PERSONS REPRESENTED.

Claudius, King of Denmark.
Hamlet, son to the former, and nephew to the pre-

sent King
Polonius, Lord Chamberlain.
Horatio, friend to Hamlet.
Laertes, son to Polonius.
Voltimand,
Cornelius,

Courtiers.
Rosencrantz,
Guildenstern,
Osrick, a courtier.
Another courtier.
A Priest.
Marcellus,
Barnardo,

.
Francisco, a soldier.
Reynaldo, servant to Polonius.
A Captain. An Ambassador.
Ghost of Hamlet's father.
Fortinbras, Prince of Norway.
Gertrude, Queen of Denmark, and mother of Hamlet.
Ophelia, daughter of Polonius.
Lords, Ladies, Officers, Soldiers, Players, Grave-

diggers, Sailors, Messengers, and other Attendants.

SCENE, Elsinore.

HAMLET

PRINCE OF DENMARK.

ACT I. SCENE I.

Elsinore. A Platform before the Castle.

FRANCISCO on his Post. Enter to him BARNARDO.

BAR. Who's there?

FRAN. Nay, answer me : stand, and unfold Yourself.

BAR. Long live the king !
FRAN.

Barnardo?
BAR.

He. Fran. You come most carefully upon your hour. BAR. 'Tis now struck twelve;(") get thee to bed,

Francisco. FRAN. For this relief, much thanks : 'tis bitter

cold,
And I am sick at heart.

BAR. Have you had quiet guard ?
FRAN.

Not a mouse stirring.

me] i. e. me who am already on the watch, and have a right to demand the watch-word. Steevens.

unfoldAnnounce, make known.
Long live, &c.] The watch-word.

b

B

BAR. 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 liegemen (3) to the Dane. Fran. Give you good night. (*) MAR.

O, farewell, honest soldier: Who hath reliev'd you? FRAN.

Barnardo hath my place. Give you good night.

[Exit Francisco. MAR.

Holla! Barnardo!
BAR.

Say.
What, is Horatio there?
HOR.

A piece of him.
BAR. Welcome, Horatio; welcome, good Mar-

cellus. Hor. What, has this thing appear'd again to

night?
BAR. I have seen nothing.

MAR. Horatio says, 'tis but our fantasy ;
And will not let belief take hold of him,
Touching this dreaded sight, twice seen of us :
Therefore I have entreated him along
With us, to watch the minutes of this night;
That, if again this apparition come,
He may approve our eyes,' and speak to it.

Approve our eyes] “ To approove or confirme. Ratum habere aliquid.” Baret's Alvearie, Fo. 1580.

“ Approves the common liar.” Ant. & CI. I. 1. Dem. See Two G. of V. Prot. V. 4.

Hor. Tush! tush! 'twill not appear.
BAR.

Sit down awhile;
And let us once again assail your ears,
That are so fortified against our story,
What we'two nights have seen.“
Hor.

Well, sit we down, And let us hear Barnardo speak of this.

BAR. Last night of all, When yon same star, that's westward from the pole, Had made his course to illume that part of heaven Where now it burns, Marcellus, and myself, The bell then beating one,

MAR. Peace, break thee off; look, where it

comes again!

Enter Ghost.

BAR. In the same figure, like the king that's

dead. MAR. Thou art a scholar, speak to it, Horatio.(6) BAR. Looks it not like the king? mark it, Ho

ratio. HOR. Most like :—it harrows me with fear, and

wonder.() BAR. It would be spoke to. MAR.

Speak to it, Horatio. HOR. What art thou, that usurp'st this time of

night, Together with that fair and warlike form

b

• What we have seen] We must here supply, “ with,” or “by relating.”

Usurp'st this time of night] Abuses, uses against right, and the order of things.

“ He but usurp'd his life;" i. e, occupied it beyond, and out of its season. End of Lear.