HAMLET,

PRINCE of DENMARK.

CLAUDIUS, King of Denmark.
Fortinbras, Prince of Norway.

Hamlet, Son to the former, and Nephew to the pre-
Jent King.

Polonius, Lord Chamberlain.
Horatio, Friend to Hamlet.

Laertes, Son to Polonius.

Gertrude, Queen of Denmark, and Mother to Hamlet.

Ophelia, Daughter to Polonius.

Ladies attending on the Queen.

Players, Grave-makers, Sailors, Messengers, and other Attendants.

SCENE, ELSINOOR.

The Story is taken from the Danish Hiftory of Saxo Grammaticus.

Of this Play the Editions are,

1. Quarto, 1605. J. R. for N. L.

2.

3.

4.

1611. W. S. for John Smethwicke.
1637. R. Young, for John Smethwicke.
No date. W. S. for John Smethwicke.
I have only the third Quarto and Folio.

HAMLET,

PRINCE of DENMARK.

*ACT Í. SCENE I,

A Platform before the Palace.

Enter Bernardo and Francifco, two Centinels

W

BERNARDO.

HO's there!

Fran. Nay, answer me. Stand, and unfold yourself.

Ber. Long live the King!

Fran. Bernardo ?

Ber. He.

Fran. 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.

This Play is printed both in the folio of 1623, and in the quarto of 1637, more correctly, VOL. VIII.

K

than almoft any other of the works of Shakespeare.

Ber.

Ber. Have you had quiet Guard?
Fran. Not a mouse stirring.
Ber. Well, good night.

If you do meet Horatio and Marcellus,

The rivals of my Watch, bid them make haste.

Enter Horatio and Marcellus.

Fran. 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 foldier. 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 appeared again to night?

Ber. I have feen nothing.

Mar. Horatio fays, 'tis but our phantafy,
And will not let belief take hold of him,

Touching this dreadful fight, twice feen of us;
Therefore I have intreated him along

With us, to watch the minutes of this night,

The rivals of my Watch,-] Rivals, for partners. WARB. By Rivals of the Watch are meant those who were to watch on the next adjoining ground. Rivals, in the original fenfe of the word, were proprietors of

neighbouring lands, parted only by a brook, which belonged equally to both. HANMER.

Hor. A piece of him.] But why a piece? He fays this as he gives his hand. Which direction fhould be marked. WARB.

That

That if again this apparition come,

3

He may approve our eyes, and speak to it.
Hor. Tufh! tufh! 'twill not appear.
Ber. Sit down a while,

And let us once again affail your ears,
That are so fortified againft our ftory,
* What we two nights have feen.-
Hor. Well, fit we down,

And let us hear Bernardo fpeak of this.
Ber. Laft night of all,

When yon fame ftar, that's weftward from the pole, Had made his courfe t'illume that part of heav'n Where now it burris, Marcellus and myself,

The bell then beating one,

Mar. Peace, break thee off;

Enter the Ghoft.

Look, where it comes again.

Ber. In the fame figure; like the King that's dead.
Mar. Thou art a fcholar; fpeak to it, Horatio.
Ber. Looks it not like the King? Mark it, Horatio.
Hor. Moft like. It harrows me with fear and

wonder.

Ber. It would be spoke to.

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 Majefty of buried Denmark

Did fometime march? By Heav'n, I charge thee, fpeak.

Mar, It is offended.
Ber. See! it ftalks away.

3 -approve our eyes,] Add a new teftimony to that of our eyes.

4 What we two nights have feen.] This line is by Hunmer given to Marcellus, but without neceffity. K 2

Hor.