayst shake the superflux to them 35

And show the heavens more just.[3693]

Edg. [Within] Fathom and half, fathom and half![3694][3695]

Poor Tom!     [The Fool runs out from the hovel.[3695][3696]

Fool. Come not in here, nuncle, here's a spirit. Help[3697]

me, help me![3697] 40

Kent. Give me thy hand. Who's there?[3698]

Fool. A spirit, a spirit: he says his name's poor Tom.[3699]

Kent. What art thou that dost grumble there i' the straw?[3700][3701]

Come forth.[3700]

Enter EDGAR disguised as a madman.[3702]

Edg. Away! the foul fiend follows me! 'Through the[3703][3704][3705][3706] 45

sharp hawthorn blows the cold wind.' Hum! go to thy[3704][3706][3707]

cold bed and warm thee.[3704][3708]

Lear. Hast thou given all to thy two daughters? and[3709][3710]

art thou come to this?[3709]

Edg. Who gives any thing to poor Tom? whom the 50

foul fiend hath led through fire and through flame, through[3711]

ford and whirlpool, o'er bog and quagmire; that hath laid[3712]

knives under his pillow and halters in his pew; set ratsbane[3713]

by his porridge; made him proud of heart, to ride on[3714]

a bay trotting-horse over four-inched bridges, to course his[3715] 55

own shadow for a traitor. Bless thy five wits! Tom's[3716]

a-cold. O, do de, do de, do de. Bless thee from whirlwinds,[3716][3717]

star-blasting, and taking! Do poor Tom some[3718]

charity, whom the foul fiend vexes. There could I have him

now, and there, and there again, and there.     [Storm still.[3719]60

Lear. What, have his daughters brought him to this pass?[3720]

Couldst thou save nothing? Didst thou give them all?[3721]

Fool. Nay, he reserved a blanket, else we had been all

shamed.[3722]

Lear. Now, all the plagues that in the pendulous air 65

Hang fated o'er men's faults light on thy daughters![3723]

Kent. He hath no daughters, sir.

Lear. Death, traitor! nothing could have subdued nature

To such a lowness but his unkind daughters.

Is it the fashion that discarded fathers 70

Should have thus little mercy on their flesh?

Judicious punishment! 'twas this flesh begot[3724]

Those pelican daughters.[3724][3725]

Edg. Pillicock sat on Pillicock-hill:[3726][3727]

Halloo, halloo, loo, loo![3726][3728] 75

Fool. This cold night will turn us all to fools and

madmen.

Edg. Take heed o' the foul fiend: obey thy parents;[3729]

keep thy word justly; swear not; commit not with man's[3730]

sworn spouse; set not thy sweet heart on proud array.[3731] 80

Tom's a-cold.

Lear. What hast thou been?

Edg. A serving-man, proud in heart and mind; that

curled my hair; wore gloves in my cap; served the lust of[3732]

my mistress' heart and did the act of darkness with her;[3733] 85

swore as many oaths as I spake words and broke them in

the sweet face of heaven: one that slept in the contriving of[3734]

lust and waked to do it: wine loved I deeply, dice dearly,[3735]

and in woman out-paramoured the Turk: false of heart,

light of ear, bloody of hand; hog in sloth, fox in stealth,[3736] 90

wolf in greediness, dog in madness, lion in prey. Let not

the creaking of shoes nor the rustling of silks betray thy[3737]

poor heart to woman: keep thy foot out of brothels, thy[3738]

hand out of plackets, thy pen from lenders' books, and defy[3739]

the foul fiend. 95

'Still through the hawthorn blows the cold wind.'[3740]

Says suum, mun, ha, no, nonny.[3741]

Dolphin my boy, my boy, sessa! let him trot by.

[Storm still.[3742]

Lear. Why, thou wert better in thy grave than to answer[3743][3744]

with thy uncovered body this extremity of the skies.[3744] 100

Is man no more than this? Consider him well. Thou owest[3744][3745]

the worm no silk, the beast no hide, the sheep no wool, the[3744]

cat no perfume. Ha! here's three on's are sophisticated.[3744][3746]

Thou art the thing itself: unaccommodated man is no more[3744]

but such a poor, bare, forked animal as thou art. Off, off,[3744] 105

you lendings! come, unbutton here.[3744]

[Tearing off his clothes.[3747]

Fool. Prithee, nuncle, be contented; 'tis a naughty night[3748]

to swim in. Now a little fire in a wild field were like an[3749]

old lecher's heart, a small spark, all the rest on's body cold.[3750]

Look, here comes a walking fire. 110

Enter GLOUCESTER, with a torch.[3751]

Edg. This is the foul fiend Flibbertigibbet: he begins at[3752]

curfew and walks till the first cock; he gives the web and[3753][3754]

the pin, squints the eye and makes the hare-lip; mildews[3754][3755]

the white wheat and hurts the poor creature of earth.[3756]

Saint Withold footed thrice the 'old;[3757][3758] 115

He met the night-mare and her nine-fold;[3757][3759]

Bid her alight,[3757][3760]

And her troth plight,[3757][3761]

And aroint thee, witch, aroint thee![3757][3762]

Kent. How fares your grace? 120

Lear. What's he?[3763]

Kent. Who's there? What is't you seek?[3764]

Glou. What are you there? Your names?

Edg. Poor Tom, that eats the swimming frog, the toad,

the tadpole, the wall-newt and the water; that in the fury[3765] 125

of his heart, when the foul fiend rages, eats cow-dung for

sallets; swallows the old rat and the ditch-dog; drinks the[3766]

green mantle of the standing pool; who is whipped from

tithing to tithing, and stock-punished, and imprisoned;[3767]

who hath had three suits to his back, six shirts to his body,[3768] 130

horse to ride and weapon to wear;[3769]

But mice and rats and such small deer[3770]

Have been Tom's food for seven long year.[3771]

Beware my follower. Peace, Smulkin; peace, thou fiend![3772]

Glou. What, hath your grace no better company? 135

Edg. The prince of darkness is a gentleman: Modo[3773][3774]

he's call'd, and Mahu.[3773][3775]

Glou. Our flesh and blood is grown so vile, my lord,[3776][3777]

That it doth hate what gets it.[3776][3778]

Edg. Poor Tom's a-cold.[3779][3780] 140

Glou. Go in with me: my duty cannot suffer[3781]

To obey in all your daughters' hard commands:[3781]

Though their injunction be to bar my doors[3781][3782]

And let this tyrannous night take hold upon you,[3781]

Yet have I ventured to come seek you out[3781][3783] 145

And bring you where both fire and food is ready.[3781][3784]

Lear. First let me talk with this philosopher.

What is the cause of thunder?

Kent. Good my lord, take his offer; go into the house.[3785]

Lear. I'll talk a word with this same learned Theban.[3786][3787] 150

What is your study?[3786]

Edg. How to prevent the fiend and to kill vermin.

Lear. Let me ask you one word in private.[3788]

Kent. Importune him once more to go, my lord;[3789][3790]

His wits begin to unsettle.[3789]

Glou. Canst thou blame him?     [Storm still.[3791]155

His daughters seek his death: ah, that good Kent![3792]

He said it would be thus, poor banish'd man!

Thou say'st the king grows mad; I'll tell thee, friend,[3793]

I am almost mad myself: I had a son,[3794]

Now outlaw'd from my blood; he sought my life,[3795] 160

But lately, very late: I loved him, friend,

No father his son dearer: truth to tell thee,[3796]

The grief hath crazed my wits. What a night's this![3797]

I do beseech your grace,—[3798]

Lear. O, cry you mercy, sir.[3799]

Noble philosopher, your company.[3799] 165

Edg. Tom's a-cold.[3780]

Glou. In, fellow, there, into the hovel: keep thee warm.[3800]

Lear. Come, let's in all.

Kent. This way, my lord.

Lear. With him;[3801]

I will keep still with my philosopher.[3801]

Kent. Good my lord, soothe him; let him take the fellow.[3802] 170

Glou. Take him you on.

Kent. Sirrah, come on; go along with us.[3803]

Lear. Come, good Athenian.[3804]

Glou. No words, no words: hush.[3804]

Edg. Child Rowland to the dark tower came:[3805] 175

His word was still 'Fie, foh, and fum,

I smell the blood of a British man.'     [Exeunt.[3806]

SCENE V. Gloucester's castle.

Enter CORNWALL and EDMUND.[3807]

Corn. I will have my revenge ere I depart his house.[3808]

Edm. How, my lord, I may be censured, that nature

thus gives way to loyalty, something fears me to think of.

Corn. I now perceive, it was not altogether your brother's

evil disposition made him seek his death, but a provoking[3809] 5

merit, set a-work by a reproveable badness in himself.[3809][3810]

Edm. How malicious is my fortune, that I must repent

to be just! This is the letter he spoke of, which approves[3811]

him an intelligent party to the advantages of France. O[3812]

heavens! that this treason were not, or not I the detector![3813] 10

Corn. Go with me to the duchess.

Edm. If the matter of this paper be certain, you have

mighty business in hand.

Corn. True or false, it hath made thee earl of Gloucester.

Seek out where thy father is, that he may be ready for our 15

apprehension.

Edm. [Aside] If I find him comforting the king, it will[3814]

stuff his suspicion more fully.—I will persever in my course[3815]

of loyalty, though the conflict be sore between that and my

blood. 20

Corn. I will lay trust upon thee, and thou shalt find a

dearer father in my love.     [Exeunt.[3816]

SCENE VI. A chamber in a farmhouse adjoining the castle.

Enter GLOUCESTER, LEAR, KENT, Fool, and EDGAR.[3817]

Glou. Here is better than the open air; take it thankfully.

I will piece out the comfort with what addition I

can: I will not be long from you.

Kent. All the power of his wits have given way to his[3818]

impatience: the gods reward your kindness! 5

[Exit Gloucester.[3819]

Edg. Frateretto calls me, and tells me Nero is an[3820]

angler in the lake of darkness. Pray, innocent, and beware[3821]

the foul fiend.

Fool. Prithee, nuncle, tell me whether a madman be a[3822]

gentleman or a yeoman.[3823] 10

Lear. A king, a king!

Fool. No, he's a yeoman that has a gentleman to his[3824]

son, for he's a mad yeoman that sees his son a gentleman[3824][3825]

before him.[3824]

Lear. To have a thousand with red burning spits[3824][3826] 15

Come hissing in upon 'em,—[3826][3827]

Edg. The foul fiend bites my back.[3828]

Fool. He's mad that trusts in the tameness of a wolf,[3828][3829]

a horse's health, a boy's love, or a whore's oath.[3828][3830]

Lear. It shall be done; I will arraign them straight.[3828][3831] 20

[To Edgar] Come, sit thou here, most learned justicer;[3828][3832]

[To the Fool] Thou, sapient sir, sit here. Now, you she foxes![3828][3833]

Edg. Look, where he stands and glares! Wantest[3828][3834][3835][3836][3837]

thou eyes at trial, madam?[3828][3834][3835][3837][3838]

Come o'er the bourn, Bessy, to me.[3828][3834][3835][3839] 25

Fool. Her boat hath a leak,[3828][3834][3840][3841]

And she must not speak[3828][3834][3841]

Why she dares not come over to thee.[3828][3834]

Edg. The foul fiend haunts poor Tom in the voice of[3828]

a nightingale. Hopdance cries in Tom's belly for two white[3828] 30

herring. Croak not, black angel; I have no food for thee.[3828][3842]

Kent. How do you, sir? Stand you not so amazed:[3828][3843]

Will you lie down and rest upon the cushions?[3828][3843][3844]

Lear. I'll see their trial first. Bring in the evidence.[3828][3845][3846]

[To Edgar] Thou robed man of justice take thy place;[3828][3845][3847] 35

[To the Fool] And thou, his yoke-fellow of equity,[3828][3845][3848]

Bench by his side. [To Kent] You are o' the commission;[3828][3845][3849]

Sit you too.[3828][3845]

Edg. Let us deal justly.[3828][3845][3850]

Sleepest or wakest thou, jolly shepherd?[3828][3845][3850][3851][3852] 40

Thy sheep be in the corn;[3828][3845][3850][3852]

And for one blast of thy minikin mouth,[3828][3845][3850][3852]

Thy sheep shall take no harm.[3828][3845][3850][3852]

Pur! the cat is gray.[3828][3845][3850]

Lear. Arraign her first; 'tis Goneril. I here take my[3828][3845][3850][3853] 45

oath before this honourable assembly, she kicked the poor[3828][3845][3853][3854]

king her father.[3828][3845][3853]

Fool. Come hither, mistress. Is your name Goneril?[3828]

Lear. She cannot deny it.[3828][3855]

Fool. Cry you mercy, I took you for a joint-stool.[3828][3856] 50

Lear. And here's another, whose warp'd looks proclaim[3828][3857]

What store her heart is made on. Stop her there![3828][3857][3858]

Arms, arms, sword, fire! Corruption in the place![3828][3859]

False justicer, why hast thou let her 'scape?[3828]

Edg. Bless thy five wits! 55

Kent. O pity! Sir, where is the patience now,

That you so oft have boasted to retain?[3860]

Edg. [Aside] My tears begin to take his part so much,[3861]

They'll mar my counterfeiting.[3862]

Lear. The little dogs and all, 60

Tray, Blanch, and Sweet-heart, see, they bark at me.

Edg. Tom will throw his head at them. Avaunt, you[3863]

curs![3863]

Be thy mouth or black or white,[3863]

Tooth that poisons if it bite;[3863] 65

Mastiff, greyhound, mongrel grim,[3863][3864]

Hound or spaniel, brach or lym,[3863][3864][3865]

Or bobtail tike or trundle-tail,[3863][3866]

Tom will make them weep and wail:[3863][3867]

For, with throwing thus my head,[3863] 70

Dogs leap the hatch, and all are fled.[3863][3868]

Do de, de, de. Sessa! Come, march to wakes and fairs[3869][3870]

and market-towns. Poor Tom, thy horn is dry.[3869][3871]

Lear. Then let them anatomize Regan; see what[3872][3873]

breeds about her heart. Is there any cause in nature that[3872][3874] 75

makes these hard hearts? [To Edgar] You, sir, I entertain[3872][3875]

for one of my hundred; only I do not like the fashion[3872][3876]

of your garments. You will say they are Persian attire;[3872][3877]

but let them be changed.[3872]

Kent. Now, good my lord, lie here and rest awhile.[3878] 80

Lear. Make no noise, make no noise; draw the curtains:[3879]

so, so, so. We'll go to supper i' the morning. So,[3879][3880]

so, so.

Fool. And I'll go to bed at noon.

Re-enter GLOUCESTER.[3881]

Glou. Come hither, friend: where is the king my master?[3882] 85

Kent. Here, sir; but trouble him not: his wits are gone.

Glou. Good friend, I prithee, take him in thy arms;

I have o'erheard a plot of death upon him:

There is a litter ready; lay him in't,[3883][3884]

And drive toward Dover, friend, where thou shalt meet[3883][3885] 90

Both welcome and protection. Take up thy master:[3883]

If thou shouldst dally half an hour, his life,[3883][3886]

With thine and all that offer to defend him,[3883]

Stand in assured loss. Take up, take up,[3883][3887]

And follow me, that will to some provision[3883] 95

Give thee quick conduct.

Kent. Oppressed nature sleeps.[3888][3889]

This rest might yet have balm'd thy broken sinews,[3888][3890]

Which, if convenience will not allow,[3888][3891][3892]

Stand in hard cure. [To the Fool] Come, help to bear thy master;[3888][3891][3893]

Thou must not stay behind.[3888][3891]

Glou. Come, come, away. 100

[Exeunt all but Edgar.[3894]

Edg. When we our betters see bearing our woes,[3895][3896]

We scarcely think our miseries our foes.[3895][3896]

Who alone suffers suffers most i' the mind,[3895][3897]

Leaving free things and happy shows behind:[3895]

But then the mind much sufferance doth o'erskip,[3895][3898] 105

When grief hath mates, and bearing fellowship.[3895]

How light and portable my pain seems now,[3895]

When that which makes me bend makes the king bow,[3895]

He childed as I father'd! Tom, away![3895][3899]

Mark the high noises, and thyself bewray[3895][3900] 110

When false opinion, whose wrong thought defiles thee,[3895][3901]

In thy just proof repeals and reconciles thee.[3895]

What will hap more to-night, safe 'scape the king![3895][3902]

Lurk, lurk.     [Exit.[3895][3903]

SCENE VII. Gloucester's castle.

Enter CORNWALL, REGAN, GONERIL, EDMUND, and Servants.[3904]

Corn. Post speedily to my lord your husband; show[3905]

him this letter: the army of France is landed. Seek out the[3905]

traitor Gloucester.     [Exeunt some of the Servants.[3905][3906]

Reg. Hang him instantly.

Gon. Pluck out his eyes. 5

Corn. Leave him to my displeasure. Edmund, keep[3907][3908]

you our sister company: the revenges we are bound to take[3907][3909]

upon your traitorous father are not fit for your beholding.[3907]

Advise the duke, where you are going, to a most festinate[3907][3910]

preparation: we are bound to the like. Our posts shall be[3907][3911][3912] 10

swift and intelligent betwixt us. Farewell, dear sister:[3911][3913]

farewell, my lord of Gloucester.[3911]

Enter OSWALD.[3914]

How now! where's the king?

Osw. My lord of Gloucester hath convey'd him hence:

Some five or six and thirty of his knights,[3915] 15

Hot questrists after him, met him at gate;[3915][3916]

Who, with some other of the lords dependants,[3915][3917]

Are gone with him toward Dover; where they boast[3915][3918]

To have well-armed friends.[3915]

Corn. Get horses for your mistress.

Gon. Farewell, sweet lord, and sister. 20

Corn. Edmund, farewell.

[Exeunt Goneril, Edmund, and Oswald.[3919]

Go seek the traitor Gloucester.

Pinion him like a thief, bring him before us.

[Exeunt other Servants.[3920]

Though well we may not pass upon his life[3921]

Without the form of justice, yet our power

Shall do a courtesy to our wrath, which men[3922][3923] 25

May blame but not control. Who's there? the traitor?[3922]

Enter GLOUCESTER, brought in by two or three.[3924]

Reg. Ingrateful fox! 'tis he.

Corn. Bind fast his corky arms.

Glou. What mean your graces? Good my friends, consider[3925][3926]

You are my guests: do me no foul play, friends.[3925] 30

Corn. Bind him, I say.     [Servants bind him.[3927]

Reg. Hard, hard. O filthy traitor!

Glou. Unmerciful lady as you are, I'm none.[3928]

Corn. To this chair bind him. Villain, thou shalt find—

[Regan plucks his beard.[3929]

Glou. By the kind gods, 'tis most ignobly done[3930]

To pluck me by the beard.[3930] 35

Reg. So white, and such a traitor!

Glou. Naughty lady,[3931]

These hairs which thou dost ravish from my chin[3931]

Will quicken and accuse thee: I am your host:[3932]

With robbers' hands my hospitable favours[3933]

You should not ruffle thus. What will you do?[3934] 40

Corn. Come, sir, what letters had you late from France?[3935]

Reg. Be simple answerer, for we know the truth.[3936]

Corn. And what confederacy have you with the traitors[3937]

Late footed in the kingdom?[3937][3938]

Reg. To whose hands have you sent the lunatic king?[3939][3940] 45

Speak.[3939]

Glou. I have a letter guessingly set down,[3941]

Which came from one that's of a neutral heart

And not from one opposed.

Corn. Cunning.

Reg. And false.

Corn. Where hast thou sent the king?

Glou. To Dover.[3942] 50

Reg. Wherefore to Dover? Wast thou not charged at peril—[3943]

Corn. Wherefore to Dover? Let him first answer that.[3944]

Glou. I am tied to the stake, and I must stand the course.[3945]

Reg. Wherefore to Dover, sir?[3946]

Glou. Because I would not see thy cruel nails 55

Pluck out his poor old eyes, nor thy fierce sister

In his anointed flesh stick boarish fangs.[3947]

The sea, with such a storm as his bare head[3948]

In hell-black night endured, would have buoy'd up,[3949]

And quench'd the stelled fires:[3950][3951] 60

Yet, poor old heart, he holp the heavens to rain.[3950][3952]

If wolves had at thy gate howl'd that stern time,[3953]

Thou shouldst have said, 'Good porter, turn the key,'[3954]

All cruels else subscribed: but I shall see[3955]

The winged vengeance overtake such children. 65

Corn. See't shalt thou never. Fellows, hold the chair.

Upon these eyes of thine I'll set my foot.[3956]

Glou. He that will think to live till he be old,[3957]

Give me some help! O cruel! O you gods![3958]

Reg. One side will mock another; the other too.[3959] 70

Corn. If you see vengeance—[3960]

First Serv. Hold your hand, my lord:

I have served you ever since I was a child;[3961]

But better service have I never done you[3962]

Than now to bid you hold.[3962]

Reg. How now, you dog!

First Serv. If you did wear a beard upon your chin,[3963] 75

I'ld shake it on this quarrel. What do you mean?[3963][3964]

Corn. My villain!     [They draw and fight.[3965]

First Serv. Nay, then, come on, and take the chance of anger.[3966]

Reg. Give me thy sword. A peasant stand up thus!

[Takes a sword and runs at him behind.[3967]

First Serv. O, I am slain! My lord, you have one eye left[3968][3969] 80

To see some mischief on him. O!     [Dies.[3968][3970]

Corn. Lest it see more, prevent it. Out, vile jelly![3971]

Where is thy lustre now?[3972]

Glou. All dark and comfortless. Where's my son Edmund?[3973]

Edmund, enkindle all the sparks of nature,[3974][3975] 85

To quit this horrid act.[3974]

Reg. Out, treacherous villain![3976][3977]

Thou call'st on him that hates thee: it was he[3976]

That made the overture of thy treasons to us;[3976][3978]

Who is too good to pity thee.[3976]

Glou. O my follies! Then Edgar was abused.[3979][3980] 90

Kind gods, forgive me that, and prosper him![3979]

Reg. Go thrust him out at gates, and let him smell[3979][3981][3982]

His way to Dover. [Exit one with Gloucester.] How is't, my lord? how look you?[3979][3981][3983]

Corn. I have received a hurt: follow me, lady.

Turn out that eyeless villain: throw this slave[3984] 95

Upon the dunghill. Regan, I bleed apace:[3984][3985]

Untimely comes this hurt: give me your arm. [

Exit Cornwall, led by Regan.[3984][3986]

Sec. Serv. I'll never care what wickedness I do,[3987][3988]

If this man come to good.[3987]

Third Serv. If she live long,[3987][3989][3990]

And in the end meet the old course of death,[3987][3990] 100

Women will all turn monsters.[3987][3990]

Sec. Serv. Let's follow the old earl, and get the Bedlam[3987][3991]

To lead him where he would: his roguish madness[3987][3992]

Allows itself to any thing.[3987]

Third Serv. Go thou: I'll fetch some flax and whites of eggs[3987][3993][3994]105

To apply to his bleeding face. Now, heaven help him!

[Exeunt severally.[3987][3994][3995]

FOOTNOTES:

[3541] A heath.] Rowe.

Storm still.] Ff. om. Qq. A Storm is heard, with Thunder and Lightning. Rowe.

meeting.] Capell. at severall doores. Qq. severally. Ff.

[3542] Who's there] Ff. What's heere Q_1. Whats here Q_2. What's heare Q_3.

besides] beside Qq.

[3543] elements] element Qq.

[3544] main] moon Jennens.

[3545] tears ... all.] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

[3546] Strives ... rain.] Omitted by Pope.

[3547] out-scorn] out-storm Steevens conj.

[3548] to-and-fro-conflicting] Hyphenated by Capell.

[3549] wherein] in which Pope.

[3550] belly-pinched] Hyphened by Pope.

[3551] heart-struck] Rowe. heart strooke Qq. heart-strooke F_1 F_2. heart-strook F_3 F_4.

[3552] note] arte Q_1 Q_2. art Q_3.

[3553] Commend] Commended Q_3.

There is] There's Pope.

[3554] be] Qq. is Ff.

[3555] cunning] craft Pope.

[3556] Who have ... furnishings,—] Ff. Omitted in Qq. Put in the margin by Pope.

[3557] that] whom Rowe (ed. 2).

stars] Stars have Keightley.

[3558] Throned] Thron'd Ff. Throne Theobald (ed. 2).

high?—] high.) Rowe (ed. 2). high; Ff. high, Rowe (ed. 1).

[3559] speculations] speculators Singer, ed. 2 (Johnson conj.) spectators Collier (Collier MS.)

[3560] state;] state. Lloyd conj.

hath] have Pope (ed. 2), in margin.

[3561] have] F_2 F_3 F_4. hath F_1.

[3562] furnishings,—] furnishings— Rowe. furnishings. Ff. flourishings. Collier MS.

[3563] But] And Hanmer.

[3564] But ... you.] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

[3565] Into ... far] Divided as in Pope. Four lines, ending negligence ... ports, ... banner ... farre, in Qq.

[3566] scatter'd] scatterd Q_1 Q_3. scattered Q_2. shatter'd Hanmer. scathed Warburton. satured Becket conj.

[3567] feet] Q_2. fee Q_1. see Q_3. sea Pope. seize Warburton. foot Capell.

[3568] bemadding] madding Pope.

[3569] The ... you.] Three lines, ending gentleman, ... knowledge and ... you, in Capell.

[3570] And ... you.] Divided as in Steevens. The first line ends assurance, in Qq.

assurance, ... you.] assurance of you, Offer this office. Pope. Assurance of you, offer this office to you. Capell.

[3571] I will] I’ll Pope.

further] Ff Q_3. farther Q_1 Q_2.

[3572] I am] I Qq.

[3573] fear] F_3 F_4. feare Q_2 F_1 F_2. doubt Q_1 Q_3.

this] that Rowe.

[3574] your] Qq. that Ff. this Rowe.

[3575] Give ... say?] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[3576] That ... other.] See note (XIII).

[3577] Holla] F_1 F_2 F_3. hollow Qq. Hollow F_4. Halloo Warburton.

[Exeunt severally.] Theobald. Exeunt. Qq Ff.

[3578] SCENE II.] Scena secunda. Ff. Rowe and Theobald continue the Scene.

Another part....] Capell.

Storm still.] Ff. Omitted in Qq. Storm continues. Steevens (1793).

[3579] winds] F_3 F_4. windes F_1 F_2. winde Qq.

crack] crake Q_3.

rage! blow!] blow; rage, and blow! Capell conj. storm! bellow! rage! Seymour conj.

[3580] You ... man!] Divided as in Ff. Eight lines, ending drencht ... and ... to ... head, ... flat ... natures ... make ... man, in Qq.

[3581] You] See note (XIV).

cataracts] Ff. carterickes Q_1. caterickes Q_2. cartericks Q_3.

hurricanoes] Hurricano's F_2 F_3 F_4. Hyrricano's F_1. Hircanios Q_1 Q_2. Hercantos Q_3.

[3582] our] Ff. The Qq.

drown'd] Q_2. drownd Q_1 Q_3. drown F_1 F_3 F_4. drowne F_2.

[3583] thought-executing] Ff. thought executing Qq.

[3584] Vaunt-couriers] Pope. vaunt-currers Qq. Vaunt-curriors Ff. Vant-couriers Capell.

to] Qq. of Ff.

[3585] Singe] Q_2. sing Q_1 Q_3. sindge Ff.

[3586] Smite] smite Qq. Strike Ff.

o' the] o' th' Ff. of the Qq.

[3587] Crack] Crake Q_3.

moulds] Ff. Mold Qq.

germins] Theobald. Germains Qq. germaines F_1 F_2. germanes F_3 F_4.

[3588] make] Qq. makes Ff.

ingrateful] Ingrate full Q_3.

[3589] O nuncle ... fool.] Prose in Ff. Four lines in Qq.

[3590] this rain-water] the rain-water F_3 F_4. the rain-waters Pope (ed. 2).

o'door] F_3 F_4. o'doore F_1 F_2. a doore Qq.

[3591] and] Qq. om. Ff.

pities] that pities Pope.

[3592] wise man nor fool] wise man nor foole Qq. wisemen, nor fooles F_1 F_2. wise-men, nor fools F_3 F_4.

[3593] bellyful] bellyfull Malone. belly full Qq Ff.

Spit, fire! spout, rain!] Capell. spit fire, spout raine, Qq Ff (spowt F_1 F_2. rain F_3 F_4).

[3594] tax] F_3 F_4. taxe F_1 F_2. taske Qq.

[3595] kingdom] kingdoms Johnson.

[3596] You owe ... foul!] As in Ff. Six lines, ending horrible ... and ... servile ... joyn'd ... white ... foule, in Qq.

[3597] subscription] submission Pope.

then] Ff. why then Qq.

[3598] stand, your slave] stand your brave Warburton.

[3599] have ... join'd] have ... joyn'd Qq. will ... joyne Ff (join F_3 F_4).

[3600] high-engender'd] Hyphened in Ff. high engendered Q_1.

battles] F_4. battailes F_1 F_2. battels F_3. battell Q_1 Q_3. battel Q_2.

[3601] O! O!] Oh! Oh! Theobald. O, ho! Ff. O Qq.

[3602] put's] put his Qq. puts F_2.

[3603] The ... wake.] As in Johnson. Four lines in Ff. Prose in Qq.

[3604] The man] That man F_3 F_4.

[3605] heart] head Eccles conj.

[3606] Shall of] Ff. shall have Qq.

[3607] but] hut Q_2 (Dev.)

[3608] SCENE III. Pope.

[Sitting down. Jennens.

Enter Kent.] As in Q_1 Q_2. After patience, line 37, in Qq. After glass, line 36, in Ff.

[3609] Alas ... sinning.] As in Ff. Twenty lines, ending heere?... these; ... of the ... caves, ... fire, ... grones of ... remember ... carry ... force ... dreadfull ... now, ... thee ... justice, ... perjur'd, and ... incestious, ... covert ... life, ... centers, ... grace, ... sinning, in Qq.

[3610] are you] Ff. sit you Qq.

[3611] Gallow the] gallow, the Q_1 Q_2. Gally the Jennens.

wanderers] Ff. wanderer Qq.

[3612] make] Ff. makes Qq.

[3613] never] Ff. nere Q_1 Q_3. ne're Q_2.

[3614] fear] F_3 F_4. feare F_1 F_2. force Qq.

[3615] pother] Johnson. Powther Q_2. Thundring Q_1 Q_3. pudder Ff.

[3616] perjured] perjure Theobald.

simular] simulier Q_3. simuler Collier conj.

man] Qq om. Ff.

[3617] incestuous] Ff. incestious Qq.

to pieces shake] F_3 F_4. to peeces shake F_1 F_2. in peeces shake Qq. shake to pieces Pope.

[3618] covert and convenient] cover of convivial Warburton.

[3619] Hast] Qq. Ha's F_1. Has F_2 F_3 F_4.

[3620] concealing continents] Ff. concealed centers Qq.

cry] ask Pope.

[3621] than] F_4. then F_1 F_2 F_3 their Qq.

[3622] Alack ... courtesy.] As in Ff. Prose in Qq.

[3623] while] Ff. whilst Qq.

[3624] harder ... stones] Ff. hard then is the stone Qq.

[3625] you] Ff. me Qq.

[3626] wits begin] Ff. wit begins Qq.

[3627] I am] I'm Pope.

this] the Theobald.

[3628] The art ... heart.] Arranged as in Ff. Three lines, ending can ... poore, ... heart, in Qq.

[3629] That] Qq. And Ff.

vile] Pope. vilde Q_1 F_1 F_2 Q_3. vild Q_2 F_3 F_4.

[3630] your hovel. Poor fool] your hovel; Poore foole, Ff. you hovell poore, Foole Qq.

[3631] I have one part in] Ff. I have one part of Qq. I've one thing in Pope. I've one string in Hanmer. I've one part in Johnson.

[3632] That's sorry] Ff (Thats F_2). That sorrowes Qq.

[3633] [Singing] Sings. Capell. om. Qq Ff.

[3634] He ... day.] As in Ff. Prose in Qq.

[3635] and] Ff. om. Qq. an Theobald.

little tiny] little tynie Pope. little tine Qq. little-tyne F_1 F_2 F_3. little tyne F_4.

[3636] hey, ho,] hey ho Qq. heigh-ho. F_1. height-ho F_2 F_3 F_4. a heigh, ho, Capell conj. MS.

rain] rain in his way Johnson conj.

[3637] For] Qq. Though Ff.

[3638] my good] Qq. om. Ff.

hovel.] hovell? Q_2.

[Exeunt....] Capell. Exit. Ff. om. Qq.

[3639] Fool. This ... time. [Exit.] Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[3640] This ... go:] Prose in Malone. Two lines in Ff.

[3641] This is] 'Tis Pope.

courtezan] curtizan Ff.

[3642] ere] or ere Pope, reading as verse. or two ere Warburton.

[3643] word] words F_3 F_4.

[3644] nor no] and no Warburton.

[3645] not live] nor live F_2.

[3646] Nor] And Pope.

[3647] Then ... confusion:] As in Pope. One line in Ff.

[3648] Then ... feet.] Transferred by Hanmer (Warburton) to follow line 84.

[3649] I live] I do live F_3 F_4, reading line 95 as two lines.

[3650] SCENE III.] SCENE II. Rowe. SCENE IV. Pope.

Gloucester's castle.] An Apartment in Gloster's Castle. Rowe.

Enter....] Enter Gloster, and Edmund. Ff. Enter Glocester, and the Bastard with lights. Qq (Gloster Q_2).

[3651] Alack ... careful.] Prose in Ff. Twenty lines in Qq.

[3652] took] took me Q_2.

[3653] their perpetual] Jennens. their Qq. perpetuall Ff.

[3654] nor] Qq. or Ff.

[3655] and] om. Rowe (ed. 2).

[3656] There's a] Qq. There is Ff.

betwixt] Qq. betweene Ff.

[3657] there is] F_2 F_3 F_4. ther is F_1. There's Q_1 Q_3. Ther's Q_2.

[3658] footed] Ff. landed Qq.

seek] seeke Qq. looke Ff. look for Pope.

[3659] bed. Though] Edd. (Globe ed.) bed, though Qq. bed, if Ff. bed; if Rowe (ed. 2).

[3660] for it] for 't Q_2.

[3661] is some strange thing] Qq. is strange things Ff. are strange things Pope.

[3662] This ... fall.] As in Ff. Four lines, ending know, ... deserving, ... lesse ... fall, in Qq.

[3663] courtesy, forbid thee,] courtesie, forbid thee, Theobald, courtesie forbid thee, Q_1 F_4. curtesie forbid thee, Q_2 F_1 F_2 F_3. curtisie forbid thee, Q_3. courtesie forbid thee Pope.

[3664] draw me] Q_2 Ff. draw to me Q_1 Q_3.

[3665] loses] Q_1 Q_3 F_4. looses The rest.

[3666] The] Ff. then Qq.

doth] Ff. do Q_1 Q_3. doe Q_2.

[3667] SCENE IV.] SCENE III. Rowe. SCENE V. Pope.

The heath....] Part of the Heath with a Hovel. Rowe.

[3668] Here ... endure.] As in Ff. Prose in Qq.

[3669] of the] of Pope.

night's] nights Q_2.

[3670] [Storm still.] Ff. om. Qq. Transferred by Capell to the beginning of the Scene.

[3671] Lear. Let ... here.] Repeated in Johnson, and Steevens (1773).

[3672] here] Ff. om. Qq.

Wilt] Will't Theobald (ed. 2).

break my] break, my Steevens conj.

[3673] I had ... enter.] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

I had] I'd Pope.

[3674] think'st 'tis] think'st So quoted in Johnson's Dictionary (ed. 1).

contentious] Ff. crulentious Q_1 Q_2 (Mus. imp. and Bodl. 1) Q_3. tempestious Q_2 (Cap. Dev. Mus. per. and Bodl. 2). truculent Anon. MS. See note (V). cruel, lentous Jackson conj.

[3675] skin: so 'tis] skin, so tis Qq. skin, so: 'tis Ff. Corrected by Rowe (ed. 2).

[3676] Thou'ldst] Thou'dst Ff. thoud'st Q_2. thou wouldst Q_1 Q_3.

[3677] thy] they F_1.

lay] light F_4.

raging] Q_1 Q_2 (Mus. imp. and Bodl. 1) Q_3. roring Q_2 (Cap. Dev. Mus. per. and Bodl. 2). roaring Ff.

[3678] Thou'ldst] Thou'dst Ff. Thoud'st Qq.

mind's] minds F_3 F_4.

[3679] body's] Rowe. bodies Qq Ff.

the] Q_1 Ff. this Q_2. om. Q_3.

in my mind] here Seymour conj.

[3680] beats] F_3 F_4. beates Q_2 (Cap. Dev. Mus. per. and Bodl. 2) F_1 F_2. beares Q_1 Q_2 (Mus. imp. and Bodl. 1) Q_3.

there. Filial ingratitude!] Rowe. there. Filial ingratitude, F_3 F_4. their filiall ingratitude, Qq. there, Filiall ingratitude, F_1 F_2.

[3681] this hand] his hand F_3 F_4.

[3682] to't] to it Q_1 Q_3.

home] sure Qq.

[3683] In such ... endure:] Omitted in Qq, ending the lines sure; ... this!... father, ... lies, ... that.

[3684] gave you] Qq. gave Ff.

all,—] all— Rowe. all, Qq Ff.

[3685] enter here.] enter. Qq.

[3686] thine own] thy owne Q_1. thy one Q_2.

[3687] [To the Fool] Johnson.

[3688] In, boy; ... sleep.] Omitted in Qq.

[3689] poverty,—] poverty— Rowe. povertie, F_1. proverty, F_2 F_3 F_4.

[3690] [Fool goes in.] Johnson. Exit. Ff (after line 26). om. Qq. Exit Fool. Rowe, after line 26. Exit Fool. Capell, after in, line 27.

[3691] storm] night Qq.

[3692] loop'd] Pope. loopt Qq. lop'd Ff.

window'd] Ff. windowed Qq.

[3693] [Enter Edgar, and Foole. Ff. Enter Edgar disguised like a Madman and Fool. Rowe.

[3694] SCENE VI. Pope.

Edg. [Within] Theobald. Edg. Ff. om. Qq.

[3695] Fathom ... Tom!] Omitted in Qq.

[3696] [The Fool ... hovel.] Theobald, after line 40. Transferred by Capell. om. Qq Ff.

[3697] Come ... me!] Prose in Qq Ff. Verse, the first line ending spirit, in Johnson.

[3698] Who's there?] whose there. Q_2.

[3699] A spirit, a spirit,] Once only in Qq.

name's] name is Q_1 Q_3. nam's Q_2.

[3700] What ... forth.] Prose in Qq Ff. Verse in Johnson.

[3701] i' the] in the Qq.

[3702] forth.] forth? Q_2.

Enter ... madman.] Theobald.

[3703] SCENE VI. Hanmer.

[3704] Away!... thee.] Prose in Qq Ff. Verse in Johnson.

[3705] Through] thorough Q_2.

[3706] Through ... wind.] Printed in italics by Staunton.

[3707] hawthorn] F_4. hathorne Qq. hauthorne F_1 F_2. hauthorn F_3.

blows the cold wind] blowes the colde winde Q_1 Q_3. blowes the cold wind Q_2. blow the windes F_1. blow the winds F_2 F_3 F_4.

Hum!] Humh, Ff. Humph, Rowe. om. Qq.

[3708] cold] Qq. om. Ff.

[3709] Prose in Qq Ff. Verse in Steevens (1778).

[3710] Hast ... thy two] Qq. Did'st thou give all to thy Ff.

thou] thou too Keightley, reading as verse.

[3711] through flame,] Omitted in Qq.

[3712] ford] foord Qq. sword Ff. swamp Collier MS. sward Anon. conj. flood Anon. conj.

whirlpool] whirl-pool Q_3. whirli-poole Q_1 Q_2. whirle-poole F_1. whirle poole F_2 F_3. whirlepool F_4. through whirlpool Johnson.

hath] Ff. has Qq.

[3713] pew] Pope (ed. 2). pue Qq Ff.

ratsbane] rate-bane F_2.

[3714] porridge] porredge Ff. pottage Qq.

[3715] four-inched] Hyphened by Capell foure incht Qq F_1. foure archt F_2. four arch'd F_3 F_4.

[3716] Bless] Blesse Qq. Blisse F_1 F_2 F_3. Bliss F_4.

[3717] O do, de, ... de.] Omitted in Qq.

[3718] star-blasting] starre-blusting Qq.

[3719] there again] here again F_4.

and there] om. Qq.

[Storm still.] Ff. om. Qq.

[3720] What, have his] Theobald. What, his Q_1 Q_2. Ha's his F_1. Has his F_2 F_3. What his Q_3. Have his F_3.

pass] asse F_4.

[3721] Didst ... them] Qq. Would'st ... 'em Ff. Didst ... 'em Pope.

[3722] shamed] ashamed Keightley.

[3723] light] fall Qq.

[3724] begot ... daughters.] Divided as in Ff. One line in Qq.

[3725] daughters] daughter F_2.

[3726] Pillicock ... loo!] As in Johnson. One line in Qq Ff.

[3727] on] one Q_3.

Pillicock-hill] Hyphened by Rowe. pelicocks hill Q_1 Q_2. pelicacks hill Q_3.

[3728] Halloo, ... loo!] Warburton. alow: alow, loo, loo. Ff. a lo lo lo. Qq. Haloo, loo, loo. Capell.

[3729] o' the] o' th' F_1. oth' F_2 F_3 F_4. of the Q_1 Q_3. at'h Q_2.

[3730] word justly] Pope. words justly Qq. words Iustice F_1 word, justice F_2 F_3 F_4. word, do justice Rowe. word's justice Knight.

[3731] set not] set on F_3 F_4.

sweet heart] Qq. Hyphened in Ff.

[3732] gloves] cloves Anon. apud Theobald conj.

[3733] mistress'] Dyce. mistris Qq Ff. mistress's Rowe (ed. 2).

[3734] in ... of] in the contriving Pope. on the contriving Hanmer. on the contriving of Capell.

[3735] deeply] Q_2 Q_3. deepely Q_1. deerely F_1 F_2. dearly F_3 F_4.

[3736] of hand] Qq F_1. hand F_2. handed F_3 F_4.

[3737] rustling] Ff. ruslings Qq. rufflings Anon. MS. See note (V).

silks] sickles Q_3.

[3738] woman] women Qq.

brothels] brothell Qq.

[3739] plackets] placket Qq.

books] booke Qq.

[3740] Still ... wind.] Printed in italics by Staunton.

the hawthorn] thy hawthorn F_3 F_4.

hawthorn] hathorne Qq. hauthorne F_1 F_2.

[3741] says suum, mun, ha, no, nonny] Steevens. sayes suum, mun, nonny Ff. hay no on ny, Qq. Ha! nenni; Capell. Hey!—no—on— Johnson conj.

[3742] my boy, my boy] Qq. my Boy, Boy Ff.

sessa! let] sessa; let Malone. Sesey: let F_1. Sessy: let F_2 F_3 F_4. cease let Q_1. caese let Q_2. ceas let Q_3. sesse; let Capell.

trot by] trot my F_3 F_4.

[Storm still.] Omitted in Qq.

[3743] Why,] Why Qq. om. Ff.

wert] were Staunton.

thy grave] Qq. a grave Ff.

[3744] Why ... here.] None lines of verse in Keightley, ending answer ... skies ... well: ... hide, ... Ha!... art ... is, ... animal ... here.

[3745] than] but Qq.

this? Consider] this cōsider Q_2.

[3746] Ha!] Ha? Ff. om. Qq.

here's] Ff. he'rs Q_1 Q_3. her's Q_2.

on's] F_1 F_3 F_4. ons Q_2 F_2. ones Q_1 Q_3. of us Pope.

sophisticated] so phisticated Q_2.

[3747] lendings] Q_2 (Cap. Dev. Mus. per. and Bodl. 2) Ff. leadings Q_1 Q_2 (Mus. imp. and Bodl. 1) Q_3.

come, unbutton here.] Ff (heere F_1 F_2). come on be true. Q_1 Q_3. come on bee true. Q_2 (Mus. imp. and Bodl. 1). come on Q_2 (Cap. Dev. Mus. per. and Bodl. 2).

[Tearing ...] Rowe. Tearing ...;

Kent and the Fool strive to

hinder him. Capell. om Qq Ff.

[3748] Prithee] Q_1. Prithe Q_2. Prythee F_1. Prethee The rest.

contented] content Qq.

[3749] wild field] Q_2 F_3 F_4. wilde field Q_1 F_1 F_2. wildfield Q_3. wide field Jennens, and Long MS.

[3750] all] and all Rowe.

on's] Ff. in Qq.

[3751] Enter ... torch.] Ff, after line 106. Transferred by Capell. Enter Glocester. Qq (Gloster. Q_2), after line 110. Pope puts it after line 120.

[3752] fiend] Qq. om. Ff.

Flibbertigibbet] Ff. Sirberdegibit Q_1 Q_3. Sriberdegibit Q_2 (Mus. imp. and Bodl. 1). Fliberdegibek Q_2 (Cap. Dev. Mus. per. and Bodl. 2).

[3753] till the] Qq. at Ff.

gives] gins Q_1 Q_2 (Mus. imp. and Bodl. 1) Q_3.

[3754] and the pin, squints] Ff. the pinqueuer Q_1. the pin-queues Q_2 (Mus. imp. and Bodl. 1). & the pin, squemes Q_2 (Cap. Dev. and Mus. per.) the pinquever Q_3. See note (XV).

[3755] hare-lip] F_3. hare-lippe F_1 F_2. hair-lip F_4. hare lip Q_2 (Cap. Dev. Mus. per. and Bodl. 2). hart lip Q_1 Q_3. harte lip Q_2 (Mus. imp. and Bodl. 1).

[3756] creature] creatures Hanmer.

earth] the earth F_3 F_4.

[3757] Saint ... aroint thee:] Arranged as by Capell. Four lines in Ff. Prose in Qq.

[3758] Saint Withold] St. Withold Theobald. swithald Qq. Swithold Ff. Swithin So quoted by Hill.

'old] olde Q_1. old Q_2 Ff Q_3. wold Theobald (Bishop conj.) cold So quoted by Hill. world Colman's version (a misprint). oles Farmer conj.

[3759] He met the night-mare] Ff. anelthu night Moore Q_1. a nellthu night more Q_2 (Mus. imp. and Bodl. 1). he met the night mare Q_2 (Cap. Dev. Mus. per. and Bodl. 2). anelthunight Moor Q_3.

nine-fold] F_1. ninefold F_2 F_3 F_4. nine fold Qq. name told Warburton. nine foles Farmer conj.

[3760] her alight] her a-light Ff. her, O light Q_1 Q_2. her O light Q_3.

[3761] troth plight] Qq. troth-plight Ff.

[3762] aroint ... aroint] aroynt ... aroynt Ff. arint ... arint Qq.

thee, witch,] thee, witch Q_2 (Cap. Dev. Mus. per. and Bodl. 2). thee witch, F_1 F_2. the witch, F_3 F_4. thee, with Q_1 Q_2 (Mus. Imp. and Bodl. 1).

thee!] thee right. Warburton.

[3763] SCENE VII. Pope.

[3764] Who's] F_1 F_3 F_4. Whos F_2. Whose Qq.

[3765] tadpole] Johnson. toade pold Q_1. tode pold Q_2 (Mus. imp. and Bodl. 1). tod pole Q_2 (Cap. Dev. Mus. per. and Bodl. 2). toade-pold Q_3. tod-pole F_1 F_2. tod-pool F_3 F_4.

wall-newt] Q_2 (Cap. Dev. Mus. per. and Bodl. 2). wall neut Ff. wall-wort Q_1 Q_2 (Mus. imp. and Bodl. 1) Q_3.

water] Qq Ff. water-neut Rowe.

fury] fruite Q_1. fruit Q_3.

[3766] sallets] sallet Capell conj.

[3767] stock-punished] stock-punisht Q_1 Q_2. stock-punish Q_3. stockt, punish'd Ff.

[3768] had] Qq. om. Ff.

[3769] horse ... wear;] Prose in Qq. Verse in Ff.

[3770] deer] deere Qq. deare F_1 F_2. dear F_3 F_4. geer Hanmer. cheer Grey conj.

[3771] Have] Ff. Hath Qq.

[3772] Smulkin] Ff. snulbug Qq. Smolkin Theobald.

[3773] The ... Mahu.] Prose in Qq Ff. Verse in Capell.

[3774] Modo] Mohu Johnson.

[3775] Mahu] Ff. ma hu— Qq.

[3776] Our ... gets it.] Verse in Pope. Prose in Qq Ff.

[3777] is ... lord,] is growne so vilde my Lord, Qq (vild Q_2). my Lord, is growne so vilde, Ff (grown F_3 F_4. vild, F_2 F_3 F_4).

[3778] gets it] it gets F_3 F_4.

[3779] Poor] om. Pope.

[3780] a-cold] Hyphened by Rowe.

[3781] Go ... ready.] As in Ff. Prose in Qq.

[3782] Though] Though all F_3 F_4.

[3783] ventured] Ff venter’d Qq.

[3784] fire and food] Ff. food and fire Qq.

is] are Hanmer.

[3785] Good ... house.] Two lines in Ff.

Good my] Ff. My good Qq.

[3786] I'll ... study?] As in Ff. Prose in Qq.

[3787] talk] take F_3 F_4.

same] Ff. most Qq.

[3788] me] us F_3 F_4.

private] private, friend Keightley.

[3789] Importune ... unsettle.] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[3790] once more] Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[3791] [Storm still.] Ff. om. Qq.

[3792] ah] Ff. O Qq.

[3793] say'st] saist Q_1 Q_3. sayest Q_2 Ff.

[3794] I am] I'm Pope.

[3795] outlaw'd] out-lawed Qq.

he sought] a sought Q_2.

[3796] truth] Q_1 Q_3. true Q_2 Ff.

[Storm still. Malone.

[3797] hath] has Q_1 haz Q_3.

night's] nights Qq.

[3798] grace,—] Capell. grace. Qq Ff.

[3799] O ... company.] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

mercy, sir. Noble] mercy, sir: Noble Ff. mercy noble Qq.

[3800] there, into the] there, into th' Q_1 Ff. there, in't Q_2. there, into th Q_3. into th' Pope. there, to the Capell.

[3801] With ... philosopher.] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

him; I] Ff. him I Qq.

[3802] Good ... fellow.] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[3803] Sirrah ... us.] Sirrah, come on; along with us. Pope. On, sirrah; go with us. Capell.

[3804] Come ... words:] As a line of verse in Steevens (1793).

[3805] tower] Ff. towne Q_1 Q_2. town Q_3.

came] Ff. come Qq.

After this Capell, reading come, marks the omission of a line and proposes to add The giant roar'd, and out he ran. Keightley proposes The giant saw him, and out he ran.

[3806] [Exeunt.] Ff. om. Qq.

[3807] SCENE V.] SCENE IV. Rowe. SCENE VIII. Pope.

Gloucester's castle.] Rowe. A Room in Gloster's Castle. Capell.

Enter ... Edmund.] Ff. Enter ... Bastard. Qq. Omitted by Johnson.

[3808] my] om. F_3 F_4.

his] Ff. the Qq.

[3809] provoking merit] provoked spirit Hanmer.

[3810] a-work] a-worke F_1. a worke Qq F_2. a-work F_3 F_4.

himself] him Hanmer.

[3811] letter] Qq. letter which Ff.

[3812] advantages] advances Anon. conj.

[3813] this treason were not] Ff. his treason were Qq. his treason were not Anon. MS. See note (V).

[3814] [Aside] Theobald. om. Qq Ff.

[3815] persever] F_1 F_2 F_3. persevere Qq F_4.

[3816] dearer] Qq. deere F_1 F_2. dear F_3 F_4.

[Exeunt.] Ff. Exit. Qq.

[3817] SCENE VI.] SCENE V. Rowe. SCENE IX. Pope.

A chamber ... castle.] A Chamber. Rowe. A Chamber, in a Farmhouse. Theobald. A Room in some of the out-buildings of the Castle. Capell.

Enter ... Edgar.] Enter ... Tom. Qq (and Lear, Q_2). Enter Kent, and Gloucester Ff.

[3818] have] has Pope. hath Capell.

to his] Ff. to Qq.

[3819] reward] Ff. deserve Qq. preserve Capell conj.

[Exit Gloucester.] As in Capell. After line 3 in Ff. Omitted in Qq.

Enter Lear, Edgar, and Foole. Ff. om. Qq.

[3820] Frateretto] Fretereto Qq. Fraterretto F_1 F_2 F_3. Fraterreto F_4.

Nero] Trajan Upton conj.

[3821] and] Ff. om. Qq.

[3822] be] may bee Q_1 Q_3.

[3823] gentleman] gentlemen F_2.

[3824] Fool. No ... him. Lear.] Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[3825] mad] om. F_3 F_4.

[3826] To have ... 'em,—] Divided as in Ff. Prose in Qq.

[3827] hissing] Q_1 Q_3. hiszing Q_2. hizzing Ff. whizzing Boswell (Malone conj.)

'em,—] 'em— Theobald. 'em. Ff. them. Qq.

[3828] Edg. The foul ... 'scape?] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

[3829] trusts] trust Q_3.

[3830] a horse's health] the heels of a horse Warburton. a horse's heels Singer, ed. 2 (Anon. MS.) See note (V).

a horse's ... oath.] the health of a horse, the love of a boy, or the oath of a whore. Pope.

[3831] them] 'em Pope.

[3832] [To Edgar.] Capell. To the Fool. Hanmer.

justicer] Theobald. justice Qq.

[3833] [To the Fool.] Capell. To Edgar. Hanmer.

here. Now, you] heere, now you Q_1 here, no you Q_2. here now you Q_3. here. Now ye Pope.

foxes!] foxes. Pope. Foxes—Qq.

[3834] Edg. Look ... thee.] Omitted by Pope.

[3835] Look ... me.] As in Capell. Prose in Qq. Verse, the first line ending eyes, in Theobald, and Capell's Errata.

[3836] he] she Theobald.

Wantest] Theobald. wantst Q_1 Q_3. wanst Q_2. wanton'st Jennens (Seward conj.)

[3837] Wantest thou eyes] Wantonizeth thou Staunton conj.

[3838] eyes ... madam?] eyes? Lear. At trial, Madam. Rann (Johnson conj.)

trial, madam?] triall madam, Q_1 Q_3. tral madam Q_2.

[3839] [Sings. Edd. conj.

bourn] boorne Capell. broome Qq. brook Jennens (Johnson conj.)

[3840] [Sings. Edd. conj.

[3841] Her ... speak] As in Capell. One line in Qq.

[3842] herring] herrings Pope and Anon. MS. See note (V).

[3843] Kent. How ... cushions?] Verse in Theobald. Prose in Qq. Omitted by Pope.

[3844] cushions] cushings Q_2.

[3845] I'll ... father] Verse in Pope and Theobald. Prose in Qq.

[3846] trial first. Bring] trial, bring me in Pope, trial first, bring me in Theobald.

the] Pope, their Qq.

[3847] To Edgar] Capell.

robed] Pope, robbed Qq.

[3848] [To the Fool] Capell.

[3849] [To Kent] Capell.]

o' the] of the Hanmer.

[3850] Edg. Let ... gray. Lear.] Omitted by Pope.

[3851] [Sings. Edd. conj.

[3852] Sleepest ... harm] Verse by Theobald. Prose in Qq.

[3853] I here ... father.] Omitted by Pope.

[3854] she] Q_1 Q_3. om. Q_2.

[3855] cannot] can't Hanmer.

[3856] joint-stool] joynt stoole Q_1 Q_3. joyne stoole Q_2.

[3857] And ... there!] Omitted by Pope.

[3858] store] stuff Jennens conj. stone Collier, ed. 2 (Theobald conj.)

made on] Capell. made an Qq. made of Theobald.

[3859] Corruption] corruption's Hanmer.

place] palace Grant White.

[3860] retain] remain F_3 F_4.

[3861] [Aside] Rowe.

[3862] They'll] They'l Q_1 Q_3. Theile Q_3. They Ff.]

counterfeiting] Q_2 F_3 F_4. counterfeting Q_1. counterfetting F_1 F_2 Q_3.

[3863] Tom ... fled.] As in Rowe. Verse in Ff, the first line ending you. Prose in Qq.

[3864] mongrel grim, Hound] Rowe (substantially). Mongrill, Grim, Hound Ff (Mungril F_4). Mungrel, Grim-hound Q_1. mungril, grim-hoūd Q_2. Mungril, Grim-hound Q_3.

[3865] lym] Hanmer. Him Q_1. him Q_2 Q_3. Hym Ff.

[3866] Or bobtail tike] F_4. Bobtaile tike Qq. Or Bobtaile tight F_1 F_2 F_3 (Bobtail F_3).

trundle-tail] Trundle-taile Qq. Troudle taile F_1 F_2. Troudle tail F_3 F_4.

[3867] them] Qq. him Ff. you Eccles conj.

[3868] leap] leape Qq. leapt Ff.

[3869] Do ... dry.] Prose in Qq and Capell. Two lines, the first ending fayres, in Ff.

[3870] Do ... Sessa!] Malone. Do, de, de, de: sese: Ff. loudla doodla, Qq. Do, do, de, de, &c. [singing. Capell.

Sessa! Come] Sessy, come Pope. Bessy, come Anon. ap. Rann conj. see, see! Come Collier.

[3871] dry.] Qq F_1. dry. [Exit. F_2 F_3 F_4.

[3872] Then ... changed.] Prose in Ff. Five lines in Qq.

[3873] anatomize] Ff. anotomize Qq.

[3874] her heart. Is] Ff. her, Hart is Q_1. her Hart is Q_2. her Heart is Q_3.

[3875] makes] Qq. make Ff.

these hard hearts?] Rowe. these hard-hearts. F_1 F_2. these hard hearts. F_3 F_4. this hardnesse; Q_1 Q_3. this hardnes, Q_2.

[To Edgar] Capell.

[3876] for] Ff. you for Qq.

[3877] garments. You will say] Ff. garment; you’l say Q_1 Q_3. garments youle say, Q_2.

attire] Qq. om. Ff.

[3878] and rest] Omitted in Qq.

[pointing to a mean Couch. Capell.

[3879] Prose in Qq Ff. Verse in Rowe, reading with Ff.

[3880] so, so, so.] Qq. so, so. Ff.

i' the] in the Q_1 Q_3.

So, so, so.] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

[3881] Fool. And ... noon.] Ff. Omitted in Qq.

Re-enter ...] Capell. Enter Glocester. Qq (Gloster Q_2). Enter Gloster. Ff, after line 79. Re-Enter Glo'ster. Pope, after line 79.

[3882] Come ... master?] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[3883] There ... provision] Arranged as in Ff. Five lines, ending friend, ... master, ... thine, ... losse, ... provision, in Qq.

[3884] in't] in it Q_1 Q_3.

[3885] toward] Ff. towards Qq.

[3886] shouldst] should Johnson.

[3887] Take up, take up] Ff. Take up to keepe Q_1 Q_2 (Mus. imp. and Bodl. 1) Q_3. Take up the King Q_2 (Cap. Dev. Mus. per. and Bodl. 2). Take up to the keep Becket conj.

[3888] Kent. Oppressed ... behind. Glou.] Omitted in Ff.

[3889] Oppressed] Qq. Opprest Theobald.

[3890] balm'd] Theobald. balmed Qq.

sinews] Qq. senses Theobald.

[3891] Which ... behind.] Arranged as by Theobald. Two lines, the first ending cure, in Qq.

[3892] convenience] conveniency Theobald.

[3893] [To the Fool] Theobald.

[3894] Come, come,] Come, away, Pope.

[Exeunt ... Edgar.] Edd. (Globe ed.) Exit. Qq. Exeunt. Ff. Exeunt, bearing off the King. Manet Edgar. Theobald. Exeunt Kent, Gloster, and the Fool, bearing off Lear. Capell.

[3895] Edg. When ... lurk.] Omitted in Ff. See note (XVI).

[3896] When ... foes] As in Q_1 Q_3. Prose in Q_2.

[3897] suffers suffers most] suffers, suffers most Theobald. suffers suffers, most Q_2. suffers, most Q_1 Q_3.

[3898] doth] does Theobald.

[3899] father'd!] Theobald, fatherd, Q_1. fathered, Q_2 Q_3.

[3900] After bewray Warburton marks an omission.

[3901] thought defiles] Theobald. thoughts defile Qq.

[3902]

What will hap] Hap what will hap Anon. MS. See note (V). What will, hap Theobald.

What ... to-night,] Qq. What ... to-night? Capell.

[3903] [Exit.] Exit Edgar. Theobald, om. Qq Ff.

[3904] SCENE VII.] SCENE VI. Rowe. SCENE X. Pope.

Gloucester's castle.] Rowe. A Room in the Castle. Capell.

Regan] Q_1 F_1 F_2 Q_3. and Regan and Q_2. om. F_3 F_4.

Edmund, and Servants.] Theobald. Bastard, and Servants. Ff. and Bastard. Qq.

[3905] Post ... Gloucester.] Prose in Ff. Two lines, the first ending letter, in Qq.

[3906] traitor] Ff. villaine Q_1 Q_3. vilaine Q_2.

[Exeunt....] Capell. om. Qq Ff.

[3907] Leave ... like.] Prose in Q_1 Ff Q_3. Four lines in Q_2.

[3908] displeasure] disposure Collier MS.

[3909] revenges] revenge Qq.

[3910] Advise] Advice F_1.

where] when Steevens (1778).

festinate] F_2 F_3 F_4. festuant Qq. festiuate F_1. festivant Anon. MS. See note (V).

[3911] Our ... Gloucester.] Prose in Ff. Two lines in Qq.

[3912] posts] poste Q_1. post Q_2 Q_3.

[3913] and intelligent] Ff. and intelligence Qq. in intelligence Capell (withdrawn in MS.)

[3914] Enter Oswald.] Collier. Enter Steward. Ff. Enter Steward. Qq, after king? line 13.

[3915] Some ... friends.] As in Ff. Prose in Qq.

[3916] questrists] Ff. questrits Qq. questers Pope, coystrills Anon. MS. See note (V). questists Heath conj.

after him] after Hanmer (ed. 2).

[3917] lords] lord's Pope.

[3918] toward] Ff. towards Qq.

[3919] [Exeunt ... Oswald.] Dyce. Exeunt ... Steward. Capell, (after line 20). Exit Gon. and Bast. Qq, after line 20. Exit. Ff, after line 20. Exit Oswald (after line 19), Exeunt Goneril and Edmund (after line 21). Staunton.

[3920] [Exeunt other Servants.] Capell. om. Qq Ff.

[3921] well] om. Qq.

[3922] Shall ... blame] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[3923] courtesy] curtesie Qq. curt'sie Ff.

[3924] SCENE XI. Pope.

Who's] Whose Q_2.

Enter ... three.] Qq. Enter Gloucester, and Servants. Ff (after comptroll). Re-enter Servants, with Gloster Prisoner. Capell.

[3925] What ... friends.] As in Qq. Three lines, the first two ending graces?... ghests, in Ff.

[3926] mean] F_4. meanes Qq F_1 F_2. means F_3.

friends] friends [to the Ser. Capell MS.

[3927] [Servants bind him.] They bind him. Rowe. om. Qq Ff.

[3928] I'm none] F_3 F_4. I'me none F_1. Ime none F_2. I am none Capell. I am true Qq.

[3929] To ... find—] As in Qq. Two lines in Ff.

find—] Qq. finde. F_1 F_2. find. F_3 F_4.

[Regan....] Johnson, om. Qq Ff.

[3930] By ... beard.] As in Ff. Prose in Qq.

[3931] Naughty ... chin] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[3932] I am] I'm Pope.

[3933] robbers'] Theobald. robbers Qq Ff. robber's Pope.

favours] favour Hanmer (Warburton).

[3934] do?] Q_1 F_1 Q_3 F_4. doe. Q_2. doe F_2. do F_3.

[3935] Come, sir,] As in Qq. In a separate line in Ff.

[3936] simple answerer] Qq. simple answer'd Ff. simple-answer'd Hanmer.

[3937] And what ... kingdom?] As in Rowe. Prose in Qq Ff.

[3938] Late] Q_2 Ff. lately Q_1 Q_3.

[3939] To ... Speak.] As in Capell. One line in Qq. Two, the first ending hands, in Ff.

[3940] have you sent] Q_1 Q_3. you have sent Q_2 Ff.

[3941] I have] I've Hanmer.

[3942] Dover] Dover, sir Hanmer.

[3943] Wherefore ... peril—] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

peril—] perill— Qq. perill. F_1 F_2 F_3. peril? F_4.

[3944] first] Qq. om. Ff.

[3945] I am ... course.] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[3946] sir] Qq. om. Ff.

[3947] anointed] F_4. annoynted Q_2 (Mus. per. and Bodl. 2). annointed F_1 F_2 F_3. aurynted Q_1 Q_2 (Cap. Dev. Mus. imp. and Bodl. 1) Q_3.

stick] F_3 F_4. sticke F_1 F_2. rash Qq. rush Anon. MS. See note (V).

[3948] as his bare] Ff. of his lou'd Q_1 Q_2 (Cap. Dev. Mus. imp. and Bodl. 1). on his lowd Q_2 (Mus. per. and Bodl. 2). of his lov'd Q_3.

[3949] hell-black night] Pope. hell-blacke-night Ff. hell blacke night Qq.

buoy'd] Ff. laid Q_1 Q_3. layd Q_2 (Cap. Dev. Mus. imp. and Bodl. 1). bod Q_2 (Mus. per. and Bodl. 2). boil'd Warburton.

[3950] And ... heart,] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[3951] stelled] Q_2 (Mus. per. and Bodl. 2) Ff. steeled Q_1 Q_2 (Cap. Dev. Mus. imp. and Bodl. 1) Q_3. stellar Hanmer.

[3952] holp] F_3 F_4. holpe F_1 F_2. holpt Qq. help'd Pope.

rain] F_3 F_4. raine F_1 F_2. rage Qq.

[3953] howl'd that stern] F_3 F_4. howl'd that sterne F_1 F_2. heard that dearne Qq. howl'd that dearn Capell.

[3954] Good] go, Theobald (ed. 2).

[3955] cruels] quarrels Jervis conj.

subscribed] subscrib'd Qq. subscribe Ff.

[3956] these] Ff. those Qq.

[Gloster is held down while Cornwall treads out one of his Eyes. Rowe. Gloster is held down in his Chair, while Cornwal plucks out one his Eyes, and stamps on it. Capell.

[3957] old,] Ff. old Q_2. old— Q_1 Q_3.

[3958] you] Ff. ye Qq.

[3959] the other too] th’ other too Ff. tother to Qq.

[3960] vengeance—] Qq. vengeance. Ff.

First Serv.] 1. S. Capell. Servant. Qq. Serv. Ff.

[3961] I have] I've Pope.

you] om. Q_2.

[3962] But ... hold.] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[3963] If ... mean?] As in Ff. Prose in Qq.

[3964] on this] in this Capell conj.

[3965] [They draw....] Draw and fight. Qq. Omitted in Ff. Fight, in the scuffle Cornwall is wounded. Rowe.

[3966] Nay] Ff. Why Qq.

[3967] Reg.] Reg. [to another servant. Johnson. Reg. [To Corn. Collier conj.

thus!] thus? Ff. thus. Qq.

[Takes....] She takes.... Qq. Killes him. Ff. Snatches a Sword from an Att: and stabs him. Capell.

[3968] O ... him. O!] As in Ff. Prose in Qq.

[3969] slain! My lord, you have] slaine: my Lord, you have Ff. slaine my Lord, yet have you Qq.

[3970] him] them Dyce (ed. 2). 'em Dyce conj. (ed. 1).

[Dies.] He dies. Q_1. om. Q_2 Ff Q_3.

[3971] vile] Pope. vilde Q_1 F_1 F_2. vild Q_2 F_3 F_4.

[3972] [Treads out the other Eye. Rowe. Dashing Gloster's other Eye to the Ground. Capell.

[3973] All ... Edmund!] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

comfortless.] comfortles, Qq. comfortlesse? Ff.

[3974] Edmund ... act.] As in Ff. Prose in Qq.

[3975] enkindle] Ff. unbridle Qq.

[3976] Out ... thee.] As in Ff. Prose in Qq.

[3977] treacherous] Ff. om. Qq.

[3978] overture] o'erture S. Walker conj.

[3979] O ... you?] Five lines, ending follies!... forgive ... out ... Dover ... you? in Pope.

[3980] O ... abused.] As in Qq Ff. Two lines in Capell.

[3981] Go ... you?] As in Capell. Three lines in Ff. Prose in Qq.

[3982] at gates] At th' gates Hanmer.

[3983] [Exit....] Exit with Glouster. Ff. Omitted in Qq.

look] do Jennens.

[3984] Turn ... arm.] As in Ff. In Qq the first two lines end upon ... untimely.

[3985] dunghill] dungell Q_2.

[3986] [Exit....] Exit Qq. Exeunt. Ff. Exeunt Cornwal, and Regan. Servants unbind Gloster, and lead him out. Capell.

[3987] Sec. Serv. I'll ... him!] Omitted in Ff.

[3988] Sec. Serv.] 2. S. Capell. Servant. Qq. 1st Serv. Theobald.

[3989] Third Serv.] 3. S. Capell. 2. Servant. Qq.

[3990] If ... monsters.] As in Theobald. Prose in Qq.

[3991] Sec. Serv.] 2. S. Capell. 1 Ser. Qq.

Bedlam] bedlom Q_2.

[3992] roguish] om. Q_2 (Mus. per. and Bodl. 2).

[3993] Third Serv.] 3. S. Capell. 2 Ser. Qq.

[3994] Go ... him!] As in Theobald. Prose in Qq.

[3995] To ... his] T' apply to's Theobald.

[Exeunt severally.] Theobald. Exit. Qq.

ACT IV.

SCENE I. The heath.[3996]

Enter EDGAR.

Edg. Yet better thus, and known to be contemn'd,[3997]

Than still contemn'd and flatter'd. To be worst,[3998]

The lowest and most dejected thing of fortune,[3999]

Stands still in esperance, lives not in fear:[4000]

The lamentable change is from the best; 5

The worst returns to laughter. Welcome then,[4001][4002]

Thou unsubstantial air that I embrace![4002]

The wretch that them hast blown unto the worst[4002]

Owes nothing to thy blasts. But who comes here?[4002][4003][4004]

Enter GLOUCESTER, led by an Old Man.[4005]

My father, poorly led? World, world, O world![4005][4006] 10

But that thy strange mutations make us hate thee,[4007]

Life would not yield to age.[4008]

Old Man. O, my good lord, I have been your tenant,[4009]

and your father's tenant, these fourscore years.[4009][4010]

Glou. Away, get thee away; good friend, be gone: 15

Thy comforts can do me no good at all;

Thee they may hurt.

Old Man. Alack, sir, you cannot see your way.[4011]

Glou. I have no way and therefore want no eyes;

I stumbled when I saw: full oft 'tis seen, 20

Our means secure us, and our mere defects[4012]

Prove our commodities. Ah, dear son Edgar,[4013]

The food of thy abused father's wrath!

Might I but live to see thee in my touch,

I'ld say I had eyes again!

Old Man. How now! Who 's there?[4014] 25

Edg. [Aside] O gods! Who is't can say 'I am at the worst'?[4015][4016]

I am worse than e'er I was.[4017]

Old Man. 'Tis poor mad Tom.

Edg. [Aside] And worse I may be yet: the worst is not[4015]

So long as we can say 'This is the worst.'[4018]

Old Man. Fellow, where goest?

Glou. Is it a beggar-man? 30

Old Man. Madman and beggar too.

Glou. He has some reason, else he could not beg.[4019]

I' the last night's storm I such a fellow saw,[4020]

Which made me think a man a worm: my son

Came then into my mind, and yet my mind 35

Was then scarce friends with him: I have heard more since.[4021]

As flies to wanton boys, are we to the gods;[4022]

They kill us for their sport.[4023]

Edg. [Aside] How should this be?[4015][4024][4025]

Bad is the trade that must play fool to sorrow,[4024][4026]

Angering itself and others. Bless thee, master![4024][4027] 40

Glou. Is that the naked fellow?

Old Man. Ay, my lord.

Glou. Then, prithee, get thee gone: if for my sake[4028]

Thou wilt o'ertake us hence a mile or twain[4029]

I' the way toward Dover, do it for ancient love;[4030]

And bring some covering for this naked soul,[4031] 45

Who I'll entreat to lead me.[4032]

Old Man. Alack, sir, he is mad.

Glou. 'Tis the times' plague, when madmen lead the blind.[4033]

Do as I bid thee, or rather do thy pleasure;[4034]

Above the rest, be gone.

Old Man. I'll bring him the best 'parel that I have,[4035][4036] 50

Come on't what will.     [Exit.

Glou. Sirrah, naked fellow,—[4037]

Edg. Poor Tom's a-cold. [Aside] I cannot daub it further.[4015][4038]

Glou. Come hither, fellow.

Edg. [Aside] And yet I must. Bless thy sweet eyes, they bleed.[4015][4039]55

Glou. Know'st thou the way to Dover?

Edg. Both stile and gate, horse-way and foot-path. Poor[4040]

Tom hath been scared out of his good wits. Bless thee, good[4040][4041][4042]

man's son, from the foul fiend! Five fiends have been in poor[4040][4042][4043]

Tom at once; of lust, as Obidicut; Hobbididence, prince of[4043][4044] 60

dumbness; Mahu, of stealing; Modo, of murder; Flibbertigibbet,[4043][4045]

of mopping and mowing; who since possesses[4043][4046]

chambermaids and waiting-women. So, bless thee, master![4043][4047]

Glou. Here, take this purse, thou whom the heavens' plagues[4048]

Have humbled to all strokes: that I am wretched[4049] 65

Makes thee the happier. Heavens, deal so still![4049]

Let the superfluous and lust-dieted man,[4050]

That slaves your ordinance, that will not see[4051]

Because he doth not feel, feel your power quickly;[4052]

So distribution should undo excess[4053] 70

And each man have enough. Dost thou know Dover?

Edg. Ay, master.

Glou. There is a cliff whose high and bending head

Looks fearfully in the confined deep:[4054]

Bring me but to the very brim of it, 75

And I'll repair the misery thou dost bear

With something rich about me: from that place[4055]

I shall no leading need.[4055][4056]

Edg. Give me thy arm:[4057]

Poor Tom shall lead thee.     [Exeunt.[4057][4058]

SCENE II. Before the Duke of Albany's palace.

Enter GONERIL and EDMUND.[4059]

Gon. Welcome, my lord: I marvel our mild husband

Not met us on the way.

Enter OSWALD.[4060]

Now, where's your master?

Osw. Madam, within; but never man so changed.[4061]

I told him of the army that was landed;[4061]

He smiled at it: I told him you were coming;[4061] 5

His answer was, 'The worse:' of Gloucester's treachery[4061]

And of the loyal service of his son[4061]

When I inform'd him, then he call'd me sot[4061]

And told me I had turn'd the wrong side out:[4061]

What most he should dislike seems pleasant to him;[4061][4062] 10

What like, offensive.[4061][4063]

Gon. [To Edm.] Then shall you go no further.

It is the cowish terror of his spirit,[4064]

That dares not undertake: he'll not feel wrongs,

Which tie him to an answer. Our wishes on the way[4065]

May prove effects. Back, Edmund, to my brother;[4065][4066] 15

Hasten his musters and conduct his powers:

I must change arms at home and give the distaff[4067]

Into my husband's hands. This trusty servant

Shall pass between us: ere long you are like to hear,[4068]

If you dare venture in your own behalf,[4069] 20

A mistress's command. Wear this; spare speech;

[Giving a favour.[4070]

Decline your head: this kiss, if it durst speak,

Would stretch thy spirits up into the air:

Conceive, and fare thee well.[4071]

Edm. Yours in the ranks of death.

Gon. My most dear Gloucester![4072] 25

[Exit Edmund.[4073]

O, the difference of man and man![4072][4074][4075]

To thee a woman's services are due:[4075][4076]

My fool usurps my body.[4075]

Osw. Madam, here comes my lord.     [Exit.

