Vol. 08 · Shakespeare ·Hamlet, Act I.iv ·Marcellus
"There's something rotten in the state of Denmark."
Not quite the line.
How it's usually quoted
"There's something rotten in the state of Denmark."
What Shakespeare actually wrote
"Something is rotten in the state of Denmark." Marcellus — Hamlet, Act I.iv
Why it matters
Adding "there's" softens the line into casual observation. Shakespeare's phrasing is cleaner — a flat pronouncement, not a hedge.
More from the canon.
Browse the rest of the shelf, or try a cold reading.