< hamlet

reuben's favourite poetry

excerpt from hamlet, act 1 scene 5

by william shakespeare

HAMLET

And therefore as a stranger give it welcome.
There are more things in heaven and earth, Horatio,
Than are dreamt of in our philosophy.
But come,
Here as before.
[For the third time, Hamlet places his sword for the others to swear upon]
Never, so help you mercy,
How strange or odd soe'er I bear myself
(As I perchance hereafter shall think meet
To put an antic disposition on)
That you at such time seeing me never shall,
With arms encumbered thus, or thus head shaked,
Or by pronouncing of some doubtful phrase
As, "Well, we know," or "We could anan if we would,"
Or "If we list to speak," or "There be an if they might,"
Or such ambiguous giving out to note
That you know aught of me. This not to do,
So grace and mercy at your most need help you,
Swear.