Enter ALBANY.[4077]

Gon. I have been worth the whistle.[4078]

Alb. O Goneril![4079]

You are not worth the dust which the rude wind[4079][4080] 30

Blows in your face. I fear your disposition:[4081]

That nature which contemns its origin[4081][4082]

Cannot be border'd certain in itself;[4081][4083]

She that herself will sliver and disbranch[4081][4084]

From her material sap, perforce must wither[4081][4085] 35

And come to deadly use.[4081]

Gon. No more; the text is foolish.[4081][4086]

Alb. Wisdom and goodness to the vile seem vile:[4081]

Filths savour but themselves. What have you done?[4081][4087]

Tigers, not daughters, what have you perform'd?[4081] 40

A father, and a gracious aged man,[4081]

Whose reverence even the head-lugg'd bear would lick,[4081][4088]

Most barbarous, most degenerate! have you madded.[4081]

Could my good brother suffer you to do it?[4081]

A man, a prince, by him so benefited![4081][4089] 45

If that the heavens do not their visible spirits[4081]

Send quickly down to tame these vile offences,[4081][4090][4091]

It will come,[4081][4090][4092]

Humanity must perforce prey on itself,[4081][4093][4094]

Like monsters of the deep.[4081][4093]

Gon. Milk-liver'd man! 50

That bear'st a cheek for blows, a head for wrongs;[4095]

Who hast not in thy brows an eye discerning[4096][4097]

Thine honour from thy suffering; that not know'st[4096][4098][4099]

Fools do those villains pity who are punish'd[4098][4099][4100]

Ere they have done their mischief. Where's thy drum?[4098] 55

France spreads his banners in our noiseless land,[4098][4101]

With plumed helm thy state begins to threat,[4098][4102]

Whiles thou, a moral fool, sit'st still and criest[4098][4103]

'Alack, why does he so?'[4098]

Alb. See thyself, devil![4104]

Proper deformity seems not in the fiend[4104][4105] 60

So horrid as in woman.[4104]

Gon. O vain fool!

Alb. Thou changed and self-cover'd thing, for shame,[4106][4107]

Be-monster not thy feature. Were 't my fitness[4106][4108][4109]

To let these hands obey my blood,[4106][4109][4110]

They are apt enough to dislocate and tear[4106][4109][4111] 65

Thy flesh and bones: howe'er thou art a fiend,[4106][4112]

A woman's shape doth shield thee.[4106]

Gon. Marry, your manhood mew.[4106][4113]

Enter a Messenger.

Alb. What news?[4114]

Mess. O, my good lord, the Duke of Cornwall's dead,[4115][4116] 70

Slain by his servant, going to put out[4116]

The other eye of Gloucester.[4116]

Alb. Gloucester's eyes!

Mess. A servant that he bred, thrill'd with remorse,[4117]

Opposed against the act, bending his sword[4118]

To his great master; who thereat enraged[4118][4119] 75

Flew on him and amongst them fell'd him dead,[4120]

But not without that harmful stroke which since[4121][4122]

Hath pluck'd him after.[4122]

Alb. This shows you are above,[4123][4124]

You justicers, that these our nether crimes[4123][4124][4125]

So speedily can venge. But, O poor Gloucester![4123] 80

Lost he his other eye?[4123]

Mess. Both, both, my lord.[4126]

This letter, madam, craves a speedy answer;[4126]

'Tis from your sister.[4126]

Gon. [Aside] One way I like this well;[4127]

But being widow, and my Gloucester with her,[4128]

May all the building in my fancy pluck[4129] 85

Upon my hateful life: another way,[4130]

The news is not so tart. I'll read, and answer.     [Exit.[4130][4131]

Alb. Where was his son when they did take his eyes?[4132]

Mess. Come with my lady hither.

Alb. He is not here.[4133]

Mess. No, my good lord; I met him back again. 90

Alb. Knows he the wickedness?

Mess. Ay, my good lord; 'twas he inform'd against him,

And quit the house on purpose, that their punishment[4134]

Might have the freer course.

Alb. Gloucester, I live[4135][4136]

To thank thee for the love thou show'dst the king,[4135][4136][4137] 95

And to revenge thine eyes. Come hither, friend:[4135][4136][4138]

Tell me what more thou know'st.     [Exeunt.[4136][4139]

SCENE III. The French camp near Dover.[4140]

Enter KENT and a Gentleman.

Kent. Why the King of France is so suddenly gone[4141]

back know you the reason?[4141][4142]

Gent. Something he left imperfect in the state which[4143]

since his coming forth is thought of, which imports to the[4143][4144]

kingdom so much fear and danger that his personal return[4143][4145] 5

was most required and necessary.[4143]

Kent. Who hath he left behind him general?[4146]

Gent. The Marshal of France, Monsieur La Far.[4147]

Kent. Did your letters pierce the queen to any demonstration[4148]

of grief?[4148] 10

Gent. Ay, sir; she took them, read them in my presence,[4149]

And now and then an ample tear trill'd down

Her delicate cheek: it seem'd she was a queen[4150]

Over her passion, who most rebel-like[4150][4151]

Sought to be king o'er her.[4150]

Kent. O, then it moved her. 15

Gent. Not to a rage: patience and sorrow strove[4152]

Who should express her goodliest. You have seen[4153]

Sunshine and rain at once: her smiles and tears[4154]

Were like a better way: those happy smilets[4154][4155]

That play'd on her ripe lip seem'd not to know[4156] 20

What guests were in her eyes; which parted thence

As pearls from diamonds dropp'd. In brief,[4157][4158]

Sorrow would be a rarity most beloved,[4157]

If all could so become it.[4157]

Kent. Made she no verbal question?[4159]

Gent. Faith, once or twice she heaved the name of 'father'[4160] 25

Pantingly forth, as if it press'd her heart;

Cried 'Sisters! sisters! Shame of ladies! sisters![4161]

Kent! father! sisters! What, i' the storm? i' the night?[4161][4162]

Let pity not be believed!' There she shook[4163]

The holy water from her heavenly eyes, 30

And clamour moisten'd: then away she started[4164]

To deal with grief alone.

Kent. It is the stars,[4165][4166]

The stars above us, govern our conditions;[4166]

Else one self mate and mate could not beget[4167]

Such different issues. You spoke not with her since?[4168] 35

Gent. No.

Kent. Was this before the king return'd?

Gent. No, since.

Kent. Well, sir, the poor distressed Lear's i' the town;[4169]

Who sometime in his better tune remembers[4170]

What we are come about, and by no means[4171] 40

Will yield to see his daughter.[4171]

Gent. Why, good sir?

Kent. A sovereign shame so elbows him: his own unkindness[4172]

That stripp'd her from his benediction, turn'd her[4173]

To foreign casualties, gave her dear rights

To his dog-hearted daughters: these things sting[4174][4175] 45

His mind so venomously that burning shame[4174][4175]

Detains him from Cordelia.[4174][4176]

Gent. Alack, poor gentleman!

Kent. Of Albany's and Cornwall's powers you heard not?[4177]

Gent. 'Tis so; they are afoot.[4178]

Kent. Well, sir, I'll bring you to our master Lear, 50

And leave you to attend him: some dear cause

Will in concealment wrap me up awhile;

When I am known aright, you shall not grieve

Lending me this acquaintance. I pray you, go[4179]

Along with me.     [Exeunt.[4179][4180] 55

SCENE IV. The same. A tent.

Enter, with drum and colours, CORDELIA, Doctor, and Soldiers.[4181]

Cor. Alack, 'tis he: why, he was met even now

As mad as the vex'd sea; singing aloud;[4182]

Crown'd with rank fumiter and furrow-weeds,[4183]

With bur-docks, hemlock, nettles, cuckoo-flowers,[4184]

Darnel, and all the idle weeds that grow 5

In our sustaining corn. A century send forth;[4185]

Search every acre in the high-grown field,

And bring him to our eye. [Exit an Officer.] What can man's wisdom[4186][4187][4188][4189]

In the restoring his bereaved sense?[4186][4188][4190]

He that helps him take all my outward worth.[4186][4191] 10

Doct. There is means, madam:[4192]

Our foster-nurse of nature is repose,

The which he lacks: that to provoke in him,[4193]

Are many simples operative, whose power

Will close the eye of anguish.

Cor. All blest secrets,[4194] 15

All you unpublish'd virtues of the earth,[4194]

Spring with my tears! be aidant and remediate[4195]

In the good man's distress! Seek, seek for him;[4196]

Lest his ungovern'd rage dissolve the life

That wants the means to lead it.

Enter a Messenger.[4197]

Mess. News, madam;[4198] 20

The British powers are marching hitherward.[4198]

Cor. 'Tis known before; our preparation stands

In expectation of them. O dear father,

It is thy business that I go about;[4199]

Therefore great France[4199] 25

My mourning and important tears hath pitied.[4200]

No blown ambition doth our arms incite,[4201]

But love, dear love, and our aged father's right:[4202]

Soon may I hear and see him!     [Exeunt.[4203]

SCENE V. Gloucester's castle.

Enter REGAN and OSWALD.[4204]

Reg. But are my brother's powers set forth?[4205]

Osw. Ay, madam.[4205]

Reg. Himself in person there?[4205][4206]

Osw. Madam, with much ado:[4207]

Your sister is the better soldier.[4207][4208]

Reg. Lord Edmund spake not with your lord at home?[4209]

Osw. No, madam. 5

Reg. What might import my sister's letter to him?[4210]

Osw. I know not, lady.

Reg. Faith, he is posted hence on serious matter.[4211]

It was great ignorance, Gloucester's eyes being out,

To let him live: where he arrives he moves 10

All hearts against us: Edmund, I think, is gone,[4212]

In pity of his misery, to dispatch[4213]

His nighted life; moreover, to descry[4213]

The strength o' the enemy.[4213][4214]

Osw. I must needs after him, madam, with my letter.[4215] 15

Reg. Our troops set forth to-morrow: stay with us;[4216]

The ways are dangerous.

Osw. I may not, madam:[4217]

My lady charged my duty in this business.[4217]

Reg. Why should she write to Edmund? Might not you[4218]

Transport her purposes by word? Belike,[4218][4219] 20

Something—I know not what: I'll love thee much,[4220]

Let me unseal the letter.

Osw. Madam, I had rather—[4221]

Reg. I know your lady does not love her husband;

I am sure of that: and at her late being here[4222]

She gave strange œillades and most speaking looks[4223] 25

To noble Edmund. I know you are of her bosom.[4224]

Osw. I, madam?[4225]

Reg. I speak in understanding: you are; I know't:[4226]

Therefore I do advise you, take this note:[4227]

My lord is dead; Edmund and I have talk'd; 30

And more convenient is he for my hand

Than for your lady's: you may gather more.[4228]

If you do find him, pray you, give him this;[4229]

And when your mistress hears thus much from you,

I pray, desire her call her wisdom to her. 35

So, fare you well.[4230]

If you do chance to hear of that blind traitor,

Preferment falls on him that cuts him off.

Osw. Would I could meet him, madam! I should show[4231]

What party I do follow.

Reg. Fare thee well.     [Exeunt.[4232] 40

SCENE VI. Fields near Dover.

Enter GLOUCESTER, and EDGAR dressed like a peasant.[4233]

Glou. When shall we come to the top of that same hill?[4234]

Edg. You do climb up it now: look, how we labour.[4235]

Glou. Methinks the ground is even.

Edg. Horrible steep.[4236][4237]

Hark, do you hear the sea?[4237][4238]

Glou. No, truly.

Edg. Why then your other senses grow imperfect 5

By your eyes' anguish.

Glou. So may it be indeed:

Methinks thy voice is alter'd, and thou speak'st[4239]

In better phrase and matter than thou didst.[4240]

Edg. You're much deceived: in nothing am I changed[4241]

But in my garments.

Glou. Methinks you're better spoken.[4242] 10

Edg. Come on, sir; here's the place: stand still. How fearful[4243]

And dizzy 'tis to cast one's eyes so low![4244]

The crows and choughs that wing the midway air

Show scarce so gross as beetles: half way down

Hangs one that gathers samphire, dreadful trade![4245] 15

Methinks he seems no bigger than his head:

The fishermen that walk upon the beach[4246]

Appear like mice; and yond tall anchoring bark[4247]

Diminish'd to her cock; her cock, a buoy[4248]

Almost too small for sight: the murmuring surge 20

That on the unnumber’d idle pebbles chafes[4249]

Cannot be heard so high. I'll look no more,[4250]

Lest my brain turn and the deficient sight

Topple down headlong.

Glou. Set me where you stand.

Edg. Give me your hand: you are now within a foot[4251][4252] 25

Of the extreme verge: for all beneath the moon[4251][4253]

Would I not leap upright.[4251][4254]

Glou. Let go my hand.

Here, friend, 's another purse; in it a jewel

Well worth a poor man's taking: fairies and gods[4255]

Prosper it with thee! Go thou farther off;[4256] 30

Bid me farewell, and let me hear thee going.

Edg. Now fare you well good sir.[4257]

Glou. With all my heart.

Edg. Why I do trifle thus with his despair[4258]

Is done to cure it.[4258]

Glou. [Kneeling] O you mighty gods![4259]

This world I do renounce, and in your sights 35

Shake patiently my great affliction off:

If I could bear it longer and not fall

To quarrel with your great opposeless wills,

My snuff and loathed part of nature should[4260]

Burn itself out. If Edgar live, O bless him![4261] 40

Now, fellow, fare thee well.     [He falls forward.[4262]

Edg. Gone, sir: farewell.[4263][4264]

And yet I know not how conceit may rob[4263][4265][4266]

The treasury of life, when life itself[4263][4265][4267]

Yields to the theft: had he been where he thought[4263][4265]

By this had thought been past. Alive or dead?[4263][4265][4268] 45

Ho, you sir! friend! Hear you, sir! speak![4263][4269]

Thus might he pass indeed: yet he revives.[4263][4270]

What are you, sir?[4263]

Glou. Away, and let me die.

Edg. Hadst thou been aught but gossamer, feathers, air,[4271]

So many fathom down precipitating, 50

Thou'dst shiver'd like an egg: but thou dost breathe;[4272]

Hast heavy substance; bleed'st not; speak'st; art sound.[4273]

Ten masts at each make not the altitude[4274]

Which thou hast perpendicularly fell:[4275]

Thy life's a miracle. Speak yet again. 55

Glou. But have I fall'n, or no?[4276]

Edg. From the dread summit of this chalky bourn.[4277]

Look up a-height; the shrill-gorged lark so far[4278]

Cannot be seen or heard: do but look up.[4279]

Glou. Alack, I have no eyes. 60

Is wretchedness deprived that benefit,

To end itself by death? 'Twas yet some comfort,[4280]

When misery could beguile the tyrant's rage

And frustrate his proud will.

Edg. Give me your arm:[4281]

Up: so. How is't? Feel you your legs? You stand.[4282] 65

Glou. Too well, too well.

Edg. This is above all strangeness.

Upon the crown o' the cliff, what thing was that[4283]

Which parted from you?

Glou. A poor unfortunate beggar.[4284]

Edg. As I stood here below, methought his eyes[4285]

Were two full moons; he had a thousand noses,[4286] 70

Horns whelk'd and waved like the enridged sea:[4287]

It was some fiend; therefore, thou happy father,

Think that the clearest gods, who make them honours[4288]

Of men's impossibilities, have preserved thee.

Glou. I do remember now: henceforth I'll bear 75

Affliction till it do cry out itself

'Enough, enough,' and die. That thing you speak of,[4289]

I took it for a man; often 'twould say[4290]

'The fiend, the fiend:' he led me to that place.[4291]

Edg. Bear free and patient thoughts. But who comes

here? 80

Enter LEAR, fantastically dressed with wild flowers.[4292]

The safer sense will ne'er accommodate[4293][4294][4295]

His master thus.[4294]

Lear. No, they cannot touch me for coining; I am the[4296]

king himself.

Edg. O thou side-piercing sight![4297] 85

Lear. Nature's above art in that respect. There's your[4298]

press-money. That fellow handles his bow like a crow-keeper:[4299]

draw me a clothier's yard. Look, look, a mouse![4299]

Peace, peace; this piece of toasted cheese will do 't.[4300]

There's my gauntlet; I'll prove it on a giant. Bring up 90

the brown bills. O, well flown, bird! i' the clout, i' the[4301][4302]

clout: hewgh! Give the word.[4302][4303]

Edg. Sweet marjoram.

Lear. Pass.

Glou. I know that voice. 95

Lear. Ha! Goneril, with a white beard! They flattered[4304]

me like a dog, and told me I had white hairs in my[4305]

beard ere the black ones were there. To say 'ay' and 'no'

to every thing that I said! 'Ay' and 'no' too was no good[4306]

divinity. When the rain came to wet me once and the wind[4307] 100

to make me chatter; when the thunder would not peace at

my bidding; there I found 'em, there I smelt 'em out. Go[4308]

to, they are not men o' their words: they told me I was[4309]

every thing; 'tis a lie, I am not ague-proof.[4310]

Glou. The trick of that voice I do well remember:[4311] 105

Is't not the king?[4311]

Lear. Ay, every inch a king:[4312][4313]

When I do stare, see how the subject quakes.[4312][4314]

I pardon that man's life. What was thy cause?[4312][4315][4316]

Adultery?[4315][4317][4318]

Thou shalt not die: die for adultery! No:[4318][4319] 110

The wren goes to't, and the small gilded fly[4318]

Does lecher in my sight.[4318][4320]

Let copulation thrive; for Gloucester's bastard son[4318]

Was kinder to his father than my daughters[4318][4321]

Got 'tween the lawful sheets.[4318][4322] 115

To't, luxury, pell-mell! for I lack soldiers.[4318]

Behold yond simpering dame,[4323][4324]

Whose face between her forks presages snow,[4323][4325]

That minces virtue and does shake the head[4323][4326]

To hear of pleasure's name;[4323][4327] 120

The fitchew, nor the soiled horse, goes to't[4323][4328]

With a more riotous appetite.[4323][4328][4329]

Down from the waist they are Centaurs,[4323][4330]

Though women all above:[4323]

But to the girdle do the gods inherit,[4323] 125

Beneath is all the fiends';[4331][4332]

There's hell, there's darkness, there's the sulphurous pit,[4331][4333]

Burning, scalding, stench, consumption; fie, fie, fie! pah,[4334]

pah! Give me an ounce of civet, good apothecary, to[4335]

sweeten my imagination: there's money for thee.[4335] 130

Glou. O, let me kiss that hand!

Lear. Let me wipe it first; it smells of mortality.[4336]

Glou. O ruin'd piece of nature! This great world[4337]

Shall so wear out to nought. Dost thou know me?[4337][4338]

Lear. I remember thine eyes well enough. Dost thou[4339] 135

squiny at me? No, do thy worst, blind Cupid; I'll not love.[4340]

Read thou this challenge; mark but the penning on't.[4341]

Glou. Were all the letters suns, I could not see one.[4342]

Edg. I would not take this from report: it is,[4343]

And my heart breaks at it.[4343] 140

Lear. Read.

Glou. What, with the case of eyes?[4344]

Lear. O, ho, are you there with me? No eyes in your

head, nor no money in your purse? Your eyes are in a[4345][4346]

heavy case, your purse in a light: yet you see how this[4345][4347] 145

world goes.[4348]

Glou. I see it feelingly.

Lear. What, art mad? A man may see how this world[4349]

goes with no eyes. Look with thine ears: see how yond[4350][4351]

justice rails upon yond simple thief. Hark, in thine ear:[4351][4352] 150

change places, and, handy-dandy, which is the justice, which[4353][4354]

is the thief? Thou hast seen a farmer's dog bark at a[4353]

beggar?

Glou. Ay, sir.[4355]

Lear. And the creature run from the cur? There thou 155

mightst behold the great image of authority: a dog's obeyed[4356]

in office.

Thou rascal beadle, hold thy bloody hand![4357]

Why dost thou lash that whore? Strip thine own back;[4357][4358]

Thou hotly lust'st to use her in that kind[4357][4359] 160

For which thou whip'st her. The usurer hangs the cozener.[4357][4360]

Through tatter'd clothes small vices do appear;[4361][4362]

Robes and furr'd gowns hide all. Plate sin with gold,[4361][4363][4364]

And the strong lance of justice hurtless breaks;[4361][4364]

Arm it in rags, a pigmy's straw does pierce it.[4361][4364][4365] 165

None does offend, none, I say, none; I'll able 'em:[4361][4364][4366]

Take that of me, my friend, who have the power[4361][4364]

To seal the accuser's lips. Get thee glass eyes,[4361][4364]

And, like a scurvy politician, seem[4361]

To see the things thou dost not.[4361] 170

Now, now, now, now: pull off my boots: harder, harder:[4367][4368]

so.[4368]

Edg. O, matter and impertinency mix'd![4369][4370]

Reason in madness![4369]

Lear. If thou wilt weep my fortunes, take my eyes.[4371][4372] 175

I know thee well enough; thy name is Gloucester:[4371]

Thou must be patient; we came crying hither:[4371]

Thou know'st, the first time that we smell the air,[4371][4373]

We wawl and cry. I will preach to thee: mark.[4371][4374]

Glou. Alack, alack the day![4371] 180

Lear. When we are born, we cry that we are come[4371]

To this great stage of fools. This 's a good block.[4371][4375]

It were a delicate stratagem, to shoe[4371][4376]

A troop of horse with felt: I'll put 't in proof;[4371][4377]

And when I have stol'n upon these sons-in-law,[4371][4378] 185

Then, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill, kill![4371]

Enter a Gentleman, with Attendants.[4379]

Gent. O, here he is: lay hand upon him. Sir,[4371][4380]

Your most dear daughter—[4371][4381]

Lear. No rescue? What, a prisoner? I am even[4371][4382]

The natural fool of fortune. Use me well;[4371] 190

You shall have ransom. Let me have a surgeon;[4371][4383]

I am cut to the brains.[4371][4384]

Gent. You shall have any thing.[4371]

Lear. No seconds? all myself?[4371]

Why, this would make a man a man of salt,[4371][4385]

To use his eyes for garden water-pots,[4371][4386] 195

Ay, and laying autumn's dust.[4371][4387]

Gent. Good sir,—[4371][4387]

Lear. I will die bravely, like a smug bridegroom. What![4371][4387][4388]

I will be jovial: come, come; I am a king,[4371][4387]

My masters, know you that.[4371][4387] 200

Gent. You are a royal one, and we obey you.[4371]

Lear. Then there's life in't. Nay, if you get it, you[4371][4389][4390]

shall get it by running. Sa, sa, sa, sa.[4371][4389]

[Exit running; Attendants follow.[4391]

Gent. A sight most pitiful in the meanest wretch,[4371]

Past speaking of in a king! Thou hast one daughter,[4371][4392] 205

Who redeems nature from the general curse[4371]

Which twain have brought her to.[4371][4393]

Edg. Hail, gentle sir.

Gent. Sir, speed you: what's your will?

Edg. Do you hear aught, sir, of a battle toward?[4394]

Gent. Most sure and vulgar: every one hears that,[4395][4396] 210

Which can distinguish sound.[4395][4397]

Edg. But, by your favour,[4398]

How near's the other army?[4398][4399]

Gent. Near and on speedy foot; the main descry[4400]

Stands on the hourly thought.

Edg. I thank you, sir: that's all.[4401]

Gent. Though that the queen on special cause is here, 215

Her army is moved on.

Edg. I thank you, sir.     [Exit Gent.[4402]

Glou. You ever-gentle gods, take my breath from me;[4403]

Let not my worser spirit tempt me again

To die before you please!

Edg. Well pray you, father.[4404]

Glou. Now, good sir, what are you? 220

Edg. A most poor man, made tame to fortune's blows;[4405]

Who, by the art of known and feeling sorrows,[4406]

Am pregnant to good pity. Give me your hand,

I'll lead you to some biding.

Glou. Hearty thanks:[4407]

The bounty and the benison of heaven[4407][4408] 225

To boot, and boot![4407]

Enter OSWALD.[4409]

Osw. A proclaim'd prize! Most happy![4410][4411]

That eyeless head of thine was first framed flesh[4410][4412]

To raise my fortunes. Thou old unhappy traitor,[4410][4413]

Briefly thyself remember: the sword is out[4410]

That must destroy thee.[4410]

Glou. Now let thy friendly hand[4410][4414] 230

Put strength enough to't.     [Edgar interposes.[4410][4415]

Osw. Wherefore, bold peasant,[4410]

Darest thou support a publish'd traitor? Hence![4410][4416]

Lest that the infection of his fortune take[4410][4417]

Like hold on thee. Let go his arm.[4410]

Edg. Chill not let go, zir, without vurther 'casion.[4418] 235

Osw. Let go, slave, or thou diest!

Edg. Good gentleman, go your gait, and let poor volk[4419]

pass. An chud ha' been zwaggered out of my life, 'twould[4420]

not ha' been zo long as 'tis by a vortnight. Nay, come not[4421]

near th' old man; keep out, che vor ye, or I'se try whether[4422] 240

your costard or my ballow be the harder: chill be plain[4423]

with you.

Osw. Out, dunghill!     [They fight.[4424]

Edg. Chill pick your teeth, zir: come; no matter vor[4425]

your foins.     [Oswald falls.[4426] 245

Osw. Slave, thou hast slain me. Villain, take my purse:

If ever thou wilt thrive, bury my body;

And give the letters which thou find'st about me[4427]

To Edmund earl of Gloucester; seek him out[4428]

Upon the British party. O, untimely death![4428][4429][4430] 250

Death!     [Dies.[4430][4431]

Edg. I know thee well: a serviceable villain,

As duteous to the vices of thy mistress[4432]

As badness would desire.

Glou. What, is he dead?

Edg. Sit you down, father; rest you.[4433][4434][4435] 255

Let's see these pockets: the letters that he speaks of[4433][4434][4436]

May be my friends. He's dead; I am only sorry[4433][4437][4438]

He had no other deathsman. Let us see:[4433][4437]

Leave, gentle wax; and, manners, blame us not:[4433][4439][4440]

To know our enemies' minds, we'ld rip their hearts;[4440][4441] 260

Their papers, is more lawful.[4442]

[Reads] 'Let our reciprocal vows be remembered. You[4443][4444][4445]

have many opportunities to cut him off: if your will want[4444]

not, time and place will be fruitfully offered. There is[4444]

nothing done, if he return the conqueror: then am I[4444][4446] 265

the prisoner, and his bed my gaol; from the loathed[4444][4447]

warmth whereof deliver me, and supply the place for your[4444][4448]

labour.

'Your—wife, so I would say—affectionate servant,[4449]

'GONERIL.' 270

O undistinguish'd space of woman's will![4450]

A plot upon her virtuous husband's life;

And the exchange my brother! Here, in the sands,[4451]

Thee I'll rake up, the post unsanctified[4452]

Of murderous lechers; and in the mature time[4453] 275

With this ungracious paper strike the sight

Of the death-practised duke: for him 'tis well[4454]

That of thy death and business I can tell.[4455]

Glou. The king is mad: how stiff is my vile sense,[4456]

That I stand up, and have ingenious feeling 280

Of my huge sorrows! Better I were distract:

So should my thoughts be sever'd from my griefs,[4457]

And woes by wrong imaginations lose[4458]

The knowledge of themselves.     [Drum afar off.[4459]

Edg. Give me your hand:[284, 285]

Far off, methinks, I hear the beaten drum:[4460] 285

Come, father, I'll bestow you with a friend.     [Exeunt.[4461]

SCENE VII. A tent in the French camp. LEAR on a bed asleep, soft music playing; Gentleman, and others attending.

Enter CORDELIA, KENT, and Doctor.[4462]

Cor. O thou good Kent, how shall I live and work,[4463]

To match thy goodness? My life will be too short,[4463][4464]

And every measure fail me.[4463]

Kent. To be acknowledged, madam, is o'erpaid.[4465]

All my reports go with the modest truth, 5

Nor more nor clipp'd, but so.

Cor. Be better suited:[4466]

These weeds are memories of those worser hours:[4466]

I prithee, put them off.[4466]

Kent. Pardon me, dear madam;[4467]

Yet to be known shortens my made intent:[4468]

My boon I make it, that you know me not 10

Till time and I think meet.

Cor. Then be't so, my good lord. [To the Doctor]

How does the king?[4469]

Doct. Madam, sleeps still.[4470][4471]

Cor. O you kind gods,[4472][4473]

Cure this great breach in his abused nature![4473] 15

The untuned and jarring senses, O, wind up[4474]

Of this child-changed father!

Doct. So please your majesty[4470][4475][4476]

That we may wake the king: he hath slept long.[4476][4477]

Cor. Be govern'd by your knowledge, and proceed

I' the sway of your own will. Is he array'd?[4478] 20

Gent. Ay, madam; in the heaviness of his sleep[4479]

We put fresh garments on him.

Doct. Be by, good madam, when we do awake him;[4480]

I doubt not of his temperance.[4481]

Cor. Very well.[4482]

Doct. Please you, draw near. Louder the music there![4482] 25

Cor. O my dear father! Restoration hang[4483][4484]

Thy medicine on my lips, and let this kiss[4483][4485]

Repair those violent harms that my two sisters[4483]

Have in thy reverence made![4483]

Kent. Kind and dear princess![4486]

Cor. Had you not been their father, these white flakes[4487] 30

Had challenged pity of them. Was this a face[4488]

To be opposed against the warring winds?[4489]

To stand against the deep dread-bolted thunder?[4490][4491]

In the most terrible and nimble stroke[4490]

Of quick, cross lightning? to watch—poor perdu!—[4490][4492] 35

With this thin helm? Mine enemy's dog,[4490][4493][4494][4495]

Though he had bit me, should have stood that night[4494]

Against my fire; and wast thou fain, poor father,[4494]

To hovel thee with swine and rogues forlorn,

In short and musty straw? Alack, alack![4496] 40

'Tis wonder that thy life and wits at once[4497]

Had not concluded all. He wakes; speak to him.[4498]

Doct. Madam, do you; 'tis fittest.[4499]

Cor. How does my royal lord? How fares your majesty?[4500]

Lear. You do me wrong to take me out o' the grave:[4501] 45

Thou art a soul in bliss; but I am bound

Upon a wheel of fire, that mine own tears

Do scald like molten lead.

Cor. Sir, do you know me?[4502]

Lear. You are a spirit, I know: when did you die?[4503]

Cor. Still, still, far wide! 50

Doct. He's scarce awake: let him alone awhile.[4504]

Lear. Where have I been? Where am I? Fair daylight?[4504]

I am mightily abused. I should e'en die with pity,[4505]

To see another thus. I know not what to say.[4506]

I will not swear these are my hands: let's see; 55

I feel this pin prick. Would I were assured[4507]

Of my condition![4507]

Cor. O, look upon me, sir,[4508][4509]

And hold your hands in benediction o'er me.[4508][4510]

No, sir, you must not kneel.[4508]

Lear. Pray, do not mock me:[4511]

I am a very foolish fond old man, 60

Fourscore and upward, not an hour more nor less;[4512]

And, to deal plainly,[4513]

I fear I am not in my perfect mind.[4514]

Methinks I should know you and know this man;

Yet I am doubtful; for I am mainly ignorant[4515] 65

What place this is, and all the skill I have

Remembers not these garments, nor I know not[4516]

Where I did lodge last night. Do not laugh at me;[4517]

For, as I am a man, I think this lady

To be my child Cordelia.

Cor. And so I am, I am.[4518] 70

Lear. Be your tears wet? yes, faith. I pray, weep not:[4519]

If you have poison for me, I will drink it.

I know you do not love me; for your sisters

Have, as I do remember, done me wrong:[4520]

You have some cause, they have not.[4521]

Cor. No cause, no cause. 75

Lear. Am I in France?

Kent. In your own kingdom, sir.

Lear. Do not abuse me.[4522]

Doct. Be comforted, good madam: the great rage,[4523]

You see, is kill'd in him: and yet it is danger[4523][4524][4525][4526]

To make him even o'er the time he has lost.[4523][4525][4527] 80

Desire him to go in; trouble him no more[4523][4528]

Till further settling.[4523]

Cor. Will't please your highness walk?[4529]

Lear. You must bear with me. Pray you now, forget[4530]

and forgive: I am old and foolish.[4530] 85

[Exeunt all but Kent and Gentleman.[4531]

Gent. Holds it true, sir, that the Duke of Cornwall[4532][4533][4534]

was so slain?[4532][4533]

Kent. Most certain, sir.[4532][4533]

Gent. Who is conductor of his people?[4532][4533]

Kent. As 'tis said, the bastard son of Gloucester.[4532][4533][4535] 90

Gent. They say Edgar, his banished son, is with the[4532][4533]

Earl of Kent in Germany.[4532][4533][4536]

Kent. Report is changeable. 'Tis time to look about;[4532][4536][4537]

the powers of the kingdom approach apace.[4532][4536][4537]

Gent. The arbitrement is like to be bloody. Fare you[4532][4536][4537][4538] 95

well, sir.     [Exit.[4532][4536][4537][4539]

Kent. My point and period will be throughly wrought,[4532]

Or well or ill, as this day's battle's fought.     [Exit.[4532][4540]

FOOTNOTES:

[3996] The heath.] Capell. An open Country. Rowe.

[3997] Yet] Yes, Collier (Collier MS.)

and known] unknown Collier, ed. 2 (Johnson conj.)

[3998] flatter'd. To be worst,] Pope. flattered to be worst, Qq. flatter'd, to be worst: Ff. flatter'd to be worse. Tyrwhitt conj.

[3999] and] om. Pope.

dejected] deject F_2 F_3 F_4.

[4000] esperance] Ff. experience Qq.

[4001] laughter.] Ff. laughter, Qq.

[4002] Welcome ... blasts.] Omitted in Qq.

[4003] thy] my Rowe.

But ... here?] Ff. Who's here, Qq.

[4004] But ... world!] Divided as in Capell. Two lines, the first ending led? in Ff. One line in Qq.

[4005] Enter Gloucester, led by an Old Man.] Qq, after age, line 12. Transferred by Pope to follow blasts, line 9. Enter Glouster, and an Oldman. F_1 F_2, after blasts. Enter Gloster led by an old man. F_3 F_4, after blasts.

[4006] poorly led?] F_3 F_4. poorely led? F_1 F_2. poorely led, Q_1 Q_3. poorlie, leed, Q_2 (Cap. Dev. Mus. imp. and Bodl. 1). parti, eyd, Q_2 (Mus. per. and Bodl. 2).

[4007] hate,] wait Theobald. bate Sewel conj.

[4008] Life would not] Life would ill or Loath should we or Life would not but reluctant Hanmer conj. MS. See note (XVII).

[4009] O, my ...] Prose in Qq. Two lines, the first ending your tenant, in Ff. Three lines, ending lord, ... father's tenant ... years, in Johnson.

[4010] these fourscore years.] this fourescore— Q_1 Q_3. this forescore— Q_2.

[4011] Alack, sir,] Qq. om. Ff.

[4012] Our means secure] F_3 F_4. Our meanes secure Qq F_1 F_2. Our mean secures Pope. Our means ensnare Theobald conj. (withdrawn). Meanness secures Hanmer. Our means seduce or Our maims secure Johnson conj. Our means recuse Brae conj. Our wants secure Collier (Collier MS.) Our meanness succours Hunter conj. Our needs secure Singer (ed. 2). Our means secures Arrowsmith conj. Our harms secure Jervis conj.

[4013] Ah] Qq. Oh Ff.

[4014] Who's] whose Q_2.

[4015] [Aside] Johnson.

[4016] I am at the] Qq F_1 F_3 F_4. I am at F_2. I'm at the Pope.

[4017] I am] I'm Pope.

e'er] Rowe. ere Qq Ff.

[4018] So long] As long Qq.

[4019] He] A Q_2.

[4020] I' the] In the Qq.

[4021] Was ... since.] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

I have] I've Pope.

[4022] to wanton] F_1 F_2. to th' wanton F_3 F_4. are to'th wanton Q_1 Q_3. are toth' wanton Q_2.

[4023] kill] bit Q_1 Q_3. bitt Q_2. bite Anon. MS. See note (V). hit Delius conj.

[4024] How ... master!] As in Ff. Prose in Qq.

[4025] this] their F_2.

[4026] that must play fool to] F_1. that must play the foole to Qq. that must play to foole F_2. that must play the fool to F_3 F_4. Must play the fool to Pope.

[4027] Angering itself] Anguishing't self Hanmer. Ang'ishing it self Warburton.

[4028] Then ... gone] Qq. (gon Q_2). Get thee away Ff.

[4029] hence] here Qq.

[4030] toward] Q_2 Ff. to Q_1 Q_3.

[4031] this] his Rowe (ed. 2).

[4032] Who] Qq. Which Ff. Whom Pope.

[4033] 'Tis ... blind.] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

times'] Capell. times Qq Ff. time's Rowe.

[4034] thee] om. Pope.

[4035] 'parel] 'parrel Rowe. parrell Qq F_1 F_2 F_3. parrel F_4.

[4036] [Exit.] Ff. om. Qq.

[4037] Sirrah,] Sirrah, you Hanmer. Sirrah, thou Keightley.

fellow,—] Capell. fellow. Qq Ff.

[4038] daub it] dance it Qq. dally Hanmer.

further] farther Qq.

[4039] And yet I must.] Omitted in Qq.

And ... bleed.] One line in Capell. Two in Ff.

[4040] Both ... fiend!] Prose in Ff. Three lines in Qq.

[4041] scared] scard Qq. scarr'd F_1 F_2. scar'd F_3 F_4.

[4042] thee, good man's son,] the good man Qq. thee, good man, Pope.

[4043] Five ... master!] As prose by Pope. Five lines in Qq. Omitted in Ff.

[4044] at once] in once Capell (corrected in Errata).

of lust, as Obidicut;] Omitted by Pope. as Obidicut, of lust; S. Walker conj.

Hobbididence] Qq. Hobbididen Pope. Hobbididdance Capell.

[4045] dumbness] darkness Capell (corrected in Errata).

Modo] Mohu Pope.

Flibbertigibbet] Pope. Stiberdigebit Qq. and Flibbertigibbet Theobald.

[4046] mopping and mowing;] Theobald. Mobing, and Mohing Q_1 Q_3. Mobing, & Mohing Q_2 (Mohing in italics in all). moping, and Mowing Pope (Mowing in italics).

[4047] So ... master!] Omitted by Pope.

[4048] heavens'] heaven's Hanmer.

plagues] plagues. Q_2.

[4049] Have ... Makes thee] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[4050] and] and the Rowe.

lust-dieted] lust-dieting Capell.

[4051] slaves] Ff. stands Qq. braves Hanmer (Warburton). staves Jackson conj. slights Anon. conj.

[4052] doth] Q_1 Q_3. does Q_2. do's Ff.

[4053] undo] F_3 F_4. undoo F_1. undoe F_2. under Qq.

[4054] fearfully] firmely Q_1 Q_2. firmly Q_3.

in] on Rowe.

[4055] With ... need.] As in Ff. The first line ends me, in Qq.

[4056] I shall] shall I Q_1 Q_3.

leading] lending F_3 F_4.

[4057] Give ... thee.] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[4058] [Exeunt.] Ff. om. Qq.

[4059] Before....] The Duke of Albany's Palace. Rowe. Before Albany's Palace. Capell. A Courtyard of the Duke of Albany's Palace. Eccles conj.

Enter....] Enter Gonorill and Bastard. Qq. Enter Gonerill, Bastard, and Steward. Ff. Enter Goneril, and Edmund; Steward meeting them. Capell.

[4060] Enter Oswald] Enter Steward. Theobald. Enter Steward. Qq (after master?).

[4061] Madam ... offensive.] Arranged as in Ff. Prose in Qq.

[4062] most ... dislike] hee should most desire Qq. hee should most dislike Anon. MS. See note (V).

[4063] [To Edm.] Hanmer.

shall you] thou shalt Jennens.

[4064] terror] Ff. terrer Q_2 (Mus. per. and Bodl. 2). curre Q_1 Q_2 (Cap. Dev. Mus. imp. and Bodl. 1) Q_3.

[4065] Our ... Edmund, to] that our wishes On th' way may prove effects, back, to Hanmer.

[4066] Edmund] Edgar Q_2.

[4067] arms] armes Qq. names Ff.

[4068] ere ... hear] you ere long shall hear Pope.

[4069] venture] Q_2 Ff. venter Q_1 Q_3.

[4070] command] Q_2 (Mus. per. and Bodl. 2) Ff. coward Q_1 Q_2 (Cap. Dev. Mus. imp. and Bodl. 1) Q_3.

this; spare] Ff. this, spare Q_2 (Mus. per. and Bodl. 2). this spare Q_1 Q_2 (Cap. Dev. Mus. imp. and Bodl. 1) Q_3.

[Giving a favour.] Johnson. Gives him a ring. Hanmer. om. Qq Ff.

[4071] fare thee well] Ff. faryewell Q_1 Q_3. far you well Q_2.

[4072] My ... man!] One line in Keightley.

[4073] [Exit Edmund.] Exit Bastard. Rowe. Exit. Ff (after death). om. Qq.

[4074] O, ... man!] Omitted in Qq, which read My ... due as one line.

O,] om. Seymour conj. In a separate line, S. Walker conj., ending lines 26-28 with Steevens (1793). But O, transposing lines 26, 27. Anon. conj.

difference] strange difference Pope.

[4075] The lines end thee ... fool in Steevens (1793).

[4076] a] Ff Q_2 (Mus. per. and Bodl. 2). om. Q_1 Q_2 (Cap. Dev. Mus. imp. and Bodl. 1) Q_3.

[4077] My fool ... body.] F_3 F_4. My foole usurpes my body. F_1 F_2. My foote ... head. Q_1. My foote ... body. Q_2 (Cap. Dev. Mus. imp. and Bodl. 1). A foole ... bed. Q_2 (Mus. per. and Bodl. 2). My foot ... head. Q_3. My fool ... bed. Malone.

[Exit.] Exit Steward. Qq om. Ff.

Enter Albany.] Ff. Enter the Duke of Albeney. Q_1 Q_3. om. Q_2.

[4078] whistle] whistling Q_2 (Mus. per. and Bodl. 2).

[4079] O ... wind] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[4080] rude] om. Q_1 Q_3.

[4081] I fear ... deep.] Omitted in Ff.

[4082] its] Q_3. it Q_1 Q_2 (Cap. Dev. Mus. imp. and Bodl. 1). ith Q_2 (Mus. per. and Bodl. 2).

[4083] border'd] Pope. bordered Qq. order'd Bailey conj.

[4084] sliver] shiver Pope. silver Jennens (a misprint).

[4085] material] maternal Theobald.

[4086] the text is] tis Pope.

[4087] Filths ... done?] Omitted by Pope.

[4088] Whose ... lick,] Omitted by Pope.

reverence ... bear] reverend head the rugged bear Capell.

even] Q_2. om. Q_1 Q_3.

[4089] benefited] benifited Q_2 (Mus. per. and Bodl. 2). beneflicted Q_1 Q_3. beniflicted Q_2 (Cap. Dev. Mus. imp. and Bodl. 1).

After this Warburton conjectures that there is an omission of a line or two.

[4090] Send ... come,] Arranged as in Malone. One line in Qq.

[4091] these vile] Jennens. this vild Q_2 (Mus. per. and Bodl. 2). the vilde Q_1 Q_3. the vild Q_2 (Cap. Dev. Mus. imp. and Bodl. 1).

[4092] It will come,] Omitted by Pope. 'Twill come, Jennens, reading 'Twill ... prey on as one line. 'Twill come, in a separate line, Steevens (1793).

[4093] Humanity ... deep.] Arranged as in Pope. One line in Qq.

[4094] Humanity] Q_2 (Mus. per. and Bodl. 2). Humanly Q_1 Q_2 (Cap. Dev. Mus. imp. and Bodl. 1) Q_3. that humanity Keightley, reading It ... deep as two lines, the first ending perforce.

[4095] bear'st] Ff. bearest Qq.

[4096] Who ... honour] Arranged as in Ff. One line in Qq.

[4097] not] now Grant White.

eye discerning] Rowe. eye-discerning Ff. eie deserving Q_1. eye deserving Q_2 Q_3.

[4098] that ... so?] Arranged as by Theobald. The first three lines end pity ... mischiefe, ... noiselesse, in Q_1 Q_3. They end pitty ... mischiefe, ... land, in Q_2. Omitted in Ff.

[4099] know'st Fools do] know'st, Fools do Theobald, know'st fooles, do Q_1. know'st fools, do Q_2 (Cap. Dev. Mus. imp. and Bodl. 1) Q_3. know'st, fools do Q_2 (Mus. per. and Bodl. 2).

[4100] those] Q_2. these Q_1 Q_3.

[4101] noiseless] noystles Q_2 (Cap. Dev. Mus. imp. and Bodl. 1). noyseles Q_2 (Mus. per. and Bodl. 2).

[4102] plumed] a plumed Q_3.

thy state begins to threat] Staunton (Eccles conj.) thy state begins thereat Q_2 (Mus. per. and Bodl. 2). thy slaier begins threats Q_1 Q_3. thy slayer begin threats Q_2 (Cap. Dev. Mus. imp. and Bodl. 1). thy slayer begins his threats Theobald. the slayer begins his threats Hanmer.

[4103] Whiles] Q_1 Q_3. Whil's Q_2 (Cap. Dev. Mus. imp. and Bodl. 1). Whil'st Q_2 (Mus. per. and Bodl. 2).

moral] mortall Q_3.

sit'st ... criest] sit'st ... cry'st Theobald, sits ... cries Qq.

[4104] See ... woman.] As in Ff. Prose in Qq.

[4105] deformity] deformiry Q_1 Q_3.

seems] shewes Q_2 (Mus. per. and Bodl. 2).

[4106] Thou ... mew] Omitted in Ff.

[4107] changed] Q_2. chang'd Q_1 Q_3.

self-cover'd] self-converted Theobald. self-convict Becket conj. self-govern'd Collier conj. self-discover'd Cartwright conj.

[4108] Were't] Were it Capell.

[4109] Keightley ends the lines feature ... blood ... tear, reading Were it.

[4110] To] As man to Anon. conj.

hands] hands of mine Anon. conj.

blood] boiling blood Theobald. blood's behest Anon. conj.

[4111] They are] They're Theobald.

dislocate] Q_3. dislecate Q_1 Q_2. dissecate Anon. MS. See note (V).

[4112] howe'er] Theobald, how ere Qq.

[4113] manhood mew.] Edd. manhood mew— Q_2 (Mus. per. and Bodl. 2). man-hood now— Q_1 Q_3. manhood now— Q_2 (Cap. Dev. Mus. imp. and Bodl. 1). manhood now!— Theobald.

Enter a Messenger.] Ff, after foole, line 61. Enter a Gentleman. Q_1 Q_3. Enter a Gentleman (after news?) Q_2.

[4114] Alb. What news?] Omitted in Ff.

[4115] Mess.] Mes. Ff. Gent. Qq.

[4116] O ... Gloucester.] Arranged as in Ff. Prose in Qq.

[4117] thrill'd] Ff. thrald Qq.

[4118] against ... his sword To] the act, bending aside the sword Of Eccles conj.

[4119] thereat enraged] threat-enrag'd F_1.

[4120] fell'd him] fell he Capell conj.

[4121] not] now Warburton (a misprint).

[4122] which ... after.] As in Q_2 Ff. One line in Q_1 Q_3.

[4123] This ... eye?] Arranged as in Ff. Three lines, ending Iustisers (or Iustices) ... venge ... eye? in Qq.

[4124] above, You justicers] Steevens, 1778 (Capell conj.) above you Iustisers Q_2 (Mus. per. and Bodl. 2). above your Iustices Q_1 Q_2 (Cap. Dev. Mus. imp. and Bodl. 1) Q_3. above You Justices Ff.

[4125] nether] neather Q_1 F_1 Q_3.

[4126] Both ... sister.] As in Ff. Two lines in Qq the first ending speedy in Q_1 Q_3, and answer in Q_2.

[4127] [Aside] Johnson.

[4128] being] she being Keightley.

[4129] in] Ff. on Qq. of Capell conj.

[4130] Upon ... tart] Ff. Upon ... tooke, Qq (in one line).

[4131] [Exit.] Qq. om. Ff.

[4132] Where ... eyes?] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[4133] He is] He's Pope.

[4134] on purpose] Qq F_1 F_2. of purpose F_3 F_4.

their] there Q_2.

[4135] Gloucester ... eyes.] Marked as 'Aside' by Johnson.

[4136] Gloucester ... know'st.] Arranged as in Ff. Three lines in Qq, the first two ending love ... eyes; in Q_1 Q_3, and king, ... friend, in Q_2.

[4137] show'dst] shew'dst F_1 F_3 F_4. shewdst F_2. shewedst Qq.

[4138] thine] Ff. thy Qq.

[4139] know'st] F_1 F_3 F_4. knowst F_2. knowest Qq.

[Exeunt.] Ff. Exit. Qq.

[4140] SCENE III.] Pope. The whole of this Scene is omitted in Ff and Rowe. SCENE IV. Eccles, who here inserts SCENE V.

The French....] Steevens. French Camp under Dover. Capell. om. Pope. Dover. Theobald.

[4141] Why ... back] The King of France so suddenly gone back! Pope.

Why ... reason?] Prose in Q_2. Two lines, the first ending backe, in Q_1 Q_3.

[4142] the] Q_1 Q_3. no Q_2.

[4143] Something ... necessary] As in Qq. Four lines, ending state, ... which ... danger, ... necessary. in Pope.

[4144] to] om. Pope.

[4145] personal] om. Pope.

[4146] Who] Whom Warburton.

[4147] Marshal] Mareschal Pope.

La Far] Qq. le Far Pope. le Fer Capell.

[4148] Did ... of grief?] Well; say, sir, did ... of her grief? Capell, reading as two lines of verse. But tell me, did ... of grief? Seymour conj.

[4149] Ay, sir;] I, sir, Theobald. I say Qq.

them ... them] 'em ... 'em Pope.

[4150] Her ... her.] As in Pope. Two lines, the first ending passion, in Qq.

[4151] Over] over Q_2. ore Q_1 Q_3.

who] which Pope.

[4152] Not to a rage] Not to rage Q_3. But not to rage Pope.

strove] Pope. streme Qq.

[4153] Who] Which Pope.

[4154] her ... way:] Omitted by Pope.

[4155] like] linked Jackson conj.

a better way:] a better way, Q_1 Q_3. a better way Q_2. a wetter May. Theobald (Warburton). an April day. Heath conj. a better day. Steevens. a better May: Malone. a chequer'd day. Dodd conj. the better day. Becket conj. like; a better way. Singer (Boaden conj.) a bitter May. Lloyd conj. 'em;—a better way. Keightley.

happy] happiest Pope (ed. 2).

smilets] smiles Pope.

[4156] seem'd] Pope, seeme Qq.

[4157] As pearls ... it.] As in Qq. Capell, reading In brief, sir, ends the lines at sorrow ... all ... it. Steevens (1778), omitting sir, follows Capell's arrangement.

[4158] dropp'd] dropping Steevens conj.

[4159] question] quests Hanmer. quest Warburton.

[4160] Faith,] om. Pope, ending line 24 at twice. Yes, Theobald.

[4161] Shame ... father! sisters!] Omitted by Pope.

[4162] In Q_1 Q_3 Kent is printed in italics with full stop.

Kent!... What] Ken. Father Sisters Gen. What Capell.

storm? i' the night] storme ith night Qq. storm of night Pope.

[4163] pity not be believed] pitty not be beleev'd Q_1 Q_3. pitie not be beleeft Q_2. pity ne'er believe it Pope. it not be believed Capell. pity not believe it Jennens.

There] Then Pope.

[4164] And clamour moisten'd:] Capell. And clamour moistened her, Qq. And, clamour-motion'd, Theobald. And clamour motion'd her. Becket conj. And, clamour-moisten'd, Grant White. And clamour-moistened: S. Walker conj. And clamour soften’d: Cartwright conj. And choler master’d her: Anon. conj.

And ... started] And then retired Pope, reading And ... alone as one line.

[4165] It is the stars,] Omitted by Pope.

[4166] It ... conditions:] Arranged as by Theobald. One line in Qq.

[4167] self mate] self-mate Pope. and mate] Q_1 Q_3. and make Q_2.

[4168] You spoke not] Spoke you Pope.

since?] Q_1 Q_3. since. Q_2.

[4169] Well, sir] om. Pope.

Lear's i' the] Lear's ith Qq. Lear’s in Pope. Lear is i’ the Capell. Lear is in Hanmer.

[4170] sometime] Q_1 Q_3. some time Q_2. sometimes Pope.

tune] lune Becket conj.

[4171] What ... daughter.] Arranged as by Pope. One line in Qq.

[4172] so elbows him: his own] so so bows him, his Pope. so bows him: his own Capell. so awes him, his own Seymour conj. soul-bows him: his own Jackson conj. so embows his own Badham conj. sole bars him: his own Bailey conj.

[4173] from his] from her Johnson (1771).

[4174] To ... Cordelia] Arranged as by Johnson. Two lines, the first ending minde, in Qq.

[4175] sting His mind] sting him Pope, ending the lines him ... him ... Cordelia.

[4176] from] From his Pope.

[4177] not?] Q_1 Q_3. not. Q_2.

[4178] so;] so, Pope. so Qq. said Warburton. so deliver'd me: Seymour conj.

afoot] Q_3. afoote Q_1. a foote Q_2.

[4179] Lending ... me.] Arranged as by Steevens (1778). One line in Qq. Two lines, the first ending acquaintance, in Delius.

I ... Along] Pray along Pope, reading Lending ... with me as one line. Pray you, along Capell, reading as one line.

[4180] [Exeunt.] Pope. Exit. Qq.

[4181] SCENE IV.] Pope. Scena Tertia. Ff. SCENE V. Eccles.

The same. A tent.] Capell. A Camp. Rowe. A tent in the Camp at Dover. Steevens (1773).

Enter....] Enter ... Cordelia, Gentlemen, and Souldiours. Ff. Enter Cordelia, Doctor, and others. Qq. Enter Cordelia, Physician, and Soldiers. Pope.

[4182] mad as] made F_3 F_4.

vex'd] vext Ff. vent Qq.

[4183] fumiter] fumiterr Theobald, femiter Qq. Femitar Ff. fumitory Hanmer.

furrow-weeds] farrow weeds Boucher conj.

[4184] bur-docks] Hanmer. hor-docks Qq. Hardokes F_1 F_2. Hardocks F_3 F_4. harlocks Steevens, 1778 (Farmer conj.) charlocks Anon. conj. (Gent. Mag. LVI. 214). hoar-docks Collier, hediokes Nicholson conj.

nettles] nettle Johnson.

[4185] sustaining corn.] sustaining, Corne, Q_1 Q_3. sustayning, corne, Q_2.

A ... forth;] Send forth a cent'ry: Pope.

century] Q_1 Q_3 F_3 F_4. centurie Q_2. centery F_1 F_2. sen'try Johnson.

send] Ff. is sent Qq.

[4186] And ... worth.] Arranged as by Pope. The lines end wisedome do ... helpe him ... worth in Q_1 Q_3. They end wisdome ... helpe him ... worth in Q_2. They end wisedome ... helpes him ... worth in Ff. Four lines, ending eye ... restoring ... him, ... worth, in Capell.

[4187] our eye] us Seymour conj.

[Exit....] Malone. To an Officer, who goes out. Capell. om. Qq Ff.

[4188] What ... sense?] Do, what man's wisdom can, In ... sense. Boswell conj.

[4189] man's] om. Seymour conj.

[4190] In] do In Q_1 Q_3. do, in Capell.

his] Of his Capell.

[4191] helps] can helpe Qq.

[4192] Doct.] Qq. Gent. Ff.

is] are Rowe.

[4193] lacks: that] F_3 F_4. lackes: that F_1 F_2. lackes, that Q_1 Q_3. lackes that Q_2.

[4194] All ... earth,] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[4195] remediate] remediant Johnson.

[4196] distress] distresse Qq. desires F_1 F_2 F_3. desire F_4.

[4197] Enter a Messenger.] Q_1 Ff Q_3. Enter Messenger. Q_2.

[4198] News ... hitherward.] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[4199] It ... France] Arranged as by Johnson. One line in Qq Ff.

[4200] mourning and] om. Hanmer, reading Therefore ... pitied as one line.

important] Qq. importun'd Ff. importunate Capell.

[4201] incite] Ff. insite Q_1 Q_3. in sight Q_2.

[4202] and our aged] to our dear Johnson (1771).

right] Qq F_3 F_4. Rite F_1 F_2.

[4203] Soon ... him!] om. Seymour conj.

[Exeunt.] Ff. Exit. Qq. om. Jennens.

[4204] SCENE V.] Pope. Scena Quarta Ff. SCENE III. Eccles, who transfers it to follow SCENE II.

Gloucester's castle.] A room in Gloster's Castle. Capell. Regan's Palace. Rowe.

Oswald.] Steward Qq Ff.

[4205] But ... Himself] Marked as one line in Capell MS.

[4206] there] Ff. om. Qq.

Madam,] om. Pope.

[4207] Madam ... soldier.] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[4208] sister is] Q_2 Ff. sister's Q_1 Q_3.

[4209] lord] Ff. lady Qq.

[4210] letter] letters Q_2.

[4211] serious] Q_2 Ff. a serious Q_1 Q_3.

[4212] Edmund] Ff. and now Qq.

[4213] In ... enemy.] In ... army. Qq, in two lines, the first ending life.

[4214] o' the enemy] o' th' Enemy F_1. oth' Enemy F_2 F_3 F_4. of the Army Q_1 Q_3. at'h army Q_2.

[4215] madam] om. Qq.

letter] Ff. letters Qq.

[4216] troops set] F_3 F_4. troopes set F_1 F_2. troope sets Qq.

[4217] I may ... business.] As in Ff. Prose in Qq.

[4218] Might ... Belike,] Arranged as in Qq. One line in Ff.

[4219] by word? Belike,] Ff. by word, belike Qq. by word? Pope. by word of mouth? Hanmer.

[4220] Something—] Pope. Something, Qq. Some things, Ff.

[4221] I had] Ff. Ide Q_1 Q_3. I'de Q_2.

[4222] I am] I'm Pope.

[4223] gave strange] gave Warburton (in text). gave him Warburton (in note).

œillades] aliads Qq. Eliads F_1. Iliads F_2 F_3 F_4. œiliads Rowe. eylids Anon. MS. See note (V).

[4224] you are] you're Pope.

[4225] madam?] Ff. madam. Qq.

[4226] you are; I know't] Rowe (ed. 2). Y'are: I know't Ff. for I know't Qq. you're; I know't Rowe (ed. 1). you are, I know it Capell.

[4227] this note:] note of this, Grey conj.

[4228] lady's] Rowe. ladies Qq Ff.

[4229] do find] so find Quoted thus by Grey.

[4230] So, fare you well] Ff. so farewell Qq, reading I ... farewell as one line. Omitted by Hanmer.

[4231] him] om. F_1.

should] Ff Q_3. would Q_1 Q_2.

[4232] party] Ff. lady Qq.

[Exeunt.] Ff. Exit. Qq. Exeunt severally. Capell.

[4233] SCENE VI.] Pope. Scena Quinta. Ff.

Fields ...] Capell. The Country. Rowe. The Country, near Dover. Theobald.

Enter] ... Enter Glo'ster, and Edgar as a Peasant. Theobald. Enter Gloucester, and Edgar. Ff. Enter Gloster and Edmund. Qq.

[4234] we] Qq. I Ff.

[4235] up it] Ff. it up Qq.

[4236] Horrible] Horribly Collier MS.

[4237] Horrible ... sea?] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[4238] Hark, do you] Hark, hark; do you not Capell.

No, truly.] No truly, not Hanmer.

[4239] alter'd] Ff. altered Qq.

speak'st] speakest Q_2.

[4240] In] Ff. With Qq.

[4241] You're] Rowe. Y'are Q_1 Ff Q_3. Y'ar Q_2.

[4242] Methinks] Sure Pope.

you're] Rowe. y'are Q_1 Ff Q_3. y'ar Q_2. you are Capell.

[4243] Come ... fearful] As in Qq. Two lines, the first ending sir, in Ff.

[4244] dizzy] F_3 F_4. dizy Q_1 F_2 Q_3. dizi Q_2. dizie F_1.

[4245] that] who So quoted by Wordsworth (Preface: Ed. 1815).

samphire] samphier Q_3. sampire Q_1 Q_2 Ff.

[4246] walk] walke Qq. walk’d Ff.

beach] Q_2 Ff. beake Q_1 Q_3.

[4247] yond] Ff Q_3. yon Q_1 Q_2.

[4248] a buoy] Ff. a boui Q_2. aboue Q_1. above Q_3.

[4249] pebbles chafes] Pope. peebles chafe Q_1 Q_3. peeble chaffes Q_2. pebble chafes Ff.

[4250] heard ... I'll] F_4. heard ... Ile F_1 F_2. heard ... I'le F_3. heard: it is so hie Ile Q_1. heard, its so hie ile Q_2. heard it is so: hie Ile Q_3.

[4251] Give ... upright.] As in Qq. Three lines, ending hand: ... verge: ... upright,, in Ff.

[4252] you are] you're Pope.

[4253] beneath] below Pope.

[4254] upright] outright Hanmer (Warburton).

[4255] fairies]fairiegs Q_3.

[4256] farther] Qq. further Ff.

[4257] you] Qq. ye Ff.

[Seems to go. Rowe.

[4258] Why I do ... despair Is] Q_2 F_1 F_2, substantially. Why I do ... dispaire, tis Q_1 Q_3. Why do I ... despair, 'Tis F_3 F_4. Why do I ... despair? 'Tis Rowe.

Why ... it.] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[4259] [Kneeling] He kneels. Qq. om. Ff.

[4260] snuff] snurff Q_2.

[4261] him] Ff. om. Qq.

[4262] [He ...] He falles. Qq. Omitted in Ff. He leaps and falls along. Rowe. Gloster leaps, and falls along. Knight (Jackson conj.), after farewell.

[4263] Gone ... sir?] As in Ff. Prose in Qq.

[4264] Gone, sir:] Gon sir, Qq. Gone sir, F_1. Good sir, F_2 F_3 F_4. Gone, sir? Jennens. Gone, sir. Knight. Go on, sir; Jackson conj. Going, sir, Grant White conj.

[4265] And yet ... past.] Marked as 'Aside' by Capell.

[4266] may] my Q_2.

[4267] treasury] treasure F_2 F_3 F_4.

[4268] had thought] thought had Q_1 Q_3.

[4269] Ho, ... speak!] Hoa, you, hear you, friend! Sir! Sir! speak! Theobald. Ho, you sir, you sir, friend! Hear you, sir? Speak: Capell.

friend] om. Qq.

Hear] heare Qq F_1. here F_2 F_3 F_4.

speak] speak, speak Keightley.

[4270] Thus ... revives.] Marked as 'Aside' by Capell.

[4271] Hadst ... air,] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

gossamer] goss'mer Pope. gosmore Qq. gozemore Ff. gossemeer Capell.

feathers,] feathers and F_2 F_3 F_4.

[4272] Thou'dst] F_1. Thoud'st F_2 F_3 F_4. Thou hadst Qq.

[4273] not;] not? Jennens.

speak'st] F_1 F_2. speakst Q_1 Q_3. speakest Q_2. speak F_3 F_4.

sound.] sound? F_4.

[4274] at each] Qq Ff. at least Rowe. attacht Pope. on end Johnson conj. a-stretch Jennens conj. at reach Steevens conj. at end Jackson conj. at eche Singer (ed. 2). at eke Grant White conj. at length Jervis conj. at lash Anon. conj.

[4275] fell] fallen Rowe.

[4276] no?] no I Q_2.

[4277] summit] Rowe (ed. 2). summet F_2 F_3 F_4. somnet F_1. summons Q_1 Q_3. sommons Q_2.

bourn.] bourn! Pope. bourn F_3 F_4. bourne F_1 F_2. borne, Qq.

[4278] a-height] Hyphened by Warburton.

shrill-gorged] shrill-gorg'd F_1. shrill gorg'd Qq. shrill-gor'd F_2 F_3. shrill gor'd F_4.

[4279] up.] up? Q_2.

[4280] death? 'Twas] death twas Q_2.

[4281] arm:] arme? Q_2.

[4282] How is't? Feel] how feele Qq.

[4283] o' the] o' th' F_1. oth' F_2 F_3 F_4. of the Qq.

cliff, what] cliffe, what Q_1 Q_3. cliffe what Q_2. cliffe. What Ff.

[4284] unfortunate] unfortune F_2.

beggar] bagger Q_2.

[4285] methought] Q_1. me thought Ff Q_3. me thoughts Q_2.

[4286] he had] Ff. a had Qq.

[4287] whelk'd] Hanmer. welkt Q_1 Q_3. welk't Q_2. wealk'd F_1 F_2. walk'd F_3 F_4.

enridged] Qq. enraged Ff.

[4288] clearest] F_3 F_4. cleerest Qq F_1 F_2. clarest Pope.

make them] Ff. made their Qq.

[4289] die] dye (in italics) Capell.

die. That] die that Q_2.

[4290] 'twould] Ff. would he Q_1 Q_3. would it Q_2.

[4291] 'The fiend, the fiend:' he] The fiend, the fiend—he Rowe. The fiend, the fiend, he Q_1 Ff. The fiend the fiend, he Q_2. The fiend, the fiend he Q_3.

[4292] Bear ... here?] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

Bear free] F_3 F_4. Beare free F_1 F_2. Bare, free Q_1 Q_3. Bare free Q_2.

Enter Lear ...] Capell. Enter Lear mad. Qq (after thus, line 82). Enter Lear. Ff (after thoughts). Enter Lear, drest madly with Flowers. Theobald (after thoughts).

[4293] SCENE VII. Pope.

[4294] The ... thus.] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[4295] safer] sober Warburton. saner Johnson conj.

will] would Hanmer.

[4296] coining] coyning Qq. crying Ff.

[4297] side-piercing] Hyphened in Ff.

[4298] Nature's] F_1. Nature is Qq. Natures F_2 F_3 F_4.

[4299] crow-keeper] cow-keeper Rowe (ed. 2).

[4300] piece of] om. Qq.

do't] doo't Ff. do it Qq.

[4301] well flown, bird] well-flown bird Eccles conj.

[4302] bird! i' the clout, i' the clout:] bird: i' th' clout, i' th' clout: Ff (ith' F_2 F_3 F_4). birde in the ayre, Qq (bird Q_2). barb! i' th' clout, i' th' clout: Theobald (Warburton).

[4303] hewgh] Ff. hagh Qq.

[4304] with ... They with a white beard? They Ff. ha Regan, they Qq.

[4305] white] Qq. the white Ff. three white Anon. conj.

[4306] every thing that] Ff. every thing Q_2. all Q_1 Q_3.

said!... too was] saide: I and no too was Q_1 Q_3. saide, I and no toe, was Q_2. said: I, and no too, was Ff. said ay and no to, was Grant White (Anon. apud Pye conj.)

[4307] the wind] wind F_2 F_3 F_4.

[4308] 'em ... 'em] them ... them Qq.

[4309] men] women Upton conj.

o' their] F_1 F_3 F_4. otheir F_2. of their Qq.

[4310] ague-proof] F_4. agu-proofe F_1 F_2. agu-proof F_3. argue-proofe Qq.

[4311] The ... king?] Prose in Qq F_4.

[4312] Ay ... cause?] Verse in Ff. Prose in Qq.

[4313] every] ever Q_2.

[4314] quakes] quake S. Walker conj.

[4315] I pardon ... Adultery?] What was the cause? Adultery. I pardon that man's life. Eccles conj.

[4316] thy] the Pope.

[4317] Adultery?] om. Seymour conj.

[4318] Adultery?... soldiers.] Arranged as in Johnson. Six lines, ending for adultery?... fly ... thrive: ... father, ... sheets ... souldiers, in Ff. Prose in Qq. Capell ends the lines Adultery.— ... No: ... fly ... thrive: ... father, ... sheets ... soldiers.

[4319] die: die for] F_3 F_4. dye: dye for F_1 F_2. dye for Q_1. die for Q_2 Q_3.

[4320] Does] do's Ff. do Q_1 Q_3. doe Q_2.

[4321] than] Than were Capell.

[4322] sheets.] sheets, were unto me. Keightley.

[4323] Behold ... inherit,] Arranged as by Johnson. Prose in Qq Ff.

[4324] yond] F_1 F_2. yon Qq F_3. you F_4.

[4325] presages] Ff. presageth Qq.

[4326] minces] mimics Collier (Collier MS.)

does] do's F_1 F_3 F_4. dos F_2. do Qq.

[4327] To hear] heare Qq. hearing Anon. MS. See note (V).

[4328] name; The] name. The Ff. name to Qq.

[4329] soiled] soyled Qq Ff. stalled Warburton. spoiled Daniel conj. soil'd Keightley, reading To hear ... appetite as two lines, the first ending nor.

[4330] waist] waste Q_1 Ff Q_3. wast Q_2.

they are] tha're Q_2. they're Johnson.

[4331] Beneath ... pit,] Arranged as in Globe ed. Prose in Qq Ff. Johnson reads Beneath ... darkness as one line.

[4332] is all] it is all Warburton.

fiends'] Capell. fiends Qq Ff. fiend's Johnson.

[4333] there's the sulphurous] Edd. (Globe ed.) theres the sulphury Qq (ther's Q_2). there is the sulphurous Ff.

[4334] Burning] there's burning Keightley, ending the lines stench, ... me ... apothecary ... there's ... thee.

consumption] Ff. consummation Q_1 Q_3. consumation Q_2.

[4335] Give ... thee.] Prose in Qq Ff. Two lines, the first ending apothecary, in Johnson.

civet, good apothecary, to sweeten] Punctuated as in Qq. Civet; good Apothecary sweeten Ff.

[4336] Let me ... mortality] Two lines in Ff. Here ... mortality. Qq (as one line).

[4337] O ... me?] As in Rowe. Three lines in Ff. Prose in Qq.

[4338] Shall] Ff. shold Q_1. should Q_2 Q_3.

nought] naught Qq Ff.

Dost thou] Do'st thou Ff. do you Qq.

[4339] thine] Ff. thy Qq.

[4340] squiny] squint Q_3.

at me] Ff. on me Qq.

[4341] this] Ff. That Qq.

but] Ff. om. Qq.

on't] Q_1 Q_3. oft Q_2. of it Ff.

[4342] the letters] Qq. thy letters Ff.

one] om. F_1 F_2.

[4343] I would ... at it] As in Theobald. Prose in Qq. Two lines, the first ending report, in Ff. Marked as 'Aside' by Hanmer.

[4344] the case] this case Rowe.

[4345] nor no] nor Q_1 Q_3.

[4346] a heavy] heavy F_3 F_4.

[4347] light] light one Keightley.

[4348] goes.] Q_2 Ff. goes? Q_1 Q_3.

[4349] this] Ff. the Qq.

[4350] thine] Ff. thy Qq.

[4351] yond ... yond] Ff. yon ... yon Qq.

[4352] thine] Ff. thy Qq.

[4353] change places, and] Omitted in Qq.

[4354] justice ... thief] theefe ... Iustice Qq.

[4355] Ay,] I Qq F_1 F_2. om. F_3 F_4.

[4356] dog's obeyed] dogge, so bad Q_1 Q_3. dogge, so bade Q_2.

[4357] Thou ... cozener.] Arranged as in Pope. Prose in Qq Ff.

[4358] thine] Qq. thy Ff.

[4359] Thou hotly lust'st] Rowe. thou hotly lusts Ff. thy blood hotly lusts Qq (bloud Q_2).

[4360] cozener] cosioner Q_2.

[4361] Through ... not.] Arranged as in Rowe. Prose in Qq Ff.

[4362] Through] Qq. Thorough Ff.

tatter'd] F_1 F_2. tattered Q_1 Q_3. tottered Q_2. and tatter'd F_3 F_4.

clothes] ragges Q_1 Q_3. raggs Q_2.

small] Q_1 Q_3. smal Q_2. great Ff.

[4363] hide] Ff. hides Qq.

Plate sin] Theobald (ed. 2). Plate sins Pope. Place sinnes F_1 F_2. Place sinns F_3. Place sins F_4.

[4364] Plate ... lips.] Omitted in Qq.

[4365] in rags] with rags Jennens.

a] and Rowe.

does] F_2. do's F_1. doth F_3 F_4.

[4366] offend, none,] offend, Hanmer.

able] absolve Hanmer.

'em] them Capell MS.

[4367] Now, now, now, now] Ff. No, now Q_1 Q_3. no now Q_2.

harder, harder] pull harder, harder Keightley.

[4368] Now ... so.] One line of verse in Pope (ed. 2). Capell reads Pull ... so as one line.

[4369] O ... madness!] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[4370] impertinency mix'd!] Impertinency mixt, Ff. impertinency, mixt Q_1. impertinencie mixt Q_2.

[4371] If ... her to. Verse in Ff. Prose in Qq.

[4372] fortunes] Ff. fortune Qq.

[4373] know'st] knowest Q_2.

[4374] wawl] wawle Ff. waile Q_1 Q_3. wayl Q_2.

mark.] marke me. Qq. mark—Rowe.

[4375] This's a good block.] Edd. This a good blocke. Qq. This a good blocke: F_1 F_2. This a good block: F_3 F_4. This a good block!— Rowe. This a good flock!— Johnson conj. This a good block? Steevens (1778). Tis a good block. Ritson conj. This' a good block:— Dyce (S. Walker conj.) 'Tis a good plot. Collier (Collier MS.)

[4376] shoe] shoo F_1. shooe F_2 F_3 F_4. shoot Qq. suit Anon. conj.

[4377] felt] Ff. fell Qq.

I'll ... proof;] Omitted in Qq.

put't] put it Capell.

[4378] I have] I've Pope.

stol'n] stole Qq.

sons-in-law] sonnes in law Q_1 Q_3. sonne in lawes Q_2. son in lawes F_1. sonnes in lawes F_2. sons in laws F_3. sons-in-laws F_4.

[4379] Enter ... Attendants.] Rowe. Enter three Gentlemen. Qq. Enter a Gentleman. Ff. Enter Gentleman, Attendants of Cordelia; and Guard. Capell.

[4380] SCENE VIII. Pope.

hand] Ff. hands Qq.

him. Sir,] him; sir, Rowe. him sirs. Q_1 Q_3. him sirs, Q_2. him, sir. Ff.

[4381] Your ... daughter—] Ff. Omitted in Q_1 Q_3. your most deere Q_2 (at the end of line 187).

[4382] even] Ff. eene Qq.

[4383] ransom] a ransom Q_1 Q_3.

a surgeon] Capell. a chirurgeon Q_1 Q_3. a churgion Q_2. surgeons Ff.

[4384] to the] Q_2. to 'th Q_1 Q_3. to'th' F_1. toth' F_2. to th' F_3 F_4.

[4385] a man a man] Ff. a man Qq.

[4386] garden] garding Q_3.

[4387] Ay, ... that.] See note (XVIII).

[4388] die] bid Becket conj.

[4389] Then ... sa.] Prose in Qq and Capell. Two lines, the first ending get it, in Ff.

[4390] Nay, if] nay if Q_1 Q_3. nay and Q_2. Come, and Ff. Come, an Pope. Nay, an Capell. Nay, come, an Jennens.

[4391] by] Ff. with Qq.

Sa, sa, sa, sa.] Omitted in Qq.

[Exit ...] Exit, running; Attendants and Guard follow. Capell. Exit King running. Qq. Exit. Ff.

[4392] one] Qq. a Ff.

[4393] have] Ff. hath Qq. had Anon. conj.

[4394] sir,] Ff. om. Qq.

[4395] Most ... sound.] Divided as in Q_2. The first line ends at heares in Q_1 Q_3; at vulgar in Ff.

[4396] one] ones Q_1 Q_3.

hears that] F_3 F_4. heares that F_1 F_2. heares Q_1 Q_3. here's that Q_2.

[4397] Which ... sound] That ... sense Q_1. That ... sence Q_2 Q_3.

[4398] But ... army?] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[4399] near's] F_3 F_4. neeres Q_1 F_2 Q_3. neer's Q_2. neere's F_1.

[4400] speedy foot] Ff. speed for't Q_1 Q_3. speed fort Q_2.

descry] Ff. descries Q_1. descryes Q_2. discries Q_3.

