Characters
For us, and for our tragedy, Here stooping to your clemency, We beg your hearing patiently.
— Prologue
Behind the line May contain spoilers.
Our reading
An editorial interpretation.
The Prologue asks the audience to hear the performers’ tragedy patiently and appeals to their kindness. This is the opening address of the play within Hamlet, rather than a request made by Shakespeare directly to a modern reader.
- Folger Shakespeare Library: HamletHamlet, 3.2Reference checked
Context reviewed