Vol. 08 · Shakespeare ·Hamlet, Act III.ii ·Gertrude
"Methinks the lady doth protest too much."
Not quite the line.
How it's usually quoted
"Methinks the lady doth protest too much."
What Shakespeare actually wrote
"The lady doth protest too much, methinks." Gertrude — Hamlet, Act III.ii
Why it matters
Word order carries weight in iambic pentameter. Moving "methinks" to the front changes a hedged observation into a presumptuous one.
More from the canon.
Browse the rest of the shelf, or try a cold reading.