[4401] Stands] Standst Q_2.

thought] Ff. thoughts Qq.

that's all] om. Q_1.

[4402] Her] Ff. His Q_1 Q_3. Hir Q_2.

Edg. I ... sir.] Omitted by Pope.

[Exit Gent.] Johnson. Exit. Qq. Exit. Ff (after on).

[4403] ever-gentle] Hyphened by Capell.

[4404] Well pray] Well, pray Q_2 F_4.

[4405] tame to] Ff. lame by Qq.

[4406] known] knowing Hanmer.

[4407] Hearty ... boot!] As in Ff. Prose in Qq.

[4408] bounty] bornet Q_2 (Cap. Dev. Mus. per. and Bodl. 1, 2).

the benison] beniz Q_2 (Cap. Dev. Mus. per. and Bodl. 1, 2).

[4409] To ... boot] Ff. to boot, to boot Q_1 Q_2 (Mus. imp.) Q_3. to saue thee Q_2 (Cap. Dev. Mus. per. and Bodl. 1, 2). to boot Pope, reading The bounty ... to boot as one line. To boot Hanmer, reading as a seperate line.

Enter Oswald.] Collier. Enter Steward. Qq Ff.

SCENE IX. Pope.

[4410] A ... arm.] As in Ff. Prose in Qq.

[4411] Most] this is most Hanmer.

happy!] happy; Q_1 Q_3. happy, Q_2. happie F_1. happy: F_2 F_3 F_4.

[4412] first] Omitted in Q_2 (Cap. Dev. Mus. per. and Bodl. 1, 2).

[4413] Thou] om. Pope.

old] Ff. most Qq.

[4414] Now] om. Pope.

[4415] to 't] Qq F_3 F_4. too 't F_1 F_2. to it Johnson.

[Edgar interposes.] Collier. Edgar opposes. Johnson. om. Qq Ff.

[4416] Darest] darst Q_1 Q_3. durst Q_2. Dar'st F_1. Darst F_2 F_3 F_4.

[4417] that] om. Qq.

[4418] Chill ... 'casion.] Two lines in Ff. Capell ends line 234 Ch'ill not.

zir] Ff. sir Qq.

vurther] om. Qq. further Jennens.

'casion] cagion Qq.

[4419] and] om. Qq.]

volk F_3 F_4. volke Q_1 F_1 F_2 Q_3. voke Q_2.

[4420] An] Capell. and Qq Ff.

ha'] Ff. have Qq.

zwaggered] zwaggar'd Q_1 Q_3. swaggar'd Q_2. zwaggerd F_1. zwagged F_2 F_3 F_4.

'twould] it wold Q_1. it would Q_2 Q_3.

[4421] zo] so Q_2.

as 'tis] om. Qq.

vortnight] fortnight Q_2 (Cap. Dev. Mus. per. and Bodl. 1, 2).

[4422] th'] Ff. the Qq.

che vor ye] che vor 'ye Ff. chevore ye Qq.

I'se] ice Ff. ile Qq. iz Capell.

whether] Qq. whither Ff.

[4423] costard] Q_1 Ff Q_3. coster Q_2 (Cap. Dev. Mus. per. and Bodl. 1, 2). costerd Q_2 (Mus. imp.)

ballow] Ff. bat Q_1 Q_2 (Mus. imp.) Q_3. battero Q_2 (Cap. Dev. Mus. per. and Bodl. 1, 2).

chill] ile Q_2.

[4424] [They fight.] Qq. om. Ff.

[4425] zir] sir Q_2.

vor] Ff. for Qq.

[4426] [Oswald falls.] Edd. Edgar knocks him down. Rowe. om. Qq Ff.

[4427] letters] letter Rann (Smith conj.)

[4428] To ... out Upon] Divided as in Ff. One line in Qq.

[4429] Upon the British] Qq. Upon the English Ff. On th' English Hanmer.

[4430] Upon ... death!] Capell arranges as two half-lines.

death! Death!] Edd. death! death. Qq. death, death. Ff. death,— Pope.

[4431] [Dies.] He dyes. Q_1. He dies. Q_2 Q_3. om. Ff.

[4432] As duteous ... desire.] One line in Q_2.

[4433] Sit ... not:] As in Ff. Four lines, ending pockets, ... friends, deathsman ... not, in Qq.

[4434] you. Let’s] Ff. you, lets Q_1 Q_2 (Mus. imp.) Q_3. you lets Q_2 (Cap. Dev. Mus. per. and Bodl. 1, 2).

[4435] [seating him at a Distance. Capell.

[4436] these] Ff. his Qq.

the letters] Ff. These letters Qq. this letter Rann (Smith conj.)

[4437] of May] Ff. of may Q_1 Q_2 (Cap. Dev. Mus. per. and Bodl. 1, 2) Q_3. of, May Q_2 (Mus imp.)

[4438] I am] I'm Pope.

sorry] sorrow Q_2.

[4439] Leave] By your leave Rowe.

manners, blame] manners blame Qq. manners: blame Ff. manners—blame Rowe.

[4440] not: To] Pope. not, To Q_1 Q_3. not To Q_2 Ff.

[4441] we'ld] wee'd Qq. we Ff.

[4442] is] Qq F_1. are F_2 F_3 F_4.

[4443] [Reads] Reads the Letter. Ff. A Letter. Q_1 Q_2 (Mus. imp.) Q_3. om. Q_2 (Cap. Dev. Mus. per. and Bodl. 1, 2).

[4444] Let ... labour.] Prose in Q_2 Ff. Seven lines in italics in Q_1 Q_3.

[4445] our] Ff. your Qq.

[4446] done, if] done, If Q_2. done: If Q_1. done. If Ff. done; If Q_3.

conqueror: then] conqueror. Then Pope, conqueror, then Qq Ff.

[4447] gaol] F_4. gaole F_1. goale F_2. goal F_3. Iayle Q_1 Q_3. gayle Q_2.

[4448] for your] of our F_3 F_4.

[4449] —wife ... say—] Put in parentheses in Ff. wife (so ... say) & your Q_1 Q_3. wife (so ... say) your Q_2.

servant,] servant and for you her owne for Venter, Q_2. servant and for you her owne for Ventering Anon. MS. See note (V). servant, and for you her own foventer Becket conj. servant, and your own for ever Mitford conj. (from Q_1).

[4450] O] Qq. Oh F_1. Of F_2 F_3 F_4.

undistinguish'd] undistinguisht Q_1 Q_3. Indistinguisht Q_2. indinguish'd F_1 F_2 F_3. indistinguish'd F_4. unextinguish'd Collier (Collier MS.) undistinguishable Staunton conj.

undistinguish'd ... will] undisguised scope of woman's will or undisguised scape of woman's wit Singer conj.

space] scope Theobald conj. blaze Collier (Collier MS.) sense Staunton conj. maze Bailey conj.

will Ff. wit Qq.

[4451] in the] i' th' Pope.

[4452] post] most Anon. conj. MS.

[4453] the mature] mature Pope.

[4454] death-practised] Hyphened in Ff.

[4455] thy] Ff. his Q_1 Q_3.

[4456] The king ... sense,] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

vile] F_4. vilde Q_1 F_1 F_2 Q_3 F_3. vild Q_2.

[4457] sever'd] Ff. fenced Qq.

[4458] imaginations] imagination Johnson.

[4459] [Drum afar off.] A Drumme afarre off. Q_1 Q_3. A drum a farre off. Q_2. Drum afarre off. Ff (after line 282).

[4460] Give ... drum:] One line in Q_2.

[4461] Come, father] Come further Johnson.

[Exeunt.] Ff. Exit. Qq.

[4462] SCENE VII.] SCENE VI. Rowe. SCENE X. Pope.

A tent ... camp.] Steevens, after Capell. A Chamber. Rowe.

Lear ... asleep,] Steevens, after Capell.

soft music playing,] Dyce.

Gentleman ...] Edd. (Globe ed.) Physician, Gentleman, ... Capell.

Enter ... and Doctor.] Qq. Enter ... and Gentleman. Ff. Enter Cordelia and Kent. Capell.

[4463] O ... me.] Arranged as in Rowe. Three lines, ending Kent, ... goodnesse, ... me, in Q_1 Q_3. Two lines, the first ending goodnes, in Q_2. Five lines, ending Kent, ... worke ... goodnesse?... short, ... me, in Ff.

[4464] My life] Life Pope.

[4465] is] 'tis Eccles conj.

[4466] Be ... off.] Arranged as in Q_1 Ff Q_3. Two lines, the first ending those, in Q_2.

[4467] me] Qq. om. Ff.

[4468] made] laid Warburton. main Collier (Collier MS.)

[4469] Then ... king?] One line in Qq. Two in Ff. Pope ends line 11 at so.

be't] Ff. beet Q_2. be it Q_1 Q_3.

so, my good lord. How] so my good lord: How Ff. so: my lord how Q_1 Q_3. so, my good lord how Q_2. so. My lord, how Pope (ed. 1). so My lord—how Pope, ed. 2 (Theobald).

[To the Doctor] To the Physician. Theobald. om. Qq Ff.

[Going towards the Bed. Capell.

[4470] Doct.] Qq. Gent. Ff.

[4471] sleeps] he sleeps Keightley.

[4472] O you kind] Kind Capell.

[4473] O ... nature] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[4474] and jarring] Ff. and hurrying Q_1 Q_2. hurrying Q_3.

[4475] child-changed] Hyphen omitted in Q_2.

So please] Please Pope.

[4476] So ... king:] Divided as in Ff. One line in Qq.

[4477] That] om. Q_1 Q_3.

king: he ... long.] king, He ... long. Q_2. king He ... long. Q_1 Q_3. king, he ... long? Ff. king? he ... long. Hanmer.

[4478] array'd?] arayd, Q_2.]

[Soft music. Grant White.

[Enter Lear in a chaire carried by Servants. Ff. om. Qq.

[4479] Gent.] Ff. Doct. Qq.

his] Qq. om. Ff.

[4480] Doct.] Edd. (Globe ed.) Phy. Capell. Continued to Phy. by Pope. Kent. Q_1 Q_3. Gent. Q_2. Continued to Gent. in Ff.

Be by, good madam] Good madam be by Qq.

[4481] not] Omitted in F_1 F_2.

[4482] Cor. Very well. Doct. Please ... there!] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

[4483] O ... made!] Arranged as in Ff. Four lines, ending father, ... lippes, ... harmes ... made, in Q_1 Q_3. Three lines, ending lips, ... sisters ... made, in Q_2.

[4484] father! Restoration] Pope. father, Restoration Q_1 Q_3. father restoratiō Q_2. father, restauratian F_1. father, restauration F_2 F_3 F_4.

Restoration hang] Restauration, hang Theobald.

[4485] Thy] Her Hanmer.

[4486] dear] dearest Theobald.

[4487] you] he Anon. MS. See note (V).

[4488] Had challenged] Did challenge Ff.

a face] face F_3 F_4.

[4489] opposed] oppos'd Ff. exposd Qq.

warring] Qq. iarring F_1. jarring F_2 F_3 F_4.

[4490] To stand ... helm?] Omitted in Ff.

[4491] dread-bolted] Hyphened by Theobald.

[4492] lightning? to] Pointed as in Theobald. lightning, to Q_1 Q_3. lightning to Q_2.

watch—poor perdu!—] watch, poor perdu! Warburton. watch poore Per du, Qq. watch poor perdue: Theobald. watch pour perdu Pye conj.

[4493] helm? Mine] Pointed as in Q_1 Q_3. helme mine Q_2.

[4494] Mine ... father,] Arranged as in Qq. Three lines, ending me, ... fire, ... father) in Ff. Three, ending shou'd ... fire: ... father, in Pope.

[4495] Mine enemy's] Mine Enemies Ff. Mine iniurious Q_1 Q_2. Mine injurious Q_3. My very enemy's Theobald. Mine injurer's Capell.

dog] dog, even Keightley. furious dog Mitford conj.

[4496] Alack, alack] Alack Hanmer, ending lines 36-42, Mine ... him, at shou'd ... wast ... swine ... straw?... wits, ... wakes, ... him.

[4497] thy] my F_3 F_4.

[4498] concluded all. He] Q_1 Ff Q_3. concluded all, he Q_2. concluded.—Ah! he Warburton.

[4499] Doct.] Qq. Gen. F_1. Gent. F_2 F_3 F_4.

do you;] do you speak, Hanmer.

[4500] How does ... majesty?] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[4501] o' the] o' th' F_1. oth' F_2 F_3 F_4. a'th Q_1 Q_3. ath Q_2.

[4502] scald] scal'd F_1.

do you know me?] Ff. know ye me? Q_1 Q_3. know me. Q_2. know you me? Anon. MS. See note (V).

[4503] You are] Ff. Y'are Q_1 Q_3. Yar Q_2.

when] Q_1 Q_3 F_3 F_4. where Q_2 F_1 F_2.

[4504] He's ... daylight?] Two lines in Qq. Four in Ff.

[4505] I am] I'm Pope.

mightily] much Hanmer.

e'en] ene Qq. ev'n F_1 F_2. even F_3 F_4.

[4506] what to say] what Hanmer.

[4507] I feel ... condition] Arranged as in Ff. One line in Qq.

[4508] O ... kneel.] Arranged as in Q_1 Ff Q_3. Prose in Q_2.

[4509] upon] on Hanmer.

[4510] hands] Qq. hand Ff.

[4511] No, sir,] Omitted in Ff.

me] Omitted in Q_2.

[4512] Fourscore ... less;] One line in Knight. Two, the first ending upward, in Ff. Capell ends the lines upward ... plainly, reading with Ff.

Fourscore] Fourscore years Keightley, reading the rest as Qq.

not ... less;] Omitted in Qq, which read Fourscore ... plainly as one line.

[4513] plainly] plainly with you Hanmer, reading the rest as Qq.

[4514] in my perfect] Q_2 Ff. perfect in my Q_1 Q_3.

[4515] for I am] for I'm Pope.

[4516] nor I] nay I Pope.

[4517] not] Q_2 Ff. no Q_1. noe Q_3.

[4518] I am, I am] I am Qq.

[4519] Be ... not:] One line in Qq. Two, the first ending wet? in Ff.

pray] pray you Rowe.

[4520] me] we F_2.

[4521] not] none Hanmer.

[4522] me.] me? Q_2.

[4523] Be ... settling.] Arranged as in Theobald. Prose in Qq. Three lines, ending rage ... go in, ... setling, in Ff.

[4524] kill'd in him] Ff. cured in him Qq. cur'd Hanmer. quell'd in him Collier conj.

[4525] and yet ... lost.] Omitted in Ff.

[4526] it is] Qq. 'tis Steevens. 'twere Theobald.

[4527] make him even o'er] wake him even, o'er Jackson conj.

even] even go Keightley.

[4528] trouble] And trouble Pope, arranging as Ff.

[4529] Will't] Rowe. Wilt Qq Ff.

your] you F_2.

[4530] You ... foolish.] Prose, apparently, in Q_2. Three lines, ending me: ... forgive, ... foolish, in Q_1 Ff Q_3. Two lines, the first ending me: in Capell.

[4531] [Exeunt ... Gentleman.] Exeunt. Manet Kent and Gentleman. Q_1. Exeunt. Manet Kent and Gent. Q_2. Exeunt. Manet Kent and Gentlemen. Q_3. Exeunt. Ff.

[4532] Gent. Holds ... fought. [Exit.] Omitted in Ff.

[4533] Holds ... Germany.] Prose in Qq. Verse, the lines ending sir, ... sir ... said, ... Edgar, ... Kent, in Capell.

[4534] that] om. Capell.

[4535] As 'tis] 'Tis Capell.

[4536] in Germany ... sir.] Prose in Theobald. Four lines, ending changeable ... kingdom ... arbitrement ... sir, in Capell.

[4537] Report ... sir.] Three lines, ending about, ... apace ... sir, in Qq.

[4538] The] And the Capell.

bloody] most bloody Capell. a bloody Steevens (1793), reading The ... a bloody as one line.

[4539] [Exit.] Exit Gent. Theobald. om. Qq.

[4540] battle's] Theobald. battels Qq.

[Exit.] Exit Kent. Theobald. om. Qq.

ACT V.

SCENE I. The British camp near Dover.

Enter, with drum and colours, EDMUND, REGAN, Gentlemen, and Soldiers.[4541]

Edm. Know of the duke if his last purpose hold,

Or whether since he is advised by aught

To change the course: he's full of alteration[4542]

And self-reproving: bring his constant pleasure.

[To a Gentleman, who goes out.[4543]

Reg. Our sister's man is certainly miscarried. 5

Edm. 'Tis to be doubted, madam.

Reg. Now, sweet lord,

You know the goodness I intend upon you:

Tell me, but truly, but then speak the truth,[4544]

Do you not love my sister?

Edm. In honour'd love.[4545]

Reg. But have you never found my brother's way[4546] 10

To the forfended place?[4546]

Edm. That thought abuses you.[4546][4547]

Reg. I am doubtful that you have been conjunct[4546][4547][4548]

And bosom'd with her, as far as we call hers.[4546][4547][4548]

Edm. No, by mine honour, madam.[4546][4549]

Reg. I never shall endure her: dear my lord,[4550] 15

Be not familiar with her.[4550]

Edm. Fear me not.—[4551][4552]

She and the duke her husband![4551]

Enter, with drum and colours, ALBANY, GONERIL, and Soldiers.[4553]

Gon. [Aside] I had rather lose the battle than that sister[4554][4555]

Should loosen him and me.[4554][4556]

Alb. Our very loving sister, well be-met.[4557] 20

Sir, this I hear; the king is come to his daughter,[4558]

With others whom the rigour of our state

Forced to cry out. Where I could not be honest,[4559]

I never yet was valiant: for this business,[4559][4560]

It toucheth us, as France invades our land,[4559] 25

Not bolds the king, with others, whom, I fear,[4559][4561]

Most just and heavy causes make oppose.[4559]

Edm. Sir, you speak nobly.[4559][4562]

Reg. Why is this reason'd?

Gon. Combine together 'gainst the enemy;

For these domestic and particular broils[4563] 30

Are not the question here.[4564]

Alb. Let's then determine[4565]

With the ancient of war on our proceedings.[4565][4566]

Edm. I shall attend you presently at your tent.[4567]

Reg. Sister, you'll go with us?

Gon. No. 35

Reg. 'Tis most convenient; pray you, go with us.[4568]

Gon. [Aside] O, ho, I know the riddle.—I will go.

As they are going out, enter EDGAR disguised.[4569]

Edg. If e'er your grace had speech with man so poor,[4570]

Hear me one word.

Alb. I'll overtake you. Speak.

[Exeunt all but Albany and Edgar.[4571]

Edg. Before you fight the battle, ope this letter. 40

If you have victory, let the trumpet sound

For him that brought it: wretched though I seem,[4572]

I can produce a champion that will prove

What is avouched there. If you miscarry,

Your business of the world hath so an end, 45

And machination ceases. Fortune love you![4573]

Alb. Stay till I have read the letter.[4574]

Edg. I was forbid it.[4575]

When time shall serve, let but the herald cry,[4575]

And I'll appear again.[4575]

Alb. Why, fare thee well: I will o'erlook thy paper. 50

[Exit Edgar.

Re-enter EDMUND.[4576]

Edm. The enemy's in view: draw up your powers.[4577]

Here is the guess of their true strength and forces[4578]

By diligent discovery; but your haste[4579][4580]

Is now urged on you.[4579]

Alb. We will greet the time.     [Exit.[4581]

Edm. To both these sisters have I sworn my love;[4582] 55

Each jealous of the other, as the stung[4583][4584]

Are of the adder. Which of them shall I take?[4583]

Both? one? or neither? Neither can be enjoy'd,[4583][4585]

If both remain alive: to take the widow

Exasperates, makes mad her sister Goneril; 60

And hardly shall I carry out my side,[4586]

Her husband being alive. Now then we'll use

His countenance for the battle; which being done,

Let her who would be rid of him devise[4587]

His speedy taking off. As for the mercy[4588] 65

Which he intends to Lear and to Cordelia,[4589]

The battle done, and they within our power,

Shall never see his pardon; for my state[4590]

Stands on me to defend, not to debate.     [Exit.

SCENE II. A field between the two camps.

Alarum within. Enter, with drum and colours, Lear, CORDELIA, and Soldiers, over the stage; and exeunt.

Enter EDGAR and GLOUCESTER.[4591]

Edg. Here, father, take the shadow of this tree[4592]

For your good host; pray that the right may thrive:

If ever I return to you again,[4593]

I'll bring you comfort.[4593]

Glou. Grace go with you, sir!     [Exit Edgar.

Alarum and retreat within. Re-enter EDGAR.[4594]

Edg. Away, old man; give me thy hand; away! 5

King Lear hath lost, he and his daughter ta'en:

Give me thy hand; come on.

Glou. No farther, sir; a man may rot even here.[4595]

Edg. What, in ill thoughts again? Men must endure[4596]

Their going hence, even as their coming hither: 10

Ripeness is all: come on.

Glou. And that's true too.     [Exeunt.[4597]

SCENE III. The British camp near Dover.

Enter, in conquest, with drum and colours, EDMUND; LEAR and CORDELIA, as prisoners; Captain, Soldiers, &c.[4598]

Edm. Some officers take them away: good guard,

Until their greater pleasures first be known[4599]

That are to censure them.

Cor. We are not the first[4600][4601]

Who with best meaning have incurr'd the worst.[4600]

For thee, oppressed king, am I cast down;[4600][4602] 5

Myself could else out-frown false fortune's frown.[4603]

Shall we not see these daughters and these sisters?

Lear. No, no, no, no! Come, let's away to prison:[4604]

We two alone will sing like birds i' the cage:

When thou dost ask me blessing, I'll kneel down 10

And ask of thee forgiveness: so we'll live,

And pray, and sing, and tell old tales, and laugh[4605]

At gilded butterflies, and hear poor rogues

Talk of court news; and we'll talk with them too,[4606]

Who loses and who wins, who's in, who's out;[4607] 15

And take upon's the mystery of things,

As if we were God's spies: and we'll wear out,

In a wall'd prison, packs and sects of great ones[4608]

That ebb and flow by the moon.

Edm. Take them away.

Lear. Upon such sacrifices, my Cordelia, 20

The gods themselves throw incense. Have I caught thee?[4609]

He that parts us shall bring a brand from heaven,

And fire us hence like foxes. Wipe thine eyes;[4610]

The good-years shall devour them, flesh and fell,[4611][4612]

Ere they shall make us weep: we'll see 'em starve first.[4612][4613] 25

Come.     [Exeunt Lear and Cordelia, guarded.[4613][4614]

Edm. Come hither, captain; hark.[4615]

Take thou this note: go follow them to prison:[4616]

One step I have advanced thee; if thou dost[4617][4618]

As this instructs thee, thou dost make thy way[4618] 30

To noble fortunes: know thou this, that men[4618]

Are as the time is: to be tender-minded[4618][4619]

Does not become a sword: thy great employment[4618][4620]

Will not bear question; either say thou'lt do 't,[4618][4621]

Or thrive by other means.[4618]

Capt. I'll do 't, my lord. 35

Edm. About it; and write happy when thou hast done.[4622]

Mark; I say, instantly, and carry it so[4623]

As I have set it down.

Capt. I cannot draw a cart, nor eat dried oats;[4624]

If it be man's work, I'll do't.     [Exit.[4624]40

Flourish. Enter ALBANY, GONERIL, REGAN, another Captain, and Soldiers.[4625]

Alb. Sir, you have shown to-day your valiant strain,[4626]

And fortune led you well: you have the captives[4627]

That were the opposites of this day's strife:[4628]

We do require them of you, so to use them[4629]

As we shall find their merits and our safety 45

May equally determine.

Edm. Sir, I thought it fit[4630]

To send the old and miserable king[4631][4632]

To some retention and appointed guard;[4631][4633]

Whose age has charms in it, whose title more,[4634]

To pluck the common bosom on his side,[4635] 50

And turn our impress'd lances in our eyes

Which do command them. With him I sent the queen:[4636]

My reason all the same; and they are ready[4636][4637]

To-morrow or at further space to appear[4637][4638]

Where you shall hold your session. At this time[4637][4639][4640][4641] 55

We sweat and bleed: the friend hath lost his friend;[4640][4641]

And the best quarrels, in the heat, are cursed[4641]

By those that feel their sharpness.[4641][4642]

The question of Cordelia and her father[4641]

Requires a fitter place.[4641]

Alb. Sir, by your patience, 60

I hold you but a subject of this war,[4643]

Not as a brother.[4643]

Reg. That's as we list to grace him.

Methinks our pleasure might have been demanded,[4644]

Ere you had spoke so far. He led our powers,

Bore the commission of my place and person; 65

The which immediacy may well stand up[4645]

And call itself your brother.

Gon. Not so hot:[4646]

In his own grace he doth exalt himself[4646]

More than in your addition.[4646][4647]

Reg. In my rights,[4648][4649]

By me invested, he compeers the best.[4649] 70

Gon. That were the most, if he should husband you.[4650]

Reg. Jesters do oft prove prophets.

Gon. Holla, holla![4651][4652]

That eye that told you so look'd but a-squint.[4652][4653]

Reg. Lady, I am not well; else I should answer

From a full-flowing stomach. General,

Take thou my soldiers, prisoners, patrimony;

Dispose of them, of me; the walls are thine:[4654]

Witness the world, that I create thee here

My lord and master.

Gon. Mean you to enjoy him?[4655]

Alb. The let-alone lies not in your good will.[4656] 80

Edm. Nor in thine, lord.

Alb. Half-blooded fellow, yes.

Reg. [To Edmund] Let the drum strike, and prove my title thine.[4657]

Alb. Stay yet; hear reason. Edmund, I arrest thee[4658]

On capital treason; and in thine attaint[4659]

This gilded serpent [pointing to Gon.]. For your claim, fair sister,[4660]85

I bar it in the interest of my wife;[4661]

'Tis she is sub-contracted to this lord,[4662]

And I, her husband, contradict your bans.[4663]

If you will marry, make your loves to me;[4664]

My lady is bespoke.

Gon. An interlude![4665] 90

Alb. Thou art arm'd, Gloucester: let the trumpet sound:[4665][4666]

If none appear to prove upon thy person[4667]

Thy heinous, manifest, and many treasons,

There is my pledge [throwing down a glove]: I'll prove it on thy heart,[4668][4669]

Ere I taste bread, thou art in nothing less 95

Than I have here proclaim'd thee.

Reg. Sick, O, sick!

Gon. [Aside] If not, I'll ne'er trust medicine.[4670]

Edm. [Throwing down a glove] There's my exchange: what in the world he is[4668][4671]

That names me traitor, villain-like he lies:

Call by thy trumpet: he that dares approach,[4672] 100

On him, on you,—who not?—I will maintain[4673]

My truth and honour firmly.

Alb. A herald, ho!

Edm. A herald, ho, a herald![4674]

Alb. Trust to thy single virtue; for thy soldiers,[4675]

All levied in my name, have in my name[4676] 105

Took their discharge.[4676][4677]

Reg. My sickness grows upon me.

Alb. She is not well; convey her to my tent.

[Exit Regan, led.

Enter a Herald.[4678]

Come hither, herald,—Let the trumpet sound,—[4679][4680]

And read out this.[4679]

Capt. Sound, trumpet!     [A trumpet sounds.[4681] 110

Her. [Reads] 'If any man of quality or degree within[4682][4683]

the lists of the army will maintain upon Edmund, supposed[4683]

Earl of Gloucester, that he is a manifold traitor, let him[4684]

appear by the third sound of the trumpet: he is bold in[4685]

his defence.' 115

Edm. Sound!     [First trumpet.[4686]

Her. Again!     [Second trumpet.[4687]

Her. Again!     [Third trumpet.

[Trumpet answers within.

Enter EDGAR, at the third sound, armed, with a trumpet before him.[4688]

Alb. Ask him his purposes, why he appears

Upon this call o' the trumpet.

Her. What are you?[4689] 120

Your name, your quality? and why you answer[4689][4690]

This present summons?[4689]

Edg. Know, my name is lost;[4691][4692][4693]

By treason's tooth bare-gnawn and canker-bit:[4692][4693]

Yet am I noble as the adversary[4692][4694]

I come to cope.[4692][4695]

Alb. Which is that adversary? 125

Edg. What's he that speaks for Edmund, Earl of Gloucester?

Edm. Himself: what say'st thou to him?

Edg. Draw thy sword,

That if my speech offend a noble heart,[4696]

Thy arm may do thee justice: here is mine.[4696][4697]

Behold, it is the privilege of mine honours,[4698] 130

My oath, and my profession: I protest,

Maugre thy strength, youth, place and eminence,[4699]

Despite thy victor sword and fire-new fortune,[4700]

Thy valour and thy heart, thou art a traitor,

False to thy gods, thy brother and thy father,[4701] 135

Conspirant 'gainst this high illustrious prince,[4702]

And from the extremest upward of thy head

To the descent and dust below thy foot,[4703]

A most toad-spotted traitor. Say thou 'No,'

This sword, this arm and my best spirits are bent[4704][4705] 140

To prove upon thy heart, whereto I speak,[4704]

Thou liest.[4704]

Edm. In wisdom I should ask thy name,[4706]

But since thy outside looks so fair and warlike

And that thy tongue some say of breeding breathes,[4707]

What safe and nicely I might well delay[4708] 145

By rule of knighthood, I disdain and spurn:[4709]

Back do I toss these treasons to thy head;[4710]

With the hell-hated lie o'erwhelm thy heart;[4711]

Which for they yet glance by and scarcely bruise,[4712]

This sword of mine shall give them instant way, 150

Where they shall rest for ever. Trumpets, speak!

[Alarums. They fight. Edmund falls.[4713]

Alb. Save him, save him![4714]

Gon. This is practice, Gloucester:[4715][4716]

By the law of arms thou wast not bound to answer[4715][4717]

An unknown opposite; thou art not vanquish'd,[4715]

But cozen'd and beguiled.[4715]

Alb. Shut your mouth, dame,[4718][4719] 155

Or with this paper shall I stop it. Hold, sir;[4718][4720]

Thou worse than any name, read thine own evil.[4718][4721]

No tearing, lady; I perceive you know it.[4718][4722]

Gon. Say, if I do, the laws are mine, not thine:[4723]

Who can arraign me for't?[4723][4724]

Alb. Most monstrous![4725] 160

Know'st thou this paper?[4725]

Gon. Ask me not what I know.     [Exit.[4726]

Alb. Go after her: she's desperate; govern her.[4727]

Edm. What you have charged me with, that have I done;[4728]

And more, much more; the time will bring it out:

'Tis past, and so am I. But what art thou[4729] 165

That hast this fortune on me? If thou'rt noble,[4729][4730]

I do forgive thee.[4729]

Edg. Let's exchange charity.[4731]

I am no less in blood than thou art, Edmund;

If more, the more thou hast wrong'd me.[4732]

My name is Edgar, and thy father's son. 170

The gods are just, and of our pleasant vices[4733]

Make instruments to plague us:[4734][4735]

The dark and vicious place where thee he got[4734][4736]

Cost him his eyes.[4734]

Edm. Thou hast spoken right, 'tis true;[4737][4738]

The wheel is come full circle; I am here.[4737][4739] 175

Alb. Methought thy very gait did prophesy[4740]

A royal nobleness: I must embrace thee:

Let sorrow split my heart, if ever I[4741]

Did hate thee or thy father![4741]

Edg. Worthy prince, I know't.[4742]

Alb. Where have you hid yourself?[4743] 180

How have you known the miseries of your father?[4743][4744]

Edg. By nursing them, my lord. List a brief tale;[4745]

And when 'tis told, O, that my heart would burst![4745][4746]

The bloody proclamation to escape[4745][4746]

That follow'd me so near,—O, our lives' sweetness![4745][4747] 185

That we the pain of death would hourly die[4745][4748]

Rather than die at once!—taught me to shift[4745]

Into a madman's rags, to assume a semblance[4745]

That very dogs disdain'd: and in this habit[4745][4749]

Met I my father with his bleeding rings,[4745] 190

Their precious stones new lost; became his guide,[4750]

Led him, begg'd for him, saved him from despair;

Never—O fault!—reveal'd myself unto him,[4751]

Until some half-hour past, when I was arm'd;[4752]

Not sure, though hoping, of this good success, 195

I ask'd his blessing, and from first to last

Told him my pilgrimage: but his flaw'd heart,—[4753][4754]

Alack, too weak the conflict to support!—[4754]

'Twixt two extremes of passion, joy and grief,[4754][4755]

Burst smilingly.[4756]

Edm. This speech of yours hath moved me, 200

And shall perchance do good: but speak you on;

You look as you had something more to say.

Alb. If there be more, more woful, hold it in;[4757]

For I am almost ready to dissolve,

Hearing of this.[4758]

Edg. This would have seem'd a period[4759][4760][4761][4762] 205

To such as love not sorrow; but another,[4759][4760][4762][4763][4764]

To amplify too much, would make much more,[4759][4760][4762][4764][4765]

And top extremity.[4759][4760]

Whilst I was big in clamour, came there in a man,[4759][4766]

Who, having seen me in my worst estate,[4759][4767] 210

Shunn'd my abhorr'd society; but then, finding[4759][4768]

Who 'twas that so endured, with his strong arms[4759][4769]

He fasten'd on my neck, and bellow'd out[4759][4770]

As he'ld burst heaven; threw him on my father;[4759][4771]

Told the most piteous tale of Lear and him[4759][4772] 215

That ever ear received: which in recounting[4759]

His grief grew puissant, and the strings of life[4759][4773]

Began to crack: twice then the trumpets sounded,[4759][4774]

And there I left him tranced.[4759]

Alb. But who was this?[4759]

Edg. Kent, sir, the banish'd Kent; who in disguise[4759] 220

Follow'd his enemy king, and did him service[4759][4775]

Improper for a slave.[4759]

Enter a Gentleman, with a bloody knife.[4776]

Gent. Help, help, O, help![4777][4778]

Edg. What kind of help?[4779]

Alb. Speak, man.

Edg. What means this bloody knife?[4779]

Gent. 'Tis hot, it smokes;[4780][4781]

It came even from the heart of—O, she's dead![4781][4782] 225

Alb. Who dead? speak, man.[4783]

Gent. Your lady, sir, your lady: and her sister

By her is poisoned; she hath confess'd it.[4784]

Edm. I was contracted to them both: all three

Now marry in an instant.

Edg. Here comes Kent.[4785] 230

Alb. Produce the bodies, be they alive or dead.

[Exit Gentleman.[4786]

This judgement of the heavens, that makes us tremble,[4787]

Touches us not with pity.

Enter KENT.

O, is this he?[4788][4789]

The time will not allow the compliment[4789][4790]

Which very manners urges.[4789][4791]

Kent. I am come[4792][4793] 235

To bid my king and master aye good night:[4793]

Is he not here?

Alb. Great thing of us forgot![4794][4795][4796]

Speak, Edmund, where's the king? and where's Cordelia?[4795]

See'st thou this object, Kent?[4795]

[The bodies of Goneril and Regan are brought in.[4797]

Kent. Alack, why thus?

Edm. Yet Edmund was beloved:[4798] 240

The one the other poison'd for my sake,[4798][4799]

And after slew herself.[4798][4800]

Alb. Even so. Cover their faces.[4794]

Edm. I pant for life: some good I mean to do,[4801]

Despite of mine own nature. Quickly send,[4801][4802] 245

Be brief in it, to the castle; for my writ[4801][4803]

Is on the life of Lear and on Cordelia:[4801][4804]

Nay, send in time.[4801]

Alb. Run, run, O, run![4794][4805]

Edg. To who, my lord? Who hath the office? send[4806][4807]

Thy token of reprieve.[4806] 250

Edm. Well thought on: take my sword,[4808]

Give it the captain.[4808]

Alb. Haste thee, for thy life.     [Exit Edgar.[4794][4809]

Edm. He hath commission from thy wife and me[4810]

To hang Cordelia in the prison, and[4810]

To lay the blame upon her own despair,[4810] 255

That she fordid herself.[4810][4811]

Alb. The gods defend her! Bear him hence awhile.[4794]

[Edmund is borne off.[4812]

Re-enter LEAR, with CORDELIA dead in his arms; EDGAR, Captain, and others following.

Lear. Howl, howl, howl, howl! O, you are men of stones:[4813]

Had I your tongues and eyes, I'ld use them so

That heaven's vault should crack. She's gone for ever![4814] 260

I know when one is dead and when one lives;

She's dead as earth. Lend me a looking-glass;

If that her breath will mist or stain the stone,[4815][4816]

Why, then she lives.[4815][4817]

Kent. Is this the promised end?

Edg. Or image of that horror?

Alb. Fall and cease.[4794][4818] 265

Lear. This feather stirs; she lives. If it be so,[4819]

It is a chance which does redeem all sorrows[4819][4820]

That ever I have felt.[4819]

Kent. [Kneeling] O my good master![4821]

Lear. Prithee, away.

Edg. 'Tis noble Kent, your friend.

Lear. A plague upon you, murderers, traitors all![4822][4823] 270

I might have saved her; now she's gone for ever![4822]

Cordelia, Cordelia! stay a little. Ha![4822][4824]

What is't thou say'st? Her voice was ever soft,[4822][4825]

Gentle and low, an excellent thing in woman.[4822][4826]

I kill'd the slave that was a-hanging thee.[4822] 275

Capt. 'Tis true, my lords, he did.[4827]

Lear. Did I not, fellow?[4828]

I have seen the day, with my good biting falchion[4828][4829]

I would have made them skip: I am old now,[4828][4830]

And these same crosses spoil me. Who are you?[4828]

Mine eyes are not o' the best: I'll tell you straight.[4828][4831] 280

Kent. If fortune brag of two she loved and hated,[4832]

One of them we behold.[4833]

Lear. This is a dull sight. Are you not Kent?[4834]

Kent. The same,[4835]

Your servant Kent. Where is your servant Caius?[4835]

Lear. He's a good fellow, I can tell you that;[4836] 285

He'll strike, and quickly too: he's dead and rotten.[4837]

Kent. No, my good lord; I am the very man—[4838]

Lear. I'll see that straight.

Kent. That from your first of difference and decay[4839]

Have follow'd your sad steps.

Lear. You are welcome hither.[4840] 290

Kent. Nor no man else: all's cheerless, dark and deadly.[4841]

Your eldest daughters have fordone themselves.[4842]

And desperately are dead.

Lear. Ay, so I think.[4843]

Alb. He knows not what he says, and vain is it[4794][4844]

That we present us to him.

Edg. Very bootless. 295

Enter a Captain.[4845]

Capt. Edmund is dead, my lord.[4846]

Alb. That's but a trifle here.[4847][4848]

You lords and noble friends, know our intent.[4847]

What comfort to this great decay may come[4847][4849]

Shall be applied: for us, we will resign,[4847]

During the life of this old majesty,[4847] 300

To him our absolute power: [To Edgar and Kent] you, to your rights;[4847][4850]

With boot, and such addition as your honours[4847][4851]

Have more than merited. All friends shall taste[4847][4852]

The wages of their virtue, and all foes[4852]

The cup of their deservings. O, see, see![4852][4853] 305

Lear. And my poor fool is hang'd! No, no, no life![4854][4855]

Why should a dog, a horse, a rat, have life,[4854][4856]

And thou no breath at all? Thou'lt come no more,[4854][4857]

Never, never, never, never, never![4854][4858]

Pray you, undo this button: thank you, sir.[4854][4859][4860] 310

Do you see this? Look on her, look, her lips,[4860][4861]

Look there, look there!     [Dies.[4860]

Edg. He faints. My lord, my lord![4862]

Kent. Break, heart; I prithee, break!

Edg. Look up, my lord.[4863]

Kent. Vex not his ghost: O, let him pass! he hates him[4864][4865]

That would upon the rack of this tough world[4864][4866] 315

Stretch him out longer.[4864]

Edg. He is gone indeed.[4867]

Kent. The wonder is he hath endured so long:

He but usurp'd his life.[4868]

Alb. Bear them from hence. Our present business[4869]

Is general woe. [To Kent and Edgar] Friends of my soul, you twain[4870]320

Rule in this realm and the gored state sustain.[4871]

Kent. I have a journey, sir, shortly to go;[4872]

My master calls me, I must not say no.[4872][4873]

Alb. The weight of this sad time we must obey,[4872][4874]

Speak what we feel, not what we ought to say.[4872] 325

The oldest hath borne most: we that are young[4872][4875]

Shall never see so much, nor live so long.

[Exeunt, with a dead march.[4872][4876]

FOOTNOTES:

[4541] The British......] Camp of the British Forces, near Dover. Capell. A Camp. Rowe.

Enter ...] Ff. Enter Edmund, Reagan, and their powers. Qq. Enter Bastard, Regan, Gentlemen, and Soldiers. Rowe. Enter Edmund, Regan, Gentleman and Soldiers. Warburton.

[4542] alteration] Q_1 Q_2 (Mus. imp.) Ff Q_3. abdication Q_2 (Cap. Dev. Mus. per. and Bodl. 1, 2).

[4543] self-reproving] Hyphened in Q_1 Q_3.

self-reproving: bring] self-reproving brings Pope.

[To ...] Edd. (Globe ed.) To an Officer; who bows, and goes out. Capell. om. Qq Ff.

[4544] me, but truly,] me—but truly— Johnson, me but truly, Q_2 Ff. me truly Q_1 Q_3.

[4545] In] Ff. I Q_1 Q_3. I, Q_2. Ay, in Anon. conj.

[4546] Reg. But ... madam.] Omitted by Johnson.

[4547] Edm. That ... hers.] Omitted in Ff.

[4548] I am ... hers.] As in Q_1 Q_3. Prose in Q_2.

[4549] madam] om. Pope.

[4550] I never ... her.] As in Ff. Two lines, the first ending endure her in Q_1 Q_3. Prose in Q_2.

[4551] Fear ... husband!] As in Capell. One line in Qq Ff.

[4552] me] Qq. om. Ff.

[4553] husband!] husband. Qq Ff. husband— Rowe.

Enter ... and Soldiers.] Enter ... soldiers. Ff. Enter Albany and Gonorill with troopes. Qq (troupes. Q_2. Troops. Q_3).

[4554] Gon. I ... me.] Arranged as in Theobald. Two lines, the first ending battell, in Q_1 Q_3. Prose in Q_2. Omitted in Ff.

[4555] [Aside] First marked by Theobald.

I had] I'd Theobald.

lose] Theobald, loose Q_1 Q_2. loos Q_3.

[4556] loosen] cosin Q_3.

[4557] be-met] be met Q_3.

[4558] Sir, this I hear] Theobald. For this I heare Q_1 Q_2. Sir, this I heard Ff. For this I hear Q_3. 'Fore this, I hear, Malone conj.

[4559] Where ... nobly.] Omitted in Ff.

[4560] for] 'fore Theobald.

[4561] Not ... others] Not the old king with others, or Not holds with the king, and others or Upholds the king and others Mason conj.

bolds] holds Pope. holds to Hanmer. holds for Capell. See note (XIX).

[4562] Edm. Sir, ... nobly.] Omitted by Pope, reading the rest as Qq.

nobly] odly or coldly Mason conj.

[4563] and particular broils] doore particulars, Q_1. dore particulars Q_2. door particulars, Q_3. in-door particulars, Collier conj. (from Q_1). poore particulars, Mitford conj. (from Q_1).

[4564] the] Ff. to Qq.

Let's] Ff. Let us Qq.

[4565] Let's ... proceedings.] Arranged as in Q_1 Q_3. Prose in Q_2. In Ff the first line ends warre.

[4566] the ancient] the Ancient Q_1 Q_3. the auntient Q_2. th' ancient Ff. th' ancients Hanmer. the ancient men S. Walker conj. the argument Anon. conj.

proceedings] Qq. proceeding Ff.

[4567] Edm. I shall ... tent.] Omitted in Ff. Transferred by Theobald to follow here, line 31.

[4568] pray you] Qq. pray Ff.

[4569] O ... riddle.] First marked as 'Aside' by Capell. Hanmer marks the whole line as 'Aside.'

As ... disguised.] Theobald. Exit. Enter Edgar. Q_1. Enter Edgar. Q_2. Exit. Enter Edgare. Q_3. Exeunt both the Armies. Enter Edgar. Ff. Exeunt. SCENE II. Manet Albany. Enter Edgar. Pope. As they are going out, and Albany last, Enter Edgar. Capell.

[4570] had] did Q_3.

man] Q_2 Ff. one Q_1 Q_3.

[4571] [Exeunt ...] Exeunt Edm. Reg. Gon. and Attendants. Theobald. om. Q_1 Ff Q_3. Exeunt. Q_2 (after word).

[4572] wretched] Qq F_1. wretch F_2 F_3 F_4.

though] thoughts Q_3.

[4573] And ... ceases.] Omitted in Qq.

love] Qq. loves Ff.

[4574] I have] I've Pope.

[4575] I was ... again.] Prose in Q_2.

[4576] o'erlook] looke ore Q_1. look ore Q_3.

thy] Ff. the Qq.

[Exit Edgar.] Dyce. Exit. Qq Ff (after again, line 49).

Re-enter ...] Theobald. Enter ... Qq Ff.

[4577] enemy's] enemies Q_2.

[4578] Here] Hard Qq.

guess] quesse Q_2. conquest Anon. MS. See note (V). guise Becket conj.

true] great Qq.

[Showing a Paper. Collier (Collier MS.)

[4579] By ... you.] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[4580] [giving a paper. Jennens.

[4581] [Exit.] om. Q_1 Q_3.

[4582] SCENE III. Pope.

sisters] sister Q_2.

[4583] Each ... enjoy’d.] As in Ff. Three lines, ending adder, ... one ... enjoy’d, in Q_1 Q_3. Two lines, the first ending adder, in Q_2.

[4584] stung] Ff. sting Qq.

[4585] Both? one?] Ff. both one Qq.

[4586] side] suite S. Walker conj.

[4587] who] Ff. that Qq.

[4588] the] Ff. his Qq.

[4589] intends] Ff. entends Q_2. extends Q_1 Q_3.

[4590] Shall never] They shall ne'er Hanmer. They shall never Keightley.

[4591] SCENE II.] SCENE IV. Pope.

A field ...] Fields between the camps. Capell. A Field. Rowe. Another open Field. Theobald.

Alarum within. Enter ...] Ff. Alarum. Enter the powers of France over the stage, Cordelia with her Father in her hand. Qq.

[4592] tree] Ff. bush Qq.

[4593] If ... comfort.] One line in Q_2.

[4594] go] be F_3 F_4.

[Exit Edgar.] Pope. Exit. Ff. Exit. Qq (after comfort).

Alarum ...] Ff. Alarum and retreat. Qq.

Re-enter ...] Theobald. Enter ... Qq Ff.

[4595] farther] Qq. further Ff.

[4596] What ... endure] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

again? Men] againe men Q_2.

[4597] all: come] all; come Rowe (ed. 2). all, come F_2 F_3 F_4. all come Qq F_1.

Glou. And ... too.] Omitted in Qq.

[Exeunt.] Ff. Exit. Q_1 Q_3. om. Q_2.

[4598] SCENE III.] SCENE V. Pope. Theobald continues the Scene.

The British ... near ...] Malone. The British ... under ... Capell. A Camp. Rowe.

Enter ... Captain, Soldiers, &c.] Enter ... Souldiers, Captaine. Ff. Enter Edmund, with Lear and Cordelia prisoners. Qq.

[4599] first] Ff. best Qq.

[4600] We ... down;] Two lines, the first ending incurd, in Q_2.

[4601] We are] We're Pope.

[4602] am I] Q_1 Q_2. I am Ff Q_3.

[4603] out-frown] out-face Anon. conj.

[4604] No, no, no, no] Ff. No, no Qq.

[4605] and sing] Q_2 Ff. om. Q_1 Q_3.

[4606] talk] talk'd F_2.

too] to Q_2.

[4607] loses] F_4. looses The rest.

who's ... who's] whose ... whose Qq. whos ... whos F_2.

[4608] sects] sets Johnson conj.

[4609] The ... thee?] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[4610] eyes] Qq F_1. eye F_2 F_3 F_4.

[4611] good-years] good yeares F_1. good yeeres F_2. good years F_3 F_4. good Qq. good-jers Theobald. goujeres Hanmer. gougers Bubier conj.

flesh] Ff. fleach Qq.

[4612] fell, Ere ... starve first.] fell: E'er ... weep, ... starve. Seymour conj.

[4613] Ere ... Come.] as in Pope. One line in Q_2. Two, the first ending weepe? in Ff.

weep:] weep; Pope, weepe? Qq Ff. weep, Rowe (ed. 2).

'em] Q_3 F_3 F_4. em Q_1, vm Q_2. e'm F_1 F_2. them Capell.

starve] Qq. starv'd Ff.

[4614] Come.] om. Q_1 Q_3.

[Exeunt ...] Theobald. Exit. Q_1 Ff Q_3. om. Q_2. Ex. Lear and Cordelia. Pope.

[4615] Come hither] Come thou hither Hanmer.

[Whispering. Rowe.

[4616] [Giving a paper. Malone.

[4617] One] Q_1 Q_2 (Mus. imp.) Ff Q_3. And Q_2 (Cap. Dev. Mus. per. and Bodl. 1, 2).

step I] step, I Q_2.

[4618] One ... means.] As in Q_2 Ff. Six lines, ending thee, ... fortunes: ... is; ... sword, ... question, ... meanes, in Q_1 Q_3.

[4619] tender-minded] Hyphened by Rowe (ed. 2).

[4620] thy] my Theobald.

[4621] thou'lt] Ff. thout Qq.

[4622] thou hast] Qq. th' hast F_1 F_2. th'ast F_3 F_4.

[4623] Mark; I] Mark, I Rowe. Marke I Qq Ff.

[4624] Capt. I cannot ... do't.] Omitted in Ff.

[4625] If ... do't] But if it be a man's work, I will do it Keightley.

If it] If't S. Walker conj.

I'll] I will Steevens.

[Exit.] Exit Captaine. Ff. om. Qq.

Flourish.] F_1. om. Qq F_2 F_3 F_4.

Enter....] Enter Albany, Gonerill, Regan, Soldiers. Ff. Enter the Duke, the two Ladies, and others. Qq (Enter Duke Q_2). Enter Albany, Regan, Goneril, Officers, and Attendants. Capell.

[4626] SCENE VI. Pope.

shown] shewne Q_1. showne Q_3. shewed Q_2. shew'd Ff.

[4627] the] them Keightley.

[4628] That] Qq. Who Ff.

[4629] We] Qq. I Ff.

require them] Ff. require then Qq.

[4630] Sir ... fit] I thought fit Pope.

[4631] To send ... retention] As in Q_1 Q_3. One line in Q_2.

[4632] send] saue Q_2.

[4633] and appointed guard] Q_1 Q_2 (Mus. imp.) Q_3. Omitted in Q_2 (Cap. Dev. Mus. per. and Bodl. 1, 2) Ff.

[4634] has] Qq. had Ff.

[4635] common bosom] F_4. common bosome F_1 F_2 F_3. common bossome Q_2 (Mus. imp.), common blossomes Q_1 Q_3. coren bossom Q_2 (Cap. Dev. Mus. per. and Bodl. 1, 2). common bosoms Pope.

on] Ff. of Qq.

[4636] queen: My reason all] queen My reason, all Q_2.

[4637] My ... session.] Arranged as in Ff. The lines end to morrow, ... hold in Qq.

[4638] further] Q_2 Ff. a further Q_1 Q_3.

[4639] you ... your] we ... our Hanmer.

[4640] session ... time We] Theobald. session at this time: we Q_1 Q_3. session at this time, wee Q_2 (Mus. imp.) session at this time, mee Q_2 (Cap. Dev. Mus. per. and Bodl. 1, 2).

[4641] At ... place.] Arranged as in Theobald. The lines end bleed, ... quarrels ... sharpenesse ... father ... place in Qq. Omitted in Ff.

[4642] sharpness] sharpenesse Q_1 Q_3. sharpnes Q_2 (Mus. imp.), sharpes Q_2 (Cap. Dev. Mus. per. and Bodl. 1, 2).

[4643] I hold ... brother.] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[4644] might] Ff. should Qq.

[4645] immediacy] F_2 F_3 F_4. immediacie F_1. immediate Qq.

[4646] Not ... addition.] As in Ff. Two lines, the first ending himselfe, in Q_1 Q_3. Prose in Q_2.

[4647] addition] Ff. advancement Qq.

[4648] In ... best.] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[4649] rights] Ff. right Qq.

[4650] Gon.] Qq. Alb. Ff.

[4651] Holla, holla] F_2 F_3 F_4. Hola, hola Qq F_1.

[4652] Holla ... a-squint.] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[4653] a-squint] Rowe. a squint Qq Ff.

[4654] Dispose ... thine.] Ff. Omitted in Qq.

the walls are] F_2 F_3 F_4. the walls is F_1. they all are Hanmer (Theobald conj.) thy will is Jennens. the whole is Anon. conj. the laws are] Anon. conj.

[4655] him] Ff. him then Qq.

[4656] let-alone] Hyphened by Capell.

[4657] Reg.] Ff. Bast. Qq.

[To Edmund] Malone. om. Qq Ff. To the Bast. They offer to go out. Hanmer.

thine] Ff. good Qq.

[4658] Stay yet; hear reason.] Stay hear my reason: Hanmer.

[4659] thine attaint] Qq. thy arrest Ff.

[4660] [pointing to Gon.] Johnson.

sister] Qq. sisters Ff.

[4661] bar] Rowe (ed. 2). bare Qq Ff.

[4662] this] Q_2 Ff. her Q_1 Q_3.

[4663] your bans] Malone. your banes Ff. the banes Qq.

[4664] loves] Ff. love Qq.

[4665] Gon. An interlude! Alb.] Omitted in Qq, which read My lady ... Gloster as one line.

[4666] Thou ... sound:] One line in Rowe. Two in Ff.

arm’d] Qq. armed Ff.

let ... sound:] Omitted in Qq.

[4667] person] Ff. head Qq.

[4668] [throwing ...] Malone. om. Qq Ff.

[4669] prove it] Qq. ma ke it F_1. make it F_2 F_3 F_4. mark it Anon. conj. make good Collier MS.

[4670] Gon. [Aside] If ... medicine.] om. Seymour conj.

[Aside] Marked first by Rowe.

medicine] Ff. poyson Qq.

[4671] he is] hes F_1.

[4672] thy] Qq. the Ff.

[4673] who] whom Hanmer.

[4674] Edm. A ... herald!] Omitted in Ff.

[4675] virtue] vertues F_3 F_4.

[4676] All ... discharge.] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[4677] My] Ff. This Qq.

[4678] [Exit Regan, led.] Theobald. om. Qq Ff. Exit Reg. Rowe.

Enter a Herald.] As in Collier. After firmly, line 102, in Ff. Omitted in Qq. After ho! line 103, in Theobald. After me, line 106, in Capell. After herald! line 103, in Jennens.

[4679] Come ... this.] Divided as in Q_2 Ff. One line in Q_1 Q_3. Pointed as by Capell. herald, let ... sound, Qq Ff.

[4680] trumpet] Trumper F_1.

[4681] Capt. Sound, trumpet!] Omitted in Ff.

[A trumpet sounds.] Ff. om. Qq.

[4682] Her. [Reads] Herald reads. Ff. Her. Qq.

[4683] within the lists] Ff. in the hoast Qq.

[4684] he is] Ff. he's Qq.

[4685] by] Ff. at Qq.

[4686] Edm. Sound!] Capell. Bast. Sound. Q_1 Q_3. Bast. Sound? Q_2. Omitted in Ff. Continued to Herald by Jennens.

[First trumpet.] 1 Trumpet. Ff. om. Qq.

[4687] Her. Again!] Ff. Againe. Q_1 Q_3. Againe? Q_2.

[Second trumpet.] 2 Trumpet. Ff. om. Qq.

[4688] Her. Again!] Ff. om. Qq.

[Third trumpet.] 3 Trumpet. Ff. om. Qq.

[Trumpet answers within.] Ff. om. Qq.

Enter ... him.] Enter Edgar at the third sound, with a trumpet before him. Qq (with om. Q_2). Enter Edgar armed. Ff.

[4689] What ... summons?] As in Ff. Two lines, the first ending quality? in Qq.

[4690] your quality] and quality Q_1 Q_3. and qualitie Q_2.

why you] why do you Keightley.

[4691] Know] Ff. O know Qq.

[4692] Know ... cope.] As in Ff. Three lines, ending tooth: ... canker-bit, ... wilh all? in Q_1 Q_3. The lines end tooth ... mou't ... with all, in Q_2.

[4693] lost; By ... tooth] Pointed as in Theobald. lost by treasons tooth: Q_1 Q_3. lost by treasons tooth. Q_2. lost By treasons tooth: Ff.

[4694] Yet am I noble as] Ff. Where is Q_1 Q_3. yet are I mou't Where is Q_2.

[4695] cope.] Ff. cope with all? Q_1 Q_3. cope with all. Q_2.

[4696] That ... arm] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[4697] Thy] thine Q_3.

thee] the Q_3.

[4698] the ... honours] Pope. the priviledge of my tongue Qq (tougne Q_3). my priviledge, The priviledge of mine honours Ff.

[4699] youth, place] Qq. place, youth Ff. skill, youth Collier MS.

[4700] Despite] Despight Qq. Despise Ff. Spite of Pope.

victor sword] Capell. victor-sword Ff. victor, sword Qq.

fire-new fortune] Rowe. fire new fortune Ff. fire new fortun'd Qq (fier Q_3).

[4701] thy gods] the gods Q_1 Q_3.

[4702] Conspirant] Ff. Conspicuate Qq. Conspirate Capell. Conspirator Anon. MS. See note (V).

illustrious] illustirous F_1.

[4703] below] Ff. beneath Qq.

foot] F_3 F_4. foote F_1 F_2. feet Qq.

[4704] This ... liest.] As in Ff. Two lines, the first ending spirits, in Qq.

[4705] are] Ff. Is Q_1 Q_3. As Q_2.

[4706] should] sholud Q_2.

[4707] tongue] Ff. being Qq.

some say] Qq. (some say) Ff. some 'say Pope. somewhat Anon. MS. See note (V).

[4708] What ... delay] Ff. Omitted in Qq.

well delay] claim, delay, Eccles conj.

[4709] By rule] Ff. By right Qq. My right Anon. MS. See note (V).

[4710] Back ... head;] Ff. Omitted in Q_1 Q_3. Heere do I tosse those treasons to thy head. Q_2.

[4711] With] May Eccles conj.

hell-hated lie] hell hatedly Qq.

o'erwhelm] ore-turn'd Q_1 Q_3. oreturnd Q_2.

[4712] Which ... and scarcely bruise] To which ... scarcely bruising Hanmer.

scarcely] scarely F_1.

[4713] they shall] thou shalt Theobald.

[Alarums. They fight. Edmund falls.] Capell. Alarum. Fight. Bastard falls. Hanmer. Alarums. Fights. Ff (after him! line 152). Omitted in Qq.

[4714] Alb.] Amb. (i.e. Both Ladies) or Lad. Theobald conj.

Alb. Save.... Gon. This] Gon. O, save him, save him; This Theobald. Gon. Save him, O save him; this Hanmer. Gon. Save him, save him; this Jennens.

[4715] This ... beguiled.] Arranged as in Ff. Three lines, ending armes ... opposite, ... beguil'd, in Qq.

[4716] practice] Ff. meere practise Qq. mere practice Jennens.

[4717] arms] armes Qq. warre Ff.

wast] Ff. art Qq.

answer] Ff. answere Q_2. offer Q_1 Q_3.

[4718] Shut ... know it] As in Ff. Prose in Qq.

[4719] Shut] Ff. Stop Qq.

[4720] stop] stople Q_2.

Hold, sir] Ff. om. Qq. Given to 'Gon.' by Jennens.

[To Edg. Capell MS. and Grant White.

[4721] name] Ff. thing Qq.

[4722] No] Ff. Nay, no Q_1 Q_3. nay no Q_2.

No tearing, lady:] No tearing.—Lady, Johnson.

know it] Ff. know't Qq.

[Gives the letter to Edmund. Johnson.

[4723] Say ... for't?] As in Ff. One line in Q_2. Prose in Q_1 Q_3.

[4724] can] Ff. shal Q_1 Q_2. shall Q_3.

for't] for it Q_1 Q_3.

[4725] Most ... paper?] As in Capell. One line in Qq Ff.

Most monstrous! Know'st] Most monstrous knowst Q_2. Monster, knowst Q_1 Q_3. Most monstrous! O, know'st Ff.

[4726] Gon.] Qq. Bast. Ff.

know] do know Hanmer.

[Exit.] Exit Gonorill. Qq. Exit. Ff (after for't? line 160).

[4727] [To an Officer, who goes out after her. Capell.

[4728] SCENE VIII. Pope.

What ... done;] One line in Qq. Two, the first ending with, in Ff.

have I] I have Rowe (ed. 2).

[4729] 'Tis ... thee.] As in Q_2 Ff. Prose in Q_1 Q_3.

[4730] thou'rt] Ff. thou beest Q_1 Q_3. thou bee'st Q_2.

[4731] Let's] Let us Capell.

charity] our charity Pope.

[4732] more, the more] more than thou, the more then Anon. conj.

thou hast] Qq. th' hast Ff.

hast wrong'd] then hast wronged Grant White conj.

[4733] vices] Ff. vertues Q_1 Q_3. vertues. Q_2.

[4734] Make ... eyes.] As in Ff. Two lines, the first ending place, in Q_1 Q_3. Two, the first ending vitious, in Q_2.

[4735] plague us] Ff. scourge us Qq. plague and punish us Hanmer. plague us in their time Keightley. scourge us and to plague us Anon. conj.

[4736] thee he] Q_2 Ff. he thee Q_1 Q_3.

[4737] Thou ... here.] Prose in Q_2.

[4738] Thou hast] Qq. Th' hast Ff.

right] Ff. truth Qq.

'tis true] Ff. om. Qq.

[4739] circle] Ff. circkled Q_1. circled Q_2. cirkled Q_3.

[4740] [To Edgar. Jennens.

gait] Johnson. gate Qq Ff.

[4741] Let ... father!] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

ever I Did] Ff. I did ever Qq.

[4742] know't] know it Q_1 Q_3. know it well Hanmer, ending the line prince.

[4743] Where ... known] As one line, S. Walker conj., reading the previous line with Hanmer.

[4744] How have you known] how known, S. Walker conj., reading I know't ... known as one line.

[4745] By ... rings,] Arranged as in Ff. The lines end lord, ... told ... proclamation ... neere, ... death ... once ... rags, ... disdain’d: ... rings, in Qq.

[4746] burst! The] burst. The Q_1 Ff Q_3. burst the Q_2.

[4747] follow'd] Ff. followed Q_1 Q_2. followeth Q_3.

[4748] we ... would] Ff. with ... Would Qq. with ... we’d Jennens.

hourly die] hourly bear Pope. hourly fly Jervis conj.

[4749] That] The Pope.

[4750] Their] Ff. The Qq.

stones] gems Pope.

lost; became] lost became Q_2.

[4751] O fault!—] (O fault) Ff. (O father) Qq.

[4752] arm'd] armed Q_2.

[4753] my] Qq. our Ff.

his] this F_4.

flaw'd] flawed Q_2.

[4754] heart,—Alack ... support!—'Twixt] heart, Alack ... support 'Twixt S. Walker conj.

[4755] two] too Hanmer

[4756] smilingly] smillingly Q_2.

[4757] be more, more] Q_2 Ff. any] more more Q_1. any more Q_3.

[4758] Hearing of this] As in Ff. At the end of line 204 in Q_2. Omitted in Q_1 Q_3.

[4759] Edg. This ... slave.] Omitted in Ff.

[4760] This ... extremity.] Arranged as by Theobald. Three lines, ending such ... too much, ... extremity in Qq.

[4761] period] pyramid Jackson conj.

[4762] period ... too much,] period. But such, As love to amplify another's sorrow, To much, Warburton.

[4763] but another,] but—another, Steevens (1773), reading to make with Capell. but, another;— Steevens (1778).

[4764] another, To amplify ... more] another To amplify, would make much more too much Mitford conj.

[4765] too] to Q_3. truth Jackson conj.

too much] Hyphened by Capell.

would make] to make Capell, putting To amplify ... extremity in parentheses.

[4766] came there in] came there Theobald. eagerly came in Seymour conj., ending line 208 at big.

[4767] worst estate] worser state Theobald.

[4768] then] now Theobald.

[4769] that] had Theobald.

[4770] fasten'd] Theobald. fastened Qq.

bellow'd] bellowed Q_2.

[4771] threw him] Theobald. threw me Qq.

[4772] Told the most] Q_2. And told the Q_1 Q_3.

[4773] puissant] piersant S. Walker conj.

[4774] crack: twice] crack.—Twice Theobald. cracke twice, Qq.

trumpets] trumpet Johnson.

[4775] Follow'd] Theobald. Followed Qq.

[4776] Enter ...] Enter one with a bloody knife. Qq. Enter a Gentleman. Ff. Re-enter Officer hastily, with a bloody knife. Capell.

[4777] Gent.] Off. Capell.

[4778] SCENE IX. Pope.

O, help!] Omitted in Qq.

[4779] Edg. What kind ... knife?] Ff. Alb. What kind of helpe? what meanes that bloody knife? Qq. Edg. What means that bloody knife? Capell.

[4780] 'Tis] Ff. Its Q_1 Q_2. It's Q_3.

[4781] 'Tis ... dead!] Arranged as in Capell. One line, ending of—, in Qq. Prose in Ff. Rowe ends the first line heart.

[4782] It came] it came Qq. came Ff.

O, she's dead!] Omitted in Qq.

[4783] Who dead? speak, man.] F_1 F_2 F_3, substantially. Who man? speake. Q_1 Q_3. Who man, speake? Q_2. Who's dead? Speak man. F_4.

[4784] poisoned] poysoned Q_2. poyson'd Q_1 Ff Q_3.

hath confess'd] hath confest Q_2. has confest Q_1 Q_3. confesses Ff.

[4785] Edg. Here comes Kent.] Ff. Edg. Here comes Kent sir. Qq, after pity, line 233.

[4786] the] Ff. their Qq.

alive] live F_3 F_4.

dead.] F_3 F_4. dead; Q_1 Q_3. dead, Q_2. dead; F_1. dead i F_2.

[Exit Gentleman.] Edd. To Atten. Capell MS. Exit Gent. Malone, after pity, line 233. om. Qq Ff.

[4787] judgement] iustice Qq.

tremble,] Qq. tremble. Ff.

[4788] us] om. Q_1 Q_3.

Enter Kent.] Qq. Enter Kent (after Kent, line 230). Ff.

O, is this he?] F_1. Alb. O tis he, Qq. O is this she? F_2 F_3 F_4. O! it is he. Steevens (1793).

[4789] O, ... urges.] As in Ff. Two lines, the first ending allow, in Qq.

[4790] [To Kent. Hanmer.

[4791] Which] Ff. that Qq.

urges] urge Rowe.

[4792] I ... night:] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[4793] I am] Sir, I am Hanmer.

[4794] Alb.] Duke. Q_2.

[4795] Great ... Kent?] Arranged as in Q_2 Ff. Prose in Q_1 Q_3.

[4796] thing] things Q_1 Q_3.

forgot!] forgot. Q_1 Q_3. Forgot, Q_2 Ff.

[4797] [Pointing to the dead bodies. Hanmer.

[The ... in.] Qq. Transferred by Dyce to follow line 238. Gonerill and Regans bodies brought out. Ff, after line 231.

[4798] Yet ... herself.] As in Q_2 Ff. Prose in Q_1 Q_3.

[4799] poison'd] poysoned Q_2.

[4800] after] om. Q_3.

[4801] I pant ... time.] As in Q_2 Ff. Prose in Q_1 Q_3.

[4802] mine] Ff. my Qq.

[4803] Be brief in it, to the] (Be briefe in it) to' th' Ff. bee briefe, into the Q_1 Q_3. Be briefe, int toth' Q_2.

castle; for my writ] Theobald. castle, for my writ F_1. castle for my writ, Qq. (write, Q_3). chastle for my writ F_2. castle for my writ F_3 F_4.

[4804] Is] Q_2 Ff. tis Q_1. ti's Q_3. It's Anon. MS. See note (V).

and on] and Hanmer.

[4805] O, run!] O run, make haste. Hanmer.

[4806] Divided as in Q_2. The first line ends office? in Q_1 Ff Q_3.

[4807] To who] Qq F_1. To whom F_2 F_3 F_4.

hath] Qq. has Ff.

[4808] Well ... captain.] As in Ff. One line Q_1 Q_3.

sword, Give] sword the captaine, Give Q_2. sword, The captain—give Jennens.

[4809] Alb.] Q_1 Q_3. Duke. Q_2. Edg. Ff.

[Exit Edgar.] Malone. Exeunt Edgar, and Others. Capell. Exit Messenger. Theobald. om. Qq Ff.

[4810] He ... herself.] As in Ff. Prose in Q_1 Q_3. Four lines, ending me, ... lay ... despaire ... her selfe, in Q_2.

[4811] That ... herself.] Omitted in Q_1 Q_3.

[4812] [Edmund ... off.] Theobald om. Qq Ff.

Re-enter ...] Dyce. Enter ... Qq Ff.

Lear ...] Lear with Cordelia in his armes. Qq Ff (arms. F_4).

dead] Rowe.

Edgar ... following.] Edgar, and the rest, return. Capell. Edgar, Officer, and Others. Malone.

[4813] SCENE X. Pope.

Howl,] Four times in Qq. Thrice in Ff.

you] Qq F_3 F_4. your F_1 F_2.

stones] stone Pope.

[4814] She's] O, she is Q_1 Q_3.

[4815] If ... lives.] As in Q_2 Ff. One line in Q_1 Q_3.

[4816] or] Q_2 Ff. and Q_1 Q_3.

stone] shine Collier MS. same Singer conj.

[4817] Why, then she] she then Q_1 Q_3.

[4818] Edg. Or ... cease.] Omitted by Pope.

Or ... horror?] Q_1 Q_3. Or ... horror. Q_2 Ff. Or ... horror— Johnson. O ... horror! Capell. O image of true honour! Jennens.

Fall and cease.] Fair and chaste! Jennens.

[4819] This ... felt.] As in Q_2 Ff. Prose in Q_1 Q_3.

[4820] which] that Q_1 Q_3.

[4821] [Kneeling] Theobald.

O my] A my Qq. Ah! my Jennens.

[4822] A plague ... thee.] As in Q_2 Ff. Prose in Q_1 Q_3.

[4823] you,] your Q_2.

murderers,] Murderors, F_1. murtherers, F_2 F_3 F_4. murdrous Q_1 Q_3. murderous Q_2.

[4824] Ha!] om. Q_1 Q_3.

[4825] say'st] sayst Q_1 sayest Q_2. saist Ff. stay Q_3.

[4826] woman] Ff. women Qq.

[4827] Capt.] Cap. Qq. Gent. Ff. Off. Capell.

[4828] Did ... straight.] As in Ff. Prose in Q_1 Q_3. The lines end day, ... would ... now, ... you?... straight in Q_2.

[4829] I have] Q_2 Ff. I ha Q_1 Q_3. I've Pope.

with my good] Q_2 Ff. that with my Q_1 Q_3.

falchion] fauchion Q_1 Q_3. fauchon Q_2. faulchion Ff.

[4830] them] Qq. him Ff.

[4831] not o' the] not othe Q_2. not o' th' F_1. none o'th Q_1 Q_3. o'th F_2. o' th' F_3 F_4.

[4832] brag] Ff. bragd Qq.

and] Ff. or Qq.

[4833] we] you Jennens.

[4834] This is a dull sight] Ff. Omitted in Qq. This is a dull light Jennens. This sight of mine Is a dull sight Capell, ending line 282 at mine.

This is] This' S. Walker conj., reading lines 282-284 One ... servant Kent as two lines, the first ending sight.

you not] Ff. not you Qq.

[4835] The same, ... Caius?] Arranged as in Capell. One line in Qq. Two, the first ending Kent, in Ff.

[4836] He's a] He's F_2. 'Twas a Theobald.

you] om. Qq.

[4837] He'll] He'd Theobald.

[4838] man—] Pope. man. Qq Ff.

[4839] first] Ff. life Qq.

[4840] Have] Hane F_2.

follow'd] Ff. followed Qq.

steps.] steps— Rowe.

You are] You'r Q_2. You're ne Nicholson conj.

hither] hether Q_1.

[4841] Nor] 'Twas Pope.

Nor ... deadly.] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

else:] Qq Ff. else.— Delius, reading steps— in line 290 with Rowe.

all's] als Q_2.

deadly] dead Theobald.

[4842] fordone] fore-done Ff. foredoom'd Q_1 Q_3. foredoome Q_2.

[4843] Ay, so I think.] So I thinke too. Q_1 Q_3. So thinke I to. Q_2.

[4844] says] saies F_1. sayes F_2 F_3 F_4. sees Qq.

is it] Ff. it is Qq.

[4845] Enter....] Enter Captaine. Qq. Enter a Messenger. Ff (after him). Enter an Officer. Capell.

[4846] Capt.] Q_2. Cap. Q_1 Q_3. Mess. F_1. Mes. F_2 F_3 F_4. Off. Capell.

[4847] That's ... merited.] As in Ff. Prose in Qq.

[4848] here] om. Pope.

[4849] great] om. Qq.

[4850] [To Edgar and Kent] Malone. To Edg. Rowe. om. Qq Ff.

you, to your] to you, your Pope.

[4851] honours] honor Q_2.

[4852] All ... see!] Arranged as in Pope. The first line ends shall in Ff. Prose in Qq.

[4853] O, see, see!] Given to Lear by Hanmer.

[4854] And ... sir.] As in Ff. Prose in Qq.

[4855] poor fool] poor soul Anon. conj. (Gent. Mag. LX. 402). pure soot (i.e. sweet) Becket conj.

No, no, no] Ff. no, no Qq.

[4856] have] of Q_2.

[4857] Thou'lt] Ff. O thou wilt Qq.

[4858] Never] Five times in Ff. Thrice in Qq.

Never] No, never Seymour conj.

[4859] you] om. Q_1 Q_3.

[4860] sir. Do ... there!] sir, O, o, o, o, o. Q_1 Q_3. sir, O, o, o, o. Q_2.

[4861] on her,] F_2 F_3 F_4. on her? F_1.

look, her lips,] Johnson. Looke her lips, F_1. Looke on her lips, F_2. look on her lips, F_3 F_4.

[4862] [Dies.] H e dis. F_1 (Capell's copy). He dyes. F_2. He dies. F_3 F_4. om. Qq.

My lord, my lord!] my lord. F_4.

[4863] Kent.] Ff. Lear. Qq.

up,] up Qq F_1. to F_2 F_3 F_4.

[4864] Vex ... longer.] As in Ff. The lines end passe, ... wracke ... longer in Qq.

[4865] hates him] Q_2 Ff. hates him much Q_1 Q_3.

[4866] rack] F_4. wracke Qq F_1 F_2. wrack F_3.

tough] rough Q_3 and Pope. See note (XX).

[4867] He] Ff. O he Qq.

[4868] He ... life.] om. Seymour conj.

[4869] Alb.] Ff. Duke. Qq.

[4870] Is] Ff. Is to Qq.

[To Kent and Edgar] Johnson.

[4871] realm] kingdome Qq.

gored state] gor'd state Ff. good state Q_1. goard state Q_2. good Q_3.

[4872] Kent. I ... long.] om. Jennens conj.

[4873] calls me, I] cals, and I Qq.

[Dyes. F_2. Dies. F_3 F_4. om. Qq F_1.

[4874] Alb.] Pope. Duke. Qq. Edg. Ff.

[4875] hath] Ff. have Qq.

[4876] nor live] live e'er Hanmer.

[Exeunt ... march.] Ff. Omitted in Qq.

NOTES.

NOTE I.

ACT I. SCENE 1. The acts and scenes are marked throughout in the Folios, but not in the Quartos.

NOTE II.

I. 1. 25, 26. There is a curious example of careless printing here in the third Quarto, which reads:

'Bast. No my Lord.

Glo. My services to your Lordship.

unrable friend.

Kent. I must loue you &c.'

NOTE III.

