| Original text | Modern text | Key line |
| Most faire returne of Greetings, and Desires. | Most fair return of greetings and desires. | Ham II.ii.60 |
| Vpon our first, he sent out to suppresse | Upon our first, he sent out to suppress | Ham II.ii.61 |
| His Nephewes Leuies, which to him appear'd | His nephew's levies, which to him appeared | Ham II.ii.62 |
| To be a preparation 'gainst the Poleak: | To be a preparation 'gainst the Polack, | Ham II.ii.63 |
| But better look'd into, he truly found | But, better looked into, he truly found | Ham II.ii.64 |
| It was against your Highnesse, whereat greeued, | It was against your highness; whereat grieved, | Ham II.ii.65 |
| That so his Sicknesse, Age, and Impotence | That so his sickness, age, and impotence | Ham II.ii.66 |
| Was falsely borne in hand, sends out Arrests | Was falsely borne in hand, sends out arrests | Ham II.ii.67 |
| On Fortinbras, which he (in breefe) obeyes, | On Fortinbras; which he in brief obeys, | Ham II.ii.68 |
| Receiues rebuke from Norwey: and in fine, | Receives rebuke from Norway, and in fine | Ham II.ii.69 |
| Makes Vow before his Vnkle, neuer more | Makes vow before his uncle never more | Ham II.ii.70 |
| To giue th'assay of Armes against your Maiestie. | To give th' assay of arms against your majesty. | Ham II.ii.71 |
| Whereon old Norwey, ouercome with ioy, | Whereon old Norway, overcome with joy, | Ham II.ii.72 |
| Giues him three thousand Crownes in Annuall Fee, | Gives him three thousand crowns in annual fee | Ham II.ii.73 |
| And his Commission to imploy those Soldiers | And his commission to employ those soldiers, | Ham II.ii.74 |
| So leuied as before, against the Poleak: | So levied as before, against the Polack, | Ham II.ii.75 |
| With an intreaty heerein further shewne, | With an entreaty, herein further shown, | Ham II.ii.76 |
| | | |
| That it might please you to giue quiet passe | That it might please you to give quiet pass | Ham II.ii.77 |
| Through your Dominions, for his Enterprize, | Through your dominions for this enterprise, | Ham II.ii.78 |
| On such regards of safety and allowance, | On such regards of safety and allowance | Ham II.ii.79 |
| As therein are set downe. | As therein are set down. | Ham II.ii.80.1 |