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

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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.

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