I. 1. 36. 'and tis our fast intent.' 'This,' says Warburton, 'is an interpolation of Mr Lewis Theobald, for want of knowing the meaning of the old reading in the Quarto of 1608, and first folio of 1623; where we find it—and 'tis our FIRST intent, which is as Shakespear wrote it.' Warburton's error was corrected by Johnson.

NOTE IV.

I. 1. 80-84. The reading given in the text is that of the Folios, except as otherwise stated in the foot note. The first Quarto, which is followed, except in the spelling of a word or two, by the rest, has:

'but now our ioy,

Although the last, not least in our deere loue,

What can you say to win a third, more opulent

Then your sisters.'

Pope reads:

'Now our joy,

Although our last, not least; to whose young love,

The vines of France, and milk of Burgundy,

Strive to be int'rest: what say you to draw

A third, more opulent than your sisters? speak.'

Capell:

'Now, our joy,

Although the last, not least in our dear love,

What can you say, to win a third more opulent

Than your two sisters?'

Malone first gave the passage exactly as it stands in our text.

NOTE V.

I. 1. 114. This and other anonymous conjectures are found in MS. in an imperfect copy of the second Quarto of 1608, now in the British Museum (C. 34. k. 17). Besides those which we have quoted there are many others made by the MS. corrector which agree either with the other Quartos or with the Folios.

NOTE VI.

I. 1. 220. Hanmer, adopting Rowe's alteration, reads the whole passage thus:

'Sure th' offence

Must be of such unnatural degree,

As monsters it; or your fore-voucht affection

Could not fall into taint; which to believe

Of her must be a faith reason without

A miracle should never plant in me.'

The next lines he also alters thus:

'Cor. I yet beseech your Majesty, (if so

I want that glib and oily art, to speak

And purpose not, since what I well intend,

I'll do't before I speak) that you make known &c.'

NOTE VII.

I. 4. 225-228. In this passage Rowe followed the Folios. Pope introduced some of the lines of the Quartos, making verse of them thus:

'Lear's shadow? I would learn, for by the marks

Of sovereignty, of knowledge, and of reason,

I should be false persuaded I had daughters.

Your name, fair gentlewoman?'

Theobald and Hanmer followed Pope. So did Warburton, except that in the second line he read 'Of sovereignty of knowledge, &c.' Johnson and Capell followed the Folios. Steevens in his edition of 1773 read as in the text, but in 1778 recurred to the reading of Pope: except that he transferred 'Lear's shadow?' to the end of the previous line, and for 'learn' read 'learn that.' Mr Dyce, in his first edition, arranged lines 225-228 thus:

'Lear. I would learn that; for by the marks of sovereignty,

Knowledge, and reason,

I should be false persuaded I had daughters.'

In his second edition he reads:

'Lear. I would learn that; for, by the marks of sovereignty,

Knowledge, and reason, I should be false-persuaded

I had daughters.'

Mr Staunton reads 'I would ... reason' as prose, and the next line as verse. He suggests that "possibly the meaning may be restored by simply omitting the comma after sovereignty, 'by the marks of sovereignty knowledge and reason,' i.e. of supreme or sovereign knowledge, &c." But his later conjecture is that for 'Of sovereignty, of knowledge' we should read 'Of sovereignly knowledge.' Mr Keightley, adopting some of the readings of the Quartos, arranges the whole passage as follows:

'Lear. Does any here know me?—Why, this is not Lear.

Does Lear walk thus? speak thus? Where are his eyes?

Either his notion weakens, or his discernings

Are lethargied.—Sleeping or waking?—Ha!

Sure 'tis not so.—Who is it that can tell me

Who I am?

Fool. Lear's shadow,—

Lear. I would learn that; for by

The marks of sovereignty, knowledge, and reason,

I should be false persuaded I had daughters.'

Becket proposes:

'Who is it that can tell me who I am?

Lear's shadow? I would learn that; for by the marks

Of sov'reignty, I should be false persuaded.—

Of knowledge and of reason I had daughters.'

NOTE VIII.

I. 4. 338. In the imperfect copy of Q_2 in the British Museum 'attaskt for' was the original reading, but the first two letters of the word have been erased. In II. 1. 123, 'lest,' the original reading, has been altered to 'best.'

NOTE IX.

II. 1. 76. We take this opportunity of stating that we have not thought it worth while, either in this play or in Hamlet, to notice the few inaccuracies which occur in Steevens's reprints.

NOTE X.

II. 2. 40. Mr Dyce first suggested that 'Part' was intended as a stage-direction.

NOTE XI.

II. 2. 136-142. The first Quarto, followed substantially by the others, reads here:

'His fault is much, and the good King his Master

Will checke him for't; your purposd low correction

Is such, as basest and temnest wretches for pilfrings

And most common trespasses are punisht with,

The King must take it ill, that hee's so slightly valued

In his Messenger, should haue him thus restrained.'

The Folios have only the following lines:

'The King his Master, needs must take it ill

That he so slightly valued in his Messenger,

Should haue him thus restrained.'

In the last line the fourth Folio reads 'this' for 'thus.' Rowe followed the Folios. Pope first introduced the lines from the Quartos, and gave the arrangement adopted in our text. In the third and the last lines he introduced readings which we have given in the foot notes. The passage was first given in Capell's edition as it actually stands in our text.

NOTE XII.

II. 2. 163. The first Quarto here reads:

'Of my obscured course, and shall finde time

From this enormious state, seeking to giue

Losses their remedies, all weary &c.'

The other Quartos differ only in spelling. The first Folio, followed substantially by the rest, has:

'Of my obscured course. And shall finde time

From this enormous State, seeking to giue

Losses their remedies. All weary &c.'

Rowe reads:

'Of my obscured course. I shall find time

For this enormous State, and seek to give

Losses their Remedies. All weary &c.'

Pope followed him, but restored 'From' in the second line, and this reading was silently adopted by Theobald and Warburton, and by Hanmer in his margin. Johnson thinks the passage very obscure if not corrupt. Jennens prints it as follows:

[Reading parts of the letter.

'Of my obscured course—and shall find time

From this enormous state—seeking to give

Losses their remedies.—All weary &c.'

Steevens (1773) gives as his own conjecture what Jennens had already published.

Singer (ed. 1) read thus:

'Of my obscured course; and shall find time

From this enormous state,—seeking,—to give

Losses their remedies:—All weary &c.'

Dr Delius adopts nearly the same punctuation:

'Of my obscured course; and shall find time

From this enormous state,—seeking to give

Losses their remedies—All weary &c.'

He supposes that Kent overcome with drowsiness leaves his sentences unfinished. Mr Bailey (On the Received Text of Shakespeare's Dramatic Writings, &c. II. 91) proposes to read:

'and shall find balm

For this enormous state, seeking to give

Losses their remedies &c.'

NOTE XIII.

III. 1. 53-55. The first Folio, followed substantially by the rest, reads thus:

'That when we have found the King, in which your pain

That way, Ile this: He that first lights on him,

Holla the other.'

The Quartos thus:

'That when we have found the King,

Ile this way, you that, he that first lights

On him, hollow the other.'

Pope:

'That, when we have found the King, (in which you take

That way, I this:) he that first lights on him,

Hollow the other.'

Hanmer follows Pope, reading however 'for which' instead of 'in which' in the first line. Steevens, in his edition of 1773, reads with the Quartos, adopting the following strange punctuation, and dividing the lines thus:

'That when we have found the King. I'll this way,

You that: he that first lights on him,

Halloo the other.'

NOTE XIV.

III. 2. 2. Both Capell and Jennens agree in giving 'Your' as the reading of the Quartos in this line for 'You,' but Capell's own copies and all others that we have seen read 'You.'

NOTE XV.

III. 4. 112, 113. In the imperfect copy of the second Quarto in the British Museum, it is impossible to say whether the reading was & the pin-queues or the pin-queues, on account of an erasure by which it is made he pin-queues. Jennens quotes it as the pin-queues, and this is the reading of the copy in the Bodleian Library which we have called 'Bodl. 1.'

NOTE XVI.

III. 6. 101-114. Every editor from Theobald downwards, except Hanmer, has reprinted this speech from the Quartos. In deference to this consensus of authority we have retained it, though, as it seems to us, internal evidence is conclusive against the supposition that the lines were written by Shakespeare.

NOTE XVII.

IV. 1. 12. These conjectures of Hanmer's are derived from a letter of his to Warburton, still unpublished, which is now in the British Museum (Egerton, 1957).

NOTE XVIII.

IV. 6. 196-200. The first Quarto has in this passage:

'... water-pottes, I and laying Autumnes dust.

Gent. Good Sir.

Lear. I will dye brauely like a Bridegroome. What, I will bee

iouiall: Come, come, I am a King my masters, know you that?'

The second Quarto omits 'Gent. Good Sir.'

The first Folio has:

'To vse his eyes for Garden water-pots. I wil die brauely,

Like a smugge Bridegroome. What? I will be Iouiall:

Come, come, I am a King, Masters, know you that?'

The second and following Folios put a full stop at 'King.'

Pope combines the readings of the Folios and second Quarto thus:

'To use his eyes for garden-water-pots,

And laying autumn's dust. I will die bravely,

Like a smug bridegroom. What? I will be jovial:

Come, come, I am a King. My masters know you that?'

He is followed by Theobald, Hanmer, Warburton and Johnson.

Capell altered the last line thus:

'Come, come;

I am a king, my masters; Know you that?'

The arrangement adopted in our text is that which Steevens gave in his edition of 1778. Jennens, from whom Steevens borrowed as usual without acknowledgement, had given in 1770 the same arrangement, omitting the word 'smug.' In his edition of 1793 Steevens reads 'Ay and for laying autumn's dust,' making 'Ay ... sir' one line.

Mr Collier prints 'I will die bravely;' in a line by itself, adopting in the former line the arrangement of Steevens, and in what follows that of the Folios. Keightley reads 'Ay, and laying autumn's dust ... bravely' as one line.

NOTE XIX.

V. 1. 26. 'Not bolds the king' is usually interpreted as an elliptical phrase for 'Not as it emboldens the king.' This is however a very harsh construction, and the word 'bolds' occurs nowhere else in Shakespeare with this meaning, though we have, according to the most probable reading, 'dear'd,' for 'endear'd,' in Antony and Cleopatra, I. 4. 44. Possibly these words are corrupt and a line has dropped out before them. Albany ought to say something of this kind: 'I should be ready to resist any mere invader, but the presence in the invader's camp of the king and other Britons, who have just cause of enmity to us, dashes my courage.'

NOTE XX.

V. 3. 315. Capell reads 'rough' in his text, believing that he had the authority of the first Quarto for it; but in his own copy and that of the Duke of Devonshire, the reading is plainly 'tough,' though the 't' is broken.

OTHELLO.

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ[D].

- DUKE OF VENICE.

- BRABANTIO, a senator.

- Other Senators.

- GRATIANO, brother to Brabantio.

- LODOVICO, kinsman to Brabantio.

- OTHELLO, a noble Moor in the service of the Venetian state.

- CASSIO, his lieutenant.

- IAGO, his ancient.

- RODERIGO, a Venetian gentleman[E].

- MONTANO, Othello's predecessor in the government of Cyprus.

- Clown, servant to Othello.

- DESDEMONA, daughter to Brabantio and wife to Othello.

- EMILIA, wife to Iago.

- BIANCA, mistress to Cassio[F].

Sailor, Messenger, Herald, Officers, Gentlemen, Musicians, and Attendants.

SCENE[G]: Venice: a seaport in Cyprus.

[D] DRAMATIS PERSONÆ.] THE NAMES OF THE ACTORS. At the end of the play in F_1 F_2 F_3 (THE ACTORS NAMES. F_2 F_3). THE ACTORS NAMES. Prefixed to the play first in F_4.

[E] RODERIGO....] RODORIGO, a gull'd Gentleman. Ff.

[F] mistress to Cassio.] a Curtezan. Ff.

[G] SCENE:] First given by Rowe.

THE TRAGEDY OF

OTHELLO,

THE MOOR OF VENICE.

ACT I.

SCENE I. Venice. A street.

Enter RODERIGO and IAGO.[4877]

Rod. Tush, never tell me; I take it much unkindly[4878]

That thou, Iago, who hast had my purse[4879]

As if the strings were thine, shouldst know of this.[4880]

Iago. 'Sblood, but you will not hear me:[4881][4882][4883]

If ever I did dream of such a matter,[4882][4884] 5

Abhor me.[4882][4884][4885]

Rod. Thou told'st me thou didst hold him in thy hate.[4886]

Iago. Despise me, if I do not. Three great ones of the city,[4887][4888][4889]

In personal suit to make me his lieutenant,[4888]

Off-capp'd to him: and, by the faith of man,[4888][4890] 10

I know my price, I am worth no worse a place:[4888][4891]

But he, as loving his own pride and purposes,[4888][4892]

Evades them, with a bombast circumstance[4888][4893]

Horribly stuff'd with epithets of war;[4888][4894]

And, in conclusion,[4888][4895][4896] 15

Nonsuits my mediators; for, 'Certes,' says he,[4896][4897]

'I have already chose my officer.'[4896][4898][4899]

And what was he?[4896][4898]

Forsooth, a great arithmetician,[4896]

One Michael Cassio, a Florentine,[4900] 20

A fellow almost damn'd in a fair wife;[4900][4901]

That never set a squadron in the field,

Nor the division of a battle knows

More than a spinster; unless the bookish theoric,[4902]

Wherein the toged consuls can propose[4903] 25

As masterly as he: mere prattle without practice[4904]

Is all his soldiership. But he, sir, had the election:[4905]

And I, of whom his eyes had seen the proof

At Rhodes, at Cyprus and on other grounds[4906]

Christian and heathen, must be be-lee'd and calm'd[4907] 30

By debitor and creditor: this counter-caster,[4908]

He, in good time, must his lieutenant be,

And I—God bless the mark!—his Moorship's ancient.[4909]

Rod. By heaven, I rather would have been his hangman.

Iago. Why, there's no remedy; 'tis the curse of service,[4910] 35

Preferment goes by letter and affection,[4911]

And not by old gradation, where each second[4912]

Stood heir to the first. Now, sir, be judge yourself[4913]

Whether I in any just term am affined[4914]

To love the Moor.

Rod. I would not follow him then. 40

Iago. O, sir, content you;

I follow him to serve my turn upon him:

We cannot all be masters, nor all masters

Cannot be truly follow'd. You shall mark[4915]

Many a duteous and knee-crooking knave, 45

That doting on his own obsequious bondage

Wears out his time, much like his master's ass,

For nought but provender, and when he's old, cashier'd:[4916]

Whip me such honest knaves. Others there are[4917]

Who, trimm'd in forms and visages of duty,[4917][4918] 50

Keep yet their hearts attending on themselves,[4917]

And throwing but shows of service on their lords[4917]

Do well thrive by them, and when they have lined their coats[4919][4920]

Do themselves homage: these fellows have some soul,[4919][4921]

And such a one do I profess myself.[4922] 55

For, sir,[4923]

It is as sure as you are Roderigo,

Were I the Moor, I would not be Iago:

In following him, I follow but myself;

Heaven is my judge, not I for love and duty,[4924] 60

But seeming so, for my peculiar end:[4924]

For when my outward action doth demonstrate[4925]

The native act and figure of my heart

In compliment extern, 'tis not long after[4926]

But I will wear my heart upon my sleeve 65

For daws to peck at: I am not what I am.[4927]

Rod. What a full fortune does the thick-lips owe,[4928]

If he can carry't thus![4929]

Iago. Call up her father,[4930]

Rouse him: make after him, poison his delight,[4930]

Proclaim him in the streets; incense her kinsmen,[4931] 70

And, though he in a fertile climate dwell,[4932]

Plague him with flies: though that his joy be joy,

Yet throw such changes of vexation on't[4933]

As it may lose some colour.

Rod. Here is her father's house; I'll call aloud. 75

Iago. Do; with like timorous accent and dire yell[4934]

As when, by night and negligence, the fire[4935]

Is spied in populous cities.[4936]

Rod. What, ho, Brabantio! Signior Brabantio, ho!

Iago. Awake! what, ho, Brabantio! thieves! thieves! thieves![4937] 80

Look to your house, your daughter and your bags![4938]

Thieves! thieves![4939]

BRABANTIO appears above, at a window.[4940]

Bra. What is the reason of this terrible summons?[4941]

What is the matter there?[4941]

Rod. Signior, is all your family within? 85

Iago. Are your doors lock'd?[4942]

Bra. Why, wherefore ask you this?

Iago. 'Zounds, sir, you're robb'd; for shame, put on your gown;[4943]

Your heart is burst, you have lost half your soul;[4944]

Even now, now, very now, an old black ram[4945]

Is tupping your white ewe. Arise, arise; 90

Awake the snorting citizens with the bell,

Or else the devil will make a grandsire of you:[4946]

Arise, I say.[4946][4947]

Bra. What, have you lost your wits?

Rod. Most reverend signior, do you know my voice?

Bra. Not I: what are you? 95

Rod. My name is Roderigo.

Bra. The worser welcome:[4948]

I have charged thee not to haunt about my doors:[4949]

In honest plainness thou hast heard me say

My daughter is not for thee; and now, in madness,[4950]

Being full of supper and distempering draughts, 100

Upon malicious bravery, dost thou come[4951]

To start my quiet.[4952]

Rod. Sir, sir, sir,—[4953]

Bra. But thou must needs be sure

My spirit and my place have in them power[4954]

To make this bitter to thee.

Rod. Patience, good sir.[4955] 105

Bra. What tell'st thou me of robbing? this is Venice;[4956][4957]

My house is not a grange.[4956]

Rod. Most grave Brabantio,

In simple and pure soul I come to you.

Iago. 'Zounds, sir, you are one of those that will not[4958]

serve God, if the devil bid you. Because we come to do 110

you service and you think we are ruffians, you'll have your[4959]

daughter covered with a Barbary horse; you'll have your

nephews neigh to you; you'll have coursers for cousins,

and gennets for germans.[4960]

Bra. What profane wretch art thou? 115

Iago. I am one, sir, that comes to tell you your daughter[4961]

and the Moor are now making the beast with two backs.[4962]

Bra. Thou art a villain.

Iago. You are—a senator.[4963]

Bra. This thou shalt answer; I know thee, Roderigo.[4964]

Rod. Sir, I will answer any thing. But, I beseech you,[4965] 120

If't be your pleasure and most wise consent,[4966]

As partly I find it is, that your fair daughter,[4966]

At this odd-even and dull watch o' the night,[4966][4967]

Transported with no worse nor better guard[4966][4968]

But with a knave of common hire, a gondolier,[4966][4969] 125

To the gross clasps of a lascivious Moor,—[4966]

If this be known to you, and your allowance,[4966][4970]

We then have done you bold and saucy wrongs;[4966][4971]

But if you know not this, my manners tell me[4966]

We have your wrong rebuke. Do not believe[4966] 130

That, from the sense of all civility,[4966]

I thus would play and trifle with your reverence:[4966]

Your daughter, if you have not given her leave,[4966]

I say again, hath made a gross revolt,[4966]

Tying her duty, beauty, wit and fortunes,[4966][4972] 135

In an extravagant and wheeling stranger[4966][4972][4973]

Of here and every where. Straight satisfy yourself:[4966][4974]

If she be in her chamber or your house,[4975]

Let loose on me the justice of the state

For thus deluding you.[4976]

Bra. Strike on the tinder, ho! 140

Give me a taper! call up all my people!

This accident is not unlike my dream:

Belief of it oppresses me already.

Light, I say! light!     [Exit above.[4977]

Iago. Farewell; for I must leave you:

It seems not meet, nor wholesome to my place,[4978] 145

To be produced—as, if I stay, I shall—[4979]

Against the Moor: for I do know, the state,

However this may gall him with some check,[4980]

Cannot with safety cast him; for he's embark'd[4981]

With such loud reason to the Cyprus wars,[4982] 150

Which even now stand in act, that, for their souls,[4983]

Another of his fathom they have none[4984]

To lead their business: in which regard,[4985]

Though I do hate him as I do hell-pains,[4986]

Yet for necessity of present life, 155

I must show out a flag and sign of love,[4987]

Which is indeed but sign. That you shall surely find him,[4987][4988]

Lead to the Sagittary the raised search;[4989]

And there will I be with him. So farewell.     [Exit.

Enter, below, BRABANTIO, in his night-gown, and Servants with torches.

Bra. It is too true an evil: gone she is;[4990] 160

And what's to come of my despised time[4991]

Is nought but bitterness. Now, Roderigo,[4992]

Where didst thou see her? O unhappy girl!

With the Moor, say'st thou? Who would be a father![4993]

How didst thou know 'twas she? O, she deceives me[4994] 165

Past thought! What said she to you? Get more tapers.[4995]

Raise all my kindred. Are they married, think you?[4996]

Rod. Truly, I think they are.[4997]

Bra. O heaven! How got she out? O treason of the blood![4998]

Fathers, from hence trust not your daughters' minds 170

By what you see them act. Is there not charms[4999]

By which the property of youth and maidhood[5000]

May be abused? Have you not read, Roderigo,

Of some such thing?

Rod. Yes, sir, I have indeed.[5001]

Bra. Call up my brother. O, would you had had her![5002] 175

Some one way, some another. Do you know

Where we may apprehend her and the Moor?

Rod. I think I can discover him, if you please

To get good guard and go along with me.

Bra. Pray you, lead on. At every house I'll call;[5003] 180

I may command at most. Get weapons, ho!

And raise some special officers of night.[5004]

On, good Roderigo; I'll deserve your pains.     [Exeunt.[5005]

SCENE II. Another street.

Enter OTHELLO, IAGO, and Attendants with torches.[5006]

Iago. Though in the trade of war I have slain men,

Yet do I hold it very stuff o' the conscience[5007]

To do no contrived murder: I lack iniquity[5008]

Sometimes to do me service: nine or ten times[5009]

I had thought to have yerk'd him here under the ribs.[5010] 5

Oth. 'Tis better as it is.[5011]

Iago. Nay, but he prated

And spoke such scurvy and provoking terms[5012]

Against your honour,[8, 9]

That, with the little godliness I have,[5013]

I did full hard forbear him. But I pray you, sir,[5014] 10

Are you fast married? Be assured of this,[5015]

That the magnifico is much beloved,

And hath in his effect a voice potential

As double as the duke's: he will divorce you,[5016]

Or put upon you what restraint and grievance[5017] 15

The law, with all his might to enforce it on,[5018]

Will give him cable.[5019]

Oth. Let him do his spite:

My services, which I have done the signiory,[5020]

Shall out-tongue his complaints. 'Tis yet to know—

Which, when I know that boasting is an honour,[5021] 20

I shall promulgate—I fetch my life and being[5022]

From men of royal siege, and my demerits[5023]

May speak unbonneted to as proud a fortune[5024]

As this that I have reach'd: for know, Iago,

But that I love the gentle Desdemona, 25

I would not my unhoused free condition

Put into circumscription and confine

For the sea's worth. But, look! what lights come yond?[5025]

Iago. Those are the raised father and his friends:[5026]

You were best go in.

Oth. Not I; I must be found: 30

My parts, my title and my perfect soul,[5027]

Shall manifest me rightly. Is it they?[5028]

Iago. By Janus, I think no.

Enter CASSIO, and certain Officers with torches.[5029]

Oth. The servants of the duke, and my lieutenant.[5030]

The goodness of the night upon you, friends![5031] 35

What is the news?[5032]

Cas. The duke does greet you, general,

And he requires your haste-post-haste appearance,[5033]

Even on the instant.

Oth. What is the matter, think you?[5034]

Cas. Something from Cyprus, as I may divine;

It is a business of some heat: the galleys 40

Have sent a dozen sequent messengers[5035]

This very night at one another’s heels;[5036]

And many of the consuls, raised and met,[5037]

Are at the duke’s already: you have been hotly call'd for;[5038]

When, being not at your lodging to be found, 45

The senate hath sent about three several quests[5039]

To search you out.

Oth. 'Tis well I am found by you.

I will but spend a word here in the house,[5040]

And go with you.     [Exit.[5040][5041]

Cas. Ancient, what makes he here?

Iago. Faith, he to-night hath boarded a land carack:[5042] 50

If it prove lawful prize, he's made for ever.

Cas. I do not understand.

Iago. He's married.

Cas. To who?

Re-enter OTHELLO.[5043]

Iago. Marry, to—Come, captain, will you go?

Oth. Have with you.[5044]

Cas. Here comes another troop to seek for you.

Iago. It is Brabantio: general, be advised;[5045] 55

He comes to bad intent.

Enter BRABANTIO, RODERIGO, and Officers with torches and weapons.

Oth. Holla! stand there![5046]

Rod. Signior, it is the Moor.

Bra. Down with him, thief!

[They draw on both sides.[5047]

Iago. You, Roderigo! come, sir, I am for you.

Oth. Keep up your bright swords, for the dew will rust them.[5048][5049]

Good signior, you shall more command with years[5048] 60

Than with your weapons.[5048]

Bra. O thou foul thief, where hast thou stow'd my daughter?[5050]

Damn'd as thou art, thou hast enchanted her;[5051]

For I'll refer me to all things of sense,[5052]

If she in chains of magic were not bound,[5053] 65

Whether a maid so tender, fair and happy,

So opposite to marriage that she shunn'd

The wealthy curled darlings of our nation,[5054]

Would ever have, to incur a general mock,[5055]

Run from her guardage to the sooty bosom[5056] 70

Of such a thing as thou, to fear, not to delight.[5057]

Judge me the world, if 'tis not gross in sense[5058][5059]

That thou hast practised on her with foul charms,[5058]

Abused her delicate youth with drugs or minerals[5058][5060]

That weaken motion: I'll have 't disputed on;[5058][5061] 75

'Tis probable, and palpable to thinking.[5058][5062]

I therefore apprehend and do attach thee[5058]

For an abuser of the world, a practiser[5063]

Of arts inhibited and out of warrant.[5064]

Lay hold upon him: if he do resist, 80

Subdue him at his peril.

Oth. Hold your hands,[5065]

Both you of my inclining and the rest:

Were it my cue to fight, I should have known it[5066]

Without a prompter. Where will you that I go[5067]

To answer this your charge?[5068]

Bra. To prison, till fit time[5069] 85

Of law and course of direct session[5069]

Call thee to answer.[5070]

Oth. What if I do obey?

How may the duke be therewith satisfied,

Whose messengers are here about my side,

Upon some present business of the state 90

To bring me to him?[5071]

First Off. 'Tis true, most worthy signior;

The duke's in council, and your noble self,

I am sure, is sent for.[5072]

Bra. How! the duke in council!

In this time of the night! Bring him away:[5073]

Mine's not an idle cause: the duke himself, 95

Or any of my brothers of the state,

Cannot but feel this wrong as 'twere their own;

For if such actions may have passage free,

Bond-slaves and pagans shall our statesmen be.     [Exeunt.[5074]

SCENE III. A council-chamber.

The Duke and Senators sitting at a table; Officers attending.[5075]

Duke. There is no composition in these news[5076]

That gives them credit.

First Sen. Indeed they are disproportion'd;[5077]

My letters say a hundred and seven galleys.[5078]

Duke. And mine, a hundred and forty.

Sec. Sen. And mine, two hundred:[5079]

But though they jump not on a just account,— 5

As in these cases, where the aim reports,[5080]

'Tis oft with difference,—yet do they all confirm[5081]

A Turkish fleet, and bearing up to Cyprus.

Duke. Nay, it is possible enough to judgement:

I do not so secure me in the error,[5082] 10

But the main article I do approve[5083]

In fearful sense.

Sailor. [Within] What, ho! what, ho! what, ho![5084]

First Off. A messenger from the galleys.

Enter Sailor.[5085]

Duke. Now, what's the business?

Sail. The Turkish preparation makes for Rhodes;

So was I bid report here to the state[5086] 15

By Signior Angelo.[5086][5087]

Duke. How say you by this change?

First Sen. This cannot be,[5088]

By no assay of reason: 'tis a pageant[5088]

To keep us in false gaze. When we consider

The importancy of Cyprus to the Turk, 20

And let ourselves again but understand

That as it more concerns the Turk than Rhodes,

So may he with more facile question bear it,[5089]

For that it stands not in such warlike brace,[5090]

But altogether lacks the abilities[5090][5091] 25

That Rhodes is dress'd in: if we make thought of this,[5090][5092]

We must not think the Turk is so unskilful[5090]

To leave that latest which concerns him first,[5090]

Neglecting an attempt of ease and gain,[5090][5093]

To wake and wage a danger profitless.[5090][5093] 30

Duke. Nay, in all confidence, he's not for Rhodes.[5094]

First Off. Here is more news.

Enter a Messenger.[5095]

Mess. The Ottomites, reverend and gracious,

Steering with due course toward the isle of Rhodes,

Have there injointed them with an after fleet.[5096] 35

First Sen. Ay, so I thought. How many, as you guess?[5097]

Mess. Of thirty sail: and now they do re-stem[5098]

Their backward course, bearing with frank appearance

Their purposes toward Cyprus. Signior Montano,[5099]

Your trusty and most valiant servitor, 40

With his free duty recommends you thus,[5100]

And prays you to believe him.[5101]

Duke. 'Tis certain then for Cyprus.

Marcus Luccicos, is not he in town?[5102]

First Sen. He's now in Florence. 45

Duke. Write from us to him; post-post-haste dispatch.[5103]

First Sen. Here comes Brabantio and the valiant Moor.

Enter BRABANTIO, Othello, IAGO, RODERIGO, and Officers.[5104]

Duke. Valiant Othello, we must straight employ you[5105]

Against the general enemy Ottoman.

[To Brabantio] I did not see you; welcome, gentle signior;[5106] 50

We lack'd your counsel and your help to-night.[5107]

Bra. So did I yours. Good your grace, pardon me;

Neither my place nor aught I heard of business[5108]

Hath raised me from my bed, nor doth the general care[5109]

Take hold on me; for my particular grief[5110] 55

Is of so flood-gate and o'erbearing nature

That it engluts and swallows other sorrows,[5111]

And it is still itself.[5112]

Duke. Why, what's the matter?

Bra. My daughter! O, my daughter!

All. Dead?

Bra. Ay, to me;[5113]

She is abused, stol'n from me and corrupted 60

By spells and medicines bought of mountebanks;

For nature so preposterously to err,[5114]

Being not deficient, blind, or lame of sense,[5115]

Sans witchcraft could not.[5116]

Duke. Whoe'er he be that in this foul proceeding 65

Hath thus beguiled your daughter of herself

And you of her, the bloody book of law

You shall yourself read in the bitter letter

After your own sense, yea, though our proper son[5117]

Stood in your action.

Bra. Humbly I thank your grace. 70

Here is the man, this Moor; whom now, it seems,

Your special mandate for the state-affairs

Hath hither brought.

All. We are very sorry for't.[5118]

Duke. [To Othello] What in your own part can you say to this?[5119]

Bra. Nothing, but this is so. 75

Oth. Most potent, grave, and reverend signiors,

My very noble and approved good masters,

That I have ta'en away this old man's daughter,

It is most true; true, I have married her:

The very head and front of my offending 80

Hath this extent, no more. Rude am I in my speech,[5120]

And little blest with the soft phrase of peace;[5121]

For since these arms of mine had seven years' pith,

Till now some nine moons wasted, they have used[5122]

Their dearest action in the tented field; 85

And little of this great world can I speak,

More than pertains to feats of broil and battle;[5123]

And therefore little shall I grace my cause

In speaking for myself. Yet, by your gracious patience,[5124]

I will a round unvarnish'd tale deliver[5125] 90

Of my whole course of love; what drugs, what charms,[5126]

What conjuration and what mighty magic—

For such proceeding I am charged withal—[5127]

I won his daughter.[5128]

Bra. A maiden never bold;[5129]

Of spirit so still and quiet that her motion[5129] 95

Blush'd at herself; and she—in spite of nature,[5130]

Of years, of country, credit, every thing—

To fall in love with what she fear'd to look on![5131]

It is a judgement maim'd and most imperfect[5132]

That will confess perfection so could err[5133] 100

Against all rules of nature; and must be driven

To find out practices of cunning hell,

Why this should be. I therefore vouch again,

That with some mixtures powerful o'er the blood,

Or with some dram conjured to this effect, 105

He wrought upon her.

Duke. To vouch this, is no proof,[5134]

Without more certain and more overt test[5135]

Than these thin habits and poor likelihoods[5136]

Of modern seeming do prefer against him.[5137]

First Sen. But, Othello, speak:[5138] 110

Did you by indirect and forced courses

Subdue and poison this young maid's affections?

Or came it by request, and such fair question

As soul to soul affordeth?

Oth. I do beseech you,[5139]

Send for the lady to the Sagittary,[5140] 115

And let her speak of me before her father:

If you do find me foul in her report,

The trust, the office I do hold of you,[5141]

Not only take away, but let your sentence

Even fall upon my life.[5142]

Duke. Fetch Desdemona hither. 120

Oth. Ancient, conduct them; you best know the place.

[Exeunt Iago and Attendants.[5143]

And till she come, as truly as to heaven[5144]

I do confess the vices of my blood,[5145]

So justly to your grave ears I'll present

How I did thrive in this fair lady's love 125

And she in mine.

Duke. Say it, Othello.

Oth. Her father loved me, oft invited me,

Still question'd me the story of my life[5146]

From year to year, the battles, sieges, fortunes,[5147] 130

That I have pass'd.[5148]

I ran it through, even from my boyish days[5149]

To the very moment that he bade me tell it:

Wherein I spake of most disastrous chances,[5150]

Of moving accidents by flood and field,[5151] 135

Of hair-breadth 'scapes i' the imminent deadly breach,[5152]

Of being taken by the insolent foe,

And sold to slavery, of my redemption thence,[5153]

And portance in my travels' history:[5154]

Wherein of antres vast and deserts idle,[5155] 140

Rough quarries, rocks, and hills whose heads touch heaven,[5156]

It was my hint to speak,—such was the process;[5157][5158][5159]

And of the Cannibals that each other eat,[5158][5160]

The Anthropophagi, and men whose heads[5158][5161]

Do grow beneath their shoulders. This to hear[5158][5162] 145

Would Desdemona seriously incline:

But still the house-affairs would draw her thence;[5163]

Which ever as she could with haste dispatch,[5164]

She'ld come again, and with a greedy ear

Devour up my discourse: which I observing, 150

Took once a pliant hour, and found good means

To draw from her a prayer of earnest heart

That I would all my pilgrimage dilate,

Whereof by parcels she had something heard,[5165]

But not intentively: I did consent,[5166] 155

And often did beguile her of her tears

When I did speak of some distressful stroke[5167]

That my youth suffer'd. My story being done,[5168]

She gave me for my pains a world of sighs:[5169]

She swore, in faith, 'twas strange, 'twas passing strange;[5170] 160

'Twas pitiful, 'twas wondrous pitiful:

She wish'd she had not heard it, yet she wish'd

That heaven had made her such a man: she thank'd me,[5171]

And bade me, if I had a friend that loved her,

I should but teach him how to tell my story, 165

And that would woo her. Upon this hint I spake:[5172]

She loved me for the dangers I had pass'd,[5173]

And I loved her that she did pity them.

This only is the witchcraft I have used.

Here comes the lady; let her witness it. 170

Enter DESDEMONA, IAGO, and Attendants.[5174]

Duke. I think this tale would win my daughter too.[5175]

Good Brabantio,[5176]

Take up this mangled matter at the best:[5176]

Men do their broken weapons rather use

Than their bare hands.

Bra. I pray you, hear her speak: 175

If she confess that she was half the wooer,

Destruction on my head, if my bad blame[5177]

Light on the man! Come hither, gentle mistress:

Do you perceive in all this noble company[5178]

Where most you owe obedience?

Des. My noble father,[5179] 180

I do perceive here a divided duty:

To you I am bound for life and education;[5180]

My life and education both do learn me

How to respect you; you are the lord of duty,[5181]

I am hitherto your daughter: but here's my husband,[5180] 185

And so much duty as my mother show'd[5182]

To you, preferring you before her father,

So much I challenge that I may profess[5183]

Due to the Moor my lord.

Bra. God be with you! I have done.[5184]

Please it your grace, on to the state-affairs: 190

I had rather to adopt a child than get it.[5185]

Come hither, Moor:

I here do give thee that with all my heart,

Which, but thou hast already, with all my heart[5186]

I would keep from thee. For your sake, jewel,[5187] 195

I am glad at soul I have no other child;[5180][5188]

For thy escape would teach me tyranny,

To hang clogs on them. I have done, my lord.[5189]

Duke. Let me speak like yourself, and lay a sentence[5190]

Which, as a grise or step, may help these lovers[5191] 200

Into your favour.[5192]

When remedies are past, the griefs are ended[5193]

By seeing the worst, which late on hopes depended.[5194]

To mourn a mischief that is past and gone

Is the next way to draw new mischief on.[5195] 205

What cannot be preserved when fortune takes,

Patience her injury a mockery makes.[5196]

The robb'd that smiles steals something from the thief;[5197]

He robs himself that spends a bootless grief.

Bra. So let the Turk of Cyprus us beguile;[5198] 210

We lose it not so long as we can smile.[5199]

He bears the sentence well, that nothing bears[5200]

But the free comfort which from thence he hears;[5200]

But he bears both the sentence and the sorrow,[5201]

That, to pay grief, must of poor patience borrow. 215

These sentences, to sugar or to gall,

Being strong on both sides, are equivocal:

But words are words; I never yet did hear

That the bruised heart was pierced through the ear.[5202]

I humbly beseech you, proceed to the affairs of state.[5203] 220

Duke. The Turk with a most mighty preparation makes[5204]

for Cyprus. Othello, the fortitude of the place is best

known to you; and though we have there a substitute of[5205]

most allowed sufficiency, yet opinion, a sovereign mistress[5206]

of effects, throws a more safer voice on you: you must therefore[5207] 225

be content to slubber the gloss of your new fortunes[5208]

with this more stubborn and boisterous expedition.[5209]

Oth. The tyrant custom, most grave senators,[5210]

Hath made the flinty and steel couch of war[5211]

My thrice-driven bed of down: I do agnize 230

A natural and prompt alacrity[5212]

I find in hardness; and do undertake[5213]

These present wars against the Ottomites.[5214]

Most humbly therefore bending to your state,

I crave fit disposition for my wife, 235

Due reference of place and exhibition,[5215]

With such accommodation and besort[5216]

As levels with her breeding.

Duke. If you please,[5217]

Be 't at her father's.[5217]

Bra. I'll not have it so.[5218]

Oth. Nor I.

Des. Nor I, I would not there reside,[5219] 240

To put my father in impatient thoughts

By being in his eye. Most gracious duke,

To my unfolding lend your prosperous ear,[5220]

And let me find a charter in your voice[5221]

To assist my simpleness.[5222] 245

Duke. What would you, Desdemona?[5223]

Des. That I did love the Moor to live with him,[5224]

My downright violence and storm of fortunes[5225]

May trumpet to the world: my heart's subdued[5226]

Even to the very quality of my lord:[5227] 250

I saw Othello's visage in his mind,

And to his honours and his valiant parts

Did I my soul and fortunes consecrate.

So that, dear lords, if I be left behind,[5228]

A moth of peace, and he go to the war, 255

The rites for which I love him are bereft me,[5229]

And I a heavy interim shall support

By his dear absence. Let me go with him.

Oth. Let her have your voices.[5230]

Vouch with me, heaven, I therefore beg it not,[5231] 260

To please the palate of my appetite;

Nor to comply with heat—the young affects[5232][5233]

In me defunct—and proper satisfaction;[5232][5234]

But to be free and bounteous to her mind:[5234][5235]

And heaven defend your good souls, that you think[5236] 265

I will your serious and great business scant[5237]

For she is with me. No, when light-wing'd toys[5238]

Of feather'd Cupid seel with wanton dullness[5239]

My speculative and officed instruments,[5240]

That my disports corrupt and taint my business, 270

Let housewives make a skillet of my helm,[5241]

And all indign and base adversities

Make head against my estimation![5242]

Duke. Be it as you shall privately determine,

Either for her stay or going: the affair cries haste,[5243] 275

And speed must answer 't; you must hence to-night.[5244]

Des. To-night, my lord?[5245]

Duke. This night.

Oth. With all my heart.

Duke. At nine i' the morning here we'll meet again.[5246]

Othello, leave some officer behind,

And he shall our commission bring to you; 280

With such things else of quality and respect[5247]

As doth import you.

Oth. So please your grace, my ancient;[5248]

A man he is of honesty and trust:

To his conveyance I assign my wife,

With what else needful your good grace shall think[5249] 285

To be sent after me.

Duke. Let it be so.

Good night to every one. [To Brab.] And, noble signior,[5250]

If virtue no delighted beauty lack,[5251]

Your son-in-law is far more fair than black.

First Sen. Adieu, brave Moor; use Desdemona well.[5252] 290

Bra. Look to her, Moor, if thou hast eyes to see:[5253]

She has deceived her father, and may thee.

[Exeunt Duke, Senators, Officers, &c.[5254]

Oth. My life upon her faith! Honest Iago,

My Desdemona must I leave to thee:

I prithee, let thy wife attend on her; 295

And bring them after in the best advantage.[5255]

Come, Desdemona; I have but an hour

Of love, of worldly matters and direction,[5256]

To spend with thee: we must obey the time.

[Exeunt Othello and Desdemona.[5257]

Rod. Iago![5258] 300

Iago. What say'st thou, noble heart?

Rod. What will I do, thinkest thou?[5259]

Iago. Why, go to bed and sleep.

Rod. I will incontinently drown myself.

Iago. If thou dost, I shall never love thee after. Why,[5260] 305

thou silly gentleman![5261]

Rod. It is silliness to live when to live is torment; and[5262]

then have we a prescription to die when death is our physician.[5263]

Iago. O villanous! I have looked upon the world for[5264] 310

four times seven years; and since I could distinguish betwixt[5265]

a benefit and an injury, I never found man that knew[5266]

how to love himself. Ere I would say I would drown myself

for the love of a guinea-hen, I would change my humanity[5267]

with a baboon. 315

Rod. What should I do? I confess it is my shame to

be so fond; but it is not in my virtue to amend it.

Iago. Virtue! a fig! 'tis in ourselves that we are thus

or thus. Our bodies are gardens; to the which our wills[5268]

are gardeners: so that if we will plant nettles or sow lettuce, 320

set hyssop and weed up thyme, supply it with one[5269]

gender of herbs or distract it with many, either to have[5270]

it sterile with idleness or manured with industry, why, the

power and corrigible authority of this lies in our wills. If[5271]

the balance of our lives had not one scale of reason to poise[5272] 325

another of sensuality, the blood and baseness of our natures

would conduct us to most preposterous conclusions: but we

have reason to cool our raging motions, our carnal stings,[5273]

our unbitted lusts; whereof I take this, that you call love,[5274]

to be a sect or scion.[5275] 330

Rod. It cannot be.

Iago. It is merely a lust of the blood and a permission[5276]

of the will. Come, be a man: drown thyself! drown cats

and blind puppies. I have professed me thy friend, and I[5277]

confess me knit to thy deserving with cables of perdurable 335

toughness: I could never better stead thee than now. Put[5278]

money in thy purse; follow thou the wars; defeat thy favour[5279]

with an usurped beard; I say, put money in thy purse.

It cannot be that Desdemona should long continue her love[5280]

to the Moor—put money in thy purse—nor he his to her: it[5281] 340

was a violent commencement, and thou shalt see an answerable[5282][5283]

sequestration; put but money in thy purse. These[5283][5284]

Moors are changeable in their wills:—fill thy purse with

money. The food that to him now is as luscious as locusts,[5285]

shall be to him shortly as bitter as coloquintida. She[5286][5287] 345

must change for youth: when she is sated with his body,[5287]

she will find the error of her choice: she must have change,[5288][5289]

she must: therefore put money in thy purse. If thou wilt[5289]

needs damn thyself, do it a more delicate way than drowning.

Make all the money thou canst: if sanctimony and a 350

frail vow betwixt an erring barbarian and a supersubtle[5290]

Venetian be not too hard for my wits and all the tribe of

hell, thou shalt enjoy her; therefore make money. A pox

of drowning thyself! it is clean out of the way: seek thou[5291]

rather to be hanged in compassing thy joy than to be 355

drowned and go without her.

Rod. Wilt thou be fast to my hopes, if I depend on[5292]

the issue?[5292]

Iago. Thou art sure of me: go, make money: I have

told thee often, and I re-tell thee again and again, I hate[5293] 360

the Moor: my cause is hearted; thine hath no less reason.[5294]

Let us be conjunctive in our revenge against him: if thou[5295]

canst cuckold him, thou dost thyself a pleasure, me a sport.[5296]

There are many events in the womb of time, which will be

delivered. Traverse; go; provide thy money. We will 365

have more of this to-morrow. Adieu.

Rod. Where shall we meet i' the morning?

Iago. At my lodging.

Rod. I'll be with thee betimes.

Iago. Go to; farewell. Do you hear, Roderigo?[5297][5298] 370

Rod. What say you?[5297]

Iago. No more of drowning, do you hear?[5297]

Rod. I am changed: I'll go sell all my land.     [Exit.[5297][5299]

Iago. Thus do I ever make my fool my purse;[5297][5300]

For I mine own gain'd knowledge should profane, 375

If I would time expend with such a snipe[5301]

But for my sport and profit. I hate the Moor;

And it is thought abroad that 'twixt my sheets

He has done my office: I know not if't be true;[5302]

But I for mere suspicion in that kind[5303] 380

Will do as if for surety. He holds me well;

The better shall my purpose work on him.

Cassio's a proper man: let me see now;

To get his place, and to plume up my will[5304]

In double knavery—How, how?—Let's see:—[5305] 385

After some time, to abuse Othello's ear[5306]

That he is too familiar with his wife.[5307]

He hath a person and a smooth dispose

To be suspected; framed to make women false.

The Moor is of a free and open nature,[5308] 390

That thinks men honest that but seem to be so;[5309]

And will as tenderly be led by the nose[5310][5311]

As asses are.[5310]

I have 't. It is engender'd. Hell and night[5312]

Must bring this monstrous birth to the world's light.     [Exit.[5313]395

FOOTNOTES:

[4877] ACT I. SCENE I.] Acts and Scenes are marked throughout in Ff, not in Qq, except at the beginning of Acts II, III, IV and V.

Venice. A street.] Capell. Venice. Rowe. A street in Venice. Theobald.

Enter....] Enter Iago and Roderigo. Qq. Enter Rodorigo and Iago. Ff.

[4878] Tush,] Qq. om. Ff.

much] Qq F_1. very F_2 F_3 F_4.

[4879] thou] Ff. you Qq.

Iago,] om. Q_2 Q_3.

hast] has Q_1.

had] held Capell conj.

[4880] As ... this.] One line in Qq F_1 F_2 F_3. Two lines in F_4.

this.] this— Hanmer.

[4881] 'Sblood,] S'blood Q_1. Omitted in the rest.

[4882] but ... me.] Arranged as by Steevens (1793). Two lines, the first ending heare me, in Qq. Two, the first ending dream, in F_1 F_2 F_3. Three lines in F_4. Two lines, the first ending ever, in Malone.

[4883] you will] Q_1. you'l F_1 F_2. you'le Q_2 Q_3. you'll F_3 F_4.

[4884] matter, Abhor me.] matter— Capell.

[4885] Abhor me.] Abhor me then. Hanmer, ending lines 4 and 5 as in text.

[4886] Thou ... hate.] One line in Qq. Two, the first ending me, in Ff. Two, the first ending hold, in Hanmer.

[4887] Despise me] As in Qq. A separate line in Ff.

[4888] Despise ... conclusion,] Hanmer ends the lines not ... suit ... him: ... price, ... loving ... with ... stuft ... conclusion.

[4889] if I do not] else Seymour conj.

[4890] Off-capped] Off-capt Ff. Oft capt Qq. Off'd cap Jennens conj.

[4891] I am] I'm Pope.

worse] worsse F_1. wose F_2.

[4892] own] om. Hanmer.

purposes] purpose Theobald.

[4893] bombast] Theobald, bumbast Qq Ff.

[4894] epithets] F_3 F_4. epithites The rest.

[4895] And, in conclusion,] Q_1. Omitted in Ff Q_2 Q_3. Clean from the point; and, in conclusion, Seymour conj.

[4896] And ... arithmetician] Four lines, ending mediators; ... already ... he?... arithmetician, in Malone. Three, ending mediators ... officer ... arithmetician, in Keightley.

[4897] for] om. Pope.

for, 'Certes,'] See note (I).

[4898] I ... he?] As in Pope. One line in Qq Ff.

[4899] already] om. Seymour conj., reading I have ... he? as one line.]

chose] Ff Q_2 Q_3. chosen Q_1. Chosen Malone.

[4900] Cassio, ... wife;] Cassio;—("the Florentine's A ... wife;")— Theobald. Cassio;—(a Florentine's A ... wife;) Warburton. See note (II). Cassio, a Florentine, (A fellow's almost damn’d in a fair-wife!) [Aside. Jennens.

[4901] damn'd in] Ff. dambd in Qq. trimm'd as Maginn conj.

a fair wife] a false wife Tollet conj. a frail wife Jackson conj. a fair-wife Staunton conj. warfare life Bullock conj. other wise Cartwright conj. wife affairs Anon. conj.

wife] phyz Hanmer. face Capell. life Keightley (Tyrwhitt conj.) guise Petrie conj. wise Grant White (Becket conj.) strife Anon. conj. (N. and Q.)

[4902] spinster;] spinster, Qq. spinster. F_1. spinster: F_2 F_3 F_4.

unless] but Pope.

bookish] blockish Q_3. om. Steevens conj.

[4903] toged] Q_1. Tongued Ff. tongued Q_2 Q_3.

consuls] couns'lors Theobald.

[4904] as he] om. Steevens conj.

[4905] Is all] In all F_3 F_4.

But he, sir, had] he had Pope. But he had Seymour conj.

[4906] Cyprus] F_2 F_3 F_4. Cypres Qq. Ciprus F_1.

other] Qq. others Ff.

[4907] Christian] Q_1 F_3 F_4. Christen'd F_1 F_2. Christn'd Q_2 Q_3.

be be-lee'd] be led Q_1. be let Warburton. be lee'd Heath conj.

[4908] debitor] debtor Hanmer.

creditor: this counter-castor,] creditor. This counter-caster, Ff. creditor, this counter-caster: Qq.

[4909] I—God bless the mark!—] I, God blesse the marke, Q_1. I (blesse the marke) Ff. I sir (blesse the marke) Q_2 Q_3.

Moorship's] Worships Q_1.

[4910] Why] Ff. But Qq.

Why ... service,] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

service,] Qq. service; Ff.

[4911] letter] favour Collier MS.

[4912] And ... old] Ff. Not by the olde Qq. Not (as of old) gradation Warburton.

[4913] Stood ... yourself] One line in Ff. Two in Qq.

[4914] Whether] If Pope.

affined] Affin'd F_1 F_3 F_4. affin'd Q_2 Q_3. assign'd Q_1. Affirn'd F_2.

[4915] follow'd] Ff. followed Qq.

[4916] nought] noughe Q_1. naught F_1.

and when he's old,] and when old, 's Hanmer. when old, Steevens conj.

when] om. Q_3.

old,] old's Seymour conj.

cashier'd] As a separate line, Anon. conj.

[4917] Whip ... lords] As in Ff. Five lines, ending knaves: ... formes, ... hearts, ... throwing ... lords, in Q_1. Five lines, ending knaves: ... are, ... duty, ... themselves, ... lords, in Q_2 Q_3.

[4918] trimm'd ... visages] learn'd ... usages Collier MS. train'd ... usages Grant White.

[4919] Do ... soul,] Two lines in Rowe. Four lines in Qq Ff.

[4920] Do well] Well Pope.]

them] Ff. 'em Qq.

they have] they've Pope.

[4921] these] Those Qq.

these fellows] these, now, Seymour conj.

fellows] folks Pope.

[4922] a one] om. Seymour conj., reading And ... sir, as one line.

[4923] For, sir,] In a separate line first by Capell. At end of previous line in Qq Ff. Omitted by Pope.

[4924] Heaven ... end:] As in Ff. Three lines, ending I, ... so, ... end, in Q_1. Two, the first ending I, in Q_2 Q_3.

[4925] doth] does Q_1.

[4926] compliment] Rowe (ed. 2). complement Qq Ff.

[4927] For ... am.] As in Ff. Two lines in Qq.

daws] Dawes Ff Q_2 Q_3. Doues Q_1.

I am ... I am.] I'm ... I seem. Pope. I'm ... I am. Johnson.

[4928] full] Qq. fall. Ff.

thick-lips] Thicks-lips F_1.

[4929] carry't] carry 'et Q_1. carry her Pope. carry 'er Jennens conj.

[4930] father, Rouse him:] Pointed as by Capell. father, Rowse him, Qq. father: Rowse him, Ff.

[4931] streets] streete Q_1. street Q_2 Q_3.

[4932] And, though] An though S. Walker conj.

[4933] changes] Qq. chances Ff.

on't] Ff. out Qq.

[4934] timorous] F_2 F_3 F_4. timerous Qq F_1.

[4935] the fire] a fire Hanmer.

[4936] spied] spred Warburton.

[4937] Awake!... thieves!] One line in Ff. Two in Qq.

thieves!] Thrice in Qq. Twice in Ff. ho! thieves, thieves! Pope.

[4938] your daughter] you daughter Q_1.

your] all Pope.

[4939] SCENE II. Pope.

[4940] Brabantio ... Bra.] Theobald. Brabantio at a window. Brab. Qq (Bra. Q_2 Q_3). Bra. Above. Ff.

[4941] What ... there?] As in Qq. In Ff the first line ends at terrible.

[4942] Are ... lock'd?] Are all doore lockts? Q_1.

your] all Pope.

[4943] 'Zounds] Zounds Q_1. Omitted in the rest.

you're] you are Qq. y'are Ff.

[4944] soul;] Q_3. soule; Q_1 Q_2. soule or soul Ff.

[4945] now, now] F_1 F_2. now, Qq F_3 F_4. now, ev'n Pope.

[4946] Or ... say.] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[4947] say] sad Q_3.

[4948] worser] worse Qq.

[4949] I have] I've Pope.

[4950] daughter is] daughter's Pope.

[4951] bravery] Qq. knaverie F_1. knavery F_2 F_3 F_4.

[4952] quiet.] Ff. quiet? Qq.

[4953] sir,—] sir— Rowe. sir. Qq Ff.

[4954] spirit] Qq. spirits Ff.

them] Qq. their Ff.

[4955] good] om. Seymour conj.

[4956] What ... grange.] As in Qq. Two lines, the first ending robbing? in Ff.

[4957] What tell'st] Ff. What, tell'st Qq.

[4958] 'Zounds] Zouns Q_1. Omitted in the rest.

[4959] and you] Ff. you Qq.

[4960] germans] Iermans Q_1. Germaines F_1.

[4961] comes] Ff. come Qq.

[4962] now] Qq. om. Ff.

[4963] are—a] Capell. are a Qq Ff.

[4964] answer;] answer, Qq. answere, Ff.

[4965] I beseech] beseech Seymour conj.

[4966] If't ... yourself:] Omitted in Q_1.

[4967] At] Be at Hanmer.

At this odd-even] Even at this odd Becket conj.

odd-even] Hyphened by Malone. odd steven Steevens conj. (withdrawn). odd season Anon. apud Rann conj. odd hour Cartwright conj.

[4968] Transported] Be transported Mason conj.

nor] or F_3 F_4.

[4969] common] om. Pope.

gondolier] Gundelier Ff Q_2 Q_3.

[4970] and your] and to your Q_3.

[4971] wrongs;] wrongs? Q_2 Q_3.

[4972] Tying ... In ... wheeling] Laying ... On ... wheedling Collier (Collier MS.)

[4973] In] To Pope. On Capell.

wheeling] whirling Staunton conj.

[4974] here and] om. Seymour conj.

[4975] her] Qq F_1. your F_2 F_3 F_4.

[4976] thus deluding you] this delusion Q_1. this deluding you Jennens.

[4977] [Exit above.] Exit Brabantio, from above. Hanmer. Exit. F_1. Omitted in Qq F_2 F_3 F_4.

[4978] place] pate Q_1.

[4979] produced] produc'd Qq. producted Ff.

[4980] However] Now ever Q_1.

[4981] Cannot with safety ... he's] Can't safely ... he is Seymour conj.

[4982] Cyprus] Ff. Cipres Qq. Cyprus' Theobald.

wars] war Capell.

[4983] stand] Pope. stands Qq Ff.

[4984] fathom] fathome Qq. fadome F_1 F_2 F_3. fadom F_4.

none] not Q_1.

[4985] business] business on Capell.

[4986] hell-pains] Hyphenated by Dyce. hell pains Capell. hells paines Q_1 Q_2. hells pains Q_3. hell apines F_1. hell F_2 F_3 F_4. hell's pains Rowe.

[4987] love, Which ... sign. That] love, Which ... sign: that Rowe (ed. 1). love, Which ... signe, that Qq. love, (Which ... signe) that Ff.

[4988] shall surely find] may surely find Pope. may find Hanmer.

[4989] Sagittary] Q_2 Q_3 F_4. Sagitar Q_1. Sagitary F_1 F_2 F_3.

[4990] SCENE III. Pope.

Enter....] Edd. Enter Barbantio in his night gowne, and servants with Torches. Qq (Brabantio Q_2 Q_3). Enter Brabantio, with Servants and Torches. Ff. Enter, below, Brabantio, and Servants, with Lights. Capell.

[4991] despised] despited Wharburton.

[4992] Is] I Q_3.

nought] Qq. naught Ff.

bitterness. Now] bitternesse now Qq.

[4993] say'st] saidst Theobald (ed. 2).

[4994] she deceives] thou deceivest Q_1.

[4995] more] Qq. moe Ff.

[4996] kindred] kinred F_2 F_3.

[4997] are] are, my lord Seymour conj., ending lines 168, 169 at heaven!... blood!

[4998] O ... blood!] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

got] gat Rowe (ed. 2).

the blood] Qq F_1. my blood F_2 F_3 F_4.

[4999] Is] Qq F_1. Are F_2 F_3 F_4.

[5000] maidhood] Ff. manhood Qq.

[5001] thing?] Ff. thing. Q_1 Q_2. things? Q_3.

Yes ... indeed.] I have sir. Q_1.

[5002] brother] brothers F_3 F_4.

would] that Q_1.

[5003] you, lead] leade me Q_1.

[5004] night] Q_1. might Ff Q_2 Q_3.

[5005] I'll] Ile Q_1 Q_2. ile Q_3. I will Ff.

[5006] SCENE II.] SCENE IV. Pope.

Another street.] The Street. Rowe. Another Street, before the Sagittary. Theobald.

... and Attendants] Qq.... Attendants, Ff.

[5007] stuff o' the conscience] stuft of conscience Q_1. tough o' the conscience Jackson conj.

[5008] lack] lake F_2 F_3. take F_4. do lack Seymour conj., ending lines 3-6 at lack ... service: ... here ... is.

[5009] Sometimes] Qq. Sometime Ff.

[5010] I ... ribs.] As in Ff. Two lines, the first ending here, in Qq.

had] om. Pope.

to have] to 've Pope.

yerk'd] ierk'd Q_1. jerk'd Q_2 Q_3.

ribs] rib F_4.

[5011] 'Tis] It's Pope.

[5012] spoke] he spoke Seymour conj., reading Nay ... scurvy as one line.

provoking] such provoking Seymour conj., reading and ... honour as one line.

[5013] Against ... have,] As in Pope. One line in Qq Ff.

[5014] you] om. Qq.

[5015] Be assured] Be assur'd Ff. For be sure Qq.

[5016] double] capable Cartwright conj.

duke's] duke Q_3.

[5017] and] Qq. or Ff.

grievance] greevances Q_3.

[5018] The] That Q_1.

[5019] Will] Ff. Weele Qq.

[5020] services] service Q_3.

[5021] Which ... know] Omitted in Q_1.

[5022] promulgate] provulgate Q_1.

my] om. Pope.

[5023] siege] F_3 F_4. seige F_1 F_2. height Q_1 Q_2. hight Q_3.

[5024] May ... unbonneted] Unbonneted may speak Becket conj.

unbonneted] unbonnetting Pope (ed. 2). and bonnetted Theobald. imbonnetted Theobald conj. e'en bonneted Hanmer.

to] om. Q_2 Q_3.

[5025] For ... yond?] As in Ff. Two lines in Qq.

sea's] Theobald, seas Qq Ff. seas' Anon. conj.

lights come] light comes Johnson.

yond] Ff. yonder Qq.

[5026] SCENE V. Pope.

Those] Ff. These Qq.

[5027] parts] part Hanmer.

[5028] manifest] manifestly F_2. mainefest Q_3.

me rightly] Q_1 Ff. my right by Q_2 Q_3.

Is it they?] it is they. Q_1.

[5029] Enter....] Enter Cassio with lights, Officers, and torches. Qq (after worth, line 28). Enter Cassio, with Torches. Ff (after yond? line 28). Enter, at a Distance, ... Capell (after line 28). Transferred by Collier.

[5030] The ... lieutenant.] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

duke,] Qq. Dukes? Ff.

lieutenant.] lieutenant: Rowe. leiutenant, Q_1. lieutenant? Ff. leiutenant? Q_2 Q_3.

[5031] you,] your Q_1.

[5032] news?] newes. Q_1.

[5033] haste-post-haste] Steevens (1793). hast, post hast Q_1. haste, post-haste Ff. hast, post-hast Q_2 Q_3.

[5034] What is] Ff. What's Qq.

[5035] sequent] frequent Q_1.

[5036] at one] one at Q_2 Q_3.

[5037] consuls] couns'lers Theobald. counsel Hanmer. council Johnson.

[5038] have] had Lettrom conj.

[5039] hath] Ff. om. Qq.

about] Ff. aboue Q_1 Q_2. above Q_3. out Johnson.

[5040] I ... you.] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

I will but spend] Ile spend Q_1. I will spend but F_3 F_4.

[5041] And go] And then go Keightley.

[Exit.] Exit Othello. Rowe. om. Qq Ff.

[5042] carack] carrick Q_1. carract F_1. carriact Q_2 Q_3. carrac F_2 F_3 F_4.

[5043] who? Q_1 F_1 F_2. whom. Q_2 Q_3. whom? F_3 F_4 Q (1695).

Re-enter Othello.] Capell. Enter Othello. Rowe (after line 53). Omitted in Qq Ff.

[5044] Have with you.] Ff. Ha' with you. Q_2 Q_3. Ha, with who? Q_1. Ha, with you. Q (1695).

[5045] SCENE VI. Pope.

[5046] Enter....] Enters Brabantio, Roderigo, and others with lights and weapons. Qq (Enter Q_2 Q_3), after line 52. Enter Brabantio, Roderigo, with Officers, and Torches. Ff.

Holla] Q_1 Ff Q_2. Ho la Q_3.

[5047] [They....] Rowe. om. Qq Ff.

[5048] Keep ... weapons.] Verse in Qq. Prose in Ff.

[5049] for] or S. Walker conj.

them] Ff. em Qq.

[5050] O ... daughter?] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

stow'd] Ff. stowed Qq.

[5051] Damn'd] Ff. Dambd Qq.

[5052] things] thing Q_1.

[5053] If ... bound,] Omitted in Q_1.

[5054] wealthy curled] Ff. wealthy culled Theobald, ed. 2 (Warburton). wealthiest cull'd Hanmer.

darlings] Qq. Deareling F_1. Dearling F_2 F_3 F_4.

[5055] to incur] to incurre Qq. t'encurre F_1 F_2 F_3. t'incurr F_4.

[5056] guardage] Ff. gardage Qq.

[5057] as thou] om. Seymour conj.

[5058] Judge ... thee] Omitted in Q_1.

[5059] not] no Q_3.

[5060] delicate] om. Seymour conj.

[5061] weaken motion] Rowe. weakens motion Ff Q_2 Q_3. weaken notion Pope, ed. 2 (Theobald). waken motion Hanmer.

[5062] probable] Ff. portable Q_2 Q_3.

[5063] For] Such Q_1.

[5064] warrant.] warrant? Q_1.

[5065] hands] hand F_4.

[5066] cue] Qu. Q_1.

[5067] Where] Qq. Whether F_1. Whither F_2 F_3 F_4.

that] om. Pope.

[5068] To answer] And answer Q_1.

[5069] fit ... session] One line in Hanmer.

[5070] if I do] if do F_1. if I Pope.

[5071] bring] Ff. beare Qq.

First Off.] 1. O. Capell. Officer Qq Ff.

'Tis] om. Pope.

[5072] I am] I'm Pope.

[5073] night] nigh F_2.

[5074] pagans] pageants Theobald. paysans Becket conj.

[5075] SCENE III.] SCENE VII. Pope.

A council-chamber.] Capell. The Senate House. Rowe.

The ... attending.] Enter Duke and Senators, set at a Table with lights and Attendants. Qq. Enter Duke, Senators, and Officers. Ff.

[5076] There is] There's F_1.

these] Q_1 Q_2. this Ff. his Q_3.

[5077] Indeed] om. Seymour conj.

they are] they're Pope.

disproportion'd] Pope. disproportioned Qq Ff.

[5078] and seven] seven Grant White conj.

[5079] And ... forty.] A hundred and forty, mine. Seymour conj.

a] Q_1 Ff. an Q_2 Q_3.

and] Qq F_4 om. F_1 F_2 F_3 and Grant White conj.

And mine] Mine Grant White conj.

[5080] where the aim] with the same Collier MS.

the] Ff. they Qq.

aim] aym'd Q_1.

aim reports] aim besorts Anon. conj. main accords Anon. conj.

[5081] do] om. Pope.

[5082] in] Ff. to Qq.

[5083] article] articles Q_1.

[5084] Sailor. [Within] Ff. One within. Qq. Sailors [within. Theobald.

[5085] First Off.] Dyce. Officer. Ff Q_2 Q_3. Sailor. Q_1.

galleys] galley Q_1.

Enter Sailor.] As in Dyce. After line 12 in Ff. Enter a Messenger. Qq, after sense, line 12. Enter an Officer, bringing in a Sailor. Capell.

what's] om. Qq.

[5086] So ... Angelo.] As in Ff. One line in Q_2 Q_3.

[5087] By Signior Angelo] Omitted in Q_1.

[They withdraw. Capell.

[5088] This ... pageant] Divided as in Ff. Two lines, the first ending reason— in Qq.

[5089] facile] fertile Pope.

[5090] For ... profitless.] Omitted in Q_1.

[5091] But] Ff. Who Q_2 Q_3.

[5092] thought] nought Q_2, as quoted in Steevens's reprint of Q_1.

[5093] ease ... wake and] Printed as in Q_2 Q_3 F_3 F_4. ease, and gaine To wake, and F_1 F_2.

[5094] Nay,] And Q_1

all] om. Rowe (ed. 2)

[5095] First Off.] Dyce. Officer. Qq Ff.

a Messenger.] Ff. a 2. Messenger. Qq. a Messenger, usher'd. Capell, after line 31.

[5096] injointed] injoin'd Rowe. injoint Seymore conj.

them] om. Q_1.

[5097] First Sen. Ay ... guess? Mess.] Omitted in Q_1.

[5098] thirty] 30. Q_1.

re-stem] Ff. resterine Q_1. resterne Q_2 Q_3. restrain Strutt conj.

[5099] toward] Ff. towards Qq.

[5100] his] this Capell (corrected in Errata).

thus] this Lettsom conj.

[5101] believe] relieve Keightley (T. Clark ap. Johnson, and Capell conj.)

[retiring. Capell

[5102] Luccicos] Qq Ff. Lucchese Capell.

not he] F_1 F_2 Q_2 Q_3. not here Q_1. he not F_3 F_4. he not here Theobald, ending the previous line Luccicos.

town?] towne. Q_1.

[5103] Write ... dispatch.] One line in Q_2 Q_3. Two, the first ending us, in Ff. Capell, reading with Q_1, ends the line him post.

to him; post] wish him post, Q_1.

post-post-haste] Hyphened by Steevens (1793), reading with Q_1. Post-haste Pope, ending the line to him.

post-post-haste dispatch] post post-haste: dispatch Steevens (1773).

[5104] valiant] om. F_2 F_3 F_4.

Iago, Roderigo,] Capell. Roderigo, Iago, Cassio, Desdemona, Qq (after line 46). Cassio, Iago, Rodorigo, Ff.

and Officers.] Qq Ff. and Others. Capell.

[5105] SCENE VIII. Pope.

[5106] [To Brabantio] Theobald. om. Qq Ff.

[5107] lack'd] lack't Ff. lackt Q_2 Q_3. lacke Q_1.

[5108] nor] Qq. hor F_1. for F_2 F_3 F_4.

[5109] Hath ... bed] Rais'd me from bed Steevens conj.

nor doth] not doth Q_2.

care] om. Pope.

[5110] hold on] Ff. any hold of Q_1. hold of Q_2 Q_3.

grief] griefes, Q_1.

[5111] and] snd F_1.

[5112] And it] And yet Rowe.

[5113] All.] Qq. Sen. Ff. Duke and Sen. Dyce.

Ay,] I, Ff. I Qq. om. Pope.

[5114] to] om. Mason conj.

[5115] Being ... sense,] Omitted in Q_1.

not deficient] deficient Q_3.

or] nor Johnson.

[5116] Sans] Ff Q_2 Q_3. Saunce Q_1.

not.] not— Rowe. not be. Capell.

[5117] your] Ff. its Qq.

yea,] om. Q_1.

[5118] All.] Sen. Capell. Duke and Sen. Malone.

for't] for it Steevens.

[5119] [To Othello] Theobald. om. Qq Ff.

[5120] am I] I am Q_2 Q_3.

[5121] soft] Ff. set Qq.

[5122] now some] Qq. now, some Ff.

[5123] feats of broil] Capell. feate of broyle, Q_1. feats of broiles, F_1. feats of broyles, F_2. feates of broyles, Q_2 Q_3. feats of broyls, F_3 F_4.

[5124] for] of Q_3.

gracious] om. Pope.

[5125] will] would Q_2 Q_3.

unvarnish'd] unravish'd Q_2 Q_3.

tale] u Tale F_1.

[5126] Of ... charms,] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

drugs, what charms,] Pointed as in Qq F_1 F_2. drugs? what charmes? F_3 F_4.

[5127] proceeding] Ff. proceedings Qq.

I am] Ff. am I Qq.

[5128] daughter.] daughter with. F_2 _F_3 F_4.

[5129] bold; Of spirit so] bold of spirit, So Q_1.

[5130] herself] it self Pope.

[5131] on!] on? Qq. on; Ff.

[5132] maim'd] main'd F_1.

imperfect] Qq. imperfect. Ff.

[5133] perfection] affection Theobald.

could] Ff. would Qq.

[5134] upon] on Seymore conj.

Duke.] Omitted in F_1.

vouch] youth Q_1.

[5135] certain] certaine Qq. wider Ff. witness Anon. conj.

certain and more] evidence, and Collier MS.

overt test] Q_1 Q_2. over Test F_1. over-Test F_2 F_3 F_4. over test Q_3.

[5136] Than these] Ff. These are Qq.

[5137] seeming] seemings Q_1 Q_2.

do] F_3 F_4. doe F_1 F_2. you Qq.

[5138] First Sen.] 1. Sena. Qq. Sen. Ff.

But,] om. Hanmer.

[5139] do] om. Pope.

[5140] Sagittary] Sagittar Q_1.

[to some Attendants. Capell.

[5141] The ... you,] Omitted in Q_1.

[5142] Even fall upon] Fall on Seymour conj.

[Exit two or three. Q_1. Exeunt two or three. Q_2 Q_3 and Theobald. om. Ff, Rowe and Pope.

[5143] Ancient, ... place.] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[Exeunt....] Exeunt Attendants and Iago. Capell. Exit Iago. Rowe, Pope and Theobald. om. Qq Ff.

[5144] till] tell F_1.

truly] faithfull Q_1.

[5145] I ... blood,] Omitted in Q_1.

[5146] question'd] Ff. questioned Qq.

story] storyes Q_3.

[5147] From year to year] om. Seymour conj., reading the battles ... pass'd as one line.

battles] battaile F_1.

fortunes] Qq. fortune Ff.

[5148] have] had Collier MS.

pass'd.] pass'd. With his demands complying, Keightley conj.

[5149] from] to Q_3.

[5150] spake] Qq. spoke Ff.

[5151] accidents by] accident of Q_1.

[5152] imminent deadly] Hyphened by Staunton.

[5153] of] and Q_1.

[5154] portance in my] Ff Q_2. portence in my Q_3. with it all my Q_1. portents in my So quoted by Rymer. portance in't; my Johnson conj.

travels'] Edd. (Globe ed.) travells Qq. travel's Pope. Travellours F_1. Travellers F_2 F_3. Traveller's F_4. travellous or travailous Richardson conj.

[5155] antres] antrees Q_1. antars The rest. antrées Pope.

idle] Qq F_1. wilde F_2 F_3. wild F_4.

[5156] and] om. F_1.

heads] head F_1.

[5157] hint] hent Q_1 and Warburton. bent Jackson conj.

[5158] such ... shoulders.] Put in the margin by Pope.

[5159] the] Q_1. my The rest.

[5160] other] Qq F_3 F_4. others F_1 F_2.

[5161] Anthropophagi] F_2 F_3 F_4. Anthropophagie Qq. Anthropophague F_1.

[5162] Do grow] Doe grow Qq. Grew Ff. Did grow Rowe.

This] Q_1. These things Ff. these Q_2 Q_3. All these Pope.

[5163] thence] Qq. hence Ff.

[5164] Which] And Q_1.

[5165] parcels] parcell Q_1.

[5166] not] nought Capell conj.

intentively] Qq. instinctiuely F_1. distinctively F_2 F_3 F_4.

[5167] distressful] distressed Q_1.

[5168] suffer'd] Ff. suffered Qq.

[5169] sighs] sighes Qq. kisses Ff. thanks Southern MS.

[5170] in faith] Ff. I faith Qq.

[5171] thank'd] Ff. thanked Qq.

[5172] Upon] On Pope.

hint] Ff. heate Qq.

[5173] had] Qq F_1. have F_2 F_3 F_4.

[5174] Here ... it.] One line in Ff. Two in Qq.

and Attendants.] Rowe. Attendants. Ff. and the rest. Qq.

[5175] SCENE IX. Pope.

[5176] Good ... best:] Divided as in Pope. One line in Qq Ff.

[5177] on my head] Ff. light on me Qq (lite Q_1).

[5178] this] his F_2.

[5179] most you] you most Pope. you must Warburton.

My noble] Noble Pope.

[5180] I am] I'm Pope.

[5181] you are] you're Pope.

the lord of] lord of all my Q_1.

[5182] show'd] shew'd Ff. shewed Qq.

[5183] much] much must Q_3.

[5184] the Moor] om. Seymour conj.

God ... done.] Ff. God bu'y, I ha done: Qq.

[5185] had rather to] rather would Seymour conj.

[5186] Which ... heart] Omitted in Q_1.

all] om. Pope.

[5187] For your] And for your Hanmer. For my own Lettsom conj.

[5188] soul I] soule. I Q_1.

[5189] them] Ff. em Qq.

my] om. Steevens's reprint of Q_1.

[5190] Let ... sentence] One line in Qq. Two, the first ending selfe: in Ff.

speake] now speak more Hanmer, ending lines 199-201 lay ... step ... favour.

yourself] our self Warburton.

sentence,] sentence in, Hanmer.

[5191] as] Qq F_1. like F_2 F_3 F_4.

grise] Ff. greese Qq.

lovers] Qq. lovers. Ff. lovers here Hanmer.

[5192] Into your favour.] Omitted in Ff.

[5193] ended] Ff. ended, Qq. ended; Hanmer.

[5194] the worst] worst F_3 F_4.

[5195] new] Ff. more Qq.

[5196] mockery] mock'ry F_1. mocker Q_3.

[5197] from the] from a Q_3.

[5198] So let] So, let Theobald.

[5199] lose] loose F_1.

[5200] bears ... But the free comfort] cares For the false comforts Hanmer.

[5201] bears] heares F_3. hears F_4. heaps Hanmer.

[5202] pierced] Qq F_2 F_3 F_4. pierc'd F_1. pieced Theobald (Warburton). plaster'd Bailey conj.

ear] eares F_1.

