I HAVE heard many Perfons wonder why the Poet should bring in this Ghoft in complete Armour. It does, I own, at firft feem hard to be accounted for; but I think these Reafons may be given for it, viz. We are to confider, that he could introduce him in these Dreffes only; in his Regal Dress, in a Habit of Interment, in a common Habit, or in fome Phantaftick one of his own Invention. Now let us examine which was most likely to affect the Spectators with Paffions proper to the Occafion, and which could most probably furnish out great Sentiments and fine Expreffions.

THE Regal Habit has nothing uncommon in it, nor furprifing; nor could it give rife to any fine Images. The Habit of Interment was fomething too horrible; for Terror, not Horror, is to be raised in the Spectators. The common Habit (or Habit de Ville, as the French call it) was by no Means proper for the Occafion

IT remains then, that the Poet fhould chufe fome Habit from his own Brain: But this certainly could not be proper, becaufe Invention in fuch a Cafe, would be fo much in Danger of falling into the Grotefque, that it was not to be hazarded.

Now as to the Armour, it was very fuitable to a King, who is described as a great Warrior, and is very particular, and confequently affects the Spectators, without being phantaftick. Befides, if there were no other

Reafon,

Reason, the fine Image which arifes from thence, in these Lines, is Reason enough.

Such was the very Armour he had on, When He th' ambitious Norway combated, So frown'd He once, when in angry Parle, He fmote the fleaded Polack on the Ice. 'Tis Strange!

THERE is a Stroke of Nature in Horatio's breaking off, from the Description of the King, and falling into the Exclamation. 'Tis Strange! which is inimitably Beautiful,

Page 228.

Marcellus. Good now fit down, &c.

THE whole Difcourfe concerning the great Preparations making in Denmark is very Poetical, and neceffary alfo towards the introducing of Fortinbrafs in this Play, whofe Appearance gives Rife to one Scene,which adds a Beauty to the Whole ; I mean, That wherein Hamlet makes those noble Reflections upon feeing That Prince's Army. Befides, this Difcourfe is neceffary alfo to give the Ghost Time to appear again, in order to affect the Spectators ftill more; and from this Converfation the Interlocutors draw one Reafon, why the Spirit appears in Arms, which appears rational to the Audience. It gives alfo Horatio an Opportunity of addreffing the Ghost in that beautiful Manner he does.

Page

Page 229.
Stay Illufion! &c.

THE Description of the Prefages which happen'd to Rome, and the drawing a like Inference from this fupernatural Appearance, is very nervous and Poetical.

Page 230, 231.

Bernardo. It was about to speak when the Cock crew, &c.

THE Speeches in confequence of this Ob servation are truly beautiful, and are properly Marks of a great Genius; as also these Lines which describe the Morning, are in the true Spirit of Poetry.

Page 31.

But, look, the Morn, in Ruffet Mantle clad, Walks oc'r the Dew of yon high Eastern Hill.

AND as to Shakespeare's complying with the vulgar Notions of Spirits amongst the English at that Time, fo far from being low, it adds a Grace and a Naïveté to the whole Paffage, which one can much easier be fenfible of than know how to make others fo.

SCENE

SCENE. The Palace, (p. 231.).
And Sequel.

Enter the King, Queen, Hamlet, &c.

Ir is very natural and apropos, that the King fhould bring fome plaufible Excufe for marrying his Brother's Wife fo foon after the Deceafe of his Brother, which he does in his first Speech in this Scene: It would elfe have too foon revolted the Spectators against fuch an unusual Proceeding. All the Speeches of the King in this Scene to his Ambassadors Cornelius and Voltimand, and to Laertes, and to Prince Hamlet, are entirely Fawning, and full of Diffimulation, and makes him well deferve the Character which the Prince afterwards gives him, of fmiling, damn'd Villain, &c. when he is informed of his Crime.

THE King's and Queen's Queftions to Hamlet are very proper, to give the Audience a true Idea of the Filial Piety of the young Prince, and of his virtuous Character; for we are hereby informed of his fixed and ftrong Grief for the Lofs of his Father: For it does not appear, that the Ufurpation of the Crown from him, fits heavy on his Soul, at leaft, it is not feen by any Part of his Behaviour.

How his Uncle came to be preferred to him, we are left entirely in the dark, but may fuppofe it to have been done in the fame Manner, as feveral things of the like Nature have been effected, viz. by Corruption and Violence,

and

and perhaps upon the Pretence of the Prince's being too young.

I CAN by no Means agree with Mr. Theobalds, (p. 235.) who thinks, that it is neceffary to fuppofe a confiderable Number of Years spent in this Tragedy; because Prince Hamlet is faid to defire to return to Wittenberg again, and is fupposed to be just come from it; and that afterwards, the Grave-Digger lets us know that the Prince is Thirty Years old; my Reasons are, that as Wittenberg was an Univerfity, and Hamlet is represented as a Prince of great Accomplishments, it is no wonder that he fhould like to spend his Time there, in going on in his Improvements, rather than to remain inactive at Elfinoor, or be im mers'd in Sottifhnefs, with which he feems to tax his Countrymen; as will appear in the Sequel. Befides, he might well defire to return there, when he found his Throne ufurped, and his Mother acting fo abominable`a Part. And as to the Term of going to School,

c. That does not at all imply literally a School for Boys, but is poetically used for Studying at any Age.

ANOTHER Reafon may be given why there cannot be supposed to be a great Length of Time in this Play; which is this, That we fee in the First Act, Ambaffadors difpatch'd to old Norway, concerning his Nephew Fortinbras's Army, which was then ready to march and in the Fourth Act, we fee this Prince at the Head of that Army, which immediately, up

D

on