Dramatis Perfona. CLAUDIUS, King of Denmark. Fortinbras, Prince of Norway. Hamlet, Son to the former, and Nephew to the present, King. Polonius, Lord Chamberlain. Horatio, Friend to Hamlet. Laertes, Son to Polonius. Gertrude, Queen of Denmark, and Mother to Hamlet. Ophelia, Daughter to Polonius, below'd by Hamlet. Ladies attending on the Queen. Players, Grave-makers, Sailors, Messengers, and other Attendants. HAMLET, Prince of DENMARK. ACTI. SCENE, a Platform before the Palace. Enter Bernardo and Francisco, two Centinels. W BERNARDO. HO's there? Fran. Nay, anfwer me: ftand, and unfold your felf. Ber. Long live the King! Fran. Bernardo? Ber. He. Fraz. You come most carefully upon your hour. Ber. 'Tis now ftruck twelve; get thee to bed, Francifco. Fran. For this relief, much thanks: 'tis bitter cold, And I am fick at heart. Ber. Have you had quiet Guard? Franc. Not a mouse stirring. E 4 Ber. If Ber. Well, good night. you do meet Horatio and Marcellus, The rivals of my Watch, bid them make hafte. Enter Horatio and Marcellus. Franc. I think, I hear them. Stand, ho! who is there? Hor. Friends to this ground. Mar. And liege-men to the Dane. Fran. Give you good night. Mar. Oh, farewel, honest soldier; who hath reliev'd you? Fran. Bernardo has my place: give you good night. Mar. Holla! Bernardo, Ber. Say, what, is Horatio there? Hor. A piece of him. [Exit Francifco, Ber. Welcome, Horatio; welcome, good Marcellus. Mar. What, has this thing appear'd again to night? Ber. I have feen nothing. Mar. Horatio fays, 'tis but our phantafie ; With us, to watch the minutes of this night He may approve our eyes, and speak to it. And let us once again affail your ears, And let us hear Bernardo speak of this. Ber. Laft night of all, When yon fame Star, that's weftward from the Pole, Had made his course t'illume that part of heav'n Where now it burns, Marcellus and my self, The bell then beating one, Mar. Peace, break thee off; Enter Enter the Ghoft. Look, where it comes again. Ber. In the fame figure, like the King that's dead. Mar. Speak to it, Horatio. Hor. What art thou, that ufurp'ft this time of night, Together with that fair and warlike form, In which the Majesty of buried Denmark Did sometime march? by Heav'n, I charge thee, speak. Mar. It is offended. Ber. See! it ftalks away. Hor. Stay; fpeak; I charge thee, fpeak. [Ex. Ghoft. Mar. 'Tis gone, and will not answer. Ber. How now, Horatio? you tremble and look pale, Is not this fomething more than phantafie? What think you of it? Hor. Before my God, I might not this believe, Without the fenfible and true avouch Of mine own eyes. Mar. Is it not like the King? Hor. As thou art to thy felf. Such was the very armour he had on, When he th' ambitious Norway combated: 'Tis ftrange. Mar. Thus twice before, and just at this dead hour, With martial stalk, he hath gone by our Watch. Hor. In what particular thought to work, I know not: But, in the grofs and scope of my opinion, This bodes fome ftrange eruption to our State. Mar. Good now fit down, and tell me, he that knows, Why this fame ftrict and most observant Watch So nightly toils the Subjects of the Land? And why fuch daily caft of brazen Cannon, And foreign mart for implements of war? E 5 Why Why fuch imprefs of fhipwrights, whofe fore task Hor. That can I ; At leaft, the whifper goes fo. Our laft King, Did forfeit (with his life) all thofe his Lands, Had he been vanquisher; as by that cov❜nant, Hath in the skirts of Norway, here and there, The fource of this our watch, and the chief head A little |