[5203] I ... proceed to] F_1 F_2. Beseech you now, to Qq. I humbly beseech you to proceed to F_3. Humbly beseech you to proceed to F_4. Beseech you, now to Theobald.

of state] Ff. of the state Qq. o' th' state Theobald.

[goes to his Seat. Capell.

[5204] a] om. Qq. most om. Johnson.

[5205] there] here Q_3.

[5206] a] Qq. a more Ff. a most Collier MS.

[5207] safer] Qq F_1. safe F_2 F_3 F_4 Q (1695).

[5208] gloss] glosse Qq F_1. grosse F_2. gross F_3 F_4.

[5209] more] most Rowe.

[5210] grave] great Q_1.

[5211] couch] Pope. cooch Qq. coach Ff.

[5212] alacrity] alacartie F_1.

[5213] in] it Steevens (1785).

hardness] harness Mason conj. hardiness Anon. conj.

do] would Q_1.

[5214] These ... wars] Malone. This ... warres Q_1 F_1. This ... warre Q_2 F_2. This ... war Q_3 F_3 F_4.

[5215] reference] F_1 Q_2 F_2 Q_3. reuerence Q_1. reverence F_3 F_4. preference Johnson conj.

[5216] With] Which Q_1.

accommodation] accomodation? Q_1.

[5217] If ... father's.] Divided as by Capell. One line in Qq. Why at her Fathers? F_1. Why, at her Fathers. F_2 F_3 F_4.

[5218] I'll] Ile Qq. I will Ff.

[5219] Nor ... not] Qq. Nor would I Ff.

reside] recide F_1.

[5220] your prosperous] Ff. a gracious Qq. your gracious Pope. a prosperous Seymour conj. propitious Anon. conj.

[5221] charter] Qq F_1. character F_2 F_3 F_4.

[5222] To ... simpleness.] And if my simplenesse.—Q_1.

[5223] you, Desdemona?] you—speake. Q_1.

[5224] did] om. Ff.

[5225] and ... fortunes] and scorne of Fortunes Q_1. to forms, my fortunes Warburton. and scorn of Fortune Johnson conj.

[5226] heart's] Ff. hearts Qq.

[5227] very quality] utmost pleasure Q_1.

[5228] dear] my dear Q_3.

[5229] rites] rights Warburton. parts Keightley.

which] Qq. why Ff.

[5230] Let ... voices.] Dyce. Let ... voice. Ff. Your voyces Lords: beseech you let her will, Have a free way, Qq.

[5231] Vouch ... heaven,] Omitted in Q_1, ending the lines will, ... not. In Q_2 Q_3 the lines end will ... way; ... not.

[5232] with ... affects] wi' the young effects of heat Collier MS.

[5233] heat—the ... defunct—] heat, (the ... defunct) Capell (Upton conj.) heate, the affects In my defunct, Qq. heat the yong affects In my defunct, Ff (effects F_2 F_3 F_4). heat, the young affects, In my distinct Theobald. heat affects the young, In my distinct Hanmer. heat, (the young affects,) In my defect Upton conj. heat, the young affects, In my defunct Johnson (Upton conj.) heat, the young affects, In my defenc'd Tollet conj. heat, (the young affect's In me defunct) Rann. heat, and young affects, In my disjunct, Anon. apud Rann conj. heat, the young affects, In my disjunct Malone. heat (the young affects, In me adjunct) Becket conj. heat i' the young affects In my disjunct Singer conj. (withdrawn). heat of the young affects In my distinct Keightley. th' heat of young affects In my distinct Bailey conj.

[5234] In ... mind:] Tyrrwhitt would transpose these lines, reading as F_1.

[5235] to] of Q_1.

[5236] good souls] counsels Collier MS.

[5237] great] Ff. good Qq.

[5238] For] Qq. When Ff.

[5239] Of] Ff. And Qq.

seel] F_4. seele F_1 F_2 F_3. foyles] Qq. feel Rowe (ed. 2). foil Pope.

dullness] dalliance Theobald conj. (withdrawn).

[5240] officed] offic'd Ff. active Qq.

instruments] Qq. instrument Ff.

[5241] housewives] huswives Qq.

skillet] skellet Qq.

[5242] estimation] Ff. reputation Qq.

[5243] Either] Or Pope.

her] om. Q_1.

affair cries] affaires cry Q_1.

[5244] answer't;] Edd. answer it. Ff. answer, Qq.

you ... to-night.] Qq. Sen. You must away to night. Ff.

[5245] Des. To-night, my lord?] Qq. Omitted in Ff. Des. To-night, my lord, to-night? Pope. Duke. This night.] Qq. Omitted in Ff. and Pope.

[5246] nine] ten Q_1.

[to the Senators, rising. Capell.

[5247] With] Qq. And Ff.

and] or Q_1.

[5248] import] concerne Q_1.

So] Ff. om. Qq.

[5249] good] om. Q_3.

[5250] [To Brab.] Capell. om. Qq Ff.

[5251] no delighted] no delighting Hanmer. no belighted Warburton. no delight or Johnson conj. so belighted Becket conj.

[5252] First Sen.] 1 Sena. Qq. Sen. Ff.

[5253] if thou hast eyes] have a quicke eye Q_1.

[5254] deceived] deceiud'd Q_2 Q_3.

and may thee] may doe thee Q_1.

[Exeunt ...] Exit Duke, with Senators. Theobald. Exeunt. Qq. Exit. Ff.

[5255] them] Ff. her Qq.

in the] Qq F_1. in their F_2 F_3 F_4.

[5256] worldly] wordly F_1 F_4.

matters] Qq. matter Ff.

[5257] spend] Qq F_1. speake F_2. speak F_3 F_4.

the] the the F_1.

[Exeunt....] Exit Moore and Desdemona. Qq. Exit. Ff. Exeunt. Manent Rodorigo and Jago. Pope.

[5258] SCENE X. Pope.

[5259] will] shall Seymour conj.

[5260] If] Ff. Well, if Qq.

after.] Ff. after it, Qq.

[5261] gentleman!] Rowe. gentleman? Ff. gentleman. Q_1 Q_2. gentleman, Q_3.

[5262] torment] Ff. a torment Qq.

[5263] have we] Ff. we have Qq.

prescription to die] prescription to dye, Ff (die F_3 F_4). prescription, to dye Qq.

[5264] O villanous!] Omitted in Q_1.

have] Ff. ha Qq.

[5265] betwixt] Ff. betweene Qq.

[5266] man] Ff. a man Qq.

[5267] guinea-hen] Ginny Hen Qq. Gynney Hen F_1 F_2 F_3. Guinney-Hen F_4.

[5268] gardens] Qq. our gardens Ff.

[5269] hyssop] F_4. Isop Qq. Hisope F_1. Hysope F_2. Hysop F_3.

thyme] Pope. Time Qq Ff.

[5270] to have] Qq F_1. have F_2 F_3 F_4.

[5271] wills] will Rowe (ed. 2).

[5272] balance] ballance Q_1 Q_2. ballence Q_3. braine F_1 F_2. brain F_3 F_4. beam Theobald.

[5273] our carnal] our carnall Qq F_1. or carnall F_2 F_3. or carnal F_4.

[5274] our] Qq. or Ff.

[5275] sect] slip Hanmer. set Johnson.

scion] Steevens (1793). scyon Hanmer. syen Qq. seyen Ff. scien Johnson.

[5276] of the] of Q_3.

permission] primission Q_3.

[5277] have professed] have profest Ff. professe Qq.

[5278] stead] Hanmer. steede Q_1 Q_2. steed Ff Q_3.

[5279] thou the] Ff. these Qq. thou these Rowe.

defeat] disseat Warburton.

[5280] be that ... should long] Q_1 Q_2. be long that ... should Ff. be, the Disdemona should long Q_3.

[5281] to] Ff. unto Qq.

Moor—put ... purse—] Moore,—put ... purse,— Qq. Moore. Put ... purse: Ff.

his] om. Q_1.

[5282] commencement] Qq. commencement in her Ff.

[5283] commencement ... sequestration] conjunction ... sequestration or commencement ... sequel Johnson conj.

[5284] put but] but put F_3 F_4.

[5285] locusts] locust Q_3. loches Warburton. lohock Warburton conj. apud Theobald MS. lohocks Johnson.

[5286] shall be to him shortly] shall to him shortly bee F_2 F_3 F_4. shall shortly be Pope.

bitter as] acerbe as the Q_1.

[5287] She ... youth:] Omitted in Qq.

[5288] error] Qq. errors Ff.

[5289] she must ... must:] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

[5290] erring] arrant Hanmer. errant Warburton.

a] Qq. om. Ff.

supersubtle] super-supple Collier MS.

[5291] of drowning] Ff. a drowning Qq.

thyself] om. Qq.

it is] Ff. tis Qq.

[5292] if ... issue] Omitted in Q_1.

[5293] re-tell] Ff. tell Qq.

thee] the Q_3.

[5294] hath] Ff. has Qq.

[5295] conjunctive] communicative Q_1.

[5296] cuckold] cuckole Q_3.

me] and me Q_1.

[5297] Iago. Go to ... purse;] Q_2 Q_3. See note (III).

[5298] hear] here F_2 F_3.

[5299] [Exit.] Ff. Exit Roderigo. Qq.

[5300] SCENE XI. Pope.

[5301] would] should Q_3 and Pope.

snipe] Qq. snpe F_1. swaine F_2. swain F_3 F_4.

[5302] He has] F_3 F_4. Ha's Qq. He ha's F_2. She ha's F_1.

[5303] But] Ff. Yet Qq.

[5304] his] F_1. this The rest.

to plume] F_1 Q_2 F_2 Q_3. plume F_3 F_4. to make Q_1.

[5305] In] Ff. A Qq.

knavery—] Qq. knavery. Ff.

Let's] Ff. let me Qq.

[5306] ear] eare Qq. eares Ff.

[5307] his] my Q_3.

[5308] is ... nature] a free and open nature too Q_1.

[5309] seem] seemes Q_1 Q_2. seems Q_3.

[5310] And ... are.] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[5311] led] lead F_1 F_2.

nose] nose— Qq.

[5312] have't] Ff. ha't Qq.

engender'd] ingender'd Q_1 Q_2. engendred Ff. ingendr'd Q_3.

night] spite Warburton.

[5313] [Exit] Qq. om. Ff.

ACT II.

SCENE I. A sea-port in Cyprus. An open place near the quay.

Enter MONTANO and two Gentlemen.[5314]

Mon. What from the cape can you discern at sea?

First Gent. Nothing at all: it is a high-wrought flood;[5315]

I cannot, 'twixt the heaven and the main,[5316]

Descry a sail.[5317]

Mon. Methinks the wind hath spoke aloud at land;[5317][5318] 5

A fuller blast ne'er shook our battlements:[5317]

If it hath ruffian'd so upon the sea,[5317][5319]

What ribs of oak, when mountains melt on them,[5317][5320]

Can hold the mortise? What shall we hear of this?[5317][5321]

Sec. Gent. A segregation of the Turkish fleet:[5322] 10

For do but stand upon the foaming shore,[5323]

The chidden billow seems to pelt the clouds;[5324]

The wind-shaked surge, with high and monstrous mane,[5325]

Seems to cast water on the burning bear,

And quench the guards of the ever-fixed pole:[5326] 15

I never did like molestation view

On the enchafed flood.

Mon. If that the Turkish fleet[5327]

Be not enshelter'd and embay'd, they are drown'd;[5328]

It is impossible to bear it out.

Enter a third Gentleman.[5329]

Third Gent. News, lads! our wars are done.[5330][5331][5332] 20

The desperate tempest hath so bang'd the Turks,[5333]

That their designment halts: a noble ship of Venice[5334][5335]

Hath seen a grievous wreck and sufferance[5334][5336]

On most part of their fleet.[5337]

Mon. How! is this true?

Third Gent. The ship is here put in,[5338][5339][5340] 25

A Veronesa; Michael Cassio,[5338][5340]

Lieutenant to the warlike Moor Othello,[5341]

Is come on shore: the Moor himself at sea,[5342]

And is in full commission here for Cyprus.

Mon. I am glad on't; 'tis a worthy governor.[5343] 30

Third Gent. But this same Cassio, though he speak of comfort

Touching the Turkish loss, yet he looks sadly

And prays the Moor be safe; for they were parted[5344]

With foul and violent tempest.

Mon. Pray heavens he be;[5345]

For I have served him, and the man commands 35

Like a full soldier. Let's to the seaside, ho![5346]

As well to see the vessel that's come in

As to throw out our eyes for brave Othello,

Even till we make the main and the aerial blue[5347][5348]

An indistinct regard.[5347][5349]

Third Gent. Come, let's do so; 40

For every minute is expectancy

Of more arrivance.

Enter CASSIO.[5350]

Cas. Thanks, you the valiant of this warlike isle,[5351]

That so approve the Moor! O, let the heavens[5352]

Give him defence against the elements,[5353] 45

For I have lost him on a dangerous sea.[5354]

Mon. Is he well shipp'd?

Cas. His bark is stoutly timber'd, and his pilot[5355]

Of very expert and approved allowance;[5356]

Therefore my hopes, not surfeited to death,[5357][5358] 50

Stand in bold cure.[5358]

[A cry within: 'A sail, a sail, a sail!'

Enter a fourth Gentleman.[5359]

Cas. What noise?[5360]

Fourth Gent. The town is empty; on the brow o' the sea[5361]

Stand ranks of people, and they cry 'A sail!'[5362]

Cas. My hopes do shape him for the governor. 55

[Guns heard.[5363]

Sec. Gent. They do discharge their shot of courtesy:[5364]

Our friends at least.[5365]

Cas. I pray you, sir, go forth,

And give us truth who 'tis that is arrived.

Sec. Gent. I shall.     [Exit.[5366]

Mon. But, good lieutenant, is your general wived? 60

Cas. Most fortunately: he hath achieved a maid

That paragons description and wild fame;

One that excels the quirks of blazoning pens,[5367]

And in the essential vesture of creation[5368]

Does tire the ingener.

Re-enter second Gentleman.

How now! who has put in?[5369] 65

Sec. Gent. 'Tis one Iago, ancient to the general.[5366]

Cas. He has had most favourable and happy speed:[5370]

Tempests themselves, high seas, and howling winds,[5371]

The gutter'd rocks, and congregated sands,[5372]

Traitors ensteep'd to clog the guiltless keel,[5373] 70

As having sense of beauty, do omit

Their mortal natures, letting go safely by[5374]

The divine Desdemona.

Mon. What is she?

Cas. She that I spake of, our great captain's captain,[5375]

Left in the conduct of the bold Iago; 75

Whose footing here anticipates our thoughts

A se'nnight's speed. Great Jove, Othello guard,[5376]

And swell his sail with thine own powerful breath,

That he may bless this bay with his tall ship,

Make love's quick pants in Desdemona's arms,[5377] 80

Give renew'd fire to our extincted spirits,[5378]

And bring all Cyprus comfort.

Enter DESDEMONA, EMILIA, IAGO, RODERIGO, and Attendants.[5379]

O, behold,

The riches of the ship is come on shore![5380]

Ye men of Cyprus, let her have your knees.[5381]

Hail to thee, lady! and the grace of heaven,[5382] 85

Before, behind thee, and on every hand,

Enwheel thee round!

Des. I thank you, valiant Cassio.

What tidings can you tell me of my lord?[5383]

Cas. He is not yet arrived: nor know I aught[5384]

But that he's well and will be shortly here. 90

Des. O, but I fear—How lost you company?[5385]

Cas. The great contention of the sea and skies[5386]

Parted our fellowship—But, hark! a sail.

[A cry within: 'A sail, a sail!' Guns heard.[5387]

Sec. Gent. They give their greeting to the citadel:[5388]

This likewise is a friend.

Cas. See for the news.     [Exit Gentleman.[5389]95

Good ancient, you are welcome. [To Emilia] Welcome, mistress:[5390]

Let it not gall your patience, good Iago,

That I extend my manners; 'tis my breeding

That gives me this bold show of courtesy.     [Kissing her.[5391]

Iago. Sir, would she give you so much of her lips[5392] 100

As of her tongue she oft bestows on me,[5393]

You'ld have enough.[5394]

Desd. Alas, she has no speech.

Iago. In faith, too much;[5395]

I find it still when I have list to sleep:[5396]

Marry, before your ladyship, I grant, 105

She puts her tongue a little in her heart[5397]

And chides with thinking.

Emil. You have little cause to say so.[5398]

Iago. Come on, come on; you are pictures out of doors,[5399][5400]

Bells in your parlours, wild-cats in your kitchens,[5399] 110

Saints in your injuries, devils being offended,[5399]

Players in your housewifery, and housewives in your beds.[5399][5401]

Des. O, fie upon thee, slanderer![5402]

Iago. Nay, it is true, or else I am a Turk:

You rise to play, and go to bed to work. 115

Emil. You shall not write my praise.

Iago. No, let me not.

Des. What wouldst thou write of me, if thou shouldst praise me?[5403]

Iago. O gentle lady, do not put me to't;

For I am nothing if not critical.

Des. Come on, assay—There's one gone to the harbour?[5404] 120

Iago. Ay, madam.

Des. I am not merry; but I do beguile

The thing I am by seeming otherwise.

Come, how wouldst thou praise me?

Iago. I am about it; but indeed my invention[5405][5406] 125

Comes from my pate as birdlime does from frize;[5405][5407]

It plucks out brains and all: but my Muse labours,[5405][5408]

And thus she is deliver'd.[5405][5409]

If she be fair and wise, fairness and wit,[5410]

The one's for use, the other useth it.[5410][5411] 130

Des. Well praised! How if she be black and witty?[5412]

Iago. If she be black, and thereto have a wit,[5410]

She'll find a white that shall her blackness fit.[5410][5413]

Des. Worse and worse.

Emil. How if fair and foolish?[5414] 135

Iago. She never yet was foolish that was fair;[5410][5415]

For even her folly help'd her to an heir.[5410][5415][5416]

Des. These are old fond paradoxes to make fools laugh[5417][5418]

i' the alehouse. What miserable praise hast thou for her[5417]

that's foul and foolish?[5414][5417] 140

Iago. There's none so foul, and foolish thereunto,[5410]

But does foul pranks which fair and wise ones do.[5410][5419]

Des. O heavy ignorance! thou praisest the worst best.[5420]

But what praise couldst thou bestow on a deserving woman

indeed, one that in the authority of her merit did justly[5421][5422] 145

put on the vouch of very malice itself?[5421][5423]

Iago. She that was ever fair and never proud,[5410]

Had tongue at will and yet was never loud,[5410]

Never lack'd gold and yet went never gay,[5410]

Fled from her wish and yet said 'Now I may;'[5410] 150

She that, being anger'd, her revenge being nigh,[5410][5424]

Bade her wrong stay and her displeasure fly;[5410]

She that in wisdom never was so frail[5410]

To change the cod's head for the salmon's tail;[5410]

She that could think and ne'er disclose her mind,[5410][5425] 155

See suitors following and not look behind;[5410][5426]

She was a wight, if ever such wight were,—[5410][5427][5428]

Des. To do what?[5428]

Iago. To suckle fools and chronicle small beer.[5410]

Des. O most lame and impotent conclusion! Do not learn[5429] 160

of him, Emilia, though he be thy husband. How say you,[5429]

Cassio? is he not a most profane and liberal counsellor?[5429][5430]

Cas. He speaks home, madam: you may relish him[5431]

more in the soldier than in the scholar.[5431][5432]

Iago. [Aside] He takes her by the palm: ay, well said,[5433]165

whisper: with as little a web as this will I ensnare as great[5434]

a fly as Cassio. Ay, smile upon her, do; I will gyve thee[5435]

in thine own courtship. You say true; 'tis so, indeed: if[5436]

such tricks as these strip you out of your lieutenantry, it[5437]

had been better you had not kissed your three fingers so[5438] 170

oft, which now again you are most apt to play the sir in.[5439]

Very good; well kissed! an excellent courtesy! 'tis so,[5440]

indeed. Yet again your fingers to your lips? would they[5441]

were clyster-pipes for your sake! [Trumpet within.] The[5442]

Moor! I know his trumpet. 175

Cas. 'Tis truly so.

Des. Let's meet him and receive him.

Cas. Lo, where he comes!

Enter OTHELLO and Attendants.[5443]

Oth. O my fair warrior!

Des. My dear Othello!

Oth. It gives me wonder great as my content 180

To see you here before me. O my soul's joy![5444]

If after every tempest come such calms,[5445]

May the winds blow till they have waken'd death![5446]

And let the labouring bark climb hills of seas

Olympus-high and duck again as low 185

As hell's from heaven! If it were now to die,[5447]

'Twere now to be most happy; for I fear,

My soul hath her content so absolute

That not another comfort like to this

Succeeds in unknown fate.

Des. The heavens forbid 190

But that our loves and comforts should increase,[5448]

Even as our days do grow!

Oth. Amen to that, sweet powers![5449]

I cannot speak enough of this content;

It stops me here; it is too much of joy:

And this, and this, the greatest discords be     [Kissing her.[5450]195

That e'er our hearts shall make!

Iago. [Aside] O, you are well tuned now![5451][5452]

But I'll set down the pegs that make this music,[5452][5453]

As honest as I am.[5452]

Oth. Come, let us to the castle.[5454]

News, friends; our wars are done, the Turks are drown'd.[5455]

How does my old acquaintance of this isle?[5456] 200

Honey, you shall be well desired in Cyprus;

I have found great love amongst them. O my sweet,[5457]

I prattle out of fashion, and I dote

In mine own comforts. I prithee, good Iago,[5458]

Go to the bay, and disembark my coffers:[5459] 205

Bring thou the master to the citadel;

He is a good one, and his worthiness

Does challenge much respect. Come, Desdemona,

Once more well met at Cyprus.

[Exeunt all but Iago and Roderigo.[5460]

Iago. Do thou meet me presently at the harbour. Come[5461] 210

hither. If thou be'st valiant—as, they say, base men being[5462][5463]

in love have then a nobility in their natures more than is[5463]

native to them—list me. The lieutenant to-night watches[5463][5464]

on the court of guard. First, I must tell thee this: Desdemona[5465]

is directly in love with him. 215

Rod. With him! why, 'tis not possible.

Iago. Lay thy finger thus, and let thy soul be instructed.[5466]

Mark me with what violence she first loved the Moor, but[5467]

for bragging and telling her fantastical lies: and will she[5468]

love him still for prating? let not thy discreet heart think[5468][5469] 220

it. Her eye must be fed; and what delight shall she have[5470]

to look on the devil? When the blood is made dull with the

act of sport, there should be, again to inflame it and to give[5471]

satiety a fresh appetite, loveliness in favour, sympathy in[5472]

years, manners and beauties; all which the Moor is defective 225

in: now, for want of these required conveniences, her

delicate tenderness will find itself abused, begin to heave

the gorge, disrelish and abhor the Moor; very nature will[5473]

instruct her in it and compel her to some second choice.[5474]

Now, sir, this granted—as it is a most pregnant and unforced[5475] 230

position—who stands so eminently in the degree of this fortune[5476]

as Cassio does? a knave very voluble; no further conscionable[5477]

than in putting on the mere form of civil and humane[5478]

seeming, for the better compassing of his salt and most[5478][5479][5480]

hidden loose affection? why, none; why, none: a slipper and[5479][5481][5482] 235

subtle knave; a finder out of occasions; that has an eye can[5482][5483]

stamp and counterfeit advantages, though true advantage[5484]

never present itself: a devilish knave! Besides, the knave[5484][5485]

is handsome, young, and hath all those requisites in him

that folly and green minds look after: a pestilent complete[5486] 240

knave; and the woman hath found him already.[5487]

Rod. I cannot believe that in her; she's full of most[5488]

blest condition.[5489][5490]

Iago. Blest fig's-end! the wine she drinks is made of[5489][5491]

grapes: if she had been blest, she would never have loved[5489] 245

the Moor: blest pudding! Didst thou not see her paddle[5489][5492]

with the palm of his hand? didst not mark that?[5493]

Rod. Yes, that I did; but that was but courtesy.[5494]

Iago. Lechery, by this hand; an index and obscure prologue[5495]

to the history of lust and foul thoughts. They met so 250

near with their lips that their breaths embraced together.

Villanous thoughts, Roderigo! when these mutualities so[5496]

marshal the way, hard at hand comes the master and main[5497]

exercise, the incorporate conclusion: pish! But, sir, be you[5498]

ruled by me: I have brought you from Venice. Watch 255

you to-night; for the command, I'll lay't upon you: Cassio[5499]

knows you not: I'll not be far from you: do you find some

occasion to anger Cassio, either by speaking too loud or

tainting his discipline, or from what other course you[5500]

please, which the time shall more favourably minister. 260

Rod. Well.

Iago. Sir, he is rash and very sudden in choler, and[5501]

haply may strike at you: provoke him, that he may; for[5502]

even out of that will I cause these of Cyprus to mutiny;[5503]

whose qualification shall come into no true taste again but[5504] 265

by the displanting of Cassio. So shall you have a shorter[5505]

journey to your desires by the means I shall then have to

prefer them, and the impediment most profitably removed,[5506]

without the which there were no expectation of our prosperity.[5507] 270

Rod. I will do this, if I can bring it to any opportunity.[5508]

Iago. I warrant thee. Meet me by and by at the

citadel: I must fetch his necessaries ashore. Farewell.

Rod. Adieu.     [Exit.[5509]

Iago. That Cassio loves her, I do well believe it;[5510] 275

That she loves him, 'tis apt and of great credit:

The Moor, howbeit that I endure him not,

Is of a constant, loving, noble nature;[5511]

And I dare think he'll prove to Desdemona

A most dear husband. Now, I do love her too,[5512] 280

Not out of absolute lust, though peradventure

I stand accountant for as great a sin,

But partly led to diet my revenge,[5513]

For that I do suspect the lusty Moor[5514]

Hath leap'd into my seat: the thought whereof[5515] 285

Doth like a poisonous mineral gnaw my inwards;

And nothing can or shall content my soul[5516]

Till I am even'd with him, wife for wife;[5517]

Or failing so, yet that I put the Moor

At least into a jealousy so strong[5518] 290

That judgement cannot cure. Which thing to do,

If this poor trash of Venice, whom I trash[5519]

For his quick hunting, stand the putting on,

I'll have our Michael Cassio on the hip,

Abuse him to the Moor in the rank garb;[5520] 295

For I fear Cassio with my night-cap too;[5521]

Make the Moor thank me, love me and reward me,

For making him egregiously an ass

And practising upon his peace and quiet

Even to madness. 'Tis here, but yet confused: 300

Knavery's plain face is never seen till used.     [Exit.

SCENE II. A street.

Enter a Herald with a proclamation; People following.[5522]

Her. It is Othello's pleasure, our noble and valiant

general, that upon certain tidings now arrived, importing

the mere perdition of the Turkish fleet, every man put[5523]

himself into triumph; some to dance, some to make bonfires,[5524]

each man to what sport and revels his addiction leads[5525] 5

him: for, besides these beneficial news, it is the celebration[5526]

of his nuptial. So much was his pleasure should be proclaimed.[5527]

All offices are open, and there is full liberty of[5528]

feasting from this present hour of five till the bell have[5528][5529]

told eleven. Heaven bless the isle of Cyprus and our[5530] 10

noble general Othello!     [Exeunt.[5531]

SCENE III. A hall in the castle.

Enter OTHELLO, DESDEMONA, CASSIO, and Attendants.[5532]

Oth. Good Michael, look you to the guard to-night:

Let's teach ourselves that honourable stop,[5533]

Not to outsport discretion.

Cas. Iago hath direction what to do;[5534]

But notwithstanding with my personal eye 5

Will I look to't.[5535]

Oth. Iago is most honest.

Michael, good night: to-morrow with your earliest[5536]

Let me have speech with you. Come, my dear love,[5537]

The purchase made, the fruits are to ensue;

That profit's yet to come 'tween me and you.[5538] 10

Good night.     [Exeunt Othello, Desdemona, and Attendants.[5539]

Enter IAGO.

Cas. Welcome, Iago; we must to the watch.

Iago. Not this hour, lieutenant; 'tis not yet ten o' the[5540]

clock. Our general cast us thus early for the love of his[5540]

Desdemona; who let us not therefore blame: he hath not yet[5541] 15

made wanton the night with her, and she is sport for Jove.

Cas. She's a most exquisite lady.[5542]

Iago. And, I'll warrant her, full of game.

Cas. Indeed she's a most fresh and delicate creature.[5543]

Iago. What an eye she has! methinks it sounds a parley[5544][5545] 20

to provocation.[5544][5546]

Cas. An inviting eye; and yet methinks right modest.[5547]

Iago. And when she speaks, is it not an alarum to love?[5547][5548]

Cas. She is indeed perfection.

Iago. Well, happiness to their sheets! Come, lieutenant, 25

I have a stoup of wine; and here without are a brace of[5549]

Cyprus gallants that would fain have a measure to the[5550]

health of black Othello.[5551]

Cas. Not to-night, good Iago: I have very poor and

unhappy brains for drinking: I could well wish courtesy 30

would invent some other custom of entertainment.

Iago. O, they are our friends; but one cup: I'll drink

for you.

Cas. I have drunk but one cup to-night, and that was[5552]

craftily qualified too, and behold what innovation it makes[5553] 35

here: I am unfortunate in the infirmity and dare not task[5554]

my weakness with any more.

Iago. What, man! 'tis a night of revels: the gallants

desire it.

Cas. Where are they? 40

Iago. Here at the door; I pray you, call them in.

Cas. I'll do't; but it dislikes me.     [Exit.

Iago. If I can fasten but one cup upon him,

With that which he hath drunk to-night already,

He'll be as full of quarrel and offence 45

As my young mistress' dog. Now my sick fool Roderigo,[5555]

Whom love hath turn'd almost the wrong side out,[5556]

To Desdemona hath to-night caroused

Potations pottle-deep; and he's to watch:

Three lads of Cyprus, noble swelling spirits,[5557] 50

That hold their honours in a wary distance,[5558]

The very elements of this warlike isle,

Have I to-night fluster'd with flowing cups,

And they watch too. Now, 'mongst this flock of drunkards,[5559]

Am I to put our Cassio in some action[5560] 55

That may offend the isle. But here they come:[5561]

If consequence do but approve my dream,[5562]

My boat sails freely, both with wind and stream.

Re-enter CASSIO; with him MONTANO and Gentlemen; Servants following with wine.[5563]

Cas. 'Fore God, they have given me a rouse already.[5564]

Mon. Good faith, a little one; not past a pint, as I am[5565] 60

a soldier.[5565]

Iago. Some wine, ho!

[Sings] And let me the canakin clink, clink;[5566][5567][5568]

And let me the canakin clink:[5567][5569]

A soldier's a man;[5567][5570] 65

A life's but a span;[5567][5570][5571]

Why then let a soldier drink.[5567]

Some wine, boys![5572]

Cas. 'Fore God, an excellent song.[5573]

Iago. I learned it in England, where indeed they are 70

most potent in potting: your Dane, your German, and

your swag-bellied Hollander,—Drink, ho!—are nothing to

your English.[5574]

Cas. Is your Englishman so expert in his drinking?[5575]

Iago. Why, he drinks you with facility your Dane dead 75

drunk; he sweats not to overthrow your Almain; he gives[5576]

your Hollander a vomit ere the next pottle can be filled.

Cas. To the health of our general!

Mon. I am for it, lieutenant, and I'll do you justice.[5577]

Iago. O sweet England! 80

[Sings] King Stephen was a worthy peer,[5578]

His breeches cost him but a crown;[5567]

He held them sixpence all too dear,[5567][5579]

With that he call'd the tailor lown.[5567]

He was a wight of high renown,[5567] 85

And thou art but of low degree:[5567]

'Tis pride that pulls the country down;[5567]

Then take thine auld cloak about thee.[5567][5580]

Some wine, ho!

Cas. Why, this is a more exquisite song than the other.[5581] 90

Iago. Will you hear't again?

Cas. No; for I hold him to be unworthy of his place[5582]

that does those things. Well: God's above all; and[5583]

there be souls must be saved, and there be souls must[5584][5585]

not be saved.[5585] 95

Iago. It's true, good lieutenant.[5586]

Cas. For mine own part—no offence to the general, nor

any man of quality—I hope to be saved.

Iago. And so do I too, lieutenant.[5587]

Cas. Ay, but, by your leave, not before me; the lieutenant 100

is to be saved before the ancient. Let's have no[5588]

more of this; let's to our affairs. God forgive us our sins![5589]

Gentlemen, let's look to our business. Do not think, gentlemen,

I am drunk: this is my ancient: this is my right

hand, and this is my left. I am not drunk now; I can[5590] 105

stand well enough, and speak well enough.[5591]

All. Excellent well.[5592]

Cas. Why, very well then; you must not think then[5593]

that I am drunk.     [Exit.[5594]

Mon. To the platform, masters; come, let's set the watch.[5595] 110

Iago. You see this fellow that is gone before;

He is a soldier fit to stand by Cæsar[5596]

And give direction: and do but see his vice;

'Tis to his virtue a just equinox,[5597]

The one as long as the other: 'tis pity of him. 115

I fear the trust Othello puts him in[5598]

On some odd time of his infirmity

Will shake this island.[5599]

Mon. But is he often thus?

Iago. 'Tis evermore the prologue to his sleep:[5600]

He'll watch the horologe a double set,[5601] 120

If drink rock not his cradle.

Mon. It were well[5602]

The general were put in mind of it.[5603]

Perhaps he sees it not, or his good nature

Prizes the virtue that appears in Cassio[5604]

And looks not on his evils: is not this true? 125

Enter RODERIGO.[5605]

Iago. [Aside to him] How now, Roderigo![5606]

I pray you, after the lieutenant; go.     [Exit Roderigo.[5607]

Mon. And 'tis great pity that the noble Moor

Should hazard such a place as his own second

With one of an ingraft infirmity:[5608] 130

It were an honest action to say[5609]

So to the Moor.[5609][5610]

Iago. Not I, for this fair island:

I do love Cassio well, and would do much

To cure him of this evil:—But, hark! what noise?

[A cry within: 'Help! help!'

Re-enter CASSIO, driving in RODERIGO.[5611]

Cas. 'Zounds! you rogue! you rascal![5612] 135

Mon. What's the matter, lieutenant?

Cas. A knave teach me my duty! But I'll beat the[5613][5614]

knave into a wicker bottle.[5613][5615]

Rod. Beat me![5613][5616]

Cas. Dost thou prate, rogue?     [Striking Roderigo.[5613][5617]140

Mon. Nay, good lieutenant; I pray you, sir, hold[5613][5618]

your hand.[5613]

Cas. Let me go, sir, or I'll knock you o'er the mazzard.[5613][5619]

Mon. Come, come, you're drunk.[5613][5620] 145

Cas. Drunk!     [They fight.[5621]

Iago. [Aside to Roderigo] Away, I say; go out, and cry a mutiny.     [Exit Roderigo.[5622]

Nay, good lieutenant! God's will, gentlemen![5623]

Help, ho!—Lieutenant,—sir,—Montano—sir;—[5624]

Help, masters!—Here's a goodly watch indeed![5625] 150

[A bell rings.

Who's that that rings the bell?—Diablo, ho![5626]

The town will rise: God's will, lieutenant, hold;[5627]

You will be shamed for ever.

Re-enter OTHELLO and Attendants.

Oth. What is the matter here?[5628]

Mon. 'Zounds, I bleed still; I am hurt to the death

[Faints.[5629]

Oth. Hold, for your lives! 155

Iago. Hold, ho! Lieutenant,—sir,—Montano,—gentlemen,—[5630]

Have you forgot all sense of place and duty?[5631]

Hold! the general speaks to you; hold, hold, for shame![5632]

Oth. Why, how now, ho! from whence ariseth this?[5633]

Are we turn'd Turks, and to ourselves do that 160

Which heaven hath forbid the Ottomites?[5634]

For Christian shame, put by this barbarous brawl:

He that stirs next to carve for his own rage[5635]

Holds his soul light; he dies upon his motion.

Silence that dreadful bell! it frights the isle 165

From her propriety. What is the matter, masters?[5636]

Honest Iago, that look'st dead with grieving,[5637]

Speak, who began this? on thy love, I charge thee.[5638]

Iago. I do not know: friends all but now, even now,[5639]

In quarter, and in terms like bride and groom 170

Devesting them for bed; and then, but now,[5640]

As if some planet had unwitted men,[5641]

Swords out, and tilting one at other's breast,[5642]

In opposition bloody. I cannot speak[5643]

Any beginning to this peevish odds; 175

And would in action glorious I had lost

Those legs that brought me to a part of it![5644]

Oth. How comes it, Michael, you are thus forgot?[5645]

Cas. I pray you, pardon me; I cannot speak.

Oth. Worthy Montano, you were wont be civil;[5646][5647] 180

The gravity and stillness of your youth

The world hath noted, and your name is great

In mouths of wisest censure: what's the matter,[5648]

That you unlace your reputation thus,[5649]

And spend your rich opinion for the name 185

Of a night-brawler? give me answer to it.[5650]

Mon. Worthy Othello, I am hurt to danger:

Your officer, Iago, can inform you—

While I spare speech, which something now offends me—[5651]

Of all that I do know: nor know I aught 190

By me that's said or done amiss this night;[5652]

Unless self-charity be sometimes a vice,[5653]

And to defend ourselves it be a sin

When violence assails us.

Oth. Now, by heaven,

My blood begins my safer guides to rule, 195

And passion, having my best judgement collied,[5654]

Assays to lead the way: if I once stir,[5655]

Or do but lift this arm, the best of you

Shall sink in my rebuke. Give me to know

How this foul rout began, who set it on, 200

And he that is approved in this offence,[5656]

Though he had twinn'd with me, both at a birth,

Shall lose me. What! in a town of war,[5657]

Yet wild, the people's hearts brimful of fear,

To manage private and domestic quarrel,[5658] 205

In night, and on the court and guard of safety![5659]

'Tis monstrous. Iago, who began't?[5660]

Mon. If partially affined, or leagued in office,[5661]

Thou dost deliver more or less than truth,

Thou art no soldier.[5662]

Iago. Touch me not so near: 210

I had rather have this tongue cut from my mouth[5663]

Than it should do offence to Michael Cassio;

Yet, I persuade myself, to speak the truth[5664]

Shall nothing wrong him. Thus it is, general.[5665]

Montano and myself being in speech, 215

There comes a fellow crying out for help,

And Cassio following him with determined sword,[5666]

To execute upon him. Sir, this gentleman

Steps in to Cassio and entreats his pause:[5667]

Myself the crying fellow did pursue, 220

Lest by his clamour—as it so fell out—

The town might fall in fright: he, swift of foot,

Outran my purpose; and I return'd the rather[5668]

For that I heard the clink and fall of swords,

And Cassio high in oath; which till to-night[5669] 225

I ne'er might say before. When I came back—[5670]

For this was brief—I found them close together,

At blow and thrust; even as again they were

When you yourself did part them.

More of this matter cannot I report:[5671] 230

But men are men; the best sometimes forget:

Though Cassio did some little wrong to him,

As men in rage strike those that wish them best,[5672]

Yet surely Cassio, I believe, received

From him that fled some strange indignity, 235

Which patience could not pass.

Oth. I know, Iago,

Thy honesty and love doth mince this matter,

Making it light to Cassio. Cassio, I love thee;

But never more be officer of mine.

Re-enter DESDEMONA, attended.[5673]

Look, if my gentle love be not raised up! 240

I'll make thee an example.

Des. What's the matter?[5674]

Oth. All's well now, sweeting; come away to bed.[5675][5676]

Sir, for your hurts, myself will be your surgeon:[5675]

Lead him off.     [To Montano, who is led off.[5675][5677]

Iago, look with care about the town, 245

And silence those whom this vile brawl distracted.[5678]

Come, Desdemona: 'tis the soldiers' life

To have their balmy slumbers waked with strife.

[Exeunt all but Iago and Cassio.[5679]

Iago. What, are you hurt, lieutenant?[5680]

Cas. Ay, past all surgery.[5681] 250

Iago. Marry, heaven forbid![5682]

Cas. Reputation, reputation, reputation! O, I have lost[5683][5684][5685]

my reputation! I have lost the immortal part of myself, and[5683][5685][5686]

what remains is bestial. My reputation, Iago, my[5683]

reputation![5683] 255

Iago. As I am an honest man, I thought you had received[5687]

some bodily wound; there is more sense in that than in reputation.[5688]

Reputation is an idle and most false imposition;

oft got without merit and lost without deserving: you have

lost no reputation at all, unless you repute yourself such a 260

loser. What, man! there are ways to recover the general[5689]

again: you are but now cast in his mood, a punishment

more in policy than in malice; even so as one would beat his

offenceless dog to affright an imperious lion: sue to him[5690]

again, and he's yours. 265

Cas. I will rather sue to be despised than to deceive so

good a commander with so slight, so drunken, and so indiscreet[5691]

an officer. Drunk? and speak parrot? and squabble?[5692][5693]

swagger? swear? and discourse fustian with one's own shadow?[5692]

O thou invisible spirit of wine, if thou hast no name[5692][5694] 270

to be known by, let us call thee devil!

Iago. What was he that you followed with your sword?

What had he done to you?

Cas. I know not.

Iago. Is't possible? 275

Cas. I remember a mass of things, but nothing distinctly,

a quarrel, but nothing wherefore. O God, that men should[5695]

put an enemy in their mouths to steal away their brains!

that we should, with joy, pleasance, revel and applause,[5696]

transform ourselves into beasts! 280

Iago. Why, but you are now well enough: how came

you thus recovered?

Cas. It hath pleased the devil drunkenness to give place

to the devil wrath: one unperfectness shows me another, to

make me frankly despise myself. 285

Iago. Come, you are too severe a moraler: as the time,

the place, and the condition of this country stands, I could[5697]

heartily wish this had not befallen; but since it is as it is,[5698]

mend it for your own good.

Cas. I will ask him for my place again; he shall tell me 290

I am a drunkard! Had I as many mouths as Hydra, such

an answer would stop them all. To be now a sensible man,[5699]

by and by a fool, and presently a beast! O strange! Every[5700]

inordinate cup is unblest, and the ingredient is a devil.[5701]

Iago. Come, come, good wine is a good familiar creature,[5702] 295

if it be well used: exclaim no more against it. And, good

lieutenant, I think you think I love you.

Cas. I have well approved it, sir. I drunk!

Iago. You or any man living may be drunk at some time,[5703]

man. I'll tell you what you shall do. Our general's wife[5704] 300

is now the general. I may say so in this respect, for that

he hath devoted and given up himself to the contemplation,[5705]

mark and denotement of her parts and graces: confess[5706]

yourself freely to her; importune her help to put you in[5707]

your place again: she is of so free, so kind, so apt, so blessed[5708] 305

a disposition, she holds it a vice in her goodness not to do[5709]

more than she is requested: this broken joint between you[5710]

and her husband entreat her to splinter; and, my fortunes

against any lay worth naming, this crack of your love shall

grow stronger than it was before.[5711] 310

Cas. You advise me well.

Iago. I protest, in the sincerity of love and honest[5712]

kindness.

Cas. I think it freely; and betimes in the morning I[5713]

will beseech the virtuous Desdemona to undertake for me:[5713] 315

I am desperate of my fortunes if they check me here.[5714]

Iago. You are in the right. Good night, lieutenant; I[5715]

must to the watch.[5715]

Cas. Good night, honest Iago.     [Exit.[5716]

Iago. And what's he then that says I play the villain?[5717] 320

When this advice is free I give and honest,

Probal to thinking, and indeed the course[5718]

To win the Moor again? For 'tis most easy[5719]

The inclining Desdemona to subdue[5720]

In any honest suit. She's framed as fruitful[5720] 325

As the free elements. And then for her

To win the Moor, were't to renounce his baptism,[5721]

All seals and symbols of redeemed sin,

His soul is so enfetter'd to her love,

That she may make, unmake, do what she list, 330

Even as her appetite shall play the god

With his weak function. How am I then a villain[5722]

To counsel Cassio to this parallel course,[5723]

Directly to his good? Divinity of hell![5723][5724]

When devils will the blackest sins put on,[5725] 335

They do suggest at first with heavenly shows,

As I do now: for whiles this honest fool[5726]

Plies Desdemona to repair his fortunes,[5727]

And she for him pleads strongly to the Moor,

I'll pour this pestilence into his ear, 340

That she repeals him for her body's lust;[5728]

And by how much she strives to do him good,

She shall undo her credit with the Moor.

So will I turn her virtue into pitch;

And out of her own goodness make the net 345

That shall enmesh them all.

Enter RODERIGO.[5729]

How now, Roderigo!

Rod. I do follow here in the chase, not like a hound that[5730]

hunts, but one that fills up the cry. My money is almost

spent; I have been to-night exceedingly well cudgelled;[5731]

and I think the issue will be, I shall have so much experience[5732] 350

for my pains; and so, with no money at all and a[5733]

little more wit, return again to Venice.[5733]

Iago. How poor are they that have not patience!

What wound did ever heal but by degrees?

Thou know'st we work by wit and not by witchcraft,[5734] 355

And wit depends on dilatory time.

Does't not go well? Cassio hath beaten thee,[5735]

And thou by that small hurt hast cashier'd Cassio:[5736]

Though other things grow fair against the sun,[5737]

Yet fruits that blossom first will first be ripe:[5738] 360

Content thyself awhile. By the mass, 'tis morning;[5739]

Pleasure and action make the hours seem short.[5740]

Retire thee; go where thou art billeted:

Away, I say; thou shalt know more hereafter:

Nay, get thee gone. [Exit Rod.] Two things are to be done:[5741] 365

My wife must move for Cassio to her mistress;

I'll set her on;[5742][5743][5744][5745]

Myself the while to draw the Moor apart,[5743][5745][5746]

And bring him jump when he may Cassio find[5747]

Soliciting his wife: ay, that's the way; 370

Dull not device by coldness and delay.     [Exit.[5748]

FOOTNOTES:

[5314] ACT II. SCENE I.] Actus 2. Scæna 1. Qq. Actus Secundus. Scena Prima. Ff.

A ... quay.] Edd. (Globe ed.) The capital City of Cyprus. Rowe. The Capital of Cyprus. A Plat-form. Capell. A Sea-port town in Cyprus. A Platform. Malone.

Enter....] F_1. Enter Montano and Gentleman. F_2 F_3 F_4. Enter Montanio, Governor of Cypres, with two other Gentlemen. Qq (Cyprus Q_2 Q_3).

[5315] high-wrought] Hyphened by Pope.

[5316] heaven] haven Q_1. heav'ns Rowe (ed. 2).

[5317] Seymour, reading oak so strong, When the huge mountains, proposes to end the lines spoke ... shook ... so ... strong ... hold ... this?

[5318] hath spoke] Ff. does speake Q_1 Q_2. doth speake Q_3.

at land] at hand Q_3.

[5319] hath] Ff. ha Qq. ha' Q (1695).

[5320] mountains melt on them,] F_3 F_4. mountaines melt on them, F_1 F_2 Q_3. the huge mountaine meslt, Q_1. mountaine melt on them, Q_2. the huge mountains melt, Pope. the huge mountain melts, Jennens. mountains meet on them, Jackson conj.

[5321] mortise] Theobald (ed. 2). morties Qq Ff. mortises Seymore conj.

[5322] Sec. Gent.] 2. Gent. Qq. 2. Ff.

[5323] foaming] banning Q_1.

[5324] chidden] Ff. chiding Qq.

billow] billowes Q_2 Q_3.

seems] seem Q_3.

[5325] mane] Knight. mayne Qq. maine F_1 F_2. main F_3 F_4.

[5326] ever-fixed] Ff. ever fired Qq.

[5327] On the enchafed] On 'th' enchaf'd Hanmer.

that the] that be the F_4. the Seymour conj.

[5328] embay'd] Ff. embayed Qq.

they are] they're Pope.

[5329] to] they Q_1.

Enter a third Gentleman.] Qq. Enter a Gentleman. Ff.

[5330] SCENE II. Pope.

[5331] Third Gent.] 3 Gent. Qq. 3. Ff.

[5332] lads] lords Q_1.

lads! our] lords, our Pope.

our] Ff. your Qq.

[5333] Turks] F_3 F_4. Turkes F_1 F_2. Turke Qq.

[5334] That ... sufferance] As in Ff. Two lines, the first ending seene, in Q_1. Three, ending halts: ... Venice, ... sufferance, in Q_2 Q_3.

[5335] a noble] Another Q_1. A Hanmer.

[5336] wreck] Theobald (ed. 2). wracke Qq F_1 F_2. wrack F_3 F_4.

[5337] their] the Q_1.

[5338] The ... Cassio,] As in Qq. One line in Ff.

[5339] here] om. F_4.

[5340] in, A Veronesa:] in, A Veronessa; Theobald. in: A Veronessa, Qq. in: A Verennessa, F_1. in: A Veronesso, F_2 F_3 F_4. in; a Veronessa; Hanmer. in, A Veronese; Johnson. in: A Veronesé, Collier (Heath conj.) in: A Florentine, Collier MS. in, The Veronessa; Steevens conj.

[5341] to] of F_4.

[5342] on shore] Ff. a shore Qq.

the Moor himself] the Moor himself's Rowe. the Moor's himself Dyce conj.

[5343] I ... governor.] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

I am] I'm Pope.

[5344] prays] praye F_1.

[5345] heavens] Ff. heaven Qq.

[5346] Like ... ho!] One line in Ff. Two in Qq.

ho!]om. Pope.

[5347] Even ... regard.] Omitted in Q_1.]

[5348] the aerial] th' aerial Pope. th' Eriall F_1 F_2 F_3. th' Ayre all Q_2 Q_3. th' Erial F_4.

blue] Q_2 Q_3 F_4. blew F_1 F_2 F_3.

[5349] An] F_1 Q_2. And F_2 Q_3 F_3 F_4.

[5350] more arrivance] Qq. more Arrivancie F_1. more Arrivancy F_2 F_3. our Arrivancy F_4.

[going Capell

Enter Cassio.] Enter Cassio: the others run and salute him. Capell.

[5351] SCENE III. Pope

Thanks, you the] Knight. Thankes you, the Ff. Thankes to the Qq.

this] Qq. the Ff.

warlike] Ff. worthy Q_1. om. Q_2 Q_3.

[5352] O, let] Oh let Ff. and let Qq.

[5353] against] from F_4.

the] Ff. their Qq.

[5354] a] the Q_3.

[5355] pilot] Pilot F_3 F_4. Pylot F_1 F_2. Pilate Q_1. Pilote Q_2 Q_3.

[5356] Of very ... and] Very expert and of Johnson conj.

[5357] hopes F_3 F_4. hope's The rest.

[5358] hopes, ... cure] fears, ... cure or hopes, not forfeited to death, Stand bold, not sure Johnson conj.

[5359] [A cry within:] Within. Ff. Enter a Messenger. Mess. Qq. Enter another Gentleman. 4. G. Capell.

Enter a fourth Gentleman.] Dyce. Enter another Gentleman. Malone. om. Qq Ff.

[5360] noise] news Capell.

[5361] Fourth Gent.] 4. G. Capell. Gent. Ff. Mess. Qq.

on] one Q_3.

[5362] Stand] Ff. otand Q_1. Stands Q_2 Q_3.

[5363] governor] Ff. guernement Q_1. gouernement Q_2. government Q_3.

[Guns heard.] Capell. A shot. Qq (after least, line 57). om. Ff. Sound of Cannon. Johnson (after least, line 57).

[5364] Sec. Gent.] 2. Gen. Qq. Gent. Ff.

their] Ff. the Qq.

[5365] friends] Ff. friend Qq.

[5366] Sec Gent.] 2. Gent. Qq. Gent. Ff.

[5367] quirks of] Omitted in Q_1.

[5368] the essential] terrestrial Warburton. the sensual Heath conj.

[5369] tire the ingener.] Knight (Steevens conj.) tyre the Ingeniuer. F_1. tire the Ingeniver. F_2 F_3 F_4. beare all excellency:— Q_1. beare an excellency:— Q_2 Q_3. bear an excellency— Rowe. bear all excellency— Pope. tire th' ingenious verse. Johnson conj. tire the inventer. Capell. tire the ingenuous virtue. Steevens conj. tire the ingene ever. Malone conj. tire the engineer. or beat all excellency. Mason conj. tire the ingenieur. Henley conj. bear all excellence. Seymour conj. try the ingenieur. Becket conj. tire the Indian ever. Jackson conj. tire the imaginer. Jervis conj.

SCENE IV. Pope.

Re-enter....] Capell. Enter 2. Gentlemen. Qq (after in?). Enter Gentleman. Ff.

How] Ff. om. Qq.

[5370] Cas.] Cassio. Ff. om. Qq, continuing the speech to 2. Gent.

He has] Qq. Ha's Ff. Has Dyce. He's Grant White.

[5371] high seas] by seas Q_1.

[5372] gutter'd] Ff. guttered Qq.

[5373] ensteep'd] ensteep'd, Ff Q_2 Q_3. enscerped; Q_1. enur'd Pope conj. enscarf'd Steevens conj. escerped Id. conj. enscarp'd Grant White.

clog] Qq. enclogge F_1 F_2 F_3. enclog F_4.

[5374] mortal] common Qq.

go safely] safe go Pope.

[5375] She ... captain,] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

spake] spoke Q_1. speak Q (1695).

great] om. Q_3.

[5376] Jove] God Malone conj.

[5377] Make ... in] Ff. And swiftly come to Qq.

[5378] Give ... spirits,] One line in Ff. Two in Qq.

extincted] extinctest F_3 F_4. extinguish'd Rowe.

[5379] And ... comfort.] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

bring] give Rowe.

Enter ... Attendants.] Malone, after Capell. Enter Desdemona, Iago, Rodorigo, and Æmilia. Ff. Enter Desdemona, Iago, Emillia, and Roderigo. Qq (Emilla Q_2 Q_3), after armes, line 80.

SCENE V. Pope.

[5380] on shore] ashore Q_1.

[5381] Ye] Qq. You Ff.

[5382] thee, lady] the lady Q (1695).

[5383] me] om F_1.

[5384] yet] om. F_2 F_3 F_4.

[5385] O ... company?] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

fear—] feare:— Qq. feare: Ff.

[5386] the sea] sea F_1.

[5387] fellowship—But] fellowship. But Ff. fellowship: but Qq.

[A cry within: 'A sail, a sail!'] Within. A saile, a saile. Ff. After company? line 91, in Qq.

Guns heard.] Sound of Cannons. Johnson. om. Qq Ff.

[5388] their] Qq. this Ff.

the] this Rowe (ed. 2).

[5389] See ... news.] So speakes this voyce: Q_1.

[Exit ...] Capell. om. Qq Ff.

[5390] [To Emilia] Rowe. om. Qq Ff.

[5391] [Kissing her.] Kisses her. Johnson. Saluting her. Hanmer. om. Qq Ff.

[5392] Sir,] For Q_1.

[5393] oft bestows] F_4. oft bestowes F_1 F_2 F_3. has bestowed Qq.

on] Qq F_1. of F_2 F_3 F_4.

[5394] You'ld] You'd Qq. You would Ff.

[5395] In faith,] I know Q_1.

[5396] it still when] Ff. it, I; for when Q_1. it still, for when Q_2 Q_3.

have] Ff. ha Qq.

list] Q_1. leave Ff Q_2 Q_3. lust Collier (Collier MS.) lief Anon. conj.

[5397] her heart] heart Q_3.

[5398] have] Ff Q_3. ha Q_1 Q_2.

[5399] Come ... beds.] Prose in F_1.

[5400] you are] you're Pope.

of doors] F_4. of dores Q_2 F_2 Q_3. of doores F_3. of doore F_1. adores Q_1.

[5401] housewifery] Q_2 Q_3. houswifery Q_1. huswiferie F_1. huswiferie F_2 F_3 F_4.

and] om. Hanmer.

housewives] Q_2 Q_3. houswives Q_1. huswives Ff.

[5402] Des.] om. Q_1. Emil. Jennens.

Em. Anon. MS. See note (IV).

[5403] What ... me?] One line in Rowe. Two in Qq. Prose in Ff.

thou] Qq. om. Ff.

me?] me. F_2 F_3.

[5404] Come ... harbour?] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

Come on, assay—] Come, one assay. Pope.

assay—] Qq. assay. Ff.

[5405] I am ... deliver'd.] Arranged as in Qq. Prose in Ff.

[5406] indeed] om. Q_3.

my] om. Johnson.

[5407] frize] Steevens (1773). freeze Qq Ff.

[5408] brains] braine Qq.

[5409] deliver'd] Q_1 F_1. delivered The rest.

[5410] Printed in italics in Ff Q_2 Q_3.

[5411] useth] using Q_1.

[5412] Well ... witty?] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[5413] fit] hit Q_1.

[5414] foolish?] foolish. F_2 F_3.

[5415] never yet was ... For] ne'er was yet so ... But Johnson conj.

[5416] her to an heir.] her, to a haire. Q_1.

[5417] These ... foolish?] Prose in Ff. Three lines, ending alehouse, ... her, ... foolish? in Qq.

[5418] fond] Ff. om. Qq.

[5419] wise ones] wise-ones F_1 F_2.

[5420] thou praisest] Ff. that praises Qq.

[5421] indeed, ... itself?] indeed?... it selfe? Qq. indeed?... it selfe. Ff.

[5422] merit] Ff. merrits Q_1. merits Q_2 Q_3.

[5423] put on] put down Theobald.

[5424] being anger'd] when anger'd Pope.

[5425] ne'er] ne're Qq F_3 F_4. nev'r F_1 F_2.

[5426] See ... behind;] Omitted in Q_1.

not] ne'er Johnson.

[5427] such wight] Qq. such wights Ff (wightes F_1).

were,—] were. Q_1. were) Ff Q_3. were,) Q_2.

[5428] were,— Des. To] were, To— Des. Seymour conj.

[5429] O most ... counsellor?] Prose in Ff. Four irregular lines in Qq.

[5430] liberal] illiberal Hanmer.

counsellor] censurer Theobald.

[5431] He ... scholar.] Prose in Ff. Two lines, the first ending him, in Qq.

[5432] the scholar] scholler F_2.

[they converse apart. Capell.

[5433] [Aside] Rowe. A sid to him selfe. Anon. MS. See note (IV).

ay, well] I, well Ff. I well Qq.

said] Ff. sed Qq.

[5434] with as ... will I] as ... will Q_1.

[5435] fly] flee Q_1.

Ay, smile] I, smile Q_2 F_2 Q_3 F_3 F_4. I smile Q_1 F_1.

gyve thee] F_2. give thee F_1 F_3 F_4. catch you Qq.

[5436] thine] Ff. your Qq.

courtship] courtesies Q_1.

[5437] lieutenantry] lieutenancy Rowe.

[5438] kissed] kiss'd Ff. rist Qq.

[5439] which now again] which—now again!— Anon. conj.

[5440] Very] om. Q_1.

an] Q_1. and Ff Q_2 Q_3.

courtesy] courtesie Qq. curtsie F_1 F_2 F_3. curtesie F_4.

so] om. Q_3.

[5441] again] Q_3. againe, Q_1 Ff Q_2. again— Rowe.

to] Ff. at Qq.

[5442] [Trumpet within.] Q_2 Q_3 (after line 175). Trumpets within. Q_1 (after line 175). Omitted in Ff.

[5443] comes] come F_3 F_4.

SCENE VI. Pope.

[Enter....] Places as in Ff. After line 175 in Qq.

[5444] To see ... joy!] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

O] om. Pope.

[5445] come] came Q_3.

calms] F_4. calmes F_1 F_2 F_3. calmenesse Qq.

[5446] waken'd] Ff. wakned Q_3. wakened Q_1 Q_2.

[5447] from] for Q_3.

it] I Rowe (ed. 2).

[5448] But ... increase,] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[5449] do grow] om. Steevens conj.

to that] om. Seymour conj.

that, sweet powers!] that sweete power, Q_1. that sweet prayer! Warburton.

[5450] discords] Ff. discord Qq.

[Kissing her.] they kisse. Q_1. Kisse. Q_2 Q_3. Omitted in Ff.

[5451] [Aside] Rowe.

O] om. Hanmer.

[5452] O ... am.] Verse as in Qq. Prose in Ff.

[5453] set] let Pope.

make] makes Q_2 Q_3.

[5454] let us] lees Q_3. let's Rowe (ed. 2).

[5455] News ... drown'd.] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

News] Now Rowe (ed. 2).

drown'd] dro Q_2.

[5456] does my] doe our Q_1.

of this] of the Q_1. in this Rowe (ed. 2).

[to Montano. Capell.

[5457] I have] I've Pope.

[5458] comforts] comfort Pope.

I] om. Pope.

[5459] my] thy F_2 F_3 F_4.

[5460] [Exeunt....] Exeunt Oth. Des. Emi. Mon. Gen. and Att. Capell. Exit. Q_1. Exeunt. Q_2 Q_3. Exit Othello and Desdemona. Ff (Exeunt.... F_4).

[5461] SCENE VII. Manent Jago and Rodorigo. Pope.

thou] you F_2 F_3 F_4.

harbour] Habour Q_1.

[5462] hither] Qq. thither Ff.

[calling him back. Rann.

[5463] as ... them] [Aside] as ... them Anon. conj.

[5464] list me] list-me F_1 F_2 F_3.

[5465] of] om. Rowe (ed. 2).

must] Ff. will Qq.

thee this: Desdemona] Ff. thee, this Desdemona Q_1. thee this, Desdemona Q_2 Q_3.

[5466] finger] fingers F_4.

[5467] first] om. F_2 F_3 F_4.

[5468] and will she love] Qq. To love Ff.

[5469] prating?] Qq. prating, Ff.

thy] Ff. the Qq.

[5470] it] so Q_1.

[5471] be, again] Hanmer. be again Theobald. be againe Q_1. be a game Ff Q_2 Q_3.

to give] Ff. give Qq.

[5472] satiety] Ff. saciety Q_1 Q_2. satity Q_3.

appetite,] Theobald. appetite. Qq Ff.

loveliness] Love lines Q_1.

[5473] the gorge] the, gorge F_1.

[5474] in it] Ff. to it Qq.

[5475] a most] most Q_2 Q_3.

[5476] eminently] Qq. eminent Ff.

[5477] further] Ff. farder Qq.

[5478] humane seeming] hand-seeming Q_1. human seeming Rowe.

[5479] compassing] Qq. compasse Ff.

[5480] most hidden loose] hidden Q_1. most hidden-loose S. Walker conj.

[5481] affection] Ff. affections Qq.

why, none; why, none:] Omitted in Q_1.

[5482] slipper and subtle] slipper, and subtle F_1. slippery, and subtle F_2 F_3 F_4. subtle slippery Qq.

[5483] a finder out of occasions] Qq. a finder of occasion Ff. a finder of occasions Rowe. a finder of warm occasions Johnson.

has] he's F_1.

[5484] counterfeit ... itself:] counterfeit the true advantages never present themselves. Q_1.

[5485] a ... knave!] Omitted in Qq.

[5486] pestilent complete] pestilent-complete S. Walker conj.

[5487] hath] Ff. has Qq.

[5488] in her] of her Pope.

[5489] blest] Qq. bless'd Ff. blessed Reed (1803).

[5490] condition] conditions Q_3.

[5491] drinks] drinke F_2.

[5492] blest pudding] Bless'd pudding Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[5493] didst ... that?] Omitted in Q_1.

[5494] that I did] Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[5495] obscure] om. Q_1. obscene Staunton conj.

[5496] Villanous thoughts,] Omitted in Q_1.

Roderigo] Rodorigo Ff. Omitted in Qq.

mutualities] Qq. mutabilities Ff.

[5497] hard at hand] Ff. hand at hand Qq.

comes ... main] Ff. comes the maine Q_1. comes Roderigo, the master and the maine Q_2 Q_3.

[5498] incorporate] incorrupt Q_3.

pish!] om. Qq.

[5499] for the] Ff. for your Q_1. for Q_2 Q_3.

[5500] tainting] taunting Steevens conj. (withdrawn).

course] cause Q_1.

[5501] he is] Qq. he's Ff.

[5502] haply] Q_1 Q_2. happely F_1. happily F_2 F_3 F_4. hoply Q_3.

may] with his Trunchen may Qq.

[5503] these] those Rowe (ed. 2).

[5504] taste] trust Q_1.

again] again't Qq.

[5505] by the] by F_3 F_4.

displanting] displaying Q_3. transplanting Theobald (ed. 2).

[5506] impediment] impediments Rowe (ed. 2).

profitably] profitable Q_3.

[5507] the which] Ff. which Qq.

were] was Pope.

[5508] if I can] Qq. if you can Ff. if can Jennens (a misprint).

[5509] [Exit.] om. Q_3.

[5510] SCENE VIII. Manet Jago. Pope.

believe it] Qq. beleev't Ff. believe Pope.

[5511] constant, loving] constant-loving S. Walker conj.

loving, noble] Ff. noble, loving Qq.

[5512] do] om. Pope.

[5513] led] Ff. lead Qq.

[5514] lusty] F_2 F_3 F_4. lustie F_1. lustfull Qq.

[5515] thought] thoughts F_4.

[5516] or] Ff. nor Qq.

[5517] even'd] even Q_1.

for wife] for wift F_1.

[5518] At least] At last Theobald (ed 2).

[5519] trash ... I trash] Steevens (1778). trash ... I crush Q_1. Trash ... I trace Ff Q_2 Q_3. brach ... I trace Theobald (Warburton conj.) brach ... I cherish Warburton. brach ... I trash Collier, ed. 2 (Warton conj.) brach ... I do cherish Heath conj. rache ... I'd crush Becket conj. trash ... I leash Bailey conj. trash ... I train Anon. conj.

[5520] rank] ranke Qq. right Ff.

[5521] with] wore Anon. MS. (pencil). See note (IV).

night-cap] night-cape F_1.

[5522] SCENE II.] SCENE IXX. Pope.

A street.] Capell. The Street. Pope.

Enter ... following.] Malone. Enter a Gentleman reading a Proclamation. Q_1. Enter Othello's Herald with a Proclamation. Ff (Othello's, F_1). Enter Othello's Herauld, reading a Proclamation. Q_2 Q_3. People moving in it. Trumpets. Enter a Herald, attended. Capell.

[5523] every] Ff. that every Qq.

[5524] to make] Ff. make Qq.

[5525] addiction] Q_2 Q_3. addition Ff. minde Q_1. mind's addiction Anon. conj.

[5526] these] this Rowe (ed. 2).

celebration] Delebration F_3.

[5527] nuptial] F_4. nuptiall F_1 F_2 F_3. nuptialls Qq.

[5528] of feasting] Omitted in Qq.

[5529] five] nine Capell conj.

have] Ff. hath Qq.

[5530] told] Qq F_1 F_2. toll'd F_3 F_4.

Heaven] Qq. om. Ff. God S. Walker conj.

[5531] Exeunt.] Steevens (1793). Shouts, and Exeunt. Capell. Exit. Ff. om. Qq.

[5532] SCENE III.] Capell. Scene continued in Qq Ff, and Pope. SCENE X. Hanmer.

A hall ...] The same. Hall of the Castle. Capell. The Castle. Hanmer.

Enter ... Attendants.] Ff. Enter Othello, Cassio, and Desdemona. Qq.

[5533] that] the Q_1.

[5534] direction] directed Q_1.

[5535] to't] Ff. to it Qq.

[5536] your] our Malone.

[5537] [To Desd. Johnson.

[5538] That] The Q_1.

profit's] Ff. profits Qq.

'tween] F_3 F_4. 'tweene F_1. tweene F_2. twixt Qq.

[5539] Good night.] Cas. Good night. Anon. conj.

[Exeunt ...] Capell. Exit Othello and Desdemona. Qq. Exit. Ff.

[5540] o' the clock] aclock Qq.

[5541] who] Qq F_1. whom F_2 F_3 F_4.

[5542] She's] Ff. She is Qq.

[5543] she's] she is Qq.

[5544] What ... provocation.] Prose in Pope. Two lines, the first ending has? in Qq Ff.

[5545] has!] ha's? F_1 F_2. has? The rest.

[5546] to] Ff. of Qq.

[5547] An ... love?] Two lines in Qq. Four in Ff.

[5548] is it not ... love?] Ff. tis an alarme to love. Qq.

[5549] stoup] stope Qq Ff. stoop Rowe.

[5550] Cyprus] Cyprus' Capell.

[5551] of] Ff. of the Qq.

[5552] have] Ff. ha Qq.

[5553] too] to Q_1 Q_2. om. Johnson.

[5554] unfortunate] Qq. infortunate Ff.

[5555] As ... Roderigo,] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

mistress'] mistris Qq F_1 F_2. mistris's F_3. mistriss's F_4.

Now, my sick fool] My fool Seymour conj.

[5556] hath] Ff. has Qq.

out] Ff. outward Qq.

[5557] lads] Qq. else Ff. elks Jackson conj. elves Collier MS.

[5558] honours] Ff. honour, Qq.

[5559] And ... drunkards,] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

they] Ff. the Qq.

'mongst] amongst Q_3.

[5560] Am I] F_1 F_2. I am Qq. And I F_3 F_4.

in some] on some Capell conj.

[5561] That ... come:] One line in Ff. Two in Qq.

[5562] dream] deem Theobald. scheme Johnson conj.

[5563] Re-enter ... wine.] Dyce, substantially. Enter Montanio, Cassio, and others. Qq (opposite line 56). Enter Cassio, Montano, and Gentlemen. Ff (after line 56). Re-enter Cassio; Montano, and Others with him. Capell.

[5564] SCENE X. Pope. SCENE XI. Hanmer.

'Fore] Ff. Fore Qq.

God] Q_1. heaven Ff Q_2 Q_3.

[5565] Good faith ... soldier.] Prose in Ff. Two lines, the first ending pint, in Qq.

[5566] [Sings] Rowe. om. Qq Ff.

[5567] Printed in italics in Qq Ff.

[5568] clink, clink] clink, clink, clink Hanmer.

[5569] clink] clinke, clinke Qq.

[5570] A ... span;] Two lines in Capell. One in Qq Ff.

[5571] A life's] Qq. Oh, mans life's Ff.

[5572] Some wine] Come, wine Jennens.

[Wine brought in. Capell.

[5573] God] Q_1. heaven Ff Q_2 Q_3.

[5574] English] Englishman Collier (Collier MS.)

[drinks, and puts it about. Capell.

[5575] Englishman] Englishmen F_1.

expert] Q_1. exquisite Ff Q_2 Q_3.

[5576] sweats] Q_1 Q_3. sweates F_1 Q. sweares F_2 F_3. swears F_4.

[5577] I'll] I will Qq.

[5578] King ... peer,] Printed as if not part of the song in Q_1. In italics in the rest.

a] Q_1. and-a Ff. and a Q_2 Q_3.

[5579] them] Ff. 'em Qq.

too] Q_1 F_3 F_4. to The rest.

[5580] Then] Qq. And Ff.

thine] Qq. thy Ff.

auld] Q_2 Q_3. owd Q_1. awl'd Ff. old Pope.

[5581] Why] Fore God Q_1.

[5582] to be] om. Qq.

[5583] things. Well:] Ff. things: Well, Q_1. things well, Q_2 Q_3.

God's] Q_1. heav'ns F_1 F_2. heaven's The rest.

[5584] must be] Ff. that must be Qq.

[5585] and ... not be saved.] Omitted in Qq.

[5586] It's] It is Qq.

[5587] too] om. Qq.

[5588] have] Ff. ha Qq.

[5589] God] Q_1. om. Ff Q_2 Q_3.

us] om. F_3 F_4.

[5590] and this is] and this Q_3.

left] Ff. left hand Qq.

[5591] and] Qq. and I Ff.

[5592] All] Qq. Gent. Ff.

[5593] Why] om. Q_1.

think then] think Q_1.

[5594] [Exit.] om. Rowe.

[5595] SCENE XI. Manent Jago and Montano. Pope. SCENE XII. Hanmer.

platform] F_4. platforme F_1 F_2 F_3. plotforme Q_1 Q_2. pletforme Q_3.

set] see Rowe.

[5596] He is] He's F_1.

[5597] virtue] virtues F_3 F_4.

[5598] puts] Ff. put Qq.

him in] in him Capell.

[5599] island] isle Seymour conj.

[5600] the] Qq. his Ff.

[5601] horologe] F_1 Q_3. horolodge Q_1 Q_2. horologue F_2 F_3 F_4.

[5602] It were] Ff. Twere Qq (T'were Q_2 Q_3), reading Twere ... of it as one line.

[5603] were] wete Q_1.

[5604] Prizes] Ff. Praises Qq.

virtue] vertues Q_1.

[5605] looks] looke Q_1.

is not this] is't not Seymour conj.

Enter Roderigo.] Roderigo shows himself. Capell.

[5606] [Aside to him] First marked by Capell.

[5607] [Exit Roderigo.] Exit Rod. Qq. om. Ff. [pushing him out. Capell.

[5608] of an] om. F_2 F_3 F_4.

[5609] It ... Moor.] As in Malone. One line in Qq. Two, the first ending so, in Ff.

[5610] to] Unto Pope, ending the previous line so.

Moor.] Moor, Iago. Anon. conj., dividing as Ff.

Not I] Q_1. (Dev.) Ff Q_2 Q_3. Nor I Q_1. (Cap. and Chip.)

[5611] But] om. Pope.

[A cry ... help!'] Placed as in Theobald. Helpe, helpe, within. Qq, in italics, opposite line 133. Omitted in Ff.

Re-enter] Pope. Enter Qq Ff.

driving in] Qq. pursuing Ff.

[5612] 'Zounds!] Zouns Q_1. Omitted in the rest.

[5613] A ... you're drunk.] Prose in Qq. Nine irregular lines in Ff. Five lines, ending duty!... bottle ... lieutenant; ... sir, ... drunk, in Capell, reading as Ff.

[5614] knave teach] Ff. knave, teach Qq.

But] Qq. om. Ff.

[5615] wicker bottle] Qq. Twiggen-Bottle F_1. Twiggen Bottle F_2 F_3 F_4.

[5616] me!] me? Qq F_1. me. The rest, me— Rowe.

[5617] [Striking Roderigo.] Beats Roderigo. Capell. om. Qq Ff.

[5618] Nay] om. Qq.

lieutenant] lieutenant, hold Seymour conj., reading as verse.

[Staying him. Rowe.

I pray you, sir] pray sir Qq.

[5619] knock] know F_2 F_3 F_4.

o'er] on Q_3.

[5620] you're] Ff. you are Qq.

[5621] [They fight.] Qq. om. Ff. Draws upon Mon. and they fight. Capell.

[5622] [Aside ...] First marked by Capell.

[Exit Roderigo.] Exit Rod. Q_2 Q_3. om. Q_1 Ff.

[5623] God's will] godswill Q_1. God's-will Q_2 Q_3. Alas Ff.

[5624] sir,—Montano,—sir;—] Capell. Sir Montanio, sir, Q_1. Sir, Montanio, sir, Q_2 Q_3. Sir Montano: Ff.

[5625] masters] master Q_3.

[A bell rings.] Q_2 Q_3. A bell rung: Q_1, opposite line 147. Omitted in Ff. Bell rings. Rowe, after line 151.

[5626] that that] Qq. that which Ff. that who Pope.

[5627] God's will] godswill Q_1. Fie, fie Ff Q_2 Q_3.

hold] Qq. om. Ff.

[5628] You will be shamed] You will be sham'd Qq. You'le be asham'd F_1. You'l be sham'd F_2. You'll be asham'd F_3 F_4.

[taking him off. Capell.

Re-enter ...] Dyce. Enter ... Ff. Enter Othello, and Gentlemen with weapons. Qq.

SCENE XII. Pope. SCENE XIII. Hanmer.

What ... here?] What's the matter? Seymour conj.

What is] Q_1 Ff. What's Q_2 Q_3.

[5629] 'Zounds] Zouns Q_1. om. Ff Q_2 Q_3.

hurt to] hurt, but not to F_2 F_3 F_4.

death. [Faints.] death. he faints (in italics) Q_2 Q_3. death. He dies (in roman) F_1. death: Q_1. death. F_2 F_3 F_4. death;—he dies. [assailing Cassio again. Capell.

[Faints.] After line 158. Anon. conj.

[5630] Hold, ho!] Hold, hold Q_1 Q_2. Holp, hold Q_3.

sir,—Montano,—] sir—Montano— Rowe. Sir Montano Ff. sir Montanio Qq.

[5631] sense of place] Hanmer. place of sense Qq Ff (sence Qq).

[5632] Hold!] om. Pope. Hold, hold! Capell and Grant White. Hold! I say, Seymour conj., ending lines 155-158 at sir, ... forgot ... say, ... shame!

hold, hold,] Qq. hold Ff and Capell. om. Grant White.

[5633] ariseth] Ff. arises Qq.

[5634] hath] Ff. has Qq.

[5635] for] forth Q_1.

[5636] What is] Ff. what's Qq.

masters] om. Pope.

[5637] look'st] Hanmer. lookes Qq F_1 F_2. looks F_3 F_4.

[5638] this?] Ff. this, Qq.

[5639] not] not not F_2.

[5640] Devesting] Qq Ff. Digesting Q (1695). Divesting Rowe (ed. 2).

for bed] Ff. to bed Qq.

then] om. Q_3.

[5641] men] them Collier MS.

[5642] Swords] Sword F_3 F_4.

breast] Qq (brest Q_3). breasts Ff (breastes F_1).

[5643] cannot] can't Pope.

[5644] Those] These Q_1.

[5645] comes ... are] Ff. came ... were Qq.

[5646] Montano] Ff. Montanio Qq.

[5647] be] Qq. to be Ff.

[5648] In mouths] In men Q_1. With men Seymour conj.

[5649] unlace] unbrace Becket conj.

[5650] to it] Ff. to't Qq.

[5651] me] om. Q_2.

[5652] By me] By me, Qq F_1. By me; F_2 F_3 F_4.

said] sed Q_1.

[5653] sometimes] Ff. sometime Qq.

[5654] collied] Ff. coold Qq. choler'd Rowe. quell'd Capell. coil'd Becket conj. quelled Collier (Collier MS.) cullied Bailey conj.

[5655] if I once] Ff. Zouns, if I Q_1. If once I Q_2 Q_3.

[5656] this] his Rowe (ed. 2).

[5657] Shall] Should Q_3.

lose] Rowe (ed. 2). loose Qq Ff. loosen Capell.

me] me ever Lettsom conj.

What! in] Capell. What, in Qq. What in Ff. What, and in Hanmer. What! here! Seymour conj.

[5658] quarrel,] quarrell? F_1 F_2 F_3. quarrels? F_4. quarrels, Q_1. quarrells Q_2 Q_3.

[5659] and guard of] of guard and Theobald.

[5660] Iago] Say Jago Pope.

began't] Ff. began Q_1 Q_2. degan Q_3. began it Malone.

[5661] partially] Ff. partiality Qq.

leagued] leagu'd Pope, league Qq Ff.

[5662] no] mo Q_3.

[5663] I had] I'd Pope.

have] Ff. ha Q_1 ha' Q_2 Q_3.

cut from my] Ff. out from my Q_1. out of my Q_2. out of his Q_3.

[5664] the truth] so the truth F_2 F_3 F_4.

[5665] him] om. Long MS.

Thus] Qq. This Ff.

it is] 'tis Pope.

[5666] him] om. Pope.

[5667] in to] into Q_2 F_2 Q_3.

[5668] and] om. Pope.

the] then F_1.

[5669] oath] oaths Q_1.

[5670] say] see Q_1.

[5671] cannot I] Ff. can I not Qq.

[5672] those] them Q_3.

[5673] Re-enter....] Dyce. Enter ... Ff. Enter Desdemona, with others. Q_1. After line 240 in Q_2 Q_3.

[5674] What's] Q_2 Q_3. What is Q_1 Ff.

matter?] Qq. matter (Deere?) F_1 F_2. matter (Dear?) F_3 F_4.

[5675] All's ... off] Arranged as by Pope. Three lines, ending sweeting: ... hurts, ... off, in Qq Ff.

[5676] All's] All is Pope.

well now, sweeting] well now sweeting Qq. well, Sweeting Ff. well. Here, sweeting Johnson.

come away] Come, away Rowe. Come, let's away Capell, arranging as Qq Ff.

[5677] Lead him off.] A stage direction. Malone conj.

[To Montano....] Steevens (1778). To Montano. Johnson. Exeunt some with Montano. Capell. om. Qq Ff.

[5678] vile] vil’d F_1.

brawl] brawl's Anon. conj.

[5679] [Exeunt....] Exit Moore, Desdemona, and attendants. Qq (after line 249). Exit. Ff.

[5680] SCENE XIII. Pope. SCENE XIV. Hanmer.

[5681] Ay,] om. Pope.

[5682] Marry, heaven] Mary God Q_1.

[5683] Reputation ... reputation!] Prose in Ff. Four lines in Qq.

[5684] Reputation] Thrice in Ff. Twice in Qq.

O] om. Q_1.

O, I have] ho I Q (1695).

[5685] have ... have] Ff. ha ... ha Qq.

[5686] part of] Ff. part sir of Qq.

myself] my salfe Q_3.

[5687] thought] Qq. had thought Ff.

[5688] sense] sence Ff. offence Qq. of sense Anon. conj.

[5689] are] Qq. are more Ff.

[5690] affright] appease Staunton conj.

imperious] impious Hanmer (ed. 2).

[5691] slight] Ff. light Qq.

and so] Ff. and Qq.

[5692] Drunk ... shadow?] Omitted in Q_1.

[5693] speak parrot?] speake parrat? F_1 Q_2 F_2 Q_3. speak parrat? F_3. speak, parrot? F_4. speak? parrot, Theobald. speak? parrot? Hanmer.

[5694] if thou] thou Q_3.

[5695] nothing] not the Anon. conj.

O God] Q_1. O Q_2 Q_3. Oh Ff.

[5696] pleasance, revel] revell, pleasure Qq.

[5697] and] om. Qq.

[5698] not] not so Q_1 Q_2.

[5699] them] Ff. em Qq.

[5700] fool] foule Q_3.

O strange!] om. Qq.

[5701] inordinate] unordinate Q_1.

ingredient] Ff. ingredience Qq.

[5702] familiar] famillar F_1.

[5703] some time] Qq. a time Ff. one time Grant White conj.

[5704] man] om. Q_1.

I'll] I'le Q_1. Ile Q_2 Q_3. I Ff.

[5705] hath] Ff. has Qq.

[5706] mark] Q_3. marke. Q_1 Q_2. marke: Ff (mark: F_4).

denotement] Theobald. deuotement Q_1 F_1 Q_2. devotement F_2 Q_3 F_3 F_4.

[5707] her help] her, shee'll helpe to Qq.

[5708] of so free] so free Qq.

[5709] she] Ff. that she Qq.

[5710] broken joint] braule Q_1.

[5711] stronger] stonger F_1 F_2.

it was] Ff. twas Q_1. t'was Q_2 Q_3.

[5712] honest] om. Q_3.

[5713] I will] Ff. will I Qq.

[5714] here] om. Ff.

[5715] You ... watch.] Prose in Ff. Two lines, the first ending right, in Qq.

[5716] [Exit.] Qq. Exit Cassio. Ff.

[5717] SCENE XIV. Pope. SCENE XV. Hanmer.

And ... villain?] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[5718] Probal] Probable Rowe. Likely Pope.

[5719] To win ... easy] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[5720] subdue ... suit. She's] Pointed as in Ff. subdue, In ... suite, she's Q_1. subdue, In ... suite she's Q_2 Q_3. subdue; In ... suit she's Q (1695).

[5721] were't] Q_3. wer't Q_1 Q_2. were Ff.

[5722] How am] Am Pope.

[5723] course, Directly] course Directly S. Walker conj.

[5724] Divinity of hell!] 'Tis hell's divinity: Pope.

hell!] hell, Qq Ff.

[5725] the] F_1 F_2 F_3. their Qq F_4.

[5726] whiles] Ff. while Q_1. whilst Q_2 Q_3.

[5727] fortunes] Qq. fortune Ff.

[5728] for] from Johnson.

[5729] That ... Roderigo!] One line in Pope. Two in Qq. Ff.

enmesh] Q_1 Q_2. en-mash F_1 F_2. enmash F_3 F_4. enemesh Q_3.

them] em Q_1.

Enter....] Qq. Enter Rodorigo. Ff (after Roderigo!).

[5730] SCENE XV. Pope. SCENE XVI. Hanmer.

do] om. Pope.

[5731] have] Ff. ha Qq.

[5732] and] om. Qq.

[5733] pains ... Venice.] paines, as that comes to, and no money at all, and with that wit returne to Venice. Q_1. paines, and no mony at all, and a little more wit returne to Venice. Q_2 Q_3 (and with a Q_3).

[5734] know'st] Ff. knowest Qq.

[5735] Does't] Do'st Q_1. Dos't F_1 Q_2 F_2 Q_3. Dost F_3 F_4.

hath] Ff. has Qq.

[5736] hast] hath F_1 Q (1695).

[5737] grow] grew Q_3.

[5738] Yet] But Q_1.

will ... ripe] will fire be ripe Q_3. are not first ripe Hanmer.

[5739] By the mass] Introth F_1 F_2 F_3. In troth F_4.

[5740] hours] time Jennens.

[5741] Nay ... done:] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[Exit Rod.] Exit Rodorigo. Ff. om. Qq.

Two] Ff. Some Qq.

[5742] I'll ... on;] om. Seymour conj.

[5743] I'll ... apart,] Divided as in Qq. One line in Ff.

[5744] on;] on:— Theobald. on. Qq. on Ff.

[5745] on ... draw] on to draw Pope. on; so draw Theobald.

[5746] the while] Theobald. awhile Q_1. a while Ff Q_2 Q_3.

to draw] will draw Johnson.

[5747] when] where Collier MS.

[5748] device] Ff. devise Qq.

[Exit.] Ff. Exeunt. Qq.

ACT III.

SCENE I. Before the castle.

Enter CASSIO and some Musicians.[5749]

Cas. Masters, play here; I will content your pains;[5750]

Something that's brief; and bid 'Good morrow, general.'     [Music.

Enter Clown.[5751]

Clo. Why, masters, have your instruments been in[5752]

Naples, that they speak i' the nose thus?[5753]

First Mus. How, sir, how![5754] 5

Clo. Are these, I pray you, wind-instruments?[5755]

First Mus. Ay, marry, are they, sir.[5754]

Clo. O, thereby hangs a tail.[5756]

First Mus. Whereby hangs a tale, sir?[5757]

Clo. Marry, sir, by many a wind-instrument that I know. 10

But, masters, here's money for you: and the general so[5758]

likes your music, that he desires you, for love's sake, to[5759]

make no more noise with it.[5760]

First Mus. Well, sir, we will not.

Clo. If you have any music that may not be heard, 15

to 't again: but, as they say, to hear music the general

does not greatly care.

First Mus. We have none such, sir.[5761]

Clo. Then put up your pipes in your bag, for I'll away:[5762]

go; vanish into air; away!     [Exeunt Musicians.[5763] 20

Cas. Dost thou hear, my honest friend?[5764]

Clo. No, I hear not your honest friend; I hear you.[5765]

Cas. Prithee, keep up thy quillets. There's a poor

piece of gold for thee: if the gentlewoman that attends the

general's wife be stirring, tell her there's one Cassio entreats[5766] 25

her a little favour of speech: wilt thou do this?[5767]

Clo. She is stirring, sir: if she will stir hither, I shall

seem to notify unto her.[5768]

Cas. Do, good my friend.     [Exit Clown.[5769]

Enter Iago.[5770]

In happy time, Iago.

Iago. You have not been a-bed, then?[5771][5772] 30

Cas. Why, no; the day had broke[5773]

Before we parted. I have made bold, Iago,[5772][5773][5774]

To send in to your wife: my suit to her[5773][5775]

Is, that she will to virtuous Desdemona[5773][5776]

Procure me some access.

Iago. I'll send her to you presently;[5777] 35

And I'll devise a mean to draw the Moor

Out of the way, that your converse and business

May be more free.

Cas. I humbly thank you for't. [Exit Iago.] I never knew[5778][5779]

A Florentine more kind and honest.[5779][5780] 40

Enter EMILIA.

Emil. Good morrow, good lieutenant: I am sorry

For your displeasure; but all will sure be well.[5781]

The general and his wife are talking of it,

And she speaks for you stoutly: the Moor replies,

That he you hurt is of great fame in Cyprus 45

And great affinity, and that in wholesome wisdom[5782]

He might not but refuse you; but he protests he loves you,[5783]

And needs no other suitor but his likings[5784]

To take the safest occasion by the front[5785]

To bring you in again.

Cas. Yet, I beseech you, 50

If you think fit, or that it may be done,

Give me advantage of some brief discourse

With Desdemona alone.

Emil. Pray you, come in:[5786]

I will bestow you where you shall have time

To speak your bosom freely.

Cas. I am much bound to you.     [Exeunt.[5787]55

SCENE II. A room in the castle.[5788]

Enter OTHELLO, IAGO, and Gentlemen.

Oth. These letters give, Iago, to the pilot;

And by him do my duties to the senate:[5789]

That done, I will be walking on the works;[5790]

Repair there to me.

Iago. Well, my good lord, I'll do't.[5791]

Oth. This fortification, gentlemen, shall we see't? 5

Gent. We'll wait upon your lordship.     [Exeunt.[5792]

SCENE III. The garden of the castle.[5793]

Enter DESDEMONA, CASSIO, and EMILIA.

Des. Be thou assured, good Cassio, I will do

All my abilities in thy behalf.

Emil. Good madam, do: I warrant it grieves my husband[5794]

As if the case were his.[5795]

Des. O, that's an honest fellow. Do not doubt, Cassio,[5796] 5

But I will have my lord and you again

As friendly as you were.

Cas. Bounteous madam,[5797]

Whatever shall become of Michael Cassio,

He's never any thing but your true servant.

Des. I know't: I thank you. You do love my lord:[5798] 10

You have known him long; and be you well assured[5799]

He shall in strangeness stand no farther off[5800]

Than in a politic distance.

Cas. Ay, but, lady,

That policy may either last so long,[5801]

Or feed upon such nice and waterish diet, 15

Or breed itself so out of circumstance,[5802]

That, I being absent and my place supplied,

My general will forget my love and service.[5803]

Des. Do not doubt that; before Emilia here

I give thee warrant of thy place: assure thee,[5804] 20

If I do vow a friendship, I'll perform it

To the last article: my lord shall never rest;[5805]

I'll watch him tame and talk him out of patience;

His bed shall seem a school, his board a shrift;

I'll intermingle every thing he does 25

With Cassio's suit: therefore be merry, Cassio;

For thy solicitor shall rather die

Than give thy cause away.[5806]

Enter OTHELLO and IAGO, at a distance.[5807]

Emil. Madam, here comes my lord.

Cas. Madam, I'll take my leave. 30

Des. Nay, stay and hear me speak.[5808]

Cas. Madam, not now: I am very ill at ease,[5809]

Unfit for mine own purposes.[5810]

Des. Well, do your discretion.     [Exit Cassio.[5811]

Iago. Ha! I like not that. 35

Oth. What dost thou say?

Iago. Nothing, my lord: or if—I know not what.[5812]

Oth. Was not that Cassio parted from my wife?

Iago. Cassio, my lord! No, sure, I cannot think it,[5813]

That he would steal away so guilty-like,[5814] 40

Seeing you coming.

Oth. I do believe 'twas he.[5815][5816]

Des. How now, my lord![5816][5817]

I have been talking with a suitor here,

A man that languishes in your displeasure.

Oth. Who is't you mean? 45

Des. Why, your lieutenant, Cassio. Good my lord,[5818]

If I have any grace or power to move you,

His present reconciliation take;[5819]

For if he be not one that truly loves you,

That errs in ignorance and not in cunning, 50

I have no judgement in an honest face:

I prithee, call him back.

Oth. Went he hence now?[5820]

Des. Ay, sooth; so humbled,[5820][5821]

That he hath left part of his grief with me,[5822]

To suffer with him. Good love, call him back.[5823] 55

Oth. Not now, sweet Desdemona; some other time.[5824]

Des. But shall't be shortly?

Oth. The sooner, sweet, for you.[5825]

Des. Shall't be to-night at supper?

Oth. No, not to-night.[5826]

Des. To-morrow dinner then?

Oth. I shall not dine at home;

I meet the captains at the citadel. 60

Des. Why then to-morrow night; or Tuesday morn;[5827]

On Tuesday noon, or night; on Wednesday morn:[5828]

I prithee, name the time; but let it not[5829]

Exceed three days: in faith, he's penitent;[5830]

And yet his trespass, in our common reason— 65

Save that, they say, the wars must make examples[5831]

Out of their best—is not almost a fault[5832]

To incur a private check. When shall he come?

Tell me, Othello: I wonder in my soul,

What you would ask me, that I should deny,[5833] 70

Or stand so mammering on. What! Michael Cassio,[5834]

That came a-wooing with you, and so many a time[5835]

When I have spoke of you dispraisingly

Hath ta'en your part; to have so much to do

To bring him in! Trust me, I could do much—[5836] 75

Oth. Prithee, no more: let him come when he will;

I will deny thee nothing.

Des. Why, this is not a boon;

'Tis as I should entreat you wear your gloves,[5837]

Or feed on nourishing dishes, or keep you warm,[5838]

Or sue to you to do a peculiar profit[5839] 80

To your own person: nay, when I have a suit[5840]

Wherein I mean to touch your love indeed,

It shall be full of poise and difficult weight,[5841]

And fearful to be granted.

Oth. I will deny thee nothing:

Whereon, I do beseech thee, grant me this, 85

To leave me but a little to myself.

Des. Shall I deny you? no: farewell, my lord.

Oth. Farewell, my Desdemona: I'll come to thee straight.[5842]

Des. Emilia, come. Be as your fancies teach you;[5843]

Whate'er you be, I am obedient. 90

[Exeunt Desdemona and Emilia.[5844]

Oth. Excellent wretch! Perdition catch my soul,[5845]

But I do love thee! and when I love thee not,

Chaos is come again.

Iago. My noble lord,—[5846]

Oth. What dost thou say, Iago?

Iago. Did Michael Cassio, when you woo'd my lady,[5847][5848] 95

Know of your love?[5847]

Oth. He did, from first to last: why dost thou ask?[5849]

Iago. But for a satisfaction of my thought;[5850]

No further harm.

Oth. Why of thy thought, Iago?

Iago. I did not think he had been acquainted with her.[5851] 100

Oth. O, yes, and went between us very oft.[5852]

Iago. Indeed!

Oth. Indeed! ay, indeed: discern'st thou aught in that?[5853]

Is he not honest?

Iago. Honest, my lord! 105

Oth. Honest! ay, honest.[5854]

Iago. My lord, for aught I know.

Oth. What dost thou think?

Iago. Think, my lord!

Oth. Think, my lord! By heaven, he echoes me,[5855] 110

As if there were some monster in his thought[5856]

Too hideous to be shown. Thou dost mean something:[5857]

I heard thee say even now, thou likedst not that,[5858]

When Cassio left my wife: what didst not like?

And when I told thee he was of my counsel 115

In my whole course of wooing, thou criedst 'Indeed!'[5859]

And didst contract and purse thy brow together,

As if thou then hadst shut up in thy brain

Some horrible conceit: if thou dost love me,[5860]

Show me thy thought. 120

Iago. My lord, you know I love you.

Oth. I think thou dost;

And for I know thou'rt full of love and honesty[5861]

And weigh'st thy words before thou givest them breath,[5862]

Therefore these stops of thine fright me the more:[5863]

For such things in a false disloyal knave 125

Are tricks of custom; but in a man that's just

They're close delations, working from the heart,[5864]

That passion cannot rule.

Iago. For Michael Cassio,

I dare be sworn I think that he is honest.[5865]

Oth. I think so too.

Iago. Men should be what they seem;[5866] 130

Or those that be not, would they might seem none![5867]

Oth. Certain, men should be what they seem.[5868]

Iago. Why then I think Cassio's an honest man.[5869]

Oth. Nay, yet there's more in this:

I prithee, speak to me as to thy thinkings,[5870] 135

As thou dost ruminate, and give thy worst of thoughts[5871]

The worst of words.[5872]

Iago. Good my lord, pardon me:

Though I am bound to every act of duty,[5873]

I am not bound to that all slaves are free to.[5874]

Utter my thoughts? Why, say they are vile and false;[5875] 140

As where's that palace whereinto foul things

Sometimes intrude not? who has a breast so pure,[5876]

But some uncleanly apprehensions[5877]

Keep leets and law-days, and in session sit[5878]

With meditations lawful? 145

Oth. Thou dost conspire against thy friend, Iago,

If thou but think'st him wrong'd and makest his ear[5879]

A stranger to thy thoughts.

Iago. I do beseech you—[5880]

Though I perchance am vicious in my guess,[5880][5881]

As, I confess, it is my nature's plague 150

To spy into abuses, and oft my jealousy[5882][5883]

Shapes faults that are not—that your wisdom yet,[5883][5884]

From one that so imperfectly conceits,[5885]

Would take no notice, nor build yourself a trouble[5886]

Out of his scattering and unsure observance.[5887] 155

It were not for your quiet nor your good,

Nor for my manhood, honesty, or wisdom,[5888]

To let you know my thoughts.

Oth. What dost thou mean?[5889]

Iago. Good name in man and woman, dear my lord,[5890]

Is the immediate jewel of their souls:[5891] 160

Who steals my purse steals trash; 'tis something, nothing;[5892]

'Twas mine, 'tis his, and has been slave to thousands;

But he that filches from me my good name

Robs me of that which not enriches him[5893]

And makes me poor indeed. 165

Oth. By heaven, I'll know thy thoughts.[5894]

Iago. You cannot, if my heart were in your hand;

Nor shall not, whilst 'tis in my custody.

Oth. Ha!

Iago. O, beware, my lord, of jealousy;[5895]

It is the green-eyed monster, which doth mock[5896][5897] 170

The meat it feeds on: that cuckold lives in bliss[5897][5898]

Who, certain of his fate, loves not his wronger;[5899]

But, O, what damned minutes tells he o'er

Who dotes, yet doubts, suspects, yet strongly loves![5900]

Oth. O misery! 175

Iago. Poor and content is rich, and rich enough;

But riches fineless is as poor as winter[5901]

To him that ever fears he shall be poor:

Good heaven, the souls of all my tribe defend[5902]

From jealousy!

Oth. Why, why is this?[5903] 180

Think'st thou I'ld make a life of jealousy,

To follow still the changes of the moon

With fresh suspicions? No; to be once in doubt

Is once to be resolved: exchange me for a goat,[5904]

When I shall turn the business of my soul 185

To such exsufflicate and blown surmises,[5905]

Matching thy inference. 'Tis not to make me jealous[5906]

To say my wife is fair, feeds well, loves company,

Is free of speech, sings, plays and dances well;[5907]

Where virtue is, these are more virtuous:[5908] 190

Nor from mine own weak merits will I draw

The smallest fear or doubt of her revolt;

For she had eyes, and chose me. No, Iago;[5909]

I'll see before I doubt; when I doubt, prove;

And on the proof, there is no more but this, 195

Away at once with love or jealousy![5910]

Iago. I am glad of it; for now I shall have reason[5911][5912]

To show the love and duty that I bear you

With franker spirit: therefore, as I am bound,[5911]

Receive it from me. I speak not yet of proof.[5913] 200

Look to your wife; observe her well with Cassio;

Wear your eye thus, not jealous nor secure:[5914]

I would not have your free and noble nature

Out of self-bounty be abused; look to't:

I know our country disposition well; 205

In Venice they do let heaven see the pranks[5915]

They dare not show their husbands; their best conscience[5916]

Is not to leave't undone, but keep't unknown.[5917]

Oth. Dost thou say so?[5918]

Iago. She did deceive her father, marrying you; 210

And when she seem'd to shake and fear your looks,

She loved them most.

Oth. And so she did.

Iago. Why, go to then;[5919]

She that so young could give out such a seeming,

To seel her father's eyes up close as oak—[5920]

He thought 'twas witchcraft—but I am much to blame;[5911][5921] 215

I humbly do beseech you of your pardon

For too much loving you.

Oth. I am bound to thee for ever.[5911][5922]

Iago. I see this hath a little dash'd your spirits.

Oth. Not a jot, not a jot.

Iago. I'faith, I fear it has.[5923]

I hope you will consider what is spoke 220

Comes from my love; but I do see you're moved:[5924]

I am to pray you not to strain my speech

To grosser issues nor to larger reach

Than to suspicion.

Oth. I will not.

Iago. Should you do so, my lord, 225

My speech should fall into such vile success[5925]

As my thoughts aim not at. Cassio's my worthy friend—[5926]

My lord, I see you're moved.[5927]

Oth. No, not much moved:

I do not think but Desdemona's honest.[5928]

Iago. Long live she so! and long live you to think so![5929] 230

Oth. And yet, how nature erring from itself—[5930]

Iago. Ay, there's the point: as—to be bold with you—[5931]

Not to affect many proposed matches

Of her own clime, complexion and degree,

Whereto we see in all things nature tends—[5932] 235

Foh! one may smell in such a will most rank,[5933]

Foul disproportion, thoughts unnatural.[5934]

But pardon me: I do not in position[5935]

Distinctly speak of her; though I may fear[5936]

Her will, recoiling to her better judgement, 240

May fall to match you with her country forms,[5937]

And happily repent.

Oth. Farewell, farewell:[5938]

If more thou dost perceive, let me know more;

Set on thy wife to observe: leave me, Iago.[5939]

Iago. [Going] My lord, I take my leave.[5940] 245

Oth. Why did I marry? This honest creature doubtless[5941]

Sees and knows more, much more, than he unfolds.

Iago. [Returning] My lord, I would I might entreat your honour[5942][5943]

To scan this thing no further; leave it to time:[5943][5944]

Though it be fit that Cassio have his place,[5945] 250

For sure he fills it up with great ability,

Yet, if you please to hold him off awhile,[5946]

You shall by that perceive him and his means:

Note if your lady strain his entertainment[5947]

With any strong or vehement importunity; 255

Much will be seen in that. In the mean time,

Let me be thought too busy in my fears—

As worthy cause I have to fear I am—

And hold her free, I do beseech your honour.

Oth. Fear not my government. 260

Iago. I once more take my leave.     [Exit.[5948]

Oth. This fellow's of exceeding honesty,[5949]

And knows all qualities, with a learned spirit,[5950][5951]

Of human dealings. If I do prove her haggard,[5951][5952]

Though that her jesses were my dear heart-strings, 265

I'ld whistle her off and let her down the wind[5953]

To prey at fortune. Haply, for I am black[5911][5954]

And have not those soft parts of conversation

That chamberers have, or for I am declined

Into the vale of years,—yet that's not much—[5955] 270

She's gone; I am abused, and my relief[5956]

Must be to loathe her. O curse of marriage,[5957]

That we can call these delicate creatures ours,

And not their appetites! I had rather be a toad,

And live upon the vapour of a dungeon,[5958] 275

Than keep a corner in the thing I love[5959]

For others' uses. Yet, 'tis the plague of great ones;[5960]

Prerogatived are they less than the base;[5961]

'Tis destiny unshunnable, like death:[5962]

Even then this forked plague is fated to us 280

When we do quicken. Desdemona comes:

Re-enter DESDEMONA and EMILIA.[5963]

If she be false, O, then heaven mocks itself![5964]

I'll not believe 't.[5965]

Des. How now, my dear Othello!

Your dinner, and the generous islanders[5966]

By you invited, do attend your presence. 285

Oth. I am to blame.

Des. Why do you speak so faintly?[5967][5968]

Are you not well?[5968]

Oth. I have a pain upon my forehead here.[5969]

Des. Faith, that's with watching; 'twill away again:[5970]

Let me but bind it hard, within this hour[5971] 290

It will be well.

Oth. Your napkin is too little;

[He puts the handkerchief from him; and she drops it.[5972]

Let it alone. Come, I'll go in with you.

Des. I am very sorry that you are not well.

[Exeunt Othello and Desdemona.[5973]

Emil. I am glad I have found this napkin:[5974]

This was her first remembrance from the Moor: 295

My wayward husband hath a hundred times

Woo'd me to steal it; but she so loves the token,[5975]

For he conjured her she should ever keep it,

That she reserves it evermore about her

To kiss and talk to. I'll have the work ta'en out,[5976][5977][5978] 300

And give 't Iago: what he will do with it[5976][5978][5979]

Heaven knows, not I;[5976]

I nothing but to please his fantasy.

Re-enter IAGO.[5980]

Iago. How now! what do you here alone?

Emil. Do not you chide; I have a thing for you.[5981] 305

Iago. A thing for me? it is a common thing—[5981][5982]

Emil. Ha!

Iago. To have a foolish wife.[5983]

Emil. O, is that all? What will you give me now

For that same handkerchief?

Iago. What handkerchief?[5984] 310

Emil. What handkerchief![5984]

Why, that the Moor first gave to Desdemona;

That which so often you did bid me steal.

Iago. Hast stol'n it from her?[5985]

Emil. No, faith; she let it drop by negligence,[5986] 315

And, to the advantage, I being here took 't up.[5987]

Look, here it is.[5988]

Iago. A good wench; give it me.

Emil. What will you do with 't, that you have been so earnest[5989][5990]

To have me filch it?[5989]

Iago. [Snatching it] Why, what's that to you?[5991]

Emil. If 't be not for some purpose of import,[5992] 320

Give 't me again: poor lady, she'll run mad[5993]

When she shall lack it.

Iago. Be not acknown on 't; I have use for it.[5994][5995]

Go, leave me.     [Exit Emilia.[5994]

I will in Cassio's lodging lose this napkin,[5996] 325

And let him find it. Trifles light as air

Are to the jealous confirmations strong

As proofs of holy writ: this may do something.[5997]

The Moor already changes with my poison:[5998]

Dangerous conceits are in their natures poisons,[5999] 330

Which at the first are scarce found to distaste,

But with a little act upon the blood[6000]

Burn like the mines of sulphur. I did say so:[6001]

Look, where he comes!

Re-enter OTHELLO.[6002]

Not poppy, nor mandragora,

Nor all the drowsy syrups of the world,[6003] 335

Shall ever medicine thee to that sweet sleep

Which thou owedst yesterday.

Oth. Ha! ha! false to me?[6004]

Iago. Why, how now, general! no more of that.

Oth. Avaunt! be gone! thou hast set me on the rack:[6005]

I swear 'tis better to be much abused 340

Than but to know 't a little.

Iago. How now, my lord![6006]

Oth. What sense had I of her stol'n hours of lust?[6007]

I saw 't not, thought it not, it harm'd not me:[6008]

I slept the next night well, was free and merry;[6009]

I found not Cassio's kisses on her lips: 345

He that is robb'd, not wanting what is stol'n,

Let him not know 't and he's not robb'd at all.

Iago. I am sorry to hear this.

Oth. I had been happy, if the general camp,

Pioners and all, had tasted her sweet body,[6010] 350

So I had nothing known. O, now for ever

Farewell the tranquil mind! farewell content!

Farewell the plumed troop and the big wars[6011]

That make ambition virtue! O, farewell,[6012]

Farewell the neighing steed and the shrill trump, 355

The spirit-stirring drum, the ear-piercing fife,[6013]

The royal banner and all quality,

Pride, pomp and circumstance of glorious war!

And, O you mortal engines, whose rude throats[6014]

The immortal Jove's dread clamours counterfeit,[6015] 360

Farewell! Othello's occupation's gone!

Iago. Is't possible, my lord?[6016]

Oth. Villain, be sure thou prove my love a whore;[6017]

Be sure of it; give me the ocular proof;[6018]

Or, by the worth of man's eternal soul,[6019] 365

Thou hadst been better have been born a dog[6020]

Than answer my waked wrath![6021]

Iago. Is't come to this?

Oth. Make me to see 't; or at the least so prove it,

That the probation bear no hinge nor loop

To hang a doubt on; or woe upon thy life! 370

Iago. My noble lord,—[6022]

Oth. If thou dost slander her and torture me,

Never pray more; abandon all remorse;

On horror's head horrors accumulate;[6023]

Do deeds to make heaven weep, all earth amazed; 375

For nothing canst thou to damnation add[6024]

Greater than that.[6024]

Iago. O grace! O heaven defend me![6025]

Are you a man? have you a soul or sense?

God be wi' you; take mine office. O wretched fool,[6026]

That livest to make thine honesty a vice![6027] 380

O monstrous world! Take note, take note, O world,[6028]

To be direct and honest is not safe.

I thank you for this profit, and from hence

I'll love no friend sith love breeds such offence.[6029]

Oth. Nay, stay: thou shouldst be honest.[6030] 385

Iago. I should be wise; for honesty's a fool,

And loses that it works for.[6031]

Oth. By the world,[6032]

I think my wife be honest, and think she is not;[6032][6033]

I think that thou art just, and think thou art not:[6032]

I'll have some proof. Her name, that was as fresh[6032][6034] 390

As Dian's visage, is now begrimed and black[6032]

As mine own face. If there be cords, or knives,[6032]

Poison, or fire, or suffocating streams,[6032][6035]

I'll not endure it. Would I were satisfied![6032]

Iago. I see, sir, you are eaten up with passion:[6032][6036] 395

I do repent me that I put it to you.

You would be satisfied?

Oth. Would! nay, I will.[6037]

Iago. And may: but, how? how satisfied, my lord?

Would you, the supervisor, grossly gape on?[6038]

Behold her topp'd?[6039]

Oth. Death and damnation! O! 400

Iago. It were a tedious difficulty, I think,

To bring them to that prospect: damn them then,[6040]

If ever mortal eyes do see them bolster[6041]

More than their own! What then? how then?[6042]

What shall I say? Where's satisfaction?[6043] 405

It is impossible you should see this,

Were they as prime as goats, as hot as monkeys,[6044]

As salt as wolves in pride, and fools as gross

As ignorance made drunk. But yet, I say,

If imputation and strong circumstances, 410

Which lead directly to the door of truth,

Will give you satisfaction, you may have 't.[6045]

Oth. Give me a living reason she's disloyal.[6046]

Iago. I do not like the office:

But sith I am enter'd in this cause so far,[5911][6047] 415

Prick'd to 't by foolish honesty and love,

I will go on. I lay with Cassio lately,[6048]

And being troubled with a raging tooth,[6049]

I could not sleep.[6049]

There are a kind of men so loose of soul,[6049] 420

That in their sleeps will mutter their affairs:[6049][6050]

One of this kind is Cassio:[6049]

In sleep I heard him say 'Sweet Desdemona,

Let us be wary, let us hide our loves;'[6051]

And then, sir, would he gripe and wring my hand, 425

Cry 'O sweet creature!' and then kiss me hard,[6052]

As if he pluck'd up kisses by the roots,

That grew upon my lips: then laid his leg[6053][6054]

Over my thigh, and sigh'd and kiss'd, and then[6053][6055]

Cried 'Cursed fate that gave thee to the Moor!'[6053][6055] 430

Oth. O monstrous! monstrous!

Iago. Nay, this was but his dream.[6056]

Oth. But this denoted a foregone conclusion:[6057]

'Tis a shrewd doubt, though it be but a dream.[6058]

Iago. And this may help to thicken other proofs[6058]

That do demonstrate thinly.

Oth. I'll tear her all to pieces. 435

Iago. Nay, but be wise: yet we see nothing done;[6059]

She may be honest yet. Tell me but this;

Have you not sometimes seen a handkerchief[6060]

Spotted with strawberries in your wife's hand?[6061][6062]

Oth. I gave her such a one; 'twas my first gift. 440

Iago. I know not that: but such a handkerchief—[6060]

I am sure it was your wife's—did I to-day[5911][6061]

See Cassio wipe his beard with.

Oth. If it be that,—[6063]

Iago. If it be that, or any that was hers,[6064]

It speaks against her with the other proofs. 445

Oth. O, that the slave had forty thousand lives!

One is too poor, too weak for my revenge.

Now do I see 'tis true. Look here, Iago;[6065]

All my fond love thus do I blow to heaven:

'Tis gone.[6066] 450

Arise, black vengeance, from thy hollow cell![6067]

Yield up, O love, thy crown and hearted throne[6068]

To tyrannous hate! Swell, bosom, with thy fraught,

For 'tis of aspics' tongues!

Iago. Yet be content.[6069]

Oth. O, blood, blood, blood![6070] 455

Iago. Patience, I say; your mind perhaps may change.[6071]

Oth. Never, Iago. Like to the Pontic sea,[6072][6073]

Whose icy current and compulsive course[6072][6074]

Ne'er feels retiring ebb, but keeps due on[6072][6075]

To the Propontic and the Hellespont;[6072] 460

Even so my bloody thoughts, with violent pace,[6072]

Shall ne'er look back, ne'er ebb to humble love,[6072][6076]

Till that a capable and wide revenge[6072]

Swallow them up. Now, by yond marble heaven,[6072][6077]

In the due reverence of a sacred vow     [Kneels.[6078] 465

I here engage my words.

Iago. Do not rise yet.     [Kneels.[6079]

Witness, you ever-burning lights above,[6080]

You elements that clip us round about,[6081]

Witness that here Iago doth give up

The execution of his wit, hands, heart,[6082] 470

To wrong'd Othello's service! Let him command,

And to obey shall be in me remorse,[6083][6084]

What bloody business ever.     [They rise.[6084][6085]

Oth. I greet thy love,

Not with vain thanks, but with acceptance bounteous,

And will upon the instant put thee to 't: 475

Within these three days let me hear thee say

That Cassio's not alive.

Iago. My friend is dead; 'tis done at your request:[6086][6087]

But let her live.[6086]

Oth. Damn her, lewd minx! O, damn her![6088]

Come, go with me apart; I will withdraw, 480

To furnish me with some swift means of death

For the fair devil. Now art thou my lieutenant.[6089]

Iago. I am your own for ever.     [Exeunt.

SCENE IV. Before the castle.

Enter DESDEMONA, EMILIA, and Clown.[6090]

Des. Do you know, sirrah, where Lieutenant Cassio lies?[6091]

Clo. I dare not say he lies any where.

Des. Why, man?

Clo. He's a soldier; and for one to say a soldier lies, is[6092]

stabbing. 5

Des. Go to: where lodges he?[6093]

Clo. To tell you where he lodges, is to tell you where[6094]

I lie.[6094]

Des. Can any thing be made of this?[6094]

Clo. I know not where he lodges; and for me to devise 10

a lodging, and say he lies here or he lies there, were to lie[6095]

in mine own throat.[6096]

Des. Can you inquire him out and be edified by report?[6097]

Clo. I will catechize the world for him; that is, make

questions and by them answer.[6098] 15

Des. Seek him, bid him come hither: tell him I have

moved my lord on his behalf and hope all will be well.[6099]

Clo. To do this is within the compass of man's wit, and[6100]

therefore I will attempt the doing it.     [Exit.[6101]

Des. Where should I lose that handkerchief, Emilia?[6102] 20

Emil. I know not, madam.

Des. Believe me, I had rather have lost my purse[6103]

Full of crusadoes: and, but my noble Moor

Is true of mind and made of no such baseness

As jealous creatures are, it were enough[6104] 25

To put him to ill thinking.[6104]

Emil. Is he not jealous?

Des. Who, he? I think the sun where he was born

Drew all such humours from him.

Emil. Look, where he comes.

Des. I will not leave him now till Cassio[6105]

Be call'd to him.[6105]

Enter OTHELLO.[6106]

How is't with you, my lord?[6107] 30

Oth. Well, my good lady. [Aside] O, hardness to dissemble![6108]

How do you, Desdemona?

Des. Well, my good lord.[6109]

Oth. Give me your hand: this hand is moist, my lady.[6110]

Des. It yet has felt no age nor known no sorrow.[6111]

Oth. This argues fruitfulness and liberal heart: 35

Hot, hot, and moist: this hand of yours requires[6112]

A sequester from liberty, fasting and prayer,[6113]

Much castigation, exercise devout;[6114]

For here's a young and sweating devil here,[6115]

That commonly rebels. 'Tis a good hand, 40

A frank one.[6116]

Des. You may, indeed, say so;

For 'twas that hand that gave away my heart.

Oth. A liberal hand: the hearts of old gave hands;[6117]

But our new heraldry is hands, not hearts.

Des. I cannot speak of this. Come now, your promise.[6118] 45

Oth. What promise, chuck?

Des. I have sent to bid Cassio come speak with you.

Oth. I have a salt and sorry rheum offends me;[6119]

Lend me thy handkerchief.[6120]

Des. Here, my lord. 50

Oth. That which I gave you.

Des. I have it not about me.

Oth. Not?[6121]

Des. No, indeed, my lord.[6122]

Oth. That's a fault. That handkerchief[6120][6123] 55

Did an Egyptian to my mother give;

She was a charmer, and could almost read

The thoughts of people: she told her, while she kept it

'Twould make her amiable and subdue my father[6124]

Entirely to her love, but if she lost it[6125] 60

Or made a gift of it, my father's eye

Should hold her loathed and his spirits should hunt[6126]

After new fancies: she dying gave it me,

And bid me, when my fate would have me wive,[6127]

To give it her. I did so: and take heed on't; 65

Make it a darling like your precious eye;

To lose't or give't away were such perdition[6128]

As nothing else could match.

Des. Is't possible?

Oth. 'Tis true: there's magic in the web of it:

A sibyl, that had number'd in the world[6129] 70

The sun to course two hundred compasses,[6130]

In her prophetic fury sew'd the work;[6131]

The worms were hallow'd that did breed the silk;[6132]

And it was dyed in mummy which the skilful[6133]

Conserved of maidens' hearts.

Des. Indeed! is't true?[6134] 75

Oth. Most veritable; therefore look to't well.

Des. Then would to God that I had never seen't![6135]

Oth. Ha! wherefore?

Des. Why do you speak so startingly and rash?[6136]

Oth. Is't lost? is't gone? speak, is it out o' the way?[6137] 80

Des. Heaven bless us![6138]

Oth. Say you?

Des. It is not lost; but what an if it were?[6139]

Oth. How![6140]

Des. I say, it is not lost. 85

Oth. Fetch't, let me see it.[6141]

Des. Why, so I can, sir, but I will not now.[6142]

This is a trick to put me from my suit:

Pray you, let Cassio be received again.[6143]

Oth. Fetch me the handkerchief: my mind misgives.[6144][6145][6146] 90

Des. Come, come;[6147]

You'll never meet a more sufficient man.[6147][6148]

Oth. The handkerchief![6145]

Des. I pray, talk me of Cassio.[6149]

Oth. The handkerchief![6149]

Des. A man that all his time

Hath founded his good fortunes on your love,[6150] 95

Shared dangers with you,—[6151][6152]

Oth. The handkerchief![6151]

Des. In sooth, you are to blame.[6151][6153]

Oth. Away!     [Exit.[6151][6154]

Emil. Is not this man jealous?[6151][6155] 100

Des. I ne'er saw this before.

Sure there's some wonder in this handkerchief:[6156]

I am most unhappy in the loss of it.[6157]

Emil. 'Tis not a year or two shows us a man:

They are all but stomachs and we all but food;[6158] 105

They eat us hungerly, and when they are full[6159]

They belch us. Look you, Cassio and my husband.

Enter CASSIO and IAGO.[6160]

Iago. There is no other way; 'tis she must do't:[6161]

And, lo, the happiness! go and importune her.

Des. How now, good Cassio! what's the news with you? 110

Cas. Madam, my former suit: I do beseech you

That by your virtuous means I may again[6162]

Exist, and be a member of his love

Whom I with all the office of my heart[6163]

Entirely honour: I would not be delay'd.[6164] 115

If my offence be of such mortal kind

That nor my service past nor present sorrows[6165]

Nor purposed merit in futurity

Can ransom me into his love again,

But to know so must be my benefit; 120

So shall I clothe me in a forced content

And shut myself up in some other course[6166]

To fortune's alms.[6167]

Des. Alas, thrice-gentle Cassio!

My advocation is not now in tune;

My lord is not my lord, nor should I know him 125

Were he in favour as in humour alter'd.

So help me every spirit sanctified,

As I have spoken for you all my best

And stood within the blank of his displeasure[6168]

For my free speech! You must awhile be patient: 130

What I can do I will; and more I will

Than for myself I dare: let that suffice you.

Iago. Is my lord angry?

Emil. He went hence but now,

And certainly in strange unquietness.

Iago. Can he be angry? I have seen the cannon, 135

When it hath blown his ranks into the air,

And, like the devil, from his very arm

Puff'd his own brother; and can he be angry?[6169]

Something of moment then: I will go meet him:

There's matter in't indeed if he be angry. 140

Des. I prithee, do so.     [Exit Iago.[6170]

Something sure of state,

Either from Venice or some unhatch'd practice[6171]

Made demonstrable here in Cyprus to him,[6172]

Hath puddled his clear spirit; and in such cases[6173]

Men's natures wrangle with inferior things, 145

Though great ones are their object. 'Tis even so;[6174][6175]

For let our finger ache, and it indues[6174][6176]

Our other healthful members even to that sense[6174][6177]

Of pain: nay, we must think men are not gods,[6174]

Nor of them look for such observancy[6178] 150

As fits the bridal. Beshrew me much, Emilia,

I was, unhandsome warrior as I am,[6179]

Arraigning his unkindness with my soul;

But now I find I had suborn'd the witness,

And he's indicted falsely.[6180] 155

Emil. Pray heaven it be state-matters, as you think,[6181][6182]

And no conception nor no jealous toy[6181][6183][6184]

Concerning you.[6181]

Des. Alas the day, I never gave him cause!

Emil. But jealous souls will not be answer'd so;[6184] 160

They are not ever jealous for the cause,[6185]

But jealous for they are jealous: 'tis a monster[6186][6187]

Begot upon itself, born on itself.[6188]

Des. Heaven keep that monster from Othello's mind![6189]

Emil. Lady, amen. 165

Des. I will go seek him. Cassio, walk hereabout:[6190]

If I do find him fit, I'll move your suit,

And seek to effect it to my uttermost.[6191]

Cas. I humbly thank your ladyship.

[Exeunt Desdemona and Emilia.

Enter BIANCA.[6192]

Bian. Save you, friend Cassio!

Cas. What make you from home?[6193] 170

How is it with you, my most fair Bianca?[6194]

I'faith, sweet love, I was coming to your house.[6195]

Bian. And I was going to your lodging, Cassio.

What, keep a week away? seven days and nights?

Eight score eight hours? and lovers' absent hours,[6196] 175

More tedious than the dial eight score times?

O weary reckoning![6197]

Cas. Pardon me, Bianca:

I have this while with leaden thoughts been press'd;[6198]

But I shall in a more continuate time[6199]

Strike off this score of absence. Sweet Bianca,[6200] 180

[Giving her Desdemona's handkerchief.

Take me this work out.

Bian. O Cassio, whence came this?[6201]

This is some token from a newer friend:[6202]

To the felt absence now I feel a cause:[6202]

Is't come to this? Well, well.

Cas. Go to, woman![6203]

Throw your vile guesses in the devil's teeth,[6204] 185

From whence you have them. You are jealous now[6186]

That this is from some mistress, some remembrance:

No, by my faith, Bianca.

Bian. Why, whose is it?[6205]

Cas. I know not, sweet: I found it in my chamber.[6206]

I like the work well: ere it be demanded— 190

As like enough it will—I'ld have it copied:[6207]

Take it, and do't; and leave me for this time.

Bian. Leave you! wherefore?

Cas. I do attend here on the general;

And think it no addition, nor my wish, 195

To have him see me woman'd.

Bian. Why, I pray you?[6208]

Cas. Not that I love you not.[6208]

Bian. But that you do not love me.[6209]

I pray you, bring me on the way a little;

And say if I shall see you soon at night.[6210]

Cas. 'Tis but a little way that I can bring you; 200

For I attend here: but I'll see you soon.

Bian. 'Tis very good; I must be circumstanced.     [Exeunt.[6211]

FOOTNOTES:

[5749] ACT III. SCENE I.] Actus Tertius. Scena Prima. Ff. Actus 3. Scæna 1. Q_2 Q_3. om. Q_1.

Before the castle.] Capell. Othello's Palace. Rowe. Before Othello's Palace. Theobald.

Enter....] Enter Cassio, with Musitians and the Clowne. Q_1. Enter Cassio, Musitians, and Clowne. Ff. Enter Cassio, with Musitians. Q_2 Q_3.

[5750] Masters] Master Q_3.

[5751] morrow, general] morrow to the general Collier MS.

[Music. Enter Clown.] They play, and enter the Clowne. Q_2 Q_3. Omitted in the rest. Musick plays; and enter Clown from the House. Theobald.

[5752] have] Ff. ha Qq.

been in] F_4. bin in F_1 F_2 F_3. bin at Qq.

[5753] speak] play Capell (corrected in Errata). squeak Collier (Collier MS.)

[5754] First Mus.] 1. M. Capell. Mus. Ff. Boy Qq.

[5755] pray you,] Ff. pray, cald Q_1 Q_2. pray you, cald Q_3.

[5756] tail] tayle Qq. tale Ff.

[5757] tale] Ff. tayle Qq.

[5758] here's] hee's F_1. her's Q_3.

[5759] for love's sake] of all loves Q_1.

[5760] more] om. F_2 Q_3 F_3 F_4.

[5761] have Ff. ha Qq.

[5762] up] Ff. om. Qq.

for I'll away] and hye away Hanmer. fly away Ritson conj.

[5763] into air] om. Q_1.

[Exeunt....] Theobald. Exit Mu. F_1. Exit Mus. F_2 F_3. Exit Musi. F_4. om. Qq.

[5764] hear, my] heare my Qq. heare me, mine Ff (hear F_3 F_4). hear, mine Theobald (Warburton and Bentley conj.)

[5765] I hear you] In a separate line in Ff.

[5766] general's wife] Generals wife Q_2 Q_3. Cenerals wife Q_1. Generall F_1 F_2 F_3. General F_4.

[5767] her] of her Rowe.

[5768] seem to] soon so Singer (Singer MS.) seem so to Collier (Collier MS.)

[5769] Cas. Do ... friend.] Omitted in Ff.

good my] my good Rowe.

[Exit Clown.] Exit Clo. Ff Q_2. Exit Col. Q_3. om Q_1.

[5770] Enter Iago.] As in Rowe. After her, line 28, in Qq Ff.

[5771] have] Ff. ha Qq.

[5772] a-bed] Ff. a bed Qq.

[5773] Why ... Desdemona] Arranged as in Capell. Three lines, ending parted ... her, ... Desdemona, in Qq. Three, ending parted ... wife; ... Desdemona, in Ff. Johnson reads as four lines, ending parted ... wife; ... her ... Desdemona.

[5774] Iago] om. Pope.

[5775] to her] om. Pope.

[5776] virtuous] om. Pope, ending the lines as Ff.

[5777] to you] om. Pope

[5778] humbly] om. Lettsom conj.

for't] for it Q_1.

[Exit Iago.] Capell. Exit. Qq Ff, after line 38.

[5779] I never knew A] I ne'er knew S. Walker conj., reading I humbly ... Florentine or I ne'er ... honest as one line.

[5780] A Florentine] A man Capell, reading 38-40 as two lines, the first ending for't.

[5781] sure] Ff. soone Qq.

[5782] that] om. Seymour conj.

wholesome] om. Pope.

[5783] refuse you] refuse Q_2 Q_3.

he protests] om. Hanmer.

[5784] likings] liking S. Walker conj.

[5785] To ... front] Omitted in Ff.

safest] first Johnson. saf'st Capell.

[5786] Desdemona] Qq. Desdemon Ff.

you] om. F_2 F_3 F_4.

[5787] Cas. I ... you.] Omitted in Q_1.

I am] I'm Pope.

[Exeunt.] om. F_1 F_2.

[5788] SCENE II.] Scæna Secunda. Ff. Scene continued in Rowe.

A room ...] Capell. Gentlemen.] Ff. other Gentlemen. Qq.

[5789] by him] bid him Capell. conj.

senate] Ff. state Qq.

[5790] on] to Q_2 Q_3.

[5791] Well,] om. Pope.

[5792] We'll] F_3 F_4. Well F_1. Weel F_2. We Qq.

[5793] SCENE III.] Scæna Tertia. Ff. SCENE II. Rowe.

The garden ...] Dyce. An Apartment. Rowe. An Apartment in the Palace. Theobald. The same. Before the Castle. Capell.

[5794] Good ... husband] One line in Qq. Two, the first ending do: in Ff.

warrant] Ff. know Qq.

[5795] case] Qq. cause Ff.

[5796] Do not doubt] doubt not Pope.

[5797] Bounteous] Most bounteous Pope.

[5798] I know't:] Ff. O sir, Qq.

[5799] You have] You've Pope.

you well] om. Q_3.

[5800] in strangeness] in strangest Qq. in's strangest Anon. conj.

farther] further Steevens (1793).

[5801] That] The Q_1.

[5802] circumstance] Qq. circumstances Ff.

[5803] will] would Jennens.

[5804] place:] place? Q_2.

[5805] shall never] shan't Hanmer.

[5806] thy cause] thee cause: Q_1.

[5807] SCENE IV. Pope.

Enter ... at a distance.] Enter ... at distance. Theobald. Enter Othello, Iago, and Gentlemen. Qq. Enter Othello and Iago. Ff. Transferred to follow line 34 by Dyce.

[5808] Nay] Q_2 Q_3. Why Q_1 Ff.

[5809] I am] I'm Pope.

[5810] purposes] Ff. purpose Qq.

[5811] Well,] Well, well, Capell, ending lines 33, 34 well, ... that.

[5812] if—] Ff. if, Q_1. if,— Q_2 Q_3.

[5813] it] om. Seymour conj.

[5814] steal] sneake Q_1.

[5815] you] Qq F_3 F_4. your F_1 F_2.

do] om. Pope.

[5816] I do ... lord!] As one line, S. Walker conj.

[5817] [going towards him. Capell.

[5818] Cassio] F_2 F_3 F_4. Cassio: F_1. Cassio, Qq.

[5819] take] make Warburton.

[5820] Went ... humbled,] As one line, S. Walker conj.

[5821] Ay, sooth] Capell. I, sooth F_3 F_4. I sooth F_1 F_2. Yes faith Qq. In sooth Rowe. I' sooth Johnson.

[5822] hath] Ff. has Qq.

grief] griefes Qq.

[5823] To suffer] I suffer Q_1.

[5824] Desdemona] Q_1 Q_3 F_4. Desdemon The rest.

[5825] The sooner] Sooner Pope.

[5826] No, not] Not Pope.

[5827] or] Qq. on Ff.

[5828] On] Or Pope.

noon] morne Qq.

night; on] Ff. night, or Qq.

Wednesday] Q_2 F_3 F_4. Wensday Q_1 F_1 F_2. wedensday Q_3.

[5829] prithee] praythee F_2.

[5830] in faith] Ifaith Q_1 Q_2. I saith Q_3.

[5831] wars] war Capell.

examples] Qq. example Ff.

[5832] their] Rowe. her Qq Ff. our Collier (Collier MS.) the Singer (ed. 2).

almost] at most Anon. conj.

[5833] you would] Ff. you could Qq.

I should] Qq F_1. I would F_2 F_3 F_4.

[5834] mammering] mam'ring Ff Q_2 Q_3. muttering Q_1. mummering Johnson.

[5835] so] om. Pope.

[5836] Trust me] Birlady Q_1.

much—] much,— Q_2 Q_3. much. The rest.

[5837] gloves] cloths Warburton.

[5838] dishes] meats Pope.

[5839] a] om. Pope.

[5840] a suit] suit F_3 F_4.

[5841] difficult weight] difficulty Q_1.

[5842] Desdemona] Desdemon Dyce (ed. 2).

I'll] I will Capell.

to thee] om. Pope.

[5843] Be] be Ff. be it Qq.

[To Othello. Jennens.

[5844] [Exeunt....] Exeunt Des. and Em. Q_2 Q_3. Exit Desd. and Em. Q_1. Exit. Ff. Exeunt. Manent Othello and Jago. Pope.

[5845] SCENE V. Pope.

wretch] wench Theobald.

[5846] lord,—] Theobald. lord. Qq Ff.

[5847] Did ... love?] Arranged as in Qq. Two lines, the first ending Cassio, in Ff.

[5848] you] he F_1.

woo'd] Ff. wooed Qq.

[5849] He ... ask?] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[5850] a] om. Q_3.

my thought] my thoughts Q_1.

[5851] he had] he'd Pope.

her] Qq. hir F_1. it F_2 F_3 F_4.

[5852] oft] often Q_1.

[5853] Indeed! ay, indeed:] Indeed: Steevens conj.

ay,] Rowe. I Ff Q_2 Q_3. om. Q_1.

in that] of that Rowe.

[5854] Honest! ay, honest.] Ay, honest. Steevens (1793), reading Is he ... honest as one line.

[5855] Think ... me,] One line in Qq Ff. Steevens (1793) reads What ... lord! as one line; By heaven ... me, as another.

By ... echoes] By heaven he ecchoes Q_1. Alas, thou ecchos't Ff. (eccos't F_2). why dost thou ecchoe Q_2 Q_3. why, by heav'n, thou eccho'st Pope.

[5856] his] Q_1. thy Ff Q_2 Q_3.

[5857] dost] didst Q_1.

[5858] even] Ff. but Qq.

likedst] lik'dst Pope. lik'st Qq Ff.

[5859] In] Qq. Of Ff. See note (IV).

[with admiring action. Anon. MS. See note (IV).

[5860] conceit] counsell Q_1. conceits Rowe (ed. 2).

[5861] And] om. F_2 F_3 F_4.

thou'rt] Ff. thou art Qq.

love and] om. Hanmer.

[5862] weigh'st] Ff. weighest Qq.

givest] give Q_1.

them] Ff. em Q_1. 'em Q_2 Q_3.

[5863] fright] affright Q_1.

[5864] They're] Ff. They are Qq.

close delations] Johnson. close denotements Q_1. close dilations F_1 Q_2 Q_3. cold delations F_2 F_3 F_4. distillations Hanmer.

[5865] be sworn] presume Q_1.

sworn I] sworn—I Lettsom conj.

that] om Q_3.

[5866] what] that Q_1.

[5867] seem none!] seeme, Q_3. seem knaves! Warburton. be known! Heath conj.

[5868] Certain, men] Certain men, Q_3.

[5869] Cassio's] that Cassio's Steevens (1793), ending line 132 at then.

[5870] prithee] preethee Q_1. pray thee F_2 F_3 F_4.

as] om. Q_1.

[5871] As ... worst] One line in Hanmer.

thy ... thoughts] Ff Q_2. the worst of thought Q_1. thy thoughts Q_3.

[5872] words] word Q_1.

[5873] Though I am] I am not Rowe (ed. 2).

[5874] that all] Qq. that: all Ff.

free to.] free to; Rowe. free to, Qq. free: Ff.

[5875] thoughts?] Q_1 Ff. thoughts: Q_2 Q_3.

they are] they're Pope.

vile] Qq. vild Ff.

[5876] a breast] Qq. that breast Ff.

[5877] But some] Qq. Wherein Ff.

[5878] session] Qq. sessions Ff.

sit] fit Q_2 Q_3.

[5879] think'st] Ff. thinkest Qq.

[5880] I do ... perchance] I thought—beseech you—I do—perchance Becket conj.

you— Though I perchance] Malone (Henley conj.) you, Though I perchance Qq Ff. you, Though, I— perchance Johnson.

[5881] Though] 'Cause Hanmer. Think Warburton (Theobald conj.)

[5882] abuses] abuse Pope.

[5883] oft ... Shapes] Qq. of ... Shapes Ff. of ... Shape Grant White.

[5884] that ... yet] I intreate you then Q_1 and Pope.

yet] Q_2 Q_3. om. Ff.

[5885] imperfectly] improbably Johnson. See note (V).

conceits] coniects Q_1. conjects Warburton.

[5886] Would] You'd Q_1. Will Q_3.

Would ... build] Your wisdom would not build Pope.

notice] note Anon. conj.

[5887] his] Ff. my Qq.

[5888] or] Qq. and Ff.

[5889] What ... mean?] Zouns. Q_1.

[5890] woman] woman's Q_1.

[5891] their] Ff. our Qq.

[5892] Who ... nothing;] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

something, nothing] something-nothing Staunton.

[5893] not] naught Grant White conj.

[5894] By heaven] Q_1. om. Ff Q_2 Q_3.

thoughts] thought Q_1.

[5895] Oth. Ha!] om. Q_1.

beware, my lord, of] beware Q_1.

[5896] the] a Q_2 Q_3.

mock] F_3 F_4. mocke Qq F_1 F_2. make Hanmer (Theobald conj.) mamock Smith conj. 'mock (for mamock) Grey conj. muck Becket conj.

[5897] mock ... on:] mock— The meat it feeds on! Anon. conj. (1814).

[5898] The] That Q_1.

that] What Q_3.

[5899] Who ... wronger] Who certaine of his wronger Q_3.

Who, certain] Who's certain Capell conj.

loves not] hates not Steevens's reprint of Q_1. See note (VI).

[5900] strongly] Qq. soundly Ff. fondly Knight.

[5901] riches] rich Q_3.

fineless] endless Pope.

as poor] poor Q_3.

winter] want Theobald conj. (withdrawn).

[5902] heaven] God Q_1.

[5903] Why, why] Qq. Why? why Ff.

this?] this, Iago? Capell.

[5904] Is once] Qq. Is Ff. is At once Hanmer, ending the previous line at is.

[5905] exsufflicate] exufflicate Qq F_1 F_2 F_3. exufflicated F_4. exsuffolate Hanmer. exsufflate Richardson conj.

blown] blowne Qq. blow'd F_1. blowed F_2 F_3 F_4.

[5906] thy] the F_2 F_3 F_4.

[5907] well] Qq. om. Ff.

[5908] these] there Jackson conj.

are more] Qq F_1. are most F_2 F_3 F_4. make more Warburton.

[5909] chose] chosen Q_2 Q_3.

[5910] or] and Q (1695) and Hanmer.

[5911] I am] I'm Pope.

[5912] it] Qq. this Ff.

[5913] of] for Q_3.

[5914] Wear] Were Q_3.

eye] eyes Ff.

jealous] Iealious F_1 F_2.

[5915] heaven] God Q_1.

[5916] They ... conscience] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

not] om. Q_1.

[5917] leave't] Q_1 Ff. leave Q_2 Q_3.

keep't] Q_3. keepe't Q_3. keepe Q_1. kept Ff.

[5918] so?] so. Q_1.

[5919] Why,] om. Pope.

[5920] seel] seele F_1 F_2. seale Qq F_3. seal F_4.

oak] owls Johnson conj. hawk's Staunton conj.

[5921] He ... blame;] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

to blame] F_4. too blame The rest.

[5922] to] to to F_2.

thee] you Rowe (ed. 2).

[5923] Not a jot] No Seymour conj.

I'faith] Ifaith Q_1. Trust me Ff Q_2 Q_3.

[5924] Comes ... moved:] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

my] your F_1.

you're] Rowe. you are Qq. y'are Ff.

[5925] should] would Pope.

such] om. Q_3.

vile] Qq. vilde F_1 F_2 F_3. vild F_4.

success] excess Pope (ed. 2).

[5926] As ... friend—] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

As] Qq. Which Ff.

aim not at] aime not at Qq. aym'd not F_1 F_2. aim'd not F_3 F_4. aim'd not at Rowe.

worthy] trusty Q_1.

[5927] you're] Rowe. you are Qq. y'are Ff.

[5928] I] om. Q_3.

[5929] Long ... so!] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[5930] itself—] it self— F_3 F_4. it selfe— F_1 F_2. it selfe. Qq.

[5931] Ay ... you—] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[5932] Whereto] Wherein Q_3.

[5933] Foh!] Foh, Ff. Fie Qq.

one] Ff. we Qq.

most] must Q_3.

[5934] disproportion] Qq. disproportions Ff.

[5935] position] suspicion Collier MS.

[5936] her; though I may fear] her, though I may fear: Nicholson conj.

[5937] fall] fail Nicholson conj.

[5938] happily] haply so Pope.

Farewell, farewell] Farewell Qq, ending the lines if more ... on ... Iago.

[5939] Set ... Iago.] As in Rowe. Two lines in Ff.

[5940] [Going] Rowe. om. Qq Ff.

[5941] Why ... doubtless] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[5942] [Returning] Returns. Capell. om. Qq Ff.

[5943] Iago. My lord ... honour To scan] My lord ... honour, Iag. To scan Q_1.

[5944] further] Qq. farther Ff.

[5945] Though it be fit] Tho it be fit Q_1. Although 'tis fit Ff. And though tis fit Q_2 Q_3.

[5946] hold] Qq. om. F_1. put F_2 F_3 F_4.

off] of Q_3.

[5947] his] Ff. her Qq.

[5948] [Exit.] Qq F_1. om. F_2 F_3 F_4.

[5949] SCENE VI. Pope.

[5950] qualities] Q_1. quantities Ff Q_2 Q_3.

learned] Qq. learn'd Ff.

[5951] spirit, Of] spirit Of S. Walker conj.

[5952] human] Rowe. humaine Q_1. humane The rest.

dealings] dealing Q_1.

do] om. Pope.

[5953] down] dewne Q_2 Q_3.

[5954] prey] pray Q_3.

Haply] Ff. Happily Qq.

[5955] vale] valt Q_1.

[5956] abused] aduis'd Q_3.

[5957] curse] the curse Pope.

[5958] of] Ff. in Qq.

[5959] corner] cornet Q_3.

the thing] Ff. a thing Qq.

[5960] uses] use Pope.

plague of] Qq. plague to Ff.

great ones] Hyphened in Ff.

[5961] less] more Malone conj.

[5962] 'Tis] This Q_3.

[5963] Desdemona] Qq. Looke where she Ff.

Re-enter ...] Dyce, after believe't, line 283. Enter ... Ff. Enter ... Qq, after beleeve it, line 283.

[5964] O, then heaven mocks] Heaven mock'd Ff.

[5965] believe't] beleeve it Qq.

[5966] islanders] Ff. Ilander Qq.

[5967] to blame] Qq F_4. too blame F_1 F_2 F_3.

Why ... faintly?] Ff. Why is your speech so faint? Qq.

[5968] Why ... well?] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[5969] here] heare Q_2 Q_3.

[5970] Faith] Q_1. Why Ff Q_2 Q_3.

[5971] it hard] your head Q_1.

[offering to bind his head. Collier (Collier MS.)

[5972] well] well againe Q_1.

[goes to do it with a Handkerchief. Capell.

[He puts ...] Capell, substantially. She drops her Handkerchief. Rowe. lets fall her napkine. Anon. MS. See note (IV).

[5973] Des. I am ... well.] Omitted by Capell, but corrected in Notes.

[Exeunt ...] Ex. Oth. and Desd. Q_1 (after line 294). Exit Oth. and Des. Q_2 Q_3 (after line 294). Exit. F_1 (after line 292). Exeunt F_2 F_3 F_4 (after line 292).

[5974] SCENE VII. Pope.

napkin] napkin here Hanmer.

[picking it up. Capell.

[5975] Woo'd] Ff. Wooed Qq.

[5976] To ... not I] Arranged as in Qq Ff. The lines end out, ... Iago; ... I: in Johnson.

[5977] talk to] talke too F_2. talk too Q (1695).

have] Ff. ha Qq.

[5978] I'll ... will] I will have the work Ta'en out, and give it to Iago, but What he'll Hanmer, ending the lines work ... but ... I.

[5979] he will] Ff. hee'll Q_1. he'l Q_2 Q_3.

[5980] nothing but to please] nothing know, but for Q_1.

Re-enter Iago.] Dyce. Enter Iago. Ff. Enter Iago. Qq (after line 302).

[5981] I have ... me?] One line, S. Walker conj.

[5982] A] Qq. You have a Ff.

A ... thing—] One line in Qq. Two in Ff. Steevens (1778), reading with Ff, puts You ... thing—in one line.

thing—] Ff Q_2 Q_3. thing. Q_1.

[5983] wife] thing Q_1.

[5984] handkerchief] handkercher Q_1.

[5985] stol'n] stolne F_1 F_2. stoln F_3. stollen F_4. stole Qq.

[5986] No, faith] Qq. No: but Ff.

[5987] took 't] Q_1 Ff. tooke it Q_2 Q_3.

[5988] it is] Qq. 'tis Ff.

[5989] What ... it?] Divided as in Theobald. The first line ends bin in Q_1. The first ends with it in Q_2 Q_3. Prose in Ff.

[5990] with 't] Ff. with it Qq.

that] om. F_3 F_4. Restored by Capell.

[5991] filch] fetch Q_3. filtch F_4.

[Snatching it] Rowe. Capell, after line 317. om. Qq Ff.

what's] Qq. what is Ff.

[5992] If 't] Q_2 Q_3. If it Q_1 Ff.

for] om. Collier MS.

[5993] Give 't me] Giv 't me Ff. Give mee 't Q_1 Q_2. Give me 't Q_3. Give it me Steevens.

[5994] Be ... me.] Divided as in Capell. One line in Qq. Two, the first ending on 't: in Ff.

[5995] not acknown on 't] F_3 F_4. not acknowne on 't F_1 F_2. not you knowne on 't Q_1 Q_3. not you acknowne on 't Q_2. not you known in 't Johnson conj. not you known of't Malone.

[5996] lose] Qq. loose Ff.

[5997] writ] Wright Q_3.

[5998] The ... poison:] Omitted in Q_1.

poison] poysons F_2 F_3 F_4. potion S. Walker conj. practice S. Walker conj. (withdrawn).

[5999] Dangerous ... poisons,] Omitted in Rowe (ed. 2).

natures] nature Pope.

[6000] act] art, Q_1.

[6001] mines] mindes Q_1.

I did say so:] Hide it!—so—so— Blackstone conj. (withdrawn).

[Observing Othello seemingly disturb'd. Hanmer.

[6002] SCENE VIII. Pope.

Re-enter Othello.] Dyce, after yesterday, line 337. Transferred by Edd. (Globe ed.) Ent. Othello. Q_1, opposite line 332. Enter Othello. Q_2, opposite line 332. om. Q_3. Enter Othello. Ff, after line 333. Enter Othello, at a Distance. Capell, after line 333. Enter Othello. Knight, after yesterday, line 337.

[6003] Nor] om. F_4.

[6004] owedst] hadst Pope.

Oth] Oth. [coming forward. Collier (ed. 2.)

Ha! ha!] Ha! Pope.

to me?] Ff. to me, to me? Qq.

[6005] thou hast] thou'st Pope.

[6006] know 't] know Q_1.

now] om. Pope.

[6007] sense] Q_1 F_1. sence Q_2 Q_3. sent F_2 F_3. scent F_4.

of her] Qq. in her Ff.

of lust] or lust Warburton.

[6008] saw 't] saw it F_4.

[6009] was] Qq. fed well, was Ff.

[6010] Pioners] Pyoners Qq F_1 F_2. Pioneers F_3 F_4. Pyoneers Q (1695).

[6011] troop] troope Qq. troopes F_1 F_2. troops F_3 F_4.

wars] war Rowe (ed. 2).

[6012] make] F_2 F_3 F_4. makes Qq F_1.

farewell,] farewell; F_1.

[6013] ear-piercing] fear-'spersing Warburton conj.

[6014] you] Ff. ye Qq.

rude] Ff. wide Qq.

[6015] dread] Ff. great Qq.

clamours] clamor Q_1.

[6016] possible, my lord?] possible?—My lord,— Capell.

[6017] [Taking him by the Throat. Capell.

[6018] [Catching hold on him. Rowe.

[6019] man's] mans Q_1. mine Ff. my Q_2 Q_3. thine Anon. conj.

[6020] hadst been] hadst Q (1695).

have] to have Anon. conj.

[6021] Than] That Q_3.

[6022] lord,—] lord— Pope. lord. Qq Ff.

[6023] horror's] Hanmer. horrors Qq Ff. horrors' Anon. conj.

horrors] horror S. Walker conj.

[6024] For ... that.] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[6025] defend] Qq. forgive Ff.

[6026] be wi'] Rowe. b' w' F_4. buy The rest.

mine] my Q_2 Q_3.

O] om. Pope.

[6027] livest] Qq. lov'st Ff.

thine] thy Q (1695).

[6028] world! Take] Ff. world, take Qq.

[6029] sith] Ff. since Qq.

[6030] honest.] honest— Rowe.

[6031] loses] F_2 F_3 F_4. looses Qq F_1.

that] what Pope.

[6032] Oth. By ... satisfied! Iago.] Omitted in Q_1.

[6033] be] is F_3 F_4.

and] om. Capell.

[6034] Her] her Q_2 Q_3. My Ff.

[6035] streams] steams Pope.

[6036] sir,] Qq. om. Ff.

[6037] satisfied?] Ff. satisfied. Qq.

nay, I] Qq. Nay, and I Ff. Nay, and Pope.

[6038] you, the supervisor,] Capell. you, the superuisor Q_1. you the supervision Ff. you, the supervision Q_2 Q_3. you be supervisor, Pope. you them supervise? Seymour conj.

the supervisor, grossly] the supervisor gross, Seymour conj.

on?] Ff. on, Qq. on— Dyce.

[6039] topp'd] F_2 F_3 F_4. topt Qq. top'd F_1. tupp'd Pope (ed. 2).

[6040] them] F_1. em Qq. om. F_2 F_3 F_4. it Collier MS.

damn them] dam em Qq.

[6041] do] did Qq.

[6042] how then?] how then, say you? Capell.

[6043] What ... satisfaction?] Where's satisfaction? What shall I say? Capell. See note (VII).

[6044] prime] brime or brim Singer conj.

[6045] may] Qq. might Ff.

have't] Ff. ha't Qq.

[6046] she's] Ff. that she's Qq.

[6047] sith] since Theobald (ed. 2).

in] Ff. into Qq.

[6048] on] one Q_3.

[6049] And ... Cassio:] Arranged as by Pope. Four lines ending sleep, ... soule, ... affaires, ... Cassio: in Qq. Four lines, ending tooth, ... men, ... mutter ... Cassio: in Ff.

[6050] sleeps] sleep Q (1695).

their] All their Hanmer, arranging as Ff. Of their Capell. Their dear'st Seymour conj. Their near'st Anon. conj.

[6051] wary] merry Q_1.

[6052] Cry 'O] Cry, oh Ff. Cry out, Qq.

and] Qq. om. Ff.

[6053] That ... Moor!] Divided as in Qq. The lines end thigh, ... Fate, ... Moore in Ff.

[6054] then laid] then layed Q_1 Q_2. then laied Q_3. laid Ff. lay Rowe. then lay Pope, dividing as Qq.

[6055] Over ... sigh'd ... kiss'd ... Cried] Capell. Over ... sigh'd ... kissed ... Cried Qq. ore ... sigh ... kisse ... cry Ff. Over ... sigh ... kiss ... Cry Pope.

[6056] Nay,] om. Pope.

[6057] denoted] deuoted Q_1.

[6058] 'Tis ... dream. Iago. And] Iag. Tis ... dreame, And Q_1.

[6059] but] Qq. yet Ff.

[6060] handkerchief] handkercher Q_1.

[6061] wife's] Rowe. wives Qq Ff.

[6062] hand?] Ff Q_2. hand. Q_1. hand, Q_3.

[6063] If it] Ff. If't Qq.

that,—] that— Rowe. that. Qq Ff.

[6064] any that was hers,] Malone. any, it was hers, Qq. any, it was hers. F_1. any, if't was hers, F_2 F_3 F_4. any 'it' was hers, Anon. conj.

[6065] do I] I doe Q_2 Q_3.

true] time Q_1.

[6066] 'Tis gone] As a separate line in Pope. Ending line 449 in Qq Ff. om. Seymour conj.

[6067] thy hollow cell] Qq. the hollow hell Ff. th' unhallow'd cell Warburton.

[6068] hearted] harted Q_1. parted Warburton.

[6069] [he kneeles. Q_1, opposite content. Opposite tongues, in Q_2 Q_3. Omitted in Ff.

Yet] Ff. Pray Qq.

[6070] blood, blood, blood] Ff. blood, Iago, blood Qq.

[6071] perhaps] Qq. om. Ff.

[6072] Iago ... heaven,] Omitted in Q_1.

[6073] Never ... sea,] One line in Ff. Two in Q_2 Q_3.

to] om. Pope.

[6074] icy] yesty Singer (ed. 2).

[6075] Ne'er feels] Ne'r feels Q_2 Q_3. Nev'r keepes F_1 F_2. Ne're keeps F_3 F_4. Ne'er makes Keightley. Nev'r knows Southern MS. and Collier MS. Ne'er knows Grant White. Ne'er brooks S. Walker conj.

[6076] ne'er ... ne'er] nev'r ... nev'r F_1 F_2. ne're ... ne're The rest.

[6077] by] be Q_3.

[6078] of] to Q_3.

[Kneels.] Rowe. om. Qq Ff. Othello kneeles. Anon. MS. See note (IV).

[6079] words.] Qq. words—Ff.

[Kneels.] Iago kneels. Q_2. Iago kneeles. Q_1, opposite line 468. Omitted in Ff Q_3.

[6080] you] the Q_2 Q_3. your F_4. ye Johnson.

[6081] You] Ye Johnson.

[6082] execution] excellency Q_1.

hands] Ff. hand Qq.

[6083] And to obey] Not to obey Pope. Nor, to obey Theobald. And not to obey Jennens. An' to obey Farmer conj.

be in me remorse] be remorce Q_1. be in me no remorse Capell (Upton conj.) bury my remorse or breed me no remorse Anon. conj. without remorce Anon. MS. See note (IV).

[6084] in me remorse, What] in me. Remord What Warburton.

[6085] business ever] worke so ever Qq. work soe'er Collier.

[They rise.] Rising. Capell. om. Qq Ff.

[6086] My ... live.] Divided as in Capell. Two lines, the first ending dead: in Qq. Three, ending dead: ... request ... live, in Ff.

[6087] at your request] Ff. as you request Qq.

[6088] Damn ... her!] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

her!] her, Qq. her, damne her. Ff.

[6089] For ... lieutenant.] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[6090] SCENE IV.] SCENE IX. Pope. Rowe continues the Scene.

Before the castle.] The same. Capell. Another Apartment in the Palace. Theobald.

Desdemona, Emilia,] Desdemonia, Emilla Qq.

Clown.] the Clowne. Qq.

[6091] Lieutenant] the Leiutenant Qq.

[6092] Clo.] om. Q_1.

He's] Ff. He is. Qq.

one] Qq. mee F_1 F_2. me F_3 F_4.

is] Qq. 'tis Ff.

[6093] to] too F_1.

[6094] Clo. To ... this?] Omitted in Q_1.

[6095] lies ... there] lies there Qq.

[6096] mine own] my Q_1. my own Capell.

[6097] be] om. Q_3.

by] to Collier MS.

[6098] by them] make them Q_3. bid them Theobald (Warburton).

[6099] on his] Ff. in his Qq.

[6100] man's wit] a man Q_1.

[6101] I will] I'le Q_1. Ile Q_2 Q_3.

it] Ff. of it Qq.

[Exit.] Qq. Exit Clo. F_1 F_2 F_3. Exit Clown. F_4.

[6102] lose] Q (1695) and Rowe. loose Qq Ff.

that] Qq. the Ff.

handkerchief] handkercher Q_1.

[6103] have lost] Ff. loose Qq. lose Q (1695).

[6104] jealous] iealious F_1. jealious F_2.

[6105] I will ... him.] Divided as by Steevens (1793). The first line ends at now in Qq, at be in Ff. Prose in Malone.

[6106] till] Let Q_1.

Enter Othello.] As in Dyce. After him, line 28, in Qq. After comes, line 28, in F_1 F_2. After sorrow, line 34, in F_3. After lord? line 30, in F_4.

[6107] is't] Ff. is it Qq.

SCENE X. Pope.

[6108] [Aside] Hanmer.

[6109] Des.] Les. F_2.

good] om. Pope.

[6110] Give ... lady.] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[6111] yet has] Qq. hath Ff. yet hath Rowe.

[6112] Hot, hot] Not hot Q_1 Both hot Anon. MS. See note (IV).

[6113] prayer] Ff. praying Qq.

[6114] devout] devoted Q_3.

[6115] young] strong Warburton.

sweating] sweatie Q_3.

[6116] frank one] frank one too Capell. very frank one Hanmer.

[6117] hearts ... hands] hands ... hearts Hanmer (Warburton).

[6118] I cannot ... promise.] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

Come now,] Come now Q_2 Q_3. Come, now Ff. Come, come Q_1.

[6119] sorry] Ff. sullen Qq. sudden Collier MS.

[6120] handkerchief] handkercher Q_1.

[6121] Not?] Ff. Not. Qq.

[6122] indeed] faith Q_1.

[6123] That's] Qq Ff. That is Capell.

That's ... handkerchief One line in Qq Ff. Two, the first ending fault, in Steevens (1793), reading That is.

[6124] and] om. F_2 F_3 F_4.

[6125] Entirely ... it,] Repeated in Q_1.

[6126] loathed] lothely Q_1.

his] her Jennens (a misprint).

spirits] spirit Q (1695).

should] om. Pope.

[6127] wive] Qq. wiv'd Ff.

[6128] lose't] Theobald. loose't F_1 F_2. loos't F_3 F_4. loose Q_1 Q_2. lose Q_3.

perdition] prediction Q_3.

[6129] had] hath Hanmer (ed. 2).

[6130] The sun to course] Ff Q_2 Q_3. The sun to make Q_1. Of the sun's course Hanmer.

[6131] sew'd] sow'd Ff. sowed Qq.

[6132] hallow'd] Capell. hallowed Q_1 Ff Q_2. hollowed Q_3.

[6133] which] with Q_1 Q_3.

[6134] Conserved] Conserues Q_1. Concerue Q_2. Conserve Q_3.

Indeed] Ifaith Q_1.

[6135] to God] Qq. to heaven F_1. the heaven F_2 F_3 F_4.

seen't] F_3 F_4. seene't F_1 F_2. seene it Qq.

[6136] startingly] staringly F_3 F_4.

rash] rashly Q_1.

[6137] is it] Qq. is't Ff.

[6138] Heaven] Q_1. om. Ff Q_2 Q_3.

[6139] an if] Theobald (ed. 2). and if Qq Ff.

[6140] How!] How? Ff. Ha. Qq.

[6141] Fetch't] Qq F_4. Fecht F_1 F_2 Fetcht' F_3.

see it] Qq. see't Ff.

[6142] sir,] Qq. om. Ff.

[6143] Pray you] Ff. I pray Qq.

[6144] Fetch ... misgives.] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

the] Ff. that Qq.

[6145] handkerchief] handkercher Q_1.

[6146] misgives.] misgives— Rowe. misgives me— Keightley.

[6147] Come ... man.] Divided as in Capell. One line in Qq. Prose in Ff.

Come ... never] Come, you'll ne'er Pope.

[6148] man] m Q_1 (Cap.)

[6149] Des. I pray ... handkerchief!] Des. I pray ... handkercher. Q_1. Omitted in the rest.

[6150] his] om. Q_3.

[6151] Shared ... jealous?] Two lines, the first ending sooth, in Steevens (1793).

[6152] you,—] you— Steevens. you: Capell. you. Qq Ff.

[6153] In sooth] Ifaith Q_1.

to blame] Q_3 F_4. too blame The rest.

[6154] Away] Zouns Q_1.

[Exit.] Qq. Exit Othello. Ff.

[6155] SCENE XI. Manent Desdemona and Æmilia. Pope.

jealous] iealious F_1. jealious F_2.

[6156] Sure] Sir Q_3.

[6157] I am] I'm Pope.

the loss of it] this losse Q_1 (Cap.) the losse Q_1 (Dev. and Chip.)

[6158] are all] are Rowe (ed. 2).

[6159] they are] they're Pope.

[6160] They ... husband.] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

Enter ...] Dyce. Enter Iago and Cassio. Pope. Enter Iago, and Cassio. Ff (after us). Enter Iago and Cassio. Qq (after line 103).

[6161] do't] F_3 F_4. doo't F_1 F_2. doe it Qq.

[6162] may again] doe beseech you: Q_3.

[6163] office] duty Q_1.

[6164] delay'd] delayed Q_1 Q_2.

[6165] nor my] F_1. not my Q_2 F_2 Q_3 F_3 F_4. neither Q_1.

sorrows] sorrow S. Walker conj.

[6166] shut ... in] shoote my selfe up in Q_1. shoot myself upon Capell. shape myself upon Anon. apud Rann conj. set myself upon Collier conj. shift myself upon Collier MS. suit myself up in Anon. conj. shoote my selfe forth in Anon. MS. See note (IV).

shut ... other course] suit ... order coarse Jackson conj.

[6167] alms] arms Pope.

thrice-gentle] thrice gentile Q_3.

[6168] stood] stoop Q_3.

[6169] can he be] Qq. is he Ff.

[6170] SCENE XII. Pope.

[Exit Iago.] As in Capell. Exit. Ff (after line 140). Omitted in Qq.

[6171] or some] of some Johnson.

[6172] demonstrable here] here demonstrable Pope.

[6173] puddled] pulld Q_3.

[6174] Though ... gods,] Arranged As in Ff. Five lines, ending object, ... ake, ... members, ... thinke, ... gods, in Qq.

[6175] Though] Ff. Tho Q_1 Q_2. The Q_3.

their] Ff. the Qq.

[6176] indues] endures Q_3. subdues Johnson conj. inducts Jackson conj.

[6177] even to that sense] Qq. even to a sense Ff. with a sense Pope. even with that sense Seymour conj.

[6178] Nor] Not Q_3.

observancy] observancie F_1. observances Qq. observance F_2 F_3 F_4. observance always Rowe.

[6179] warrior] wrangler Hanmer. lawyer Becket conj.

[6180] indicted] Collier. indited Qq Ff.

[6181] Pray ... you.] Divided as in Qq. The lines end be ... conception, ... you in Ff.

[6182] state-matters] State-matter Pope, divided with Ff.

[6183] nor no] Nor Rowe.

[6184] jealous] Iealious F_1 F_2.

[6185] jealous] iealious F_1.

the cause] a cause Pope.

[6186] jealous] iealious F_1. jealious F_2.

[6187] they are] Qq. they're Ff.

'tis] tis Qq. It is Ff. It's Pope.

[6188] upon] unto Q_3.

on] of Seymour conj.

[6189] that] Qq. the Ff.

Othello's] Othell's F_2.

[6190] hereabout] F_3 F_4. here about Qq. heere about F_1 F_2.

[6191] uttermost] utmost Q_3.

[6192] [Exeunt ...] As in Pope. Opposite lines 167, 168 in Qq. Exit Ff (after line 168). Ex. Desdem. and Æmil. at one door; Cassio, at the other. Theobald.

SCENE XIII. Pope. Scene changes to the Street before the Palace. Theobald.

Enter Bianca.] As in Ff Q_2 Q_3. After Cassio! line 170, in Q_1. Re-enter Cassio, meeting Bianca. Theobald.

[6193] make] makes F_4.

[6194] is it] Qq. is't Ff.

[6195] I'faith] Ifaith Q_1. Indeed The rest.

coming] going Q_3.

house] lodging Capell.

[6196] lovers'] lovers Qq F_1. loves F_2 F_3 F_4. lover's Pope.

[6197] O] No Q_1.

[6198] leaden] laden Q_1.

[6199] continuate time] Ff Q_2. convenient time Q_1. continuate: of time Q_3.

[6200] [Giving....] Rowe. om. Qq Ff.

[6201] O] om. Hanmer.

[6202] friend: ... now] friend; To the felt-absence, now Rowe. friend, To the felt absence, now Q_1. friend To the felt absence, now Q_2 Q_3. friend, To the felt-absence: now Ff. friend: Of thy felt absence, now Pope.

[6203] Well, well.] Omitted in Q_1. Well, well, well— Keightley.

Go to, woman!] Well, go to, woman; Hanmer. Woman, go to! Capell.

[6204] vile] Qq. vilde F_1 F_2 F_3. vild F_4.

[6205] by my faith] Q_1. in good troth The rest. in good truth Johnson.

whose] who's Q_1 F_1 F_2.

[6206] I know ... chamber.] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

sweet] Qq. neither Ff.

[6207] I'ld] I'de Qq. I would Ff.

[6208] Bian. Why ... not.] Omitted in Q_1.

[6209] But ... me.] Not that you love me. Hanmer.

[6210] night.] Qq. night? Ff.

[6211] [Exeunt.] Qq. Exeunt omnes. Ff.

ACT IV.

SCENE I. Cyprus. Before the castle.

Enter OTHELLO and IAGO.[6212]

Iago. Will you think so?

Oth. Think so, Iago![6213]

Iago. What,[6214]

To kiss in private?[6214]

Oth. An unauthorized kiss.[6215]

Iago. Or to be naked with her friend in bed[6216][6217]

An hour or more, not meaning any harm?

Oth. Naked in bed, Iago, and not mean harm![6217] 5

It is hypocrisy against the devil:

They that mean virtuously and yet do so,

The devil their virtue tempts and they tempt heaven.[6218]

Iago. So they do nothing, 'tis a venial slip:[6219]

But if I give my wife a handkerchief—[6220][6221] 10

Oth. What then?

Iago. Why, then, 'tis hers, my lord; and being hers,[6222]

She may, I think, bestow 't on any man.

Oth. She is protectress of her honour too:[6223]

May she give that? 15

Iago. Her honour is an essence that's not seen;

They have it very oft that have it not:

But for the handkerchief—[6221]

Oth. By heaven, I would most gladly have forgot it:

Thou said'st—O, it comes o'er my memory, 20

As doth the raven o'er the infected house,[6224]

Boding to all—he had my handkerchief.[6225]

Iago. Ay, what of that?

Oth. That's not so good now.

Iago. What,[6226]

If I had said I had seen him do you wrong?[6226][6227]

Or heard him say—as knaves be such abroad,[6228] 25

Who having, by their own importunate suit,

Or voluntary dotage of some mistress,[6229]

Convinced or supplied them, cannot choose[6230]

But they must blab—[6231]

Oth. Hath he said any thing?

Iago. He hath, my lord; but be you well assured, 30

No more than he'll unswear.

Oth. What hath he said?

Iago. Faith, that he did—I know not what he did.[6232]

Oth. What? what?[6233]

Iago. Lie—

Oth. With her?

Iago. With her, on her; what you will.[6234]

Oth. Lie with her! lie on her!—We say lie on her, when[6235] 35

they belie her.—Lie with her! 'Zounds, that's fulsome![6235][6236]

Handkerchief—confessions—handkerchief!—To confess, and[6237][6238][6239]

be hanged for his labour; first, to be hanged, and then to[6238][6239]

confess. I tremble at it. Nature would not invest herself in[6238][6239]

such shadowing passion without some instruction. It is not[6239][6240] 40

words that shakes me thus. Pish! Noses, ears and lips.[6239][6241]

Is't possible?—Confess?—Handkerchief?—O devil!

[Falls in a trance.[6239][6242]

Iago. Work on,[6243]

My medicine, work! Thus credulous fools are caught;[6243][6244]

And many worthy and chaste dames even thus,[6243] 45

All guiltless, meet reproach. What, ho! my lord![6243]

My lord, I say! Othello![6243][6245]

Enter CASSIO.

How now, Cassio!

Cas. What's the matter?

Iago. My lord is fall'n into an epilepsy:[6246]

This is his second fit; he had one yesterday.[6247] 50

Cas. Rub him about the temples.

Iago. No, forbear;[6248]

The lethargy must have his quiet course:[6249]

If not, he foams at mouth, and by and by

Breaks out to savage madness. Look, he stirs:[6250]

Do you withdraw yourself a little while, 55

He will recover straight: when he is gone,

I would on great occasion speak with you.     [Exit Cassio.[6251]

How is it, general? have you not hurt your head?[6252]

Oth. Dost thou mock me?

Iago. I mock you! no, by heaven.[6253]

Would you would bear your fortune like a man![6254] 60

Oth. A horned man's a monster and a beast.

Iago. There's many a beast then in a populous city,

And many a civil monster.

Oth. Did he confess it?

Iago. Good sir, be a man;[6255]

Think every bearded fellow that's but yoked[6256] 65

May draw with you: there's millions now alive[6257]

That nightly lie in those unproper beds[6258]

Which they dare swear peculiar: your case is better.[6259]

O, 'tis the spite of hell, the fiend's arch-mock,[6260]

To lip a wanton in a secure couch, 70

And to suppose her chaste! No, let me know;[6261][6262]

And knowing what I am, I know what she shall be.[6261][6263]

Oth. O, thou art wise; 'tis certain.[6261]

Iago. Stand you awhile apart;[6261][6264]

Confine yourself but in a patient list.

Whilst you were here o'erwhelmed with your grief—[6265] 75

A passion most unsuiting such a man—[6266]

Cassio came hither: I shifted him away,

And laid good 'scuse upon your ecstasy;[6267]

Bade him anon return and here speak with me;[6268]

The which he promised. Do but encave yourself,[6269] 80

And mark the fleers, the gibes and notable scorns,[6270]

That dwell in every region of his face;

For I will make him tell the tale anew,

Where, how, how oft, how long ago and when

He hath and is again to cope your wife:[6271] 85

I say, but mark his gesture. Marry, patience;

Or I shall say you are all in all in spleen,[6272]

And nothing of a man.

Oth. Dost thou hear, Iago?[6273]

I will be found most cunning in my patience;[6274]

But—dost thou hear?—most bloody.

Iago. That's not amiss;[6275] 90

But yet keep time in all. Will you withdraw?

[Othello retires.[6276]

Now will I question Cassio of Bianca,

A housewife that by selling her desires

Buys herself bread and clothes: it is a creature[6277]

That dotes on Cassio; as 'tis the strumpet's plague 95

To beguile many and be beguiled by one.

He, when he hears of her, cannot refrain[6278]

From the excess of laughter. Here he comes.

Re-enter CASSIO.[6279]

As he shall smile, Othello shall go mad;[6280]

And his unbookish jealousy must construe[6281] 100

Poor Cassio's smiles, gestures and light behaviour,[6282]

Quite in the wrong. How do you now, lieutenant?[6283]

Cas. The worser that you give me the addition[6284]

Whose want even kills me.

Iago. Ply Desdemona well, and you are sure on 't. 105

Now, if this suit lay in Bianca's power,[6285]

How quickly should you speed!

Cas. Alas, poor caitiff![6286]

Oth. Look, how he laughs already![6287]

Iago. I never knew a woman love man so.[6288]

Cas. Alas, poor rogue! I think, i' faith, she loves me.[6289] 110

Oth. Now he denies it faintly and laughs it out.[6287][6290]

Iago. Do you hear, Cassio?

Oth. Now he importunes him[6287][6291]

To tell it o'er: go to; well said, well said.[6292]

Iago. She gives it out that you shall marry her:

Do you intend it? 115

Cas. Ha, ha, ha!

Oth. Do you triumph, Roman? do you triumph?[6287][6293]

Cas. I marry her! what, a customer! I prithee, bear[6294][6295]

some charity to my wit; do not think it so unwholesome.[6294]

Ha, ha, ha![6294] 120

Oth. So, so, so, so: they laugh that win.[6287][6296]

Iago. Faith, the cry goes that you shall marry her.[6297]

Cas. Prithee, say true.

Iago. I am a very villain else.[6298]

Oth. Have you scored me? Well.[6287][6299] 125

Cas. This is the monkey's own giving out: she is persuaded[6300]

I will marry her, out of her own love and flattery,[6300]

not out of my promise.[6300]

Oth. Iago beckons me; now he begins the story.[6287][6301]

Cas. She was here even now; she haunts me in every 130

place. I was the other day talking on the sea-bank with[6302]

certain Venetians; and thither comes the bauble, and, by[6303][6304]

this hand, she falls me thus about my neck—[6304][6305]

Oth. Crying 'O dear Cassio!' as it were: his gesture[6287][6306]

imports it. 135

Cas. So hangs and lolls and weeps upon me; so hales[6307][6308]

and pulls me: ha, ha, ha![6307]

Oth. Now he tells how she plucked him to my[6287][6309]

chamber. O, I see that nose of yours, but not that dog I[6309][6310]

shall throw it to.[6309][6311] 140

Cas. Well, I must leave her company.

Iago. Before me! look, where she comes.[6312]

Cas. Tis such another fitchew! marry, a perfumed one.

Enter BIANCA.[6313]

What do you mean by this haunting of me?

Bian. Let the devil and his dam haunt you! What did 145

you mean by that same handkerchief you gave me even[6314]

now? I was a fine fool to take it. I must take out the work?[6315]

A likely piece of work, that you should find it in your

chamber, and not know who left it there! This is some[6316]

minx's token, and I must take out the work? There; give 150

it your hobby-horse: wheresoever you had it, I'll take out[6317]

no work on't.[6318]

Cas. How now, my sweet Bianca! how now! how now![6319]

Oth. By heaven, that should be my handkerchief![6287][6314]

Bian. An you'll come to supper to-night, you may; an[6320] 155

you will not, come when you are next prepared for.     [Exit.

Iago. After her, after her.

Cas. Faith, I must; she'll rail i' the street else.[6321]

Iago. Will you sup there?[6322]

Cas. Faith, I intend so.[6323] 160

Iago. Well, I may chance to see you; for I would very

fain speak with you.

Cas. Prithee, come; will you?

Iago. Go to; say no more.     [Exit Cassio.[6324]

Oth. [Advancing] How shall I murder him, Iago?[6325] 165

Iago. Did you perceive how he laughed at his vice?

Oth. O Iago![6326]

Iago. And did you see the handkerchief?[6314]

Oth. Was that mine?

Iago. Yours, by this hand: and to see how he prizes the[6327] 170

foolish woman your wife! she gave it him, and he hath given[6327]

it his whore.[6327]

Oth. I would have him nine years a-killing. A fine[6327][6328]

woman! a fair woman! a sweet woman![6328]

Iago. Nay, you must forget that.[6329] 175

Oth. Ay, let her rot, and perish, and be damned to-night;[6330]

for she shall not live: no, my heart is turned to stone; I[6331]

strike it, and it hurts my hand. O, the world hath not a[6332]

sweeter creature: she might lie by an emperor's side, and

command him tasks. 180

Iago. Nay, that's not your way.

Oth. Hang her! I do but say what she is: so delicate[6333]

with her needle: an admirable musician: O, she will sing

the savageness out of a bear: of so high and plenteous wit[6334]

and invention:—[6335] 185

Iago. She's the worse for all this.

Oth. O, a thousand thousand times: and then, of so[6336][6337][6338]

gentle a condition![6337][6339]

Iago. Ay, too gentle.

Oth. Nay, that's certain: but yet the pity of it, Iago![6340] 190

O Iago, the pity of it, Iago![6341]

Iago. If you are so fond over her iniquity, give her patent[6342]

to offend; for, if it touch not you, it comes near nobody.[6343]

Oth. I will chop her into messes: cuckold me!

Iago. O, 'tis foul in her. 195

Oth. With mine officer!

Iago. That's fouler.

Oth. Get me some poison, Iago; this night. I'll not[6344]

expostulate with her, lest her body and beauty unprovide[6345]

my mind again: this night, Iago. 200

Iago. Do it not with poison, strangle her in her bed,[6346]

even the bed she hath contaminated.[6347]

Oth. Good, good: the justice of it pleases: very good.[6348]

Iago. And for Cassio, let me be his undertaker: you[6349]

shall hear more by midnight.[6349] 205

Oth. Excellent good. [A trumpet within.] What trumpet is that same?[6350]

Iago. Something from Venice, sure. 'Tis Lodovico[6351][6352]

Come from the duke: and, see, your wife is with him.[6351]

Enter LODOVICO, DESDEMONA, and Attendants.[6353]

Lod. God save the worthy general!

Oth. With all my heart, sir.[6354]

Lod. The duke and senators of Venice greet you. 210

[Gives him a letter.[6355]

Oth. I kiss the instrument of their pleasures.

[Opens the letter, and reads.[6356]

Des. And what's the news, good cousin Lodovico?

Iago. I am very glad to see you, signior;[6357][6358]

Welcome to Cyprus.[6357]

Lod. I thank you. How does Lieutenant Cassio?[6359] 215

Iago. Lives, sir.

Des. Cousin, there's fall'n between him and my lord

An unkind breach: but you shall make all well.

Oth. Are you sure of that?

Des. My lord?[6360] 220

Oth. [Reads] 'This fail you not to do, as you will—'[6361]

Lod. He did not call; he's busy in the paper.

Is there division 'twixt my lord and Cassio?[6362]

Des. A most unhappy one: I would do much

To atone them, for the love I bear to Cassio.[6363] 225

Oth. Fire and brimstone!

Des. My lord?[6360]

Oth. Are you wise?

Des. What, is he angry?

Lod. May be the letter moved him;

For, as I think, they do command him home, 230

Deputing Cassio in his government.

Des. By my troth, I am glad on 't.[6364]

Oth. Indeed!

Des. My lord?[6360]

Oth. I am glad to see you mad.

Des. Why, sweet Othello?[6365]

Oth. Devil!     [Striking her.[6366]

Des. I have not deserved this. 235

Lod. My lord, this would not be believed in Venice,

Though I should swear I saw 't: 'tis very much:

Make her amends; she weeps.

Oth. O devil, devil!

If that the earth could teem with woman's tears,[6367]

Each drop she falls would prove a crocodile. 240

Out of my sight!

Des. I will not stay to offend you.     [Going.[6368]

Lod. Truly, an obedient lady:[6369]

I do beseech your lordship, call her back.

Oth. Mistress!

Des. My lord? 245

Oth. What would you with her, sir?

Lod. Who, I, my lord?

Oth. Ay; you did wish that I would make her turn:

Sir, she can turn and turn, and yet go on,

And turn again; and she can weep, sir, weep;

And she's obedient, as you say, obedient,[6370] 250

Very obedient. Proceed you in your tears.[6371]

Concerning this, sir,—O well-painted passion!—

I am commanded home. Get you away;[6372]

I'll send for you anon. Sir, I obey the mandate,

And will return to Venice. Hence, avaunt! 255

[Exit Desdemona.[6373]

Cassio shall have my place. And, sir, to-night,

I do entreat that we may sup together:

You are welcome, sir, to Cyprus. Goats and monkeys![6374]

[Exit.

Lod. Is this the noble Moor whom our full senate[6375]

Call all in all sufficient? This the nature[6376] 260

Whom passion could not shake? whose solid virtue[6377]

The shot of accident nor dart of chance[6378]

Could neither graze nor pierce?[6379]

Iago. He is much changed.

Lod. Are his wits safe? is he not light of brain?[6380]

Iago. He's that he is: I may not breathe my censure[6381][6382] 265

What he might be: if what he might he is not,[6382][6383]

I would to heaven he were!

Lod. What, strike his wife!

Iago. Faith, that was not so well; yet would I knew

That stroke would prove the worst!

Lod. Is it his use?[6384]

Or did the letters work upon his blood, 270

And new create this fault?[6385]

Iago. Alas, alas!

It is not honesty in me to speak

What I have seen and known. You shall observe him,[6386]

And his own courses will denote him so

That I may save my speech: do but go after,[6387] 275

And mark how he continues.

Lod. I am sorry that I am deceived in him.     [Exeunt.[6388]

SCENE II. A room in the castle.[6389]

Enter OTHELLO and EMILIA.

Oth. You have seen nothing, then?[6390][6391]

Emil. Nor ever heard, nor ever did suspect.[6390]

Oth. Yes, you have seen Cassio and she together.[6390][6392]

Emil. But then I saw no harm, and then I heard

Each syllable that breath made up between them.[6393] 5

Oth. What, did they never whisper?

Emil. Never, my lord.

Oth. Nor send you out o' the way?[6394]

Emil. Never.[6395]

Oth. To fetch her fan, her gloves, her mask, nor nothing?[6396]

Emil. Never, my lord. 10

Oth. That's strange.

Emil. I durst, my lord, to wager she is honest,

Lay down my soul at stake: if you think other,

Remove your thought; it doth abuse your bosom.

If any wretch have put this in your head,[6397] 15

Let heaven requite it with the serpent's curse![6398]

For if she be not honest, chaste and true,

There's no man happy; the purest of their wives[6399]

Is foul as slander.

Oth. Bid her come hither: go.     [Exit Emilia.[6400]

She says enough: yet she's a simple bawd 20

That cannot say as much. This is a subtle whore,[6401]

A closet lock and key of villanous secrets:[6402]

And yet she'll kneel and pray; I have seen her do't.

Enter DESDEMONA with EMILIA.[6403]

Des. My lord, what is your will?

Oth. Pray, chuck, come hither.[6404]

Des. What is your pleasure?

Oth. Let me see your eyes;[6405] 25

Look in my face.[6405]

Des. What horrible fancy's this?

Oth. [To Emilia] Some of your function, mistress;[6406]

Leave procreants alone and shut the door;

Cough, or cry hem, if any body come:

Your mystery, your mystery: nay, dispatch.     [Exit Emilia.[6407]30

Des. Upon my knees, what doth your speech import?[6408]

I understand a fury in your words,

But not the words.[6409][6410]

Oth. Why, what art thou?[6410]

Des. Your wife, my lord; your true and loyal wife.[6410] 35

Oth. Come, swear it, damn thyself;[6410][6411]

Lest, being like one of heaven, the devils themselves[6411][6412]

Should fear to seize thee: therefore be double-damn'd;[6411][6413]

Swear thou art honest.[6411]

Des. Heaven doth truly know it.

Oth. Heaven truly knows that thou art false as hell.[6414] 40

Des. To whom, my lord? with whom? how am I false?[6415]

Oth. O Desdemona! Away! away! away![6416]

Des. Alas the heavy day! Why do you weep?[6417]

Am I the motive of these tears, my lord?[6418]

If haply you my father do suspect[6419] 45

An instrument of this your calling back,

Lay not your blame on me: if you have lost him,[6420][6421]

Why, I have lost him too.[6421]

Oth. Had it pleased heaven[6422]

To try me with affliction; had they rain'd[6423]

All kinds of sores and shames on my bare head,[6424] 50

Steep'd me in poverty to the very lips,

Given to captivity me and my utmost hopes,[6425]

I should have found in some place of my soul[6426]

A drop of patience: but, alas, to make me[6427]

A fixed figure for the time of scorn[6428] 55

To point his slow unmoving finger at![6428]

Yet could I bear that too; well, very well:

But there, where I have garner'd up my heart,

Where either I must live or bear no life,

The fountain from the which my current runs,[6429] 60

Or else dries up; to be discarded thence!

Or keep it as a cistern for foul toads[6430]

To knot and gender in! Turn thy complexion there,[6431][6432]

Patience, thou young and rose-lipp'd cherubin,[6431][6433]

Ay, there, look grim as hell![6431][6434] 65

Des. I hope my noble lord esteems me honest.[6435]

Oth. O, ay; as summer flies are in the shambles,[6436]

That quicken even with blowing. O thou weed,[6437][6438]

Who art so lovely fair and smell'st so sweet[6437][6439]

That the sense aches at thee, would thou hadst ne'er been born![6437][6440] 70

Des. Alas, what ignorant sin have I committed?

Oth. Was this fair paper, this most goodly book,

Made to write 'whore' upon? What committed![6441]

Committed! O thou public commoner![6442]

I should make very forges of my cheeks,[6442][6443] 75

That would to cinders burn up modesty,[6442]

Did I but speak thy deeds. What committed![6442][6444]

Heaven stops the nose at it, and the moon winks;

The bawdy wind, that kisses all it meets,

Is hush'd within the hollow mine of earth,[6445] 80

And will not hear it. What committed![6446]

Impudent strumpet![6447]

Des. By heaven, you do me wrong.

Oth. Are not you a strumpet?

Des. No, as I am a Christian:

If to preserve this vessel for my lord

From any other foul unlawful touch[6448] 85

Be not to be a strumpet, I am none.

Oth. What, not a whore?

Des. No, as I shall be saved.

Oth. Is't possible?

Des. O, heaven forgive us!

Oth. I cry you mercy then:[6449]

I took you for that cunning whore of Venice 90

That married with Othello. [Raising his voice] You, mistress,[6450]

That have the office opposite to Saint Peter,

And keep the gate of hell!

Re-enter EMILIA.

You, you, ay, you![6451]

We have done our course; there's money for your pains:[6452]

I pray you, turn the key, and keep our counsel.     [Exit. 95

Emil. Alas, what does this gentleman conceive?

How do you, madam? how do you, my good lady?

Des. Faith, half asleep.

Emil. Good madam, what's the matter with my lord?[6453]

Des. With who?[6454] 100

Emil. Why, with my lord, madam.[6455]

Des. Who is thy lord?

Emil. He that is yours, sweet lady.[6456]

Des. I have none: do not talk to me, Emilia;[6457]

I cannot weep, nor answer have I none[6458]

But what should go by water. Prithee, to-night[6459] 105

Lay on my bed my wedding sheets: remember;[6460]

And call thy husband hither.

Emil. Here's a change indeed!     [Exit.[6461]

Des. 'Tis meet I should be used so, very meet.[6462]

How have I been behaved, that he might stick

The small'st opinion on my least misuse? 110

Re-enter EMILIA with IAGO.[6463]

Iago. What is your pleasure, madam? How is't with you?[6464]

Des. I cannot tell. Those that do teach young babes[6465]

Do it with gentle means and easy tasks:

He might have chid me so; for, in good faith,[6466]

I am a child to chiding.

Iago. What's the matter, lady?[6467] 115

Emil. Alas, Iago, my lord hath so bewhored her,

Thrown such despite and heavy terms upon her,

As true hearts cannot bear.[6468]

Des. Am I that name, Iago?

Iago. What name, fair lady?

Des. Such as she says my lord did say I was.[6469] 120

Emil. He call'd her whore: a beggar in his drink

Could not have laid such terms upon his callat.[6470]

Iago. Why did he so?

Des. I do not know; I am sure I am none such.[6471]

Iago. Do not weep, do not weep. Alas the day! 125

Emil. Hath she forsook so many noble matches,[6472]

Her father and her country and her friends,[6473]

To be call'd whore? would it not make one weep?

Des. It is my wretched fortune.

Iago. Beshrew him for't![6474][6475]

How comes this trick upon him?[6474]

Des. Nay, heaven doth know. 130

Emil. I will be hang'd, if some eternal villain,

Some busy and insinuating rogue,

Some cogging, cozening slave, to get some office,

Have not devised this slander; I'll be hang'd else.[6476]

Iago. Fie, there is no such man; it is impossible. 135

Des. If any such there be, heaven pardon him![6477]

Emil. A halter pardon him! and hell gnaw his bones![6478]

Why should he call her whore? who keeps her company?[6478]

What place? what time? what form? what likelihood?[6478]

The Moor's abused by some most villanous knave,[6479] 140

Some base notorious knave, some scurvy fellow.

O heaven, that such companions thou'ldst unfold,[6480]

And put in every honest hand a whip

To lash the rascals naked through the world[6481]

Even from the east to the west!

Iago. Speak within door.[6482] 145

Emil. O, fie upon them! Some such squire he was[6483]

That turn'd your wit the seamy side without,

And made you to suspect me with the Moor.

Iago. You are a fool; go to.

Des. O good Iago,[6484]

What shall I do to win my lord again? 150

Good friend, go to him; for, by this light of heaven,[6485]

I know not how I lost him. Here I kneel:[6486][6487]

If e'er my will did trespass 'gainst his love[6487]

Either in discourse of thought or actual deed,[6487][6488]

Or that mine eyes, mine ears, or any sense,[6487] 155

Delighted them in any other form,[6487][6489]

Or that I do not yet, and ever did,[6487]

And ever will, though he do shake me off[6487]

To beggarly divorcement, love him dearly,[6487]

Comfort forswear me! Unkindness may do much;[6487][6490] 160

And his unkindness may defeat my life,[6487]

But never taint my love. I cannot say 'whore':[6487][6491]

It doth abhor me now I speak the word;[6487][6492]

To do the act that might the addition earn[6487]

Not the world's mass of vanity could make me.[6487] 165

Iago. I pray you, be content; 'tis but his humour:

The business of the state does him offence,

And he does chide with you.[6493]

Des. If 'twere no other,—

Iago. 'Tis but so, I warrant.     [Trumpets within.[6494]

Hark, how these instruments summon to supper![6495] 170

The messengers of Venice stay the meat:[6496]

Go in, and weep not; all things shall be well.

[Exeunt Desdemona and Emilia.[6497]

Enter RODERIGO.

How now, Roderigo![6498]

Rod. I do not find that thou dealest justly with me.[6499]

Iago. What in the contrary? 175

Rod. Every day thou daffest me with some device,[6500][6501]

Iago; and rather, as it seems to me now, keepest from me[6502][6501]

all conveniency than suppliest me with the least advantage[6501][6503][6504]

of hope. I will indeed no longer endure it; nor am I yet[6501][6504]

persuaded to put up in peace what already I have foolishly[6501] 180

suffered.[6501]

Iago. Will you hear me, Roderigo?

Rod. Faith, I have heard too much; for your words[6505][6506]

and performances are no kin together.[6506][6507]

Iago. You charge me most unjustly. 185

Rod. With nought but truth. I have wasted myself[6508]

out of my means. The jewels you have had from me to[6509]

deliver to Desdemona would half have corrupted a votarist:[6510]

you have told me she hath received them and returned[6511]

me expectations and comforts of sudden respect[6512] 190

and acquaintance; but I find none.[6513]

Iago. Well; go to; very well.[6514]

Rod. Very well! go to! I cannot go to, man; nor 'tis[6515]

not very well: by this hand, I say 'tis very scurvy, and[6516]

begin to find myself fopped in it.[6517] 195

Iago. Very well.

Rod. I tell you 'tis not very well. I will make myself[6518]

known to Desdemona: if she will return me my jewels, I

will give over my suit and repent my unlawful solicitation;

if not, assure yourself I will seek satisfaction of you.[6519] 200

Iago. You have said now.[6520]

Rod. Ay, and said nothing but what I protest intendment[6521][6522]

of doing.[6522]

Iago. Why, now I see there's mettle in thee; and even

from this instant do build on thee a better opinion than[6523] 205

ever before. Give me thy hand, Roderigo: thou hast taken

against me a most just exception; but yet, I protest, I[6524]

have dealt most directly in thy affair.[6525]

Rod. It hath not appeared.

Iago. I grant indeed it hath not appeared, and your 210

suspicion is not without wit and judgement. But, Roderigo,

if thou hast that in thee indeed, which I have greater reason[6526]

to believe now than ever, I mean purpose, courage

and valour, this night show it: if thou the next night following

enjoy not Desdemona, take me from this world[6527] 215

with treachery and devise engines for my life.

Rod. Well, what is it? is it within reason and compass?[6528]

Iago. Sir, there is especial commission come from[6529][6530]

Venice to depute Cassio in Othello's place.[6530]

Rod. Is that true? why then Othello and Desdemona[6530] 220

return again to Venice.[6530]

Iago. O, no; he goes into Mauritania, and takes away[6530][6531]

with him the fair Desdemona, unless his abode be lingered[6530]

here by some accident: wherein none can be so determinate[6530][6532]

as the removing of Cassio.[6530] 225

Rod. How do you mean, removing of him?[6530][6533]

Iago. Why, by making him uncapable of Othello's[6530][6534]

place; knocking out his brains.[6530]

Rod. And that you would have me to do?[6535]

Iago. Ay, if you dare do yourself a profit and a right.[6536] 230

He sups to-night with a harlotry, and thither will I go to him:[6537]

he knows not yet of his honourable fortune. If you will

watch his going thence, which I will fashion to fall out between

twelve and one, you may take him at your pleasure:

I will be near to second your attempt, and he shall fall between 235

us. Come, stand not amazed at it, but go along with

me; I will show you such a necessity in his death that you

shall think yourself bound to put it on him. It is now high[6538]

supper-time, and the night grows to waste: about it.[6539]

Rod. I will hear further reason for this. 240

Iago. And you shall be satisfied.     [Exeunt.[6540]

SCENE III. Another room in the castle.

Enter OTHELLO, LODOVICO, DESDEMONA, EMILIA, and Attendants.[6541]

Lod. I do beseech you, sir, trouble yourself no further.[6542]

Oth. O, pardon me; 'twill do me good to walk.[6543]

Lod. Madam, good night; I humbly thank your ladyship.

Des. Your honour is most welcome.

Oth. Will you walk, sir?[6544]

O,—Desdemona,—[6544][6545] 5

Des. My lord?[6546]

Oth. Get you to bed on the instant; I will be returned[6547][6548]

forthwith: dismiss your attendant there: look it be done.[6548][6549]

Des. I will, my lord.

[Exeunt Othello, Lodovico, and Attendants.[6550]

Emil. How goes it now? he looks gentler than he did. 10

Des. He says he will return incontinent:

He hath commanded me to go to bed,[6551]

And bade me to dismiss you.

Emil. Dismiss me![6552]

Des. It was his bidding; therefore, good Emilia,

Give me my nightly wearing, and adieu: 15

We must not now displease him.

Emil. I would you had never seen him![6553]

Des. So would not I: my love doth so approve him,

That even his stubbornness, his checks, his frowns,—[6554]

Prithee, unpin me,—have grace and favour in them.[6555] 20

Emil. I have laid those sheets you bade me on the bed.[6556]

Des. All's one. Good faith, how foolish are our minds![6557]

If I do die before thee, prithee, shroud me[6558]

In one of those same sheets.[6559]

Emil. Come, come, you talk.

Des. My mother had a maid call'd Barbara:[6560] 25

She was in love; and he she loved proved mad[6561][6562]

And did forsake her: she had a song of 'willow;'[6561][6563][6564]

An old thing 'twas, but it express'd her fortune,

And she died singing it: that song to-night

Will not go from my mind; I have much to do[6565][6566][6567] 30

But to go hang my head all at one side[6566][6568][6569]

And sing it like poor Barbara. Prithee, dispatch.[6566][6568][6570]

Emil. Shall I go fetch your night-gown?[6566][6571]

Des. No, unpin me here.[6566]

This Lodovico is a proper man.[6566]

Emil. A very handsome man.[6566] 35

Des. He speaks well.[6566][6572]

Emil. I know a lady in Venice would have walked[6566]

barefoot to Palestine for a touch of his nether lip.[6566][6573]

Des. [Singing] The poor soul sat sighing by a sycamore tree,[6566][6574]

Sing all a green willow;[6566] 40

Her hand on her bosom, her head on her knee,[6566]

Sing willow, willow, willow:[6566]

The fresh streams ran by her, and murmur'd her moans;[6566]

Sing willow, willow, willow;[6566][6575]

Her salt tears fell from her, and soften'd the stones;—[6566][6576] 45

Lay by these:—[6566][6577][6578]

[Singing] Sing willow, willow, willow;[6566][6577]

Prithee, hie thee; he'll come anon:—[6566][6577]

[Singing] Sing all a green willow must be my garland.[6566]

Let nobody blame him; his scorn I approve,—[6566] 50

Nay, that's not next. Hark! who is't that knocks?[6566][6579]

Emil. It's the wind.[6580]

Des. [Singing] I call'd my love false love; but what said he then?[6581][6582]

Sing willow, willow, willow:[6575][6581]

If I court moe women, you'll couch with moe men.[6581][6583] 55

So get thee gone; good night. Mine eyes do itch;[6584][6585]

Doth that bode weeping?[6585][6586]

Emil. 'Tis neither here nor there.

Des. I have heard it said so. O, these men, these men![6587]

Dost thou in conscience think,—tell me, Emilia,—[6587]

That there be women do abuse their husbands[6587] 60

In such gross kind?[6587][6588]

Emil. There be some such, no question.

Des. Wouldst thou do such a deed for all the world?[6589]

Emil. Why, would not you?

Des. No, by this heavenly light!

Emil. Nor I neither by this heavenly light; I might[6590][6591]

do't as well i' the dark.[6590][6592] 65

Des. Wouldst thou do such a deed for all the world?[6593]

Emil. The world's a huge thing: it is a great price[6594][6595]

For a small vice.[6594]

Des. In troth, I think thou wouldst not.[6596]

Emil. In troth, I think I should; and undo 't when I[6597]

had done. Marry, I would not do such a thing for a joint-ring,[6598] 70

nor for measures of lawn, nor for gowns, petticoats,[6599]

nor caps, nor any petty exhibition; but, for the whole world,—why,[6600]

who would not make her husband a cuckold to[6601]

make him a monarch? I should venture purgatory for 't.[6602]

Des. Beshrew me, if I would do such a wrong[6603][6604] 75

For the whole world.[6603]

Emil. Why, the wrong is but a wrong i' the world;

and having the world for your labour, 'tis a wrong in your

own world, and you might quickly make it right.

Des. I do not think there is any such woman. 80

Emil. Yes, a dozen; and as many to the vantage as

would store the world they played for.

But I do think it is their husbands' faults[6605]

If wives do fall: say that they slack their duties[6605]

And pour our treasures into foreign laps,[6605] 85

Or else break out in peevish jealousies,[6605]

Throwing restraint upon us, or say they strike us,[6605][6606]

Or scant our former having in despite,[6605]

Why, we have galls, and though we have some grace,[6605]

Yet have we some revenge. Let husbands know[6605] 90

Their wives have sense like them: they see and smell[6605]

And have their palates both for sweet and sour,[6605]

As husbands have. What is it that they do[6605]

When they change us for others? Is it sport?[6605]

I think it is: and doth affection breed it?[6605] 95

I think it doth: is't frailty that thus errs?[6605]

It is so too: and have not we affections,[6605]

Desires for sport, and frailty, as men have?[6605][6607]

Then let them use us well: else let them know,[6605][6608]

The ills we do, their ills instruct us so.[6605][6609] 100

Des. Good night, good night: heaven me such uses send,[6610]

Not to pick bad from bad, but by bad mend!     [Exeunt.

FOOTNOTES:

[6212] ACT IV. SCENE I.] Actus 4. Q_1. Actus Quartus. Scæna Prima. Ff. Actus 4. Scæna 1. Q_2 Q_3.

Cyprus. Before the castle.] The same. Capell. A Room of State. Rowe. A Court before the Palace. Theobald.

Enter....] Ff. Enter Iago and Othello. Qq.

[6213] Iago!] Iago? Ff. Iago. Qq.

[6214] Think ... private?] As one line, S. Walker conj.

What ... private?] Arranged as by Capell. One line in Ff. Continued to Othello, Lettsom conj.

[6215] kiss] kisse. Qq. kisse? F_1 F_2 F_3. kiss? F_4.

[6216] friend] Qq F_1. friends F_2 F_3 F_4.

[6217] in bed] Ff. abed Qq.

[6218] tempts and] tempts not, Hanmer (Warburton).

[6219] So] Qq. If Ff.

[6220] But if I] But I F_3 F_4.

[6221] handkerchief—] Rowe. handkerchiefe. Ff Q_2 Q_3. handkercher. Q_1.

[6222] Why, then,] om. Seymour conj.

[6223] protectress] proprietor Hanmer. propertied Warburton. proprietress Capell.

too] to Q_1.

[6224] infected] Qq. infectious Ff.

[6225] all] ill Pope (ed. 2).

[6226] That's ... said] As one line, S. Walker conj.

What, ... wrong?] Divided as by Dyce. One line in Qq Ff.

[6227] If I had said] If I said Pope.

[6228] heard] heare F_2. hear F_3 F_4.

[6229] Or] Or by the Q_1.

[6230] Convinced] F_2 F_3 F_4. Conuinced Q_1 (Dev. and Chip.) F_1. Coniured Q_1 (Cap.) Q_2. Conjured Q_3. Convinc'd Theobald, Hanmer, and Capell.

Convinced or] Convinc'd her and Keightley.

supplied] suppled Theobald, Hanmer, and Capell.

cannot] they cannot Theobald. then cannot Hanmer. straight cannot Capell.

[6231] blab—] Malone. blab: Capell. blab. Qq F_3 F_4. blab.) F_1 F_2.

[6232] Faith] Q_1. Why The rest.

did—I ... he did.] Qq. did: I ... he did. Ff. did I know not what;—he did. Rann (Mason conj.)

[6233] What? what?] Ff. But what? Q_1. What? Q_2 Q_3.

[6234] Lie—] Lye— Rowe. Lye. Qq Ff.

With her, on] Qq. With her? on Ff.

[6235]] We say ... belie her.] Omitted by Pope.

[6236] 'Zounds,] Zouns, Q_1. Omitted in the rest.

[6237] Handkerchief] handkerchers Q_1. handkerchiefs Q_2 Q_3.

confessions] Ff. confession Qq.

handkerchief] hankerchers Q_1. handkerchiefs Q_2 Q_3. handkerchief—handkerchief Theobald.

[6238] To confess ... to confess.] Put in the margin by Pope. Omitted by Hanmer.

[6239] To confess ... devil!] Omitted in Q_1.

[6240] shadowing] shadowy Becket conj. shuddering Collier MS.

passion] Omitted by Pope, Theobald, Hanmer, and Warburton.

instruction] Iustruction F_1. induction Hanmer (Warburton). infraction Becket conj.

[6241] shakes] shake Rowe.

[6242] [Falls ... trance.] Omitted in Q_1 (Cap.) He fals downe. Q_1 (Dev. and Chip.)

[6243] Work on ... Othello!] Divided as in Ff. Prose in Qq.

[6244] medicine, work!] Theobald. medicine, worke: Qq. medicine workes. F_1 F_2. medicine works. F_3 F_4.

[6245] SCENE II. Pope.

[6246] fall'n] fell Theobald.

[6247] his] the F_4.

[6248] No, forbear;] Omitted in Ff.

[6249] his] om. Q_3.

[6250] stirs] starres Q_3.

[6251] [Exit Cassio.] As in Rowe. Opposite mocke me? line 59, in Q_2 Q_3. Omitted in Q_1 Ff.

[6252] head] hand F_2 F_3 F_4.

[6253] thou] om. Q_3.]

you! no, by] you? no by Q_1 Q_2. you not, by Ff. you no by Q_3.

heaven.] heaven; I mock you not. Capell.

[6254] fortune] Ff. fortunes Qq.

like] life F_2.

[6255] it] om. Qq.

Good sir] God sir Q_1 (Cap.)

[6256] every] ever Q_3.

[6257] there's millions] millions are Pope.

[6258] lie] lyes Q_1.

[6259] peculiar] prculiar F_2. peculior Q_3.

case] Qq F_1. cause F_2 F_3 F_4.

[6260] 'tis] this Q_3. it is Hanmer, ending lines 68-73 case ... hell, ... in ... chaste ... am, ... wise ... apart.

[6261] S. Walker would read as four lines, ending chaste!... am, ... wise; ... apart.

[6262] let] let not Q_3.

[6263] she] om. Steevens conj.

[6264] 'tis] that's Capell (corrected in Errata).

you] you now Hanmer.

[6265] o'erwhelmed] ere while mad Q_1.

[6266] unsuiting] vnsuting Q_1 (Dev.) vnfitting Q_1 (Cap.) Q_2. unfitting Q_3. resulting Ff.

[6267] laid] layd F_1. layed Qq.

'scuse upon] scuse upon Q_2 Q_3. scuse, upon Q_1. scuses upon F_1. scuses on F_2 F_3 F_4.

[6268] Bade] Bid Q_1. Bad The rest.

return] retire Qq.

here] her Q_3.

[6269] Do] om. Qq.

[6270] fleers] geeres Q_1 (Cap.) Q_2 Q_3. Ieeres Q_1 (Dev.)

gibes] Iibes Q_1 (Dev.)

[6271] hath] Ff. has Qq.

[6272] you are] Qq. y'are Ff.

in spleen] a spleen Capell (Johnson conj.) one spleen Lettsom conj.

[6273] thou] om. Capell.

[6274] cunning] cunuing Q_1 (Cap.)

[6275] Iago.] aago. F_2.

[6276] yet] om. Q_3.

[Othello retires.] Othello withdraws. Rowe. om. Qq Ff.

[6277] clothes] cloathes Qq. cloath F_1 F_2. cloth F_3 F_4.

it is a creature] Omitted in Q_3.

[6278] refrain] refraine Qq. restraine F_1 F_2. restrain F_3 F_4.

[6279] Re-enter Cassio.] Steevens (1793). Enter Cassio. Ff. Ent. Cassio. or Enter Cas. Qq (opposite line 96). Enter Cassio, at a Distance. Capell. Transferred to follow wrong, line 102, by Dyce.

[6280] SCENE III. Pope.

[6281] construe] Rowe. conster Qq. conserve Ff.

[6282] Poor] Our Theobald conj. (withdrawn).

behaviour] Qq. behaviours Ff.

[6283] now] Qq. om. Ff.

[6284] worser] worse Q_3.

give Qq F_1. gave F_2 F_3 F_4.

[6285] [Speaking lower. Rowe.

power] Qq. dowre Ff.

[6286] caitiff] caitiffe Ff. cative Qq.

[6287] Marked as 'Aside' by Theobald.

[6288] a woman] Qq. woman Ff.

[6289] i' faith] ifaith Q_1. indeed The rest.

[6290] it] om. Pope.

[6291] importunes] in portunes Q_3.

[6292] o'er] on Q_1 Q_2, reading Now ... on as one line. out Q_3, dividing as Q_1 Q_2.

well said, well said.] Ff. well said. Qq.

[6293] you ... you] Qq. ye ... you Ff.

triumph,] triumph o'er me, Collier MS.

Roman] rogue Warburton.

[6294] I ... ha!] Prose first in Pope. Two lines, the first ending wit, in Q_1. Three, ending beare ... it ... ha, in Ff. Three, ending customer; ... wit, ... ha, in Q_2 Q_3.

[6295] I marry her!] I marry her? Qq. I marry. Ff.

what, a customer!] Omitted in Q_1.

I prithee] I prethee Qq. prythee F_1 F_2. prethee F_3. prithee F_4.

[6296] So, so, so, so:] So, so: F_3 F_4.

they] om. Q_1.

win] F_4. wins Q_1 Q_2. wines Q_3. winnes F_1 F_2 F_3.

[6297] Faith] Q_1. Why The rest.

that] om. Q_1.

shall] Qq F_3 F_4. om. F_1 F_2.

[6298] very] om. Hanmer.

[6299] Have ... me?] Erased in Collier MS.

Have] Ff. Ha Qq.

scored me? Well.] scoar'd me? Well. F_1 Q_2 Q_3. stor'd me well. Q_1. scoar'd me; Well. F_2 F_3 F_4. coxed me? Well. Jackson conj.

[6300] This ... promise.] Prose in Qq. Three lines, ending out: ... her ... promise, in Ff.

[6301] beckons] Qq F_3 F_4. becomes F_1. becons F_2.

[6302] the other] Ff. tother Qq.

[6303] the] Ff. this Qq.

[6304] and, by this hand, she falls me thus] Collier. by this hand she fals thus Q_1. and falls me thus Ff. fals me thus Q_2 Q_3.

[6305] neck—] Rowe. A full stop in Qq Ff.

[6306] gesture] iesture Q_1 F_1.

[6307] So ... ha!] Prose in Qq. Two lines in Ff.

[6308] lolls] iolls Q_2. jolls Q_3.

hales Q_1 Q_2. hals Q_3. shakes Ff.

[6309] Now ... to.] Prose in Ff. Two lines in Qq.

[6310] O] om. Qq.

not] Qq F_1. now F_2 F_3 F_4.

[6311] throw it] Ff. throw't Qq.

[6312] Before ... comes] Continued to Cassio in Q_2 Q_3.

[6313] SCENE IV. Pope.

'Tis ... one.] Continued to 'Iago' in Q_1.

fitchew] ficho Q_1.

Enter Bianca.] As in Dyce. After line 141 in Qq. After line 142 in Ff.

[6314] handkerchief] handkercher Q_1.

[6315] the work] the whole worke Q_1.

[6316] not know] Qq. know not Ff.

[6317] your] Ff. the Qq.

[6318] [Casting it to him. Collier (Collier MS.)

[6319] How ... now!] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[6320] An] Qq. If Ff.

an] Qq. if Ff.

[6321] Faith] Q_1. The rest omit.

i' the] Qq. in the Ff.

street] Q_2 Q_3. streete Q_1. streets Ff.

[6322] Will ... there?] You sup there. Q_2 Q_3.

[6323] Faith] Q_1. Yes The rest.

[6324] to; say] F_2 F_3 F_4. to, say Q_1. too: say F_1. to say Q_2 Q_3.

[Exit Cassio.] Qq. Exit. Ff.

[6325] SCENE V. Manent Othello and Jago. Pope.

[Advancing] Coming hastily from his Concealment. Capell. om. Qq Ff.

[6326] Iago] Iaga Q_2.

[6327] Iago. Yours ... Oth.] Omitted in Qq.

[6328] I would ... woman!] Prose in Qq. Two lines in Ff.

[6329] that.] Ff. that Q_2 Q_3. om. Q_1.

[6330] Ay,] I, Ff. And Qq.

[6331] stone] a stone Q_2 Q_3.

[6332] hath] Ff. has Qq.

[6333] but] not Q_2 Q_3.

[6334] and Qq F_1. a F_2 F_3 F_4.

[6335] invention:—] Dyce. invention!— Rowe. invention. Qq. invention? Ff.

[6336] O,] om. Qq.

[6337] O ... condition!] Prose in Qq. Two lines in Ff.

[6338] thousand thousand] Qq. thousand, a thousand Ff.

[6339] a condition] condition Pope.

[6340] Nay,] I Q_1.

Nay ... certain:] A separate line in Ff.

[6341] O Iago ... Iago!] the pitty. Q_1. oh the pitty. Q_2 Q_3.

[6342] are] Ff. be Qq.

[6343] touch] Ff. touches Qq.

[6344] night. I'll] night I'le Q_1. night Ile Q_2 Q_3.

[6345] beauty] her beauty F_3 F_4.

[6346] her in] here in Q_3.

[6347] even] Even in Pope, reading as verse.

[6348] Good, good:] In a separate line in Ff.

pleases: very] Ff. pleases, very Q_2 Q_3. pleases very Q_1.

[6349] And ... midnight.] Prose in Qq. Two lines in Ff.

[6350] Excellent ... same?] One line in Ff. Two in Qq.

[A trumpet within.] As in Dyce. A Trumpet. Qq, after midnight, line 205. Omitted in Ff.

[6351] Something ... him.] As in Qq. See note (VIII).

[6352] Venice, sure. 'Tis] Theobald. Venice sure, tis Q_1. Venice sure; tis Q_2. Venice sure 'tis Q_3.

[6353] Enter ...] As in Theobald. After line 205 in Qq Ff.

[6354] God save the] Q_1. Save you Qq F_1 F_2. Save you, F_3 F_4.

sir] om. Seymour conj., reading with Q_1.

[6355] senators] Qq. the senators Ff.

[Gives ... letter.] Rowe. om. Qq Ff.

[6356] pleasures] good pleasures Hanmer.

[Opens ...] opens, and peruses it Capell. om. Qq Ff.

[6357] I ... Cyprus.] Divided as in Ff Q_2 Q_3. One line in Q_1.

[6358] very] om. Capell.

[6359] you] you, sir Capell.

[6360] lord?] Ff. lord. Qq.

[6361] [Reads] Theobald. om. Qq Ff.

[6362] 'twixt my] betweene thy Q_1.

[6363] atone] attune Becket conj.

[6364] By my troth] Q_1. Trust me The rest.

I am] I'm Steevens (1793).

[6365] you mad.] you—glad. Anon. conj.

Why] Ff. How Qq.

Othello?] Qq Ff. Othello,— Dyce.

[6366] [Striking her.] Theobald. om. Qq Ff.

[6367] woman's] womens Qq.

[6368] [Going.] Rowe. om. Qq Ff.

[6369] an] Qq. om. Ff.

[6370] she's] she is Q_3.

[6371] tears.] tears? Warner conj.

[6372] home] here Q_1.

[6373] [He strikes her. Anon. MS. See note (IV).

[Exit Des.] Rowe. om. Qq Ff.

[6374] Goats and monkeys] As in Qq. A separate line in Ff.

[6375] SCENE VII. Manent Lodovico and Jago. Pope.

[6376] This the nature] Pope. This the noble nature Qq. Is this the nature Ff.

[6377] Whom] Which Pope.

[6378] accident] accidents Jennens.

nor] or Hanmer.

chance] change Theobald.

[6379] graze] raze Theobald (Warburton).

[6380] light of] Qq F_1. of light F_2 F_3 F_4.

[6381] that] what Pope.

breathe] Q_1 F_3 F_4. breath The rest.

[6382] censure What] Jennens. censure, What Qq. censure. What Ff.

[6383] if what] if as Q_1.

[6384] Is it] It is Q_3.

[6385] this] Qq. his Ff.

[6386] him] om. Q_2 Q_3.

[6387] after] after him Q_2 Q_3.

[6388] I am sorry] I'm sorry Pope.

that I am] that I was Hanmer.

[6389] SCENE II.] SCENE VIII. Pope.

A room in the castle.] Malone. An Apartment in the Palace. Theobald.

[6390] You ... seen] As two lines, the first ending heard, S. Walker conj.

[6391] then?] Ff. then. Qq.

[6392] Yes,] Ff. Yes, and Qq.

she] Qq Ff. her Pope.

[6393] them] Ff. 'em Qq.

[6394] Nor] Never Q_3.

[6395] Never.] Never, my lord. Keightley, reading Nor ... lord as one line.

[6396] her gloves, her mask] Ff. her mask, her gloves Qq.

nothing?] Q_1 Ff. nothing Q_2. nothing, Q_3.

[6397] have] F_1 F_2. ha Qq. hath F_3 F_4.

[6398] heaven] heavens Q_1.

requite] Q_1 F_2 F_3 F_4. requit F_1. require Q_2 Q_3.

[6399] their wives] her sex Q_1.

[6400] [Exit ...] Exit Æmilia. Ff. Exit Emillia. Qq (after slander).

[6401] whore] one Hanmer.

[6402] closet] closet, Qq.

[6403] I have] Ff. I ha Qq. I've Pope.

Enter Desdemona with ...] Enter Desdemona and ... Qq Ff. Re-enter Emilia with Desdemona. Capell.

[6404] SCENE IX. Pope.

Pray] Qq. Pray you Ff.

[6405] Let ... face.] Divided as in Capell. One line in Qq Ff.

[6406] [To Emilia] Hanmer.

[6407] nay] May F_1.

[Exit Emilia.] Omitted in Q_2 Q_3.

[6408] knees] Qq. knee Ff.

doth] Ff. does Qq.

[6409] But not the words] Qq. Omitted in Ff. But not your words Pope.

[6410] But ... thyself;] Two lines, the first ending lord; in Capell. Three, ending words ... true ... thyself; in Steevens (1793).

[6411] Come ... honest.] Arranged as in Qq. Prose in Ff. Three lines, ending one ... thee ... honest, in Rowe.

[6412] Lest] Q_2 Q_3. Least Q_1. least F_1. om. F_2 F_3 F_4 and Rowe.

[6413] seize] F_4. cease Qq. ceaze F_1 F_2. ceise F_3.

[6414] Heaven ... hell.] As in Qq Ff. Rowe divides the line at knows.

[6415] To ... false?] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[6416] O Desdemona] Qq. Ah Desdemon Ff. Ah, Desdemona Theobald.

[6417] heavy] heavenly Q_3.

[6418] motive] occasion Qq.

these] Ff. those Qq.

[6419] haply Qq. happely F_1 F_2 F_3. happily F_4.

[6420] you have] you've Pope.

[6421] lost ... lost] left ... left Q_1.

[6422] Why] Qq. om. Ff.

heaven] heavens Johnson. God Anon. conj.

[6423] they] Ff. he Qq. it Hanmer.

rain'd] ram'd Q_1.

[6424] kinds] Q_3. kindes Q_1 Q_2. kind Ff.

bare head] Qq F_4. bare-head F_1 F_2 F_3.

[6425] Given] Give Q_3.

utmost] Ff. om. Qq.

[6426] place] Ff. part Qq.

[6427] drop] prop Theobald conj. (withdrawn).

[6428] A ... at!] See note (IX).

[6429] fountain] foundation Q_3.

[6430] cistern] F_4. cesterne Qq F_1 F_2. cestern F_3.

toads] taodes Q_3.

[6431] Turn ... Des. I hope] Turn thee, complexion, there, Ay, there ... hell. Des. Patience ... cherubim—I hope Becket conj.

[6432] there] thence Warburton.

[6433] thou] Ff. thy Qq.

[6434] Ay, there,] Capell. Ay, there Theobald. I here Qq F_3 F_4. I heere F_1 F_2. There, there Hanmer. Ay, here, Johnson.

[6435] noble] om. F_2 F_3 F_4.

[6436] summer flies] sommer flyes F_1 F_2. sommer flies F_3. summer-flies F_4. summers flies Qq.

shambles] shamples Q_3.

[6437] That ... born!] Divided as in Capell. Four lines, ending blowing: ... faire?... thee, ... borne in Qq. Four, ending weed: ... sweete, ... thee, ... borne, in Ff.

[6438] thou] Ff. thou blacke Q_1. thou black Q_2 Q_3. thou bale Warburton. thou base Heath conj.

[6439] Who] Ff. why Qq.

and] Ff. Thou Qq.

[6440] aches] akes Qq F_1. askes F_2. asks F_3 F_4.

ne'er] ne're Qq. never Ff.

[6441] upon] on Q_1.

What] What, Q_1. What, what Theobald. What sin Keightley.

[6442] Committed ... committed!] Omitted in Q_1.

[6443] my] thy Grant White conj.

[6444] Did] Should Capell (corrected in Errata).

I but] but I F_3 F_4.

deeds] deed Jennens.

What] What, what Theobald. What sin Keightley.

[6445] hollow] hallow Q_1.

[6446] hear it] Steevens. hear't Qq Ff. hear of it Keightley.

What committed!] Committed? Hanmer, reading And ... strumpet! as one line. Committed! what, committed! Capell. Committed! what! Seymour conj. What sin committed! Keightley.

[6447] Imprudent strumpet!] As in Capell. At end of line 81 in Qq. Omitted in Ff.

[6448] other] hated Q_1.

[6449] forgive us] forgivenesse Q_1.

then] om. Q_1.

[6450] [Raising....] Edd. (Globe ed.) om. Qq Ff.

SCENE X. Pope.

You, mistress,] Come you, mistress, Hanmer. You, mistress, there! Capell.

[6451] keep] Rowe. keepes Qq F_1 F_2. keeps F_3 F_4.

gate of] Ff. gates in Qq.

Re-enter....] As in Dyce. Enter Emillia. After line 87 in Q_1; after line 90 in Q_2 Q_3. Enter Æmilia. Ff (after line 91). After Othello in Pope.

You, you, ay, you!] I, you, you, you; Q_1.

[6452] have] Ff. ha Qq.

[6453] Good madam] Arranged as in Qq. In a separate line in Ff.

[6454] who?] whom? F_2 F_3 F_4. whom, Æmilia? Hanmer.

[6455] Why] om. Capell.

[6456] Des. Who ... lady.] Omitted in Q_1.

[6457] have] Ff. ha Qq.

[6458] answer] Q_1 Q_3. answere Q_2. answeres F_1 F_2. answers F_3 F_4.

[6459] Prithee,] Pray Pope.

[6460] my wedding] our wedding Q_1.

[6461] Here's] Here is Qq.

[6462] very meet] very well Q_1.

[6463] small'st] Ff Q_2 Q_3. smallest Q_1.

on] of Pope.

least misuse] greatest abuse Q_1. great'st abuse Steevens (1773). least misdeed Collier MS.

Re-enter....] Capell. Enter Iago and Emillia. Qq. Enter Iago, and Æmilia. Ff.

[6464] SCENE XI. Pope.

What ... you?] One line in Pope. Two in Qq Ff.

[6465] young] Qq. yong F_1. your F_2 F_3 F_4.

[6466] have] Ff. ha Qq.

[6467] to] at Q_1.

What's] F_4. What is Qq F_1 F_2 F_3.

[6468] As] Qq. That Ff.

bear] beare Qq. beare it F_1 F_2. bear it F_3 F_4.

[6469] says] sayes Qq. said Ff.

[6470] laid] layed Q_1 Q_2. laied Q_3.

such] worse Capell conj.

[6471] I am sure] I'm sure Pope.

[6472] Hath] Ff. Has Qq.

[6473] and her friends] all her friends Q_1.

[6474] Beshrew ... him?] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[6475] for't] Ff. for it Qq.

[6476] Have] Qq F_1. Has F_2 F_3 F_4.

I'll] I'le Q_1. Ile Q_2 Q_3. I will Ff.

[6477] there be] there are Q_2 Q_3.

[6478] A halter ... likelihood?] Three lines in Qq. Six in Ff.

[6479] most villanous] outragious Q_1.

[6480] heaven] Qq. heavens Ff

companions] companion Hanmer.

thou'ldst] shouldst Q_3.

[6481] rascals] rascalls F_1. rascall Qq F_2 F_3. rascal F_4.

[6482] door] dores Qq.

[6483] them] Ff. him Qq.

[6484] O good Iago] Qq. Alas Iago F_1 F_2. Alass, Iago F_3. Alas, Iago F_4.

[6485] for] om. Pope.

[6486] I know ... kneel:] One line in Ff. Two in Q_2 Q_3.

[Kneeling. Rowe.

[6487] Here ... make me.] Omitted in Q_1.

[6488] Either] Or Pope.

discourse of thought] discursive thought Jackson conj.

of thought] Ff. or thought Q_2 Q_3.

[6489] them in] Q_2 Q_3. them: or Ff. them on Rowe.

[6490] forswear me! Unkindness] for sware me unkindnesse Q_3.

[6491] cannot] can't Pope.

[6492] doth] Q_2 Q_3. do's Ff.

[6493] And ... you.] Qq. Omitted in Ff.

[6494] other,—] other— Pope. other. Qq Ff.

'Tis] Tis Qq. It is Ff.

warrant] Ff. warrant you Qq.

[Trumpets within.] Trumpets. Rowe. om Qq Ff.

[6495] summon] Ff. summon you Qq.

[6496] The ... meat] Knight. The messengers of Venice staies the meate F_1. The messenger of Venice staies the meate F_2 F_3 F_4 (stayes the meat F_3 F_4). And the great messengers of Venice stay Q_1. The meate, great messengers of Venice stay Q_2 Q_3.

[6497] well] will Q_3.

[Exeunt....] Ff. Exit women. Qq.

[6498] SCENE XII. Pope.

[6499] I ... me.] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[6500] daffest] daff'st Collier. dofftst Qq. dafts F_1. dofts F_2 F_3 F_4. doffest Q (1695).

device] F_2 F_3 F_4. devise Qq F_1.

[6501] Every ... suffered.] Prose in Ff Q_2 Q_3. Six lines in Q_1.

[6502] me now,] me, thou Q_1.

[6503] than] then Qq F_1 F_2 F_3. thou F_4. that Warburton.

[6504] advantage of hope] hope of advantage Collier conj.

[6505] Faith] Q_1. Sir Q_2 Q_3. om. Ff.

for] Qq. and Ff. See note (X).

[6506] Prose in Ff. Two lines in Q_1. Three in Q_2 Q_3.

[6507] performances] Ff. performance Qq.

[6508] With ... truth.] Omitted in Q_1.

[6509] my] Ff. om. Qq.

[6510] to] Qq. om. Ff.

[6511] hath] Ff. has Qq.

them] Ff. em Qq.

[6512] expectations] Ff. expectation Qq.

comforts] comforst Q_3.

[6513] acquaintance] Ff Q_2. acquittance Q_1. acquintance Q_3.

[6514] very well] very good Q_1.

[6515] nor 'tis] it is Q_1.

[6516] by ... scurvy] Q_1. Nay I think it is scurvy Ff. I say t' is very scurvy Q_2 Q_3.

[6517] fopped] fopt Qq Ff. fob'd Rowe.

[6518] I tell you 'tis] Ff. I say it is Qq.

[6519] I will] Ff. I'le Q_1. Ile Q_2 Q_3.

[6520] now.] now? Anon. conj.

[6521] and said] and I have said Q_1.

[6522] intendment] Ff. entendment Qq.

[6523] instant] time Q_1.

build] I build Rowe.

[6524] exception] Ff. conception Qq.

but yet] but Rowe (ed. 2).

[6525] affair] affaires Q_1.

[6526] in thee] Ff. within thee Qq.

[6527] enjoy] Ff. enjoyest Qq.

[6528] what is it?] Ff. Omitted in Qq.

[6529] especial] a special Malone conj.

commission] command Q_1.

[6530] Sir ... brains.] Prose in Ff. Eleven irregular lines in Qq.

[6531] takes] Qq. taketh Ff.

[6532] wherein] whereof Capell conj.

[6533] of] Qq. om. Ff.

[6534] by making] making Capell conj.

uncapable] incapable Hanmer.

[6535] do?] Pope. doe. Q_1 F_1 Q_2 F_2. doe Q_3. do. F_3 F_4.

[6536] if] Ff. and if Qq.

a right] Ff. right Qq.

[6537] harlotry] harlot Q_1.

[6538] high] nigh Mason conj.

[6539] waste] F_3. wast The rest. waist Malone conj.

[6540] [Exeunt.] Ff Q_2 Q_3. Ex. Iag. and Rod. Q_1.

[6541] SCENE III.] SCENE XIII. Pope.

Another room....] Malone. A Room.... Capell.

Enter....] Ff. Enter ... Desdemona, Lodovico,.... After about it, line 239 of previous scene, in Q_1. Enter ... Desdemona, Lodovico.... Q_2 Q_3.

[6542] I do beseech] 'Beseech Capell.

[6543] me] om. F_3 F_4.

'twill] it shall Qq.

[6544] Will ... Desdemona,—] As in Capell. One line in Qq Ff.

[6545] O,—] Capell. O Qq. Oh Ff.

Desdemona,—] Capell. Desdemona. Qq Ff.

[Stepping back. Capell.

[6546] lord?] Capell. lord. Qq. Ff. lord! Hanmer.

[6547] on the] on th' Ff. o' the Qq.

[6548] returned forthwith:] return'd forthwith: Ff. return'd, forthwith, Q_1. return'd, forthwith Q_2 Q_3.

[6549] dismiss] dispatch Qq.

look it] look't Ff.

[6550] [Exeunt....] Capell. Exeunt. Qq (after done, line 8). Exit Ff (after done, line 8). Ex. Lod. &c. Hanmer (after line 5).

[6551] He hath] Qq. And hath Ff.

[6552] bade] Q_2 Q_3. bad Q_1. bid Ff.

Dismiss] To dismiss Keightley.

[6553] I would] Q_1 F_2 F_3 F_4. I, would F_1. Would Q_2 Q_3.

[6554] checks] cheeks Jennens.

his frowns] and frownes Qq.

[6555] grace ... them.] a grace and favour. S. Walker conj.

in them] om. Ff.

[6556] laid] laied Q_1 Q_2.

those] these Q_1.

bade] Q_1. bad The rest.

[6557] one. Good faith,] one.—Good faith, Dyce. one good faith: Q_1. one, good father; Q_2 Q_3. one: good Father, Ff.

[6558] thee] om. F_1.

[6559] those] Qq. these Ff.

[6560] Barbara] Barbary Qq. Barbarie F_1.

[6561] and ... her:] and he, she lov'd, forsook her, And she prov'd mad Warburton.

[6562] mad] bad Capell (Theobald conj.) man Jackson conj. false Keightley.

[6563] had] has Q_1.

[6564] willow] willough F_1 F_2.

[6565] Will ... do] One line in Ff. Two in Q_2 Q_3.

[6566] I have ... next.] Omitted in Q_1.

[6567] I have] I've Pope.

to do] ado Pope.

[6568] But ... dispatch.] Prose in Q_2 Q_3.

[6569] But] Not Hanmer (Theobald conj.)

at one] on one Hanmer. o' one Capell.

[6570] Barbara] Brabarie F_1. Barbary Q_2 Q_3.

[6571] go] om. Capell.

[6572] He speaks] And he speaks Capell.

[6573] barefoot] barefooted Q_2 and Q (1695).

for] fore Q_3.

nether] neither Qq F_2.

[going on with her undressing. Capell.

[6574] Des. [Singing] Desdemona sings. Qq. Des. Ff.

sighing] Q_2. singing Ff. singhing Q_3. sining F_1 (Devonshire copy).

[6575] willow, willow, willow] Q_2 Q_3. willough, &c. F_1 F_2 F_3. willow, &c. F_4.

[6576] Her salt] The salt Capell.

and] Ff. which Qq.

[6577] See note (XI).

[6578] [giving her her Jewels. Capell.

[6579] Hark!] Hark! hark! Capell.

who is't that] Ff. who's that Qq.

[6580] It's] Ff (its F_2). It is Q_1. T'is Q_2 Q_3.

[6581] I ... men] Omitted in Q_1.

[6582] [Singing] om. Qq Ff.

false love] false Q_2 Q_3.

[6583] moe women] mo women F_1 Q_2 F_2 Q_3. no women F_3 F_4. more women Rowe.

couch] touch Upton conj.

moe men] mo men Ff Q_2 Q_3. more men Rowe.

[6584] So] Now Q_1.

[6585] Mine ... weeping?] As in Ff Q_2 Q_3. One line in Q_1.

[6586] Doth] Ff. does Q_1. Does Q_2 Q_3.

[6587] Des. I have ... question.] Omitted in Q_1.

[6588] kind] kindes Q_2 Q_3.

[6589] deed] thing Q_2 Q_3.

[6590] Nor ... dark.] Prose by Hanmer. Two lines, the first ending light, in Qq Ff.

[6591] Nor] No, nor Capell, reading as verse.

[6592] do 't as well i'] doe it as well in Q_1. as well doe it in Q_2 Q_3.

[6593] Wouldst] Would Q_1.

deed] thing Q_1.

[6594] The ... vice.] Divided as in Qq. The first line ends thing: in Ff. Prose in Hanmer. Dyce (ed. 2) prints it ... vice as a couplet.

[6595] world's ... it is] world is ... it is Qq. world is ... 'tis Steevens.

[6596] In troth] Good troth Q_1.

[6597] In troth] By my troth Q_1.

undo 't] unswear 't Hanmer.

[6598] done] done it Qq.

[6599] nor for measures] or for measures Qq.

petticoats] or petticotes Q_1.

[6600] nor caps] Q_1 Ff. or caps Q_2 Q_3.

petty] such Q_1.

the whole] Qq. all the whole Ff.

world,—] Capell. world? Q_1. world: The rest.

[6601] why,] vds pitty, Q_1.

[6602] for 't] Ff. for it Qq.

[6603] Beshrew ... world.] Divided as in Qq Ff. Prose in Jennens.

[6604] a wrong] wrong Q_2 Q_3.

[6605] But ... so.] Omitted in Q_1.

[6606] upon] on Rowe (ed. 2).

[6607] sport] sports Warburton.

[6608] them ... them] Ff. em ... em Q_2 Q_3.

[6609] The ills] The ill Q_3.

so] F_1 Q_2 Q_3. to. F_2 F_3 F_4.

[6610] Good ... send,] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

heaven] God Q_1.

uses] usage Q_1.

ACT V.

SCENE I. Cyprus. A street.[6611]

Enter IAGO and RODERIGO.

Iago. Here, stand behind this bulk; straight will he come:[6612]

Wear thy good rapier bare, and put it home:

Quick, quick; fear nothing; I'll be at thy elbow:

It makes us, or it mars us; think on that,[6613]

And fix most firm thy resolution.[6614] 5

Rod. Be near at hand; I may miscarry in 't.

Iago. Here, at thy hand: be bold, and take thy stand.

[Retires.[6615]

Rod. I have no great devotion to the deed;[6616]

And yet he hath given me satisfying reasons:[6617]

'Tis but a man gone. Forth, my sword: he dies.[6618] 10

Iago. I have rubb'd this young quat almost to the sense,[6619]

And he grows angry. Now, whether he kill Cassio,[6620]

Or Cassio him, or each do kill the other,

Every way makes my gain: live Roderigo,[6621]

He calls me to a restitution large 15

Of gold and jewels that I bobb'd from him,[6622]

As gifts to Desdemona:

It must not be: if Cassio do remain,

He hath a daily beauty in his life[6623]

That makes me ugly; and besides, the Moor 20

May unfold me to him; there stand I in much peril:[6624]

No, he must die. Be't so. I hear him coming.[6625]

Enter CASSIO.

Rod. I know his gait; 'tis he. Villain, thou diest!

[Makes a pass at Cassio.[6626]

Cas. That thrust had been mine enemy indeed,[6627]

But that my coat is better than thou know'st:[6628] 25

I will make proof of thine.     [Draws, and wounds Roderigo.

Rod. O, I am slain!

[Iago from behind wounds Cassio in the leg, and exit.[6629]

Cas. I am maim'd for ever. Help, ho! murder! murder!

[Falls.[6630]

Enter Othello.[6631]

Oth. The voice of Cassio: Iago keeps his word.[6632]

Rod. O, villain that I am!

Oth. It is even so.[6633]

Cas. O, help, ho! light! a surgeon! 30

Oth. 'Tis he. O brave Iago, honest and just,

That hast such noble sense of thy friend's wrong!

Thou teachest me. Minion, your dear lies dead,

And your unblest fate hies: strumpet, I come![6634]

Forth of my heart those charms, thine eyes, are blotted;[6635] 35

Thy bed lust-stain'd shall with lust's blood be spotted.

[Exit.

Enter LODOVICO and GRATIANO.[6636]

Cas. What, ho! no watch? no passage? murder! murder![6637]

Gra. 'Tis some mischance; the cry is very direful.[6638]

Cas. O, help!

Lod. Hark! 40

Rod. O wretched villain!

Lod. Two or three groan: it is a heavy night:[6639]

These may be counterfeits: let's think't unsafe

To come in to the cry without more help.[6640]

Rod. Nobody come? then shall I bleed to death.[6641] 45

Lod. Hark![6642]

Re-enter IAGO, with a light.[6643]

Gra. Here's one comes in his shirt, with light and weapons.[6644]

Iago. Who's there? whose noise is this that cries on murder?[6645]

Lod. We do not know.

Iago. Did not you hear a cry?[6646]

Cas. Here, here! for heaven's sake, help me![6647]

Iago. What's the matter?50

Gra. This is Othello's ancient, as I take it.

Lod. The same indeed; a very valiant fellow.

Iago. What are you here that cry so grievously?

Cas. Iago? O, I am spoil'd, undone by villains![6648]

Give me some help. 55

Iago. O me, lieutenant! what villains have done this?[6649]

Cas. I think that one of them is hereabout,[6650]

And cannot make away.

Iago. O treacherous villains!

What are you there? come in and give some help.

[To Lodovico and Gratiano.[6651]

Rod. O, help me here![6652] 60

Cas. That's one of them.

Iago. O murderous slave! O villain!

[Stabs Roderigo.[6653]

Rod. O damn'd Iago! O inhuman dog![6654]

Iago. Kill men i' the dark! Where be these bloody thieves?[6655]

How silent is this town! Ho! murder! murder!

What may you be? are you of good or evil? 65

Lod. As you shall prove us, praise us.

Iago. Signior Lodovico?[6656]

Lod. He, sir.

Iago. I cry you mercy. Here's Cassio hurt by villains.

Gra. Cassio![6657] 70

Iago. How is't, brother?[6658]

Cas. My leg is cut in two.

Iago. Marry, heaven forbid!

Light, gentlemen: I'll bind it with my shirt.

Enter BIANCA.

Bian. What is the matter, ho? who is't that cried?[6659]

Iago. Who is't that cried![6660] 75

Bian. O my dear Cassio! my sweet Cassio! O Cassio,[6661]

Cassio, Cassio![6661]

Iago. O notable strumpet! Cassio, may you suspect

Who they should be that have thus mangled you?[6662]

Cas. No. 80

Gra. I am sorry to find you thus: I have been to seek you.[6663]

Iago. Lend me a garter. So. O, for a chair,[6664]

To bear him easily hence![6664]

Bian. Alas, he faints! O Cassio, Cassio, Cassio!

Iago. Gentlemen all, I do suspect this trash 85

To be a party in this injury.[6665][6666]

Patience awhile, good Cassio. Come, come;[6665][6667]

Lend me a light. Know we this face or no?[6665][6668]

Alas, my friend and my dear countryman

Roderigo? no:—yes, sure: O heaven! Roderigo.[6669] 90

Gra. What, of Venice?[6670]

Iago. Even he, sir: did you know him?

Gra. Know him! ay.[6671]

Iago. Signior Gratiano? I cry you gentle pardon;[6672]

These bloody accidents must excuse my manners,

That so neglected you.

Gra. I am glad to see you. 95

Iago. How do you, Cassio? O, a chair, a chair!

Gra. Roderigo![6673]

Iago. He, he, 'tis he. [A chair brought in.] O, that's well said; the chair:[6674]

Some good man bear him carefully from hence;

I'll fetch the general's surgeon. [To Bianca] For you, mistress,[6675]100

Save you your labour. He that lies slain here, Cassio,[6676]

Was my dear friend: what malice was between you?[6677]

Cas. None in the world; nor do I know the man.[6678]

Iago. [To Bian.] What, look you pale? O, bear him out o' the air.     [Cassio and Roderigo are borne off.[6679]

Stay you, good gentlemen. Look you pale, mistress?[6680] 105

Do you perceive the gastness of her eye?[6681]

Nay, if you stare, we shall hear more anon.[6682]

Behold her well; I pray you, look upon her:

Do you see, gentlemen? nay, guiltiness will speak,[6683]

Though tongues were out of use.[6683] 110

Enter EMILIA.[6684]

Emil. 'Las, what's the matter? what's the matter, husband?[6685]

Iago. Cassio hath here been set on in the dark[6686]

By Roderigo, and fellows that are 'scaped:

He's almost slain, and Roderigo dead.[6687]

Emil. Alas, good gentleman! alas, good Cassio! 115

Iago. This is the fruit of whoring. Prithee, Emilia,[6688]

Go know of Cassio where he supp'd to-night.

What, do you shake at that?

Bian. He supp'd at my house; but I therefore shake not.[6689]

Iago. O, did he so? I charge you, go with me. 120

Emil. Fie, fie upon thee, strumpet![6690]

Bian. I am no strumpet; but of life as honest

As you that thus abuse me.

Emil. As I! foh! fie upon thee![6691]

Iago. Kind gentlemen, let's go see poor Cassio dress'd.[6692]

Come, mistress, you must tell's another tale.[6693] 125

Emilia, run you to the citadel,[6694]

And tell my lord and lady what hath happ'd![6695]

Will you go on? I pray. [Aside] This is the night[6696]

That either makes me or fordoes me quite.     [Exeunt.[6697]

SCENE II. A bedchamber in the castle: DESDEMONA in bed asleep; a light burning.[6698]

Enter OTHELLO.

Oth. It is the cause, it is the cause, my soul:

Let me not name it to you, you chaste stars!

It is the cause. Yet I'll not shed her blood,[6699]

Nor scar that whiter skin of hers than snow

And smooth as monumental alabaster.[6700] 5

Yet she must die, else she'll betray more men.[6701]

Put out the light, and then put out the light:[6702]

If I quench thee, thou flaming minister,

I can again thy former light restore,

Should I repent me: but once put out thy light,[6703] 10

Thou cunning'st pattern of excelling nature,[6704]

I know not where is that Promethean heat[6705]

That can thy light relume. When I have pluck'd the rose,[6706]

I cannot give it vital growth again,

It must needs wither: I'll smell it on the tree. 15

[Kissing her.[6707]

Ah, balmy breath, that dost almost persuade[6708]

Justice to break her sword! One more, one more:[6709]

Be thus when thou art dead, and I will kill thee,

And love thee after: one more, and this the last:[6710]

So sweet was ne'er so fatal. I must weep, 20

But they are cruel tears: this sorrow's heavenly;[6711]

It strikes where it doth love. She wakes.[6712]

Des. Who's there? Othello?

Oth. Ay, Desdemona.[6713]

Des. Will you come to bed, my lord?

Oth. Have you pray'd to-night, Desdemona?[6714]

Des. Ay, my lord. 25

Oth. If you bethink yourself of any crime

Unreconciled as yet to heaven and grace,

Solicit for it straight.

Des. Alas, my lord, what may you mean by that?[6715]

Oth. Well, do it, and be brief; I will walk by: 30

I would not kill thy unprepared spirit;

No; heaven forfend! I would not kill thy soul.[6716]

Des. Talk you of killing?[6717]

Oth. Ay, I do.[6717]

Des. Then heaven have mercy on me![6717] 35

Oth. Amen, with all my heart![6717]

Des. If you say so, I hope you will not kill me.[6718]

Oth. Hum!

Des. And yet I fear you; for you are fatal then[6719]

When your eyes roll so: why I should fear I know not,[6720] 40

Since guiltiness I know not; but yet I feel I fear.[6721]

Oth. Think on thy sins.

Des. They are loves I bear to you.[6722]

Oth. Ay, and for that thou diest.[6723]

Des. That death's unnatural that kills for loving.[6724]

Alas, why gnaw you so your nether lip?[6725] 45

Some bloody passion shakes your very frame:

These are portents; but yet I hope, I hope,[6726]

They do not point on me.

Oth. Peace, and be still!

Des. I will so. What's the matter?[6727]

Oth. That handkerchief which I so loved and gave thee[6728][6729] 50

Thou gavest to Cassio.[6730]

Des. No, by my life and soul![6728]

Send for the man, and ask him.[6728]

Oth. Sweet soul, take heed,[6731]

Take heed of perjury; thou art on thy death-bed.[6731][6732]

Des. Ay, but not yet to die.

Oth. Yes, presently:[6733]

Therefore confess thee freely of thy sin; 55

For to deny each article with oath

Cannot remove nor choke the strong conception[6734]

That I do groan withal. Thou art to die.

Des. Then Lord have mercy on me![6735]

Oth. I say, amen.

Des. And have you mercy too! I never did[6736] 60

Offend you in my life; never loved Cassio[6736]

But with such general warranty of heaven

As I might love: I never gave him token.

Oth. By heaven, I saw my handkerchief in 's hand.[6729][6737]

O perjured woman! thou dost stone my heart,[6738] 65

And makest me call what I intend to do[6739]

A murder, which I thought a sacrifice:

I saw the handkerchief.[6729]

Des. He found it then;

I never gave it him: send for him hither;

Let him confess a truth.

Oth. He hath confess'd.[6740] 70

Des. What, my lord?

Oth. That he hath used thee.[6741]

Des. How? unlawfully?

Oth. Ay.

Des. He will not say so.

Oth. No, his mouth is stopp'd;

Honest Iago hath ta'en order for't.[6742] 75

Des. O, my fear interprets! what, is he dead?[6743]

Oth. Had all his hairs been lives, my great revenge[6744]

Had stomach for them all.[6744][6745]

Des. Alas, he is betray'd, and I undone![6746]

Oth. Out, strumpet! weep'st thou for him to my face?[6747] 80

Des. O, banish me, my lord, but kill me not!

Oth. Down, strumpet!

Des. Kill me to-morrow; let me live to-night!

Oth. Nay, if you strive,—[6748]

Des. But half an hour!

Oth. Being done, there is no pause.[6749][6750] 85

Des. But while I say one prayer![6750]

Oth. It is too late. [He stifles her.[6751]

Emil. [Within] My lord, my lord! what, ho! my lord, my lord![6752]

Oth. What noise is this? Not dead? not yet quite dead?[6753]

I that am cruel am yet merciful;

I would not have thee linger in thy pain:[6754] 90

So, so.[6754][6755]

Emil. [Within] What, ho! my lord, my lord!

Oth. Who's there?

Emil. [Within] O, good my lord, I would speak a word with you![6756][6757]

Oth. Yes: 'tis Emilia. By and by. She's dead.

'Tis like she comes to speak of Cassio's death. 95

The noise was here. Ha! no more moving?[6758][6759]

Still as the grave. Shall she come in? were 't good?[6759]

I think she stirs again. No. What's best to do?[6760]

If she come in, she'll sure speak to my wife:

My wife! my wife! what wife? I have no wife.[6761] 100

O, insupportable! O heavy hour!

Methinks it should be now a huge eclipse

Of sun and moon, and that the affrighted globe

Should yawn at alteration.[6762]

Emil. [Within] I do beseech you[6756][6763][6764]

That I may speak with you, O, good my lord![6763][6765] 105

Oth. I had forgot thee: O, come in, Emilia.[6766]

Soft; by and by. Let me the curtains draw.

Where art thou?     [Unlocks the door.[6767]

Enter EMILIA.[6768]

What's the matter with thee now?

Emil. O, my good lord, yonder's foul murders done![6769]

Oth. What, now?[6770] 110

Emil. But now, my lord.

Oth. It is the very error of the moon;

She comes more nearer earth than she was wont[6771]

And makes men mad.

Emil. Cassio, my lord, hath kill'd a young Venetian[6772][6773] 115

Call'd Roderigo.[6772]

Oth. Roderigo kill'd![6774]

And Cassio kill'd![6774]

Emil. No, Cassio is not kill'd.

Oth. Not Cassio kill'd! then murder's out of tune,

And sweet revenge grows harsh.

Des. O, falsely, falsely murder'd!

Emil. Alas, what cry is that?[6775] 120

Oth. That! what?

Emil. Out, and alas! that was my lady's voice.[6776]

Help! help, ho! help! O lady, speak again!

Sweet Desdemona! O sweet mistress, speak!

Des. A guiltless death I die. 125

Emil. O, who hath done this deed?[6777]

Des. Nobody; I myself. Farewell:

Commend me to my kind lord: O, farewell!     [Dies.[6778]

Oth. Why, how should she be murder'd?[6779]

Emil. Alas, who knows?

Oth. You heard her say herself, it was not I.[6780] 130

Emil. She said so: I must needs report the truth.[6781]

Oth. She's like a liar gone to burning hell:[6782]

'Twas I that kill'd her.

Emil. O, the more angel she,[6783]

And you the blacker devil![6783]

Oth. She turn'd to folly and she was a whore. 135

Emil. Thou dost belie her and thou art a devil.

Oth. She was false as water.

Emil. Thou art rash as fire, to say[6784][6785]

That she was false: O, she was heavenly true![6784]

Oth. Cassio did top her; ask thy husband else.[6786]

O, I were damn'd beneath all depth in hell, 140

But that I did proceed upon just grounds

To this extremity. Thy husband knew it all.[6787]

Emil. My husband![6788]

Oth. Thy husband.

Emil. That she was false to wedlock? 145

Oth. Ay, with Cassio. Nay, had she been true,[6789]

If heaven would make me such another world

Of one entire and perfect chrysolite,

I'ld not have sold her for it.

Emil. My husband!

Oth. Ay, 'twas he that told me first:[6790] 150

An honest man he is, and hates the slime

That sticks on filthy deeds.[6791]

Emil. My husband!

Oth. What needs this iteration, woman? I say thy husband.[6792]

Emil. O mistress, villany hath made mocks with love![6793][6794]

My husband say that she was false![6793][6795]

Oth. He, woman;[6793][6796] 155

I say thy husband: dost understand the word?[6793][6796]

My friend, thy husband, honest, honest Iago.[6793]

Emil. If he say so, may his pernicious soul[6797]

Rot half a grain a day! he lies to the heart:[6798]

She was too fond of her most filthy bargain. 160

Oth. Ha![6799]

Emil. Do thy worst:

This deed of thine is no more worthy heaven

Than thou wast worthy her.

Oth. Peace, you were best.[6800]

Emil. Thou hast not half that power to do me harm[6801] 165

As I have to be hurt. O gull! O dolt![6802]

As ignorant as dirt! thou hast done a deed—[6803]

I care not for thy sword; I'll make thee known,[6804]

Though I lost twenty lives. Help! help, ho! help![6805]

The Moor hath kill'd my mistress! Murder! murder! 170

Enter MONTANO, GRATIANO, IAGO, and others.[6806]

Mon. What is the matter? How now, general![6807]

Emil. O, are you come, Iago? you have done well,

That men must lay their murders on your neck.[6808]

Gra. What is the matter?[6809]

Emil. Disprove this villain, if thou be'st a man:[6810] 175

He says thou told'st him that his wife was false:

I know thou didst not, thou'rt not such a villain.[6811]

Speak, for my heart is full.

Iago. I told him what I thought, and told no more[6812]

Than what he found himself was apt and true.[6813] 180

Emil. But did you ever tell him she was false?[6814]

Iago. I did.

Emil. You told a lie, an odious, damned lie;

Upon my soul, a lie, a wicked lie!

She false with Cassio! Did you say with Cassio?[6815][6816] 185

Iago. With Cassio, mistress. Go to, charm your tongue.[6815][6817]

Emil. I will not charm my tongue; I am bound to speak:[6815][6817][6818]

My mistress here lies murder'd in her bed,—[6819][6820]

All. O heavens forfend![6819][6821]

Emil. And your reports have set the murder on.[6819][6821][6822] 190

Oth. Nay, stare not, masters: it is true indeed.[6819][6821][6823]

Gra.'Tis a strange truth.[6819][6821]

Mon. O monstrous act![6819][6821]

Emil. Villany, villany, villany![6819][6821]

I think upon't: I think: I smell't: O villany![6819][6821][6824]

I thought so then: I'll kill myself for grief:[6819][6821] 195

O villany, villany![6819][6821]

Iago. What, are you mad? I charge you, get you home.[6825]

Emil. Good gentlemen, let me have leave to speak:

'Tis proper I obey him, but not now.

Perchance, Iago, I will ne'er go home.[6826] 200

Oth. O! O! O!     [Falling on the bed.[6827]

Emil. Nay, lay thee down and roar;

For thou hast kill'd the sweetest innocent

That e'er did lift up eye.

Oth. [Rising] O, she was foul![6828]

I scarce did know you, uncle: there lies your niece,

Whose breath indeed these hands have newly stopp'd: 205

I know this act shows horrible and grim.[6829]

Gra. Poor Desdemona! I am glad thy father's dead:[6830]

Thy match was mortal to him, and pure grief

Shore his old thread in twain: did he live now,[6831]

This sight would make him do a desperate turn, 210

Yea, curse his better angel from his side,

And fall to reprobation.[6832]

Oth. 'Tis pitiful; but yet Iago knows

That she with Cassio hath the act of shame[6833]

A thousand times committed; Cassio confess'd it: 215

And she did gratify his amorous works

With that recognizance and pledge of love[6834]

Which I first gave her; I saw it in his hand:

It was a handkerchief, an antique token[6835][6836]

My father gave my mother. 220

Emil. O heaven! O heavenly powers![6837]

Iago.'Zounds! hold your peace.

Emil. 'Twill out, 'twill out. I peace![6838][6839]

No, I will speak as liberal as the north:[6839][6840]

Let heaven and men and devils, let them all,[6841]

All, all, cry shame against me, yet I'll speak. 225

Iago. Be wise, and get you home.[6842]

Emil. I will not.

[Iago offers to stab Emilia.

Gra. Fie![6843]

Your sword upon a woman![6843][6844]

Emil. O thou dull Moor! that handkerchief thou speak'st of[6835][6845]

I found by fortune and did give my husband;

For often with a solemn earnestness, 230

More than indeed belong'd to such a trifle,

He begg'd of me to steal it.[6846]

Iago. Villanous whore!

Emil. She give it Cassio! no, alas, I found it,

And I did give't my husband.[6847]

Iago. Filth, thou liest!

Emil. By heaven, I do not, I do not, gentlemen. 235

O murderous coxcomb! what should such a fool

Do with so good a wife?

Oth. Are there no stones in heaven[6848]

But what serve for the thunder? Precious villain!

[He runs at Iago: Iago, from behind, stabs Emilia, and exit.[6849]

Gra. The woman falls; sure, he hath kill'd his wife.[6850]

Emil. Ay, ay: O, lay me by my mistress' side.[6851] 240

Gra. He's gone, but his wife's kill'd.

Mon. 'Tis a notorious villain. Take you this weapon,[6852]

Which I have here recover'd from the Moor:[6853]

Come, guard the door without; let him not pass,[6854]

But kill him rather. I'll after that same villain, 245

For 'tis a damned slave.

[Exeunt all but Othello and Emilia.[6855]

Oth. I am not valiant neither,

But every puny whipster gets my sword.

But why should honour outlive honesty?

Let it go all.

Emil. What did thy song bode, lady?[6856]

Hark, canst thou hear me? I will play the swan,[6856] 250

And die in music. [Singing] Willow, willow, willow.[6856][6857]

Moor, she was chaste; she loved thee, cruel Moor;

So come my soul to bliss, as I speak true;

So speaking as I think, I die, I die.     [Dies.[6858]

Oth. I have another weapon in this chamber; 255

It is a sword of Spain, the ice-brook's temper.—[6859]

O, here it is. Uncle, I must come forth.

Gra.[Within] If thou attempt it, it will cost thee dear:[6860]

Thou hast no weapon, and perforce must suffer.

Oth. Look in upon me then, and speak with me,[6861] 260

Or, naked as I am, I will assault thee.

Re-enter GRATIANO.[6862]

Gra. What is the matter?

Oth. Behold, I have a weapon;[6863]

A better never did itself sustain

Upon a soldier's thigh: I have seen the day[6864]

That with this little arm and this good sword 265

I have made my way through more impediments[6865]

Than twenty times your stop: but, O vain boast![6866]

Who can control his fate? 'tis not so now.

Be not afraid, though you do see me weapon'd;[6867]

Here is my journey's end, here is my butt[6867] 270

And very sea-mark of my utmost sail.[6867][6868]

Do you go back dismay'd? 'tis a lost fear:[6867]

Man but a rush against Othello's breast,[6867]

And he retires. Where should Othello go?[6867]

Now, how dost thou look now? O ill-starr'd wench![6867][6869] 275

Pale as thy smock! when we shall meet at compt,[6870]

This look of thine will hurl my soul from heaven,

And fiends will snatch at it. Cold, cold, my girl!

Even like thy chastity. O cursed slave![6871][6872]

Whip me, ye devils,[6871][6873] 280

From the possession of this heavenly sight!

Blow me about in winds! roast me in sulphur![6874]

Wash me in steep-down gulfs of liquid fire![6875]

O Desdemona! Desdemona! dead![6876]

Oh! Oh! Oh![6876] 285

Enter LODOVICO, MONTANO, CASSIO carried in a chair, and Officers with IAGO, prisoner.[6877]

Lod. Where is this rash and most unfortunate man?[6878]

Oth. That's he that was Othello: here I am.[6879]

Lod. Where is that viper? bring the villain forth.[6880]

Oth. I look down towards his feet; but that's a fable.

If that thou be'st a devil, I cannot kill thee.     [Wounds Iago.[6881]290

Lod. Wrench his sword from him.

Iago. I bleed, sir, but not kill'd.[6882]

Oth. I am not sorry neither: I'ld have thee live;

For, in my sense, 'tis happiness to die.

Lod. O thou Othello, that wert once so good,[6883]

Fall'n in the practice of a damned slave,[6884] 295

What shall be said to thee?[6885]

Oth. Why, any thing:

An honourable murderer, if you will;

For nought did I in hate, but all in honour.[6886]

Lod. This wretch hath part confess'd his villany:

Did you and he consent in Cassio's death? 300

Oth. Ay.

Cas. Dear general, I never gave you cause.[6887]

Oth. I do believe it, and I ask your pardon.[6888]

Will you, I pray, demand that demi-devil[6889]

Why he hath thus ensnared my soul and body?[6890] 305

Iago. Demand me nothing; what you know, you know:

From this time forth I never will speak word.

Lod. What, not to pray?

Gra. Torments will ope your lips.

Oth. Well, thou dost best.

Lod. Sir, you shall understand what hath befall'n,[6891] 310

Which, as I think, you know not. Here is a letter[6892]

Found in the pocket of the slain Roderigo,

And here another: the one of them imports[6893]

The death of Cassio to be undertook[6894]

By Roderigo.[6894]

Oth. O villain![6895] 315

Cas. Most heathenish and most gross!

Lod. Now here's another discontented paper,

Found in his pocket too; and this, it seems,

Roderigo meant to have sent this damned villain;

But that, belike, Iago in the interim[6896] 320

Came in and satisfied him.

Oth. O the pernicious caitiff![6897]

How came you, Cassio, by that handkerchief[6898]

That was my wife's?[6899]

Cas. I found it in my chamber:

And he himself confess'd but even now[6900]

That there he dropp'd it for a special purpose 325

Which wrought to his desire.

Oth. O fool! fool! fool!

Cas. There is besides in Roderigo's letter,

How he upbraids Iago, that he made him[6901]

Brave me upon the watch; whereon it came

That I was cast: and even but now he spake[6902] 330

After long seeming dead, Iago hurt him,

Iago set him on.

Lod. You must forsake this room, and go with us:

Your power and your command is taken off,

And Cassio rules in Cyprus. For this slave,[6903] 335

If there be any cunning cruelty

That can torment him much and hold him long,

It shall be his. You shall close prisoner rest,

Till that the nature of your fault be known

To the Venetian state. Come, bring away.[6904] 340

Oth. Soft you; a word or two before you go.[6905]

I have done the state some service, and they know't.[6906]

No more of that. I pray you, in your letters,

When you shall these unlucky deeds relate,

Speak of me as I am; nothing extenuate,[6907] 345

Nor set down aught in malice: then must you speak[6908]

Of one that loved not wisely but too well;

Of one not easily jealous but, being wrought,[6909]

Perplex'd in the extreme; of one whose hand,[6910]

Like the base Indian, threw a pearl away[6911] 350

Richer than all his tribe; of one whose subdued eyes,[6912]

Albeit unused to the melting mood,

Drop tears as fast as the Arabian trees[6913]

Their medicinal gum. Set you down this;[6914]

And say besides, that in Aleppo once, 355

Where a malignant and a turban'd Turk[6915]

Beat a Venetian and traduced the state,[6916]

I took by the throat the circumcised dog[6917]

And smote him, thus.     [Stabs himself.[6918]

Lod. O bloody period!

Gra. All that's spoke is marr'd.[6919] 360

Oth. I kiss'd thee ere I kill'd thee: no way but this,[6920]

Killing myself, to die upon a kiss.

[Falls on the bed, and dies.[6921]

Cas. This did I fear, but thought he had no weapon;

For he was great of heart.

Lod. [To Iago] O Spartan dog,[6922]

More fell than anguish, hunger, or the sea! 365

Look on the tragic loading of this bed;[6923]

This is thy work: the object poisons sight;[6924]

Let it be hid. Gratiano, keep the house,

And seize upon the fortunes of the Moor,[6925]

For they succeed on you. To you, lord governor,[6926] 370

Remains the censure of this hellish villain,[6927]

The time, the place, the torture: O, enforce it!

Myself will straight aboard, and to the state

This heavy act with heavy heart relate.     [Exeunt.[6928]

FOOTNOTES:

[6611] ACT V. SCENE I.] Actus. 5. Q_1. Actus Quintus. Scena Prima. Ff. Actus 5. Scæna 1. Q_2 Q_3.

Cyprus. A street.] The Street. Rowe. A Street before the Palace. Theobald.

[6612] Here ... come:] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

bulk] bulke Qq. barke F_1 F_2. bark F_3 F_4. balk Singer, ed. 2 (Collier MS.) bulwark Anon. conj.

[6613] on] Ff. of Qq.

[6614] most] more Q_2 Q_3.

[6615] at thy hand] at thy side or at thy left Anon. conj.

be bold] Qq F_1. behold F_2 F_3 F_4.

stand] sword Q_1.

[Retires.] Retires to a little Distance. Capell. om. Qq Ff.

[6616] deed] dead Q_1.

[6617] And] om. Pope.

hath] Ff. has Qq.

[6618] [Stands apart. Theobald. Goes and stands apart. Hanmer. Going to his Stand. Capell.

[6619] I have] I've Pope.

rubb'd] fubb'd Becket conj.

quat] gnat Q_1. knot Theobald. quab Hanmer. quail Upton conj.

[6620] angry. Now, whether] Ff. angry now: whether Q_1. angry, now, whether Q_2. angry, now whether Q_3.

[6621] gain] F_3 F_4. gaine F_1 F_2. game Qq.

[6622] Of] Ff. For Qq.

[6623] hath] Ff. has Qq.

[6624] much] om. Q_1.

[6625] Be't so.] be't so, Qq. But so, Ff. Be it so, Pope.

hear] F_3 F_4. heare Qq F_2. heard F_1.

[Exit Jago. Rowe.

[6626] gait] Johnson. gate Qq Ff.

[Makes ... Cassio.] He runs at Cassio, and wounds him. Rowe. starting from his Post, and making a Pass at him. Capell.

[6627] mine] Ff. my Qq.

[6628] know'st] think'st Q_1.

[6629] [Draws....] Capell. Fight, and both fall. Rowe (after slain). om. Qq Ff.

[Iago ... exit.] Fight. Iago cuts Cassion behind in the Leg, and exit. Then Rod. and Cassio fall. Theobald. om. Qq Ff.

[6630] I ... murder!] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

I am] I'm Pope.

maim'd] maind Q_1.

Help] light Qq.

murder! murder!] Once only in Q_2 Q_3.

[Falls.] Falling too. Capell (after ever). om. Qq Ff.

[6631] Enter Othello.] Qq Ff. Enter Othello, above at a window. Rowe. Enter Othello, at a Distance. Capell.

[6632] SCENE II. Pope.

[6633] It is] Ff. Harke tis Q_1 Q_3. Harke, tis Q_2.

[6634] unblest fate hies:] unblest fate highes: Ff. fates hies apace; Qq.

[6635] Forth of] Qq. For of F_1. For off F_2 F_3 F_4. From off Pope.

are] have Hanmer (ed. 2).

[6636] bed lust-stain'd] bed-lest-stain'd F_3 F_4.

[Exit.] Q_2 Q_3. Ex. Q_1. Exit Othello. Ff.

Enter....] Qq Ff. Enter ... at a distance. Theobald.

[6637] SCENE III. Pope.

What ... murder!] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[6638] cry] Qq. voyce F_1 F_2. voice F_3 F_4.

[6639] groan] F_3 F_4. groane F_1 F_2. grones Qq.

it is a] Qq. 'Tis Ff.

[6640] in to] Capell. into Qq Ff.

[6641] come?] Theobald. come, Qq. come: Ff.

[6642] Hark] Hark, hark Keightley.

[6643] Re-enter....] Dyce (after line 47). Enter Iago with a light. Qq (after line 45). Enter Iago. Ff (after line 45). Enter Jago, in his Shirt. Rowe (after line 45). Enter Iago, in his Shirt, with a Light and Sword. Theobald (after line 45).

[6644] light] Ff. lights Qq.

[6645] Who's ... murder?] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

on] Qq F_1. out F_2 F_3 F_4.

murder?] murder thus? Collier MS.

[6646] We] Ff. I Qq.

Did] Qq. Do F_1 F_3 F_4. Doe F_2.

[6647] heaven's] heavens Qq. heaven Ff.

[6648] Iago?] Ff. Iago, Qq.

I am] I'm Pope.

[6649] O ... this?] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

me,] Q_2 F_2 F_3 F_4. mee, F_1. my Q_1.

[6650] that one] Ff. the one Qq.

[6651] [To ... Gratiano.] Theobald.

[6652] here] Qq. there Ff.

[6653] them] Ff. em Qq.

[Stabs Roderigo.] Thrusts him in Q_2 Q_3. om. Q_1 Ff. Jago Stabs him. Rowe. Iago sets down his Light; makes towards Roderigo in the dark, and stabs him. Capell.

[6654] dog!] dog,—o, o, o. Qq.

[giues up ye gost. Anon. MS. See note (IV). Dies. Hanmer.

[6655] Kill ... thieves?] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

men] him Q_1.

these] Ff. those Qq.

[counterfeiting a Search. Capell.

[6656] Lodovico?] F_1. Lodovico. The rest.

[6657] Cassio!] Cassio? F_1 F_2. Cassio. The rest.

[6658] is't] Ff. (ist F_2). is it Qq.

[6659] SCENE IV. Pope.

[6660] cried!] cry'd? Ff. cried. Q_1. cried? Q_2 Q_3.

[6661] O my ... Cassio!] Prose in Qq. Two lines, the first ending deere Cassio, in Ff. Capell ends the first line at sweet Cassio, reading with Qq.

my sweet ... Cassio!] O my sweete Cassio, Cassio, Cassio. Qq.

[6662] have thus] Ff. thus have Qq.

[6663] I am ... you.] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[6664] Iago. Lend ... hence!] Omitted in Q_1. Prose in Q_2 Q_3.

[6665] To ... no?] Divided as in Ff. Two lines, the first ending Cassio, in Q_1; three, ending Cassio; ... light: ... no? in Q_2 Q_3.

[6666] be a party] beare a part Qq.

injury] om. Q_1.

[6667] Come, come;] Omitted in Q_1.

[rising from him. Capell.

[6668] [viewing Roderigo. Capell.

[6669] O heaven!] O heaven Q_1. Yes, 'tis F_1. yes, tis Q_2 Q_3. Yea, tis F_2. Yea, 'tis F_3 F_4.

[6670] What] Roderigo? what Capell conj.

[6671] ay] Hanmer. I Qq Ff. Ah! Rowe.

[6672] you] Qq. your Ff.

[6673] Roderigo!] Roderigo? Q_2 Q F_2 F_3. Rodorigo? F_1 F_4. Roderigo. Q_1.

[6674] He ... chair:] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

He, he] Ff. He, Qq.

the] Ff. a Qq.

[A chair....] Malone (after chair). Enter Some with a Chair. Capell. om. Ff.

[6675] general's] general F_4.

[To Bianca.] Johnson.

[6676] Cassio,] om. Hanmer.

[6677] between] betwixt Qq.

[6678] man.] Qq. man: F_4. man? F_1 F_2 F_3.

[6679] [To Bian.] Johnson.

[Cassio....] Cassio is born off; and the Body of Rod. Capell.

[6680] gentlemen] Ff. gentlewoman Qq.

[To Bianca. Rowe.

[6681] gastness] ieastures Q_1 Q_2. jestures Q_3. gestures Q (1695).

[6682] if you stare] Ff. an you stirre Q_1 Q_2. an you stirr Q_3. if you stay Anon. conj.

hear] have Qq.

[6683] Do ... use.] Divided as in Ff. The first line ends guiltinesse in Qq.

[6684] Enter Emilia.] Enter Em. Q_1. Enter Emi. Q_2 Q_3. Omitted in Ff.

[6685] SCENE V. Pope.

'Las, what's ... what's ... husband?] Qq. Alas, what is.... What is ... husband? Ff, reading as two lines.

[6686] hath] Ff. has Qq.

here] om. Q (1695). there Theobald.

[6687] dead] Qq. quite dead Ff. quite Anon. conj.

[6688] fruit] fruite Qq. fruits Ff.

Prithee] Pray Q_1.

[6689] He] Why, you well know, He Steevens conj.

[6690] Fie, fie] Q_1. Fie Q_2 Q_3. Oh fie Ff.

[6691] foh!] fough, Q_1. now Q_2 Q_3. om. Ff.

[6692] Kind ... dress'd.] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

go] om. Pope.

[6693] tell's] tel's F_1. tels F_2.

[6694] you] om. Pope.

[6695] hath] Ff. has Qq.

[6696] on? I pray.] on? I pray: Q_2 Q_3. on, I pray, Q_1. on afore? Ff.

[Aside] First marked by Steevens (1778).

[6697] makes] markes Q_1.

[Exeunt.] Qq Ff. Exeunt, Iago following. Theobald.

[6698] SCENE II.] SCENE VI. Pope.

A bedchamber ... a light burning. Enter Othello.] Steevens (1773), substantially. A bedchamber.... Enter Othello, with a light. Capell. Enter Othello with a light. Q_1. Enter Othello with a light, and Desdemona in her bed. Q_2 Q_3. Enter Othello, and Desdemona in her bed. Ff. A Bed-chamber: Desdemona is discover'd asleep in her Bed. Enter Othello. Rowe. A Bed-chamber.... Enter Othello, with a light and a sword. Pope.

[6699] [taking off his Sword, and laying it by. Capell.

[6700] as] and Pope (ed. 2).

alabaster] F_4. alablaster The rest.

[Lays down the sword. Theobald.

[6701] more men] me more Hunter conj.

[6702] Put ... light:] Qq Ff. See note (XII).

[6703] me] om. Pope.

thy light] Ff. thine Qq.

[going towards his Wife. Capell.

[6704] cunning'st] cunning Q_1.

[6705] heat] fire Capell. conj.

[6706] That ... rose,] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

thy light] the light Seymour conj. that light Anon. conj.

relume] re-lume F_4. re-Lume F_1 F_2 F_3. returne Q_1. relumine Q_2 Q_3.

[Sets down the taper. Theobald. Sets down the Candle, not putting it out. Hanmer.

the rose] Qq. thy rose Ff.

[6707] must needs] Q_2 Q_3. must needes Q_1. needs must Ff (needes F_2).

it] Qq. thee Ff.

[Kissing her.] kisses her. Q_2 Q_3. om. Q_1 Ff.

[6708] Ah,] A Qq. Oh Ff.

dost almost] Ff. doth almost Qq. almost dost Jennens.

[6709] Justice] Iustice her selfe Qq.

sword! One ... more:] sword. One more, one more: Ff. sword once more, Q_1. sword: one more; Q_2 Q_3. sword.—Once more— Jennens.

[6710] one] once Q_1.

and this] Qq. and that's Ff. that's Pope.

[He kisses her. Q_1.

[6711] sorrow's] sorrowes Q_1. sorrows F_2 F_3.

[6712] where] when Q_1.

doth Ff. does Qq.

She wakes.] A stage-direction, Anon. conj., reading It ... Othello? as one line.

[6713] Ay,] Rowe. I, Qq F_3 F_4. I F_1 F_2.

[6714] pray'd] Ff. prayed Qq.

Desdemona] Qq F_3 F_4. Desdemon F_1 F_2.

[6715] Alas ... that?] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

Alas] Qq. Alacke F_1 F_2. Alack F_3 F_4.

may] Q_1 Ff. doe Q_2 Q_3.

[6716] heaven] Qq. heavens Ff.

[6717] Talk ... heart!] Arranged as in Qq Ff. Two lines, the first ending heaven, in Capell.

[6718] so] om. F_1.

[6719] you are] Q_1. you're Ff. y'are Q_2 Q_3.

[6720] When ... not,] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[6721] guiltiness] guilt Pope.

but] om. Pope.

[6722] They are] They're Pope.

loves] Qq F_1. love F_2 F_3 F_4.

I bear] to beare Q_3.

[6723] Ay,] om. Qq.

[6724] unnatural ... loving.] unnatural; what! kill for loving! Hanmer.

[6725] nether lip] neather lip Qq. nether-lip Ff.

[6726] I hope, I hope] Ff. I hope Qq.

[6727] will so] will, so Q_1.

[6728] That ... ask him.] Divided as in Qq. Four lines, ending handkerchiefe ... Cassio ... man, ... him, in Ff.

[6729] handkerchief] hankercher Q_1.

[6730] to] om. F_3 F_4.

[6731] Sweet ... perjury;] Divided as by Capell. One line in Qq Ff.

[6732] thou art] thou'rt now Seymour conj.

[6733] Yes] Qq. om. Ff.

[6734] conception] conceit Q_1.

[6735] Then Lord] Qq. O Heaven Ff.

[6736] I never ... Cassio] Divided as in Ff. One line in Qq.

[6737] in's] F_1 F_3 F_4. in his Qq. ins F_2.

[6738] my] thy Q_1.

[6739] makest] makst Q_2 Q_3. makes F_1.

[6740] Let] And let Q_1.

hath] Ff. has Qq.

[6741] hath used thee.] hath us'd thee. Ff. hath—vsde thee. Q_2 Q_3. hath—vds death. Q_1.

[6742] for't] fort F_2.

[6743] O, ... interprets!] Oh, my feare interprets. Ff. My feare interprets then,— Qq. My fear interprets. Oh! Hanmer.

[6744] my ... all.] Divided as in Ff. One line in Qq.

[6745] them] Ff. 'em Q_1. em Q_2 Q_3.

[6746] I] I'm Hanmer.

[6747] Out] O Qq.

weep'st] weepest Qq.

[taking up a Pillow. Capell.

[6748] if] Ff. an Qq.

strive,—] strive— Theobald. strive. Qq Ff.

[6749] Being ... pause.] As in Ff Q_2 Q_3. Capell divides the line at done.

[6750] Oth. Being ... pause. Des.] Omitted in Q_1.

[6751] It is too] Ff. Tis too Q_1. Tis to Q_2 Q_3.

[He stifles her.] Q_2 Q_3 (opposite prayer!). He stifles her. Q_1. Smothers her. Ff. Attempts to smother her. Pope.

Here Q_1 inserts: Des. O Lord, Lord, Lord. See note (XIII).

[6752] Emil. [Within]. Emillia calls within. Em. Qq (calles Q_2 Q_3). Æmilia at the doore. Æm. Ff.

SCENE VII. Pope.

My ... lord!] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[6753] noise] Ff. voyce Qq.

[6754] I would ... so.] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

[6755] [Stabbing her. Rann.

[Within] Ff. om. Qq.

[6756] [Within] Malone. om. Qq Ff.

[6757] good my] my good F_3 F_4.

I would] Ff. I'de Qq.

[6758] here] Q_1. heere Q_2 Q_3. high Ff.

[6759] moving? Still] moving! still! Still Seymour conj. moving? still, Still S. Walker conj.

[6760] best to do] the best Qq.

[6761] what wife?] my wife; Q_1.

have] Ff. ha Qq.

[6762] Should] Qq. Did Ff.

yawn at] yawn out Mason conj.

alteration.] alteration— Rowe.

[6763] I do ... lord!] Good my lord, I do beseech you I may speak with you. Capell.

[6764] do] om. Pope.

[6765] That] om. Qq, reading I ... lord as one line.

O] om. Q_1.

[6766] forgot] forgotten Q_2 Q_3.

O] om. Q_2 Q_3.

[6767] [Unlocks the door.] Theobald (after now?). Draws them, and then opens the Door. Capell. om. Qq Ff.

[6768] Enter....] As in Dyce. After draw in Qq. After now? in Ff.

[6769] my good] good my Steevens (1793).

murders] murder Theobald.

[6770] What,] Q_1. What? Ff Q_2 Q_3.

[6771] nearer] Ff. neere the Qq.

[6772] Cassio ... Roderigo.] Divided as in Qq. Two lines, the first ending kill'd, in Ff.

[6773] hath] Ff. has Qq.

[6774] Roderigo ... Cassio kill'd.] As in Capell. One line in Qq Ff.

[6775] murder'd] Ff. murdered Qq.

Alas] O Lord Q_1. Ahlas Q_2.

[6776] that was] Ff. it is Q_1. it was Q_2 Q_3.

[6777] hath] Ff. has Qq.

[6778] [Dies.] She dies. Qq. om. Ff.

[6779] murder'd] murdered Qq.

[6780] heard] Qq. heare F_1 F_2. hear F_3 F_4.

[6781] the truth] Ff. a truth Qq.

[6782] burning hell] burne in hell Q_3.

[6783] O ... devil!] Divided as in Qq. Prose in Ff.

[6784] Thou ... true!] Divided as in Ff. The first line ends fire in Qq.

[6785] art rash] as rash Q_1.

[6786] top] tup Pope (ed. 2).

[6787] extremity] extreme Steevens conj.

[6788] My husband!] My husband? Q_1 Ff. My husband: Q_2 Q_3.

[6789] Capell, reading with Ff, and Steevens (1793), reading with Qq, end the lines Cassio ... true.

Ay, with] Ay, and with Keightley.

Nay] Qq. om. Ff.

true] but true Collier MS.

[6790] me first] Qq. me on her first Ff.

[6791] on] one Q_3.

[6792] What ... husband.] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

iteration, woman? I] iteration woman? I Pope. iteration? woman, I Qq. itterance, woman? I Ff.

[6793] Emil. O ... Iago.] Omitted in Q_1.

[6794] O ... love!] One line in Q_2 Q_3. Two in Ff.

hath] had F_4. has Rowe.

[6795] that] Q_2 Q_3. om. Ff.

[6796] He ... word?] Divided as in Ff. One line in Q_2 Q_3.

[6797] say] says Theobald.

[6798] to the heart] o' th' heart Johnson.

[6799] [looking towards her Sword. Capell, corrected to 'his Sword' in Errata. Threatening her. Collier (Collier MS.)

[6800] [threat'ning her with it. Capell.

[6801] that] Ff. the Qq.

[6802] be hurt] bear hurt Hanmer. hurt thee Anon. MS. (pencil). See note (IV).

[6803] thou hast] thou'st Pope.

deed—] Qq. deed Ff.

[6804] I ... sword] Put in a parenthesis in Ff.

sword] word F_4.

known] know Qq.

[6805] ho! help!] O, helpe; Qq.

[6806] hath] has Qq.

Gratiano,] Gragantio, Q_2 Q_3.

and others.] Qq. om. Ff.

[6807] SCENE VIII. Pope.

[staying him. Capell.

[6808] murders] murder Qq.

[6809] Gra.] All. Q_1.

[6810] Disprove this villain] Disprove it, villain Capell. Disprove this villany Rann (Capell conj.)

[6811] thou'rt] Ff. thou art Qq.

[6812] I ... more] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[6813] Than] But Capell.

[6814] But ... false?] One line in Qq. Two, the first ending him, in Ff.

[6815] She ... speak:] Three lines in Qq. Six in Ff.

[6816] false] was false Q_3.

[6817] charm] clam Johnson conj. chain Anon. conj.

[6818] I am] I'm Pope.

[6819] My ... villany!] Omitted in Q_1.

[6820] here lies] lies here Pope.

murder'd] murther'd Pope. murdered Q_2 Q_3. murthered Ff.

bed,—] Dyce. bed, Q_3. bed. The rest.

[6821] All. O heavens ... villany!] Put in the margin by Pope.

[6822] murder] F_1 F_2 Q_3. murther F_3 F_4. murderer Q_2.

[6823] Nay ... indeed.] One line in Q_2 Q_3. Two in Ff.

[6824] smell't: O villany] smell a villany Q_2 Q_3.

[6825] What, ... home.] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[6826] Perchance] Q_1 Ff. Perhaps Q_2 Q_3.

[6827] O! O! O!] Four times in Capell.

[Falling....] Oth. fals on the bed. Qq (falls Q_2 Q_3). Omitted in Ff. hanging over his Wife. Capell. Falling on the ground. Collier MS.

[6828] [Rising] Theobald. om. Qq Ff. Starting up. Collier MS.

[6829] horrible] Ff. terrible Qq.

[6830] Poor ... dead] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

Desdemona] Qq F_3 F_4. Desdemon F_1 F_2.

I am] I'm Pope.

[6831] in twain] atwane Q_1.

[6832] reprobation] Qq. reprobance Ff.

[6833] hath] Q_1 Ff. had Q_2 Q_3.

[6834] that] the Q_1.

[6835] handkerchief] hankercher Q_1.

[6836] a] an Pope.

antique] Qq F_1 F_2. antick F_3 F_4.

[6837] O ... powers!] O God, O heavenly God. Q_1.

[6838] 'Zounds] Zouns Q_1. Come The rest.

'Twill out, 'twill out.] Twill out, twill: Q_1.

[6839] I peace! No,] I peace? No, Ff. I hold my peace sir, no, Qq, ending the line no.

[6840] I ... north] Ff. I ... air Pope. I ... wind Collier MS. I'le be in speaking, liberall as the ayre Q_1. Ile be in speaking, liberall as the north Q_2 Q_3.

[6841] them] Ff. em Qq.

[6842] [Iago....] Jago offers to stab his wife. Rowe. om. Qq Ff. Iago strikes his wife with a sword. Anon. MS. See note (IV).

[6843] Fie ... woman!] Divided as by Capell. One line in Qq Ff.

[6844] [to Iago, seeing him about to draw it. Capell.

[6845] O ... of] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

of] Ff. on Qq.

[6846] steal it] F_4. steale it Qq. steale't F_1 F_2. steal't F_3.

[They hold him. Collier (ed. 2).

[6847] give] Ff. gave Qq.

no] om. F_3 F_4.

found] find Q_3.

[6848] wife] Ff. woman Qq.

stones] stores Anon. MS. (pencil). See note (IV).

[6849] But ... Precious] For what then serves the thunder? Precious Warburton. What serves the thunder for? Pernicious Anon. MS. (pencil). See note (IV).

But ... villain!] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

serve] F_4. serves The rest.

Precious] Ff. pretious Q_1. pernitious Q_2 Q_3.

[He ... exit.] Edd. (Globe ed.) The Moore runnes at Iago. Iago kils his wife. Qq (runs Q_2 Q_3, kills Q_2 Q_3), after woman? line 237. Omitted in Ff. Jago breaks through and wounds his Wife, then runs out. Rowe, after wife? line 237. Iago stabs his Wife suddenly, and runs off. Capell. Othello offers to stab Iago, but is disarmed by Montano: Iago stabs Emilia, and then runs out. Dyce (ed. 2).

[6850] The ... wife.] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[6851] [Exit Iago. Qq.

[6852] you this] Ff. your Qq. this Pope.

[giving Gra. a sword. Capell.

[6853] have here recover'd] Pope (ed. 2). have here recovered Qq. have recover'd Ff. recover'd have here Pope (ed. 1). have now recover'd Collier MS. See note (XIV).

[6854] Come, guard] Some guard Theobald conj. (withdrawn).

[6855] [Exeunt ... Emilia.] Edd. Exit Mont. and Gratiano. Qq. Exit. Ff. Exit Montano. Knight.

SCENE IX. Pope.

[6856] What ... willow.] Omitted in Q_1.

[6857] [Singing] Dyce. om. Qq Ff.

Willow, willow, willow.] In italics in Qq Ff.

[6858] I die, I die] Qq. alas, I dye Ff (die F_3 F_4).

[Dies.] She dies. Qq. om. Ff.

[6859] It is] Qq. It was Ff.

the ice-brook's] the Ice brookes F_1 F_2. the Ice brooks F_3 F_4. the Isebrookes Qq. the Ebro's Pope. 'tis ebroes Blackstone conj.

[6860] Gra. [Within] Gra. within. Gra. Qq. Gra. Ff.

[6861] with me] Ff. to me Qq.

[6862] Re-enter Gratiano.] Theobald. om. Qq Ff and Knight.

[6863] Behold,] Lo! Pope.

[6864] I have] I've Pope.

[6865] I have made] I made Pope. I've made Theobald.

[6866] your] you Q_1.

[6867] Be ... wench!] Omitted in Q_1.

[6868] And] Ff. The Q_2 Q_3.

[6869] Now, how] Now: how Ff. Now—how Rowe. How Q_2 Q_3.

[6870] compt] count Q_1. 'count Jennens.

[6871] Even ... devils,] Divided as by Qq Ff. The first line ends chastity in Capell, reading with Ff.

[6872] cursed] Qq. cursed, cursed Ff.

[6873] ye] Ff. you Qq.

[6874] roast] and roast F_3 F_4.

[6875] steep-down] Hyphened in Ff.

[6876] See note (XV).

[6877] Enter ... prisoner.] Malone, after Capell. Enter Lodovico, Montano, Iago, and Officers, Cassio in a Chaire. Q_1. 'Iago' is omitted in Q_2 Q_3. Enter Lodovico, Cassio, Montano, and Iago, with Officers. Ff. Enter Lodovico, Cassio led in wounded, Montano, and Jago Prisoner, with Officers. Rowe.

[6878] SCENE X. Pope.

unfortunate] Ff. infortunate Qq.

[6879] [pointing to his Wife. Capell.

[6880] Where ... forth.] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

that] Ff. this Q_1.

[6881] that] om. Q_1.

[Wounds Iago.] Othello wounds Jago. Rowe. om. Qq Ff.

[6882] Wrench] Wring Q_1.

I bleed] Ay, bled Maginn conj.

bleed, sir, but not] bleed, but am not Hanmer.

[6883] wert] Qq. was Ff. wast Rowe.

[6884] damned] Qq. cursed Ff.

[6885] shall] Ff. should Qq.]

thee?] Qq F_4. thee. F_1 F_2 F_3.

[6886] did I in] Qq. I did in F_1 F_2 F_3. I did F_4.

[6887] never gave] Ff. did never give Qq.

[6888] your] Ff. you Qq.

[6889] I] om. Q_1.

[6890] my soul] me, soul Anon. MS. (pencil). See note (IV).

[6891] Sir,] As in Qq. A separate line in Ff.

[6892] not] om. Johnson.

Here is] here's Pope.

[6893] the one] one Pope.

[6894] The ... Roderigo.] As in Ff. One line in Qq.

undertook By] undertooke—by Q_1.

[6895] O villain] O villainy Ritson conj. Villany S. Walker conj.

[6896] interim] nicke Q_1.

[6897] the] Qq. thou Ff.]

caitiff] F_4. caitiffe F_1 F_2 F_3. catieffe Qq.

[6898] that handkerchief] a handkercher Q_1. a handkerchiefe Q_2 Q_3.

[6899] wife's] wifes Qq. wives Ff.

[6900] but] Capell. it Q_1. it but Ff Q_2 Q_3.

[6901] upbraids] obraides Q_2 Q_3.

Iago] Iagos Q_3.

[6902] but] om. Rowe (ed. 2).

spake] speake Q_3. said Anon. apud Rann conj.

[6903] For] Fore Q_3.

[6904] bring] Ff. bring him Qq. bring them Collier MS.

[6905] before you go] Omitted in Q_1.

[6906] I have] I've Pope.

[6907] me as I am] them as they are Q_1.

[6908] Nor ... speak] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

then must you] then you must Q_2 Q_3. you must Seymour conj.

[6909] jealous] Iealious F_1 F_2.

[6910] Perplex'd] Perplext Qq. Perplexed Ff.

[6911] Indian] Qq F_2 F_3 F_4. Indean F_1. Judian Theobald. Egyptian Upton conj. See note (XVI).

[6912] subdued] om. Pope.

[6913] Drop] Drops Q_1 F_1.

[6914] medicinal] medicinall Qq. medicinable Ff.

gum] gums Johnson.

[6915] Where] When Collier MS.

turban'd] Turband (in italics) Q_1. Turband (in roman) Q_2 Q_3. Turbond (in roman) Ff.

turban'd Turk] Turband Turke Qq. Turbond-Turke F_1 F_2. Turbond-Turk F_3 F_4.

[6916] traduced] reduc'd Johnson.

[6917] by the throat] by throat Capell.

circumcised] uncircumcis'd Brady conj.

[6918] [Stabs himself.] He stabs himselfe. Qq. om. Ff. Pulls out a conceal'd Dagger, and stabs himself. Capell. Wrenches a sword from a by-stander, and stabs himself. Anon. conj.

[6919] that's] Qq. that is Ff.

[6920] [To Desdem. Theobald. Falling upon Desdem. Johnson. Throwing himself by his Wife. Capell.

[6921] [Falls....] He dies. Qq. Dyes. Ff. Dies on the bed. Collier (Collier MS.)

[6922] [To Iago] Theobald.

Spartan] F_2 F_3 F_4. Spartane Qq. Sparton F_1.

[6923] tragic] targicke Q_3.

loading] Ff. lodging Qq.

[6924] This ... sight;] One line in Qq. Two in Ff.

[6925] seize] Ff. ceaze Qq.

[6926] on you] Ff. to you Qq.

[6927] censure] fensure Q (1695).

[6928] [Exeunt.] Ff. Exeunt omnes. Qq.

NOTES.

NOTE I.

I. 1. 16. The punctuation in the text was first given by Steevens (1773). Most editors following Capell, including Steevens in his later editions, have supposed 'for, certes' to be part of Othello's speech. Mr Collier, omitting the comma, gives 'For certes' as the commencement of Othello's words. There is no comma in either Quartos or Folios, and the printing leaves it uncertain where the quotation is meant to begin.

NOTE II.

I. 1. 20, 21. Theobald marks 'Certes ... officer,' and 'the Florentine's ... wife' with inverted commas, to indicate that they are Iago's report of Othello's speeches, and supposes Iago to be the 'fellow almost damn'd in a fair wife.' 'The Poet means,' he adds, 'Iago had so beautiful a Wife, that she was his Heaven on Earth; that he idoliz'd her; and forgot to think of Happiness in an After-state, as placing all his Views of Bliss in the single Enjoyment of her. In this sense, Beauty, when it can so seduce and ingross a Man's Thoughts, may be said almost to damn him.' Warburton's explanation agrees substantially with that of Theobald.

NOTE III.

I. 3. 370-374. The reading in the text is that of the second and third Quartos. The first Quarto has:

'Iag. Go to, farewell:—doe you heare Roderigo?

Rod. what say you?

Iag. No more of drowning, doe you heare?

Rod. I am chang'd.     Exit Roderigo.

Iag. Goe to, farewell, put money enough in your purse:

Thus doe I euer make my foole my purse:'

The first Folio, followed substantially by the rest, reads:

'Iago. Go too, farewell. Do you heare, Rodorigo?

Rod. Ile sell all my Land.     Exit.

Iago. Thus do I euer make my Foole, my purse:'

Rowe and Pope follow the Folios.

Theobald has:

'Iago. Go to, farewel. Do you hear, Rodorigo?

Rod. What say you?

Iago. No more of drowning, do you hear.

Rod. I am chang'd; I'll go sell all my land.     [Exit.

Manet Iago.

Iago. Go to, farewel, put mony enough in your purse—

Thus, &c.'

Hanmer:

'Iago. Go to, farewel. Do you hear, Rodorigo?

No more of drowning.

Rod. I'll sell all my land.     [Exit.

SCENE XI.

Manet Iago.

Iago. Thus,' &c.

Warburton follows Theobald, and so does Johnson, except that he transfers 'Exit Rodorigo' to follow the first line of Iago's speech, and makes Scene XI. begin with the next. Capell reduces the whole to the following:

'Iag. Go to, farewel.

Rod. I'll sell all my land.     [Exit.

Iag. Thus,' &c.

NOTE IV.

III. 3. 116. In the Devonshire copy of the first Quarto there is a marginal stage direction in a 17th century hand opposite this line, 'With admiring action.' Some other stage directions and readings quoted in our foot-notes as 'Anon. MS.' are from the same source. More than one hand seems to have been employed, and there are other notes of a much later date in pencil.

NOTE V.

III. 3. 153. Johnson attributes the reading 'improbably' to what he calls 'the old Quarto.' We have not found it in any copies.

NOTE VI.

III. 3. 172. In the Devonshire copy of the first Quarto, which formerly belonged to Steevens, and which was the original of his reprint, the word 'loues' is partially obliterated by being changed with a pen to 'hates', but being still obscure 'hates', is written in the margin opposite in the same hand as the stage direction mentioned in note IV. Capell's copy has distinctly 'loues', and that this was originally the reading of the Devonshire copy is evident from the traces of the letters which still remain. Two lines above, opposite 'make,' a late hand has written in pencil 'muck' (which is Becket's conjecture) in the Devonshire copy. We have no means of ascertaining whether this note was written before or after the publication of Becket's work.

NOTE VII.

III. 3. 405. Capell prints the words: 'What then? how then? Where's satisfaction?' in italics, to indicate that Iago is repeating what Othello had said.

NOTE VIII.

IV. 1. 207, 208. The first Folio reads as follows:

'Iago. I warrant something from Venice,

'Tis Lodouico this, comes from the Duke.

See, your wife's with him.'

The other Folios have substantially the same reading, except that the second has 'Lodovico, this, comes, &c.,' and the third and fourth 'Lodovico, this comes, &c.'

Hanmer has:

'Iago. I warrant you 'tis something come from Venice.

Oh! it is Lodovico from the Duke:

And see, your wife is with him.'

We have given in our text the reading of the Quartos with Theobald's punctuation.

NOTE IX.

IV. 2. 55, 56. The first Quarto has:

'A fixed figure, for the time of scorne,

To point his slow vnmouing fingers at—oh, oh,'

The second and third have the same except that they substitute 'finger' for fingers. The first Folio, which is followed substantially by the rest, has:

'The fixed Figure for the time of Scorne,

To point his slow, and mouing finger at.'

Rowe:

'A fixed Figure for the hand of Scorn

To point his slow and moving Finger at—.'

He is followed by Pope, Theobald, and Hanmer.

Warburton also follows Rowe, except that he reads 'unmoving' for 'and moving.'

Johnson, Capell and Jennens adopt Warburton's reading.

Capell puts 'O! O!' in a separate line.

Steevens reads with the second and third Quartos, followed by Malone, Rann and the Variorum Editors.

Malone conjectures:

'A fixed figure for the scorn of time

To point his slow unmoving finger at,—'

Mason proposes 'slowly moving' for 'slow unmoving': a conjecture which has been also made by Mr Collier's MS. corrector and adopted by Mr Collier in his second edition.

Becket conjectures:

'A fixed figure and in scorn, for time

To point his slow-unmoving finger at.'

Jackson:

'A fix'd figure, for the type of scorn

To point his low unmoving finger at.'

Mr Knight, in his 'Stratford' Edition, and Mr Staunton adopt Hunter's conjecture:

'The fixed figure of the time, for scorn

To point his slow and moving finger at,—'

Mr Grant White, in his Shakespeare's Scholar, expressed his approval of this conjecture, changing however, 'and moving' to 'unmoving' in the second line. In his edition he follows, as we do, the second Quarto. 'The time of scorn' (he says) is a phrase like 'the day of sorrow,' 'the hour of joy,' or 'the age of progress.'

Dr Cartwright reads:

'A fixed figure for the time of scorn

To point his cold unmoving finger at.'

Mr Bailey conjectures:

'A fixed figure for the time, in scorn

To point his sly and mocking finger at.'

Mr Bullock proposes to read:

'A fixed figure for the rhymer's scorn,

To point his foul unmoving finger at.'

NOTE X.

IV. 2. 183. Mr Collier says that the Devonshire copy of F_1 has the following: 'I have heard too much: And hell gnaw his bones Performances....' The mistake was discovered and corrected in other copies. This accounts for the 'and' which the corrected copies still retain instead of 'for.'

NOTE XI.

IV. 3. 46-48. In this passage we have followed Capell's arrangement of the text. The second Quarto has:

'Sing willow, &c. (Lay by these.)

Willow, willow.

(Prethee hie thee, he'll come anon.)'

The third Quarto has the same arrangement, but misprints 'fling-willow, &c.'

The first Folio reads:

'Sing Willough, &c. (Lay by these).

Willough, Willough. (Prythee high thee: he'll come anon).'

The second, third, and fourth Folios have 'Lady by these,' a misprint which was corrected by Rowe in his first, but repeated in his second edition. Pope, Theobald, Hanmer, and Warburton omitted the words altogether.

NOTE XII.

V. 2. 7. Rowe, in his first edition, printed the line thus:

'Put out the Light, and then put out the Light,'

and, in his second,

'Put out the Light, and then put out the Light,'

in which he was followed by Pope, except that the latter put a semicolon at the end of the line. Theobald, punctuating thus,

'Put out the light, and, then, put out the light;'

supposes that the only light in the room is that which Othello carries in his hand, and which at first he intends to extinguish, but, changing his mind, sets down to go and kiss Desdemona. He observes, 'The Players, in all the Companies wherever I have seen this Tragedy perform'd, commit an Absurdity here, in making Othello put out the candle, which, 'tis evident, never was the Poet's intention.'

Hanmer prints:

'Put out the light: and then—put out thy light.'

Opposite line 13 he adds this stage direction, 'Sets down the Candle, not putting it out.'

Warburton has:

'Put out the light, and then—Put out the light?—'

His punctuation is adopted by Johnson.

Capell reads:

'Put out the light, and then—Put out the light!'

and adds after the next line, as a stage direction, 'Setting down the Taper.'

Mr Goldwin Smith, regarding the line in question as a stage-direction which has crept into the text, suggests to us that the passage ought to be printed as follows:

'Yet she must die, else she'll betray more men.'

[Takes off his sword and then puts out the light.

'If I quench thee, thou flaming minister, &c.'

or thus:

'................................alabaster.'

[Takes off his sword.

'Yet she must die, else she'll betray more men.'

[Puts out the light.

'If I quench thee, thou flaming minister, &c.'

NOTE XIII.

V. 2. 86. Mr Singer, in his second edition, has here invented a reading of the first Quarto, from a misinterpretation of Steevens's note. He says, 'After this speech of Othello, the elder Quarto adds an invocation from Desdemona, consisting only of "God! God! God!"' Steevens's words, which Mr Singer adopted in his first edition, were 'consisting only of the sacred name thrice repeated.'

NOTE XIV.

V. 2. 243. Mr Collier in his Notes and Emendations and in the appendix to Coleridge's Lectures gives 'now' as the insertion of his MS. corrector. In the note on this passage in his second edition of Shakespeare, he says: 'Here in this line is omitted in the Folio, 1623, but inserted in the corr. fo. 1632.'

NOTE XV.

V. 2. 284, 285. The reading given in the text is that of the Quartos, substantially. The first has literatim thus:

'O Desdemona, Desdemona, dead, O, o. o.'

The second and third:

'O Desdemona, Desdemona; dead, O, o, o.'

The first Folio:

'Oh Desdemon! dead Desdemon: dead. Oh, oh!'

The second:

'Oh Desdemon! dead Desdemon: dead. dead. Oh, oh!'

The third:

'Oh Desdemona! dead Desdemona: dead, dead. Oh, oh!'

This is followed substantially by the fourth Folio and Rowe.

Pope reads:

'Oh Desdemona! Desdemona! dead, dead! Oh! Oh!'

This is adopted by Theobald, Hanmer, Warburton and Johnson.

Capell reads:

'O Desdemone! dead, Desdemone? dead? dead?

O, o, o!'

Steevens (1773) has:

'Oh Desdemona! Desdemona! dead!

Dead! oh! oh! oh!'

This reading is followed by Steevens himself in his later editions, Malone, Rann, the Variorum editors, Singer and Harness. Mr Knight reads substantially with the first Folio: Mr Collier follows the Quartos.

Mr Dyce reads:

'O Desdemon! dead, Desdemon! dead! O!'

Mr Staunton adopts the reading of the first Folio, putting a comma after the first 'dead.' Mr Grant White follows Mr Dyce.

NOTE XVI.

V. 2. 350. In his note on this passage Theobald says, 'I have restor'd, Judian, from the Elder Quarto, as the genuine and more eligible reading.' All the Quartos we have seen read 'Indian.' He adds, 'I am satisfied, in his Judian, he is alluding to Herod; who, in a Fit of blind Jealousie, threw away such a Jewel of a Wife as Mariamne was to him.' This interpretation was suggested by Warburton.

'Indian' is read by the Quarto of 1695, Rowe, Pope, Capell, Jennens, Rann, Knight, Collier, Dyce, Singer (ed. 2), Delius, Staunton, Cowden Clarke, Hudson and Grant White.

'Judian' or 'Judean' is read by Theobald, Hanmer, Warburton, Johnson, Steevens, the Variorum editors, Harness and Singer (ed. 1).

CAMBRIDGE: PRINTED AT THE UNIVERSITY PRESS.

Transcriber's Notes:

Incorporated p. xix addenda to text.

Retained line wrapping in plays to retain prose line numbering.

Converted linenotes to footnotes with anchors at line ends.

Retained incorrect line numbers, e.g. there are often more than 5 lines (or occasionally less than 5) between increments of 5.

Assigned anchors to linenotes without line references.

Silently corrected simple spelling, grammar, and typographical errors.

Retained anachronistic and non-standard spellings as printed.

New original cover art included with this eBook is granted to the public domain.

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Table of Contents

THE WORKS OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE

CONTENTS.

PREFACE.

ADDENDA.

HAMLET.

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ[A].

ACT I.

Scene I. Elsinore. A platform before the castle.

Scene II. A room of state in the castle.

Scene III. A room in Polonius's house.

Scene IV. The platform.[352]

Scene V. Another part of the platform.

FOOTNOTES:

ACT II.

Scene I. A room in Polonius's house.

Scene II. A room in the castle.

FOOTNOTES:

ACT III.

Scene I. A room in the castle.

Scene II. A hall in the castle.

Scene III. A room in the castle.

Scene IV. The Queen's closet.

FOOTNOTES:

ACT IV.

Scene I. A room in the castle.

Scene II. Another room in the castle.

Scene III. Another room in the castle.

Scene IV. A plain in Denmark.

Scene V. Elsinore. A room in the castle.

Scene VI. Another room in the castle.

Scene VII. Another room in the castle.[1835]

FOOTNOTES:

ACT V.

Scene I. A churchyard.

Scene II. A hall in the castle.[2137]

FOOTNOTES:

NOTES.

Note I.

Note II.

Note III.

Note IV.

Note V.

Note VI.

Note VII.

Note VIII.

Note IX.

Note X.

Note XI.

Note XII.

Note XIII.

Note XIV.

Note XV.

Note XVI.

Note XVII.

Note XVIII.

Note XIX.

Note XX.

Note XXI.

Note XXII.

Note XXIII.

Note XXIV.

Note XXV.

Note XXVI.

Note XXVII.

Note XXVIII.

Note XXIX.

Note XXX.

Note XXXI.

Note XXXII.

Note XXXIII.

The Tragicall Historie of HAMLET Prince of Denmarke.

[Sc. i.]

[Sc. ii.]

[Sc. iii.]

[Sc. iv.]

[Sc. v.]

[Sc. vi.]

[Sc. vii.]

[Sc. viii.]

[Sc. ix.]

[Sc. x.]

[Sc. xi.]

[Sc. xii.]

[Sc. xiii.]

[Sc. xiv.]

[Sc. xv.]

[Sc. xvi.]

[Sc. xvii.]

[Sc. xviii.]

FOOTNOTES:

KING LEAR.

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ[C].

ACT I.

Scene I. King Lear's palace.

Scene II. The Earl of Gloucester's castle.

Scene III. The Duke of Albany's palace.

Scene IV. A hall in the same.

Scene V. Court before the same.

FOOTNOTES:

ACT II.

Scene I. The Earl of Gloucester's castle.

Scene II. Before Gloucester's castle.

Scene III. A wood.

Scene IV. Before Gloucester's castle. Kent in the stocks.

FOOTNOTES:

ACT III.

Scene I. A heath.

Scene II. Another part of the heath. Storm still.[3578]

Scene III. Gloucester's castle.

Scene IV. The heath. Before a hovel.[3667]

Scene V. Gloucester's castle.

Scene VI. A chamber in a farmhouse adjoining the castle.

Scene VII. Gloucester's castle.

FOOTNOTES:

ACT IV.

Scene I. The heath.[3996]

Scene II. Before the Duke of Albany's palace.

Scene III. The French camp near Dover.[4140]

Scene IV. The same. A tent.

Scene V. Gloucester's castle.

Scene VI. Fields near Dover.

Scene VII. A tent in the French camp. Lear on a bed asleep, soft music playing; Gentleman, and others attending.

FOOTNOTES:

ACT V.

Scene I. The British camp near Dover.

Scene II. A field between the two camps.

Scene III. The British camp near Dover.

FOOTNOTES:

NOTES.

Note I.

Note II.

Note III.

Note IV.

Note V.

Note VI.

Note VII.

Note VIII.

Note IX.

Note X.

Note XI.

Note XII.

Note XIII.

Note XIV.

Note XV.

Note XVI.

Note XVII.

Note XVIII.

Note XIX.

Note XX.

OTHELLO.

DRAMATIS PERSONÆ[D].

ACT I.

Scene I. Venice. A street.

Scene II. Another street.

Scene III. A council-chamber.

FOOTNOTES:

ACT II.

Scene I. A sea-port in Cyprus. An open place near the quay.

Scene II. A street.

Scene III. A hall in the castle.

FOOTNOTES:

ACT III.

Scene I. Before the castle.

Scene II. A room in the castle.[5788]

Scene III. The garden of the castle.[5793]

Scene IV. Before the castle.

FOOTNOTES:

ACT IV.

Scene I. Cyprus. Before the castle.

Scene II. A room in the castle.[6389]

Scene III. Another room in the castle.

FOOTNOTES:

ACT V.

Scene I. Cyprus. A street.[6611]

Scene II. A bedchamber in the castle: Desdemona in bed asleep; a light burning.[6698]

FOOTNOTES:

NOTES.

Note I.

Note II.

Note III.

Note IV.

Note V.

Note VI.

Note VII.

Note VIII.

Note IX.

Note X.

Note XI.

Note XII.

Note XIII.

Note XIV.

Note XV.

Note XVI.

Transcriber's Notes:

THE FULL PROJECT GUTENBERG™ LICENSE