6' Dinwfl PvnllQIirrQf! ( Ten Nights in a Bar Room. The Bottie. rldjfiJ JjAuHallSjUUi (The Drunkard's Doom, The Drunkard. Tiitteen Years ot a Drtiakard's Life 15 cts e:ich. No. XVIII. FRENCH'S STANDARD DR EDITED BY EPES SARGENT. PR 2807 .fi2 F7 ""'_:_ HAMLET. IN FIVE ACTS. BY WILLIAM SHAKSPEAEE THE STAG-B EDITION. WITB THE STAGE BUSINESS, CAST OF CHARAC TBRS, COSTUMES, RELATIVE POSITIONS, ETG V W! NEW YORK: BAMUEL FRENCH, 122 Nassau Stkbet, (Up Staibs.) EOOKS Every amateur shotjliD have. AMATEUR'S GUIDE ; or, How to Get up Home Theatricals and to Act !n Them, with Rules, B J4aws, Selected Scenes, Plays and other useful information for Amateur Societies. Price 25 ctS.. GUIDE TO THE STAGE. 15 cents. ART OF ACTING. 15 cents. Antifhinn nn. iliis mnev Sf>mf. hii vn.n.'il, nn vpoAimi. of nrinfi.. BENCH'S STANDARD DRAMA Price 15 Cents eacli.— Bound Volximes $1. 25. roL. I. dy of Lyons Qeymoon lool for Scandal TOh. II. •anger atlier Whitehead IIII Sacrifice mester for the Heartache inohback !sar de Bazan 'OL. III. or Grentleman III Preserved 7e Chase e Five Shillings ''OL. IV. us ' the Commons L Assurance nt Day ntlemen of Verona ilous Wife rals ion rOL. V. [Debts Way to Pay Old efore Tou Leap )hn s Man and Pythias 3tiue Marriage a Tell ;er tho Wedding OL. VI. he Plough and Juliet Times ! the Twelfth idal Hies of a Night est [Fair Lady leart Never Won OL. VII. lEuin enna .do About Nothing tie 3L. VIII. estate I Night n& Co nt of Venice ,ds&Toung Hearts ineers [riage iVeeks after Mar 'OL. IX. 1 Like It ier Brother IS ,nd Country ear evils 5^0L. X. VIII 1 and Single IV 17 annenng earts and Wives 1 Family oops to Conquer VOL. XI. 81 Julius Coesar 82 Vicar of Wakefield 83 Leap Year 84 The Gatspaw 85 The Passing Clou(' 86 Drunkard 87 Rob Roy 88 George Barnwell VOL. XII. 89 Ingomar 90 Sketches in India 91 Two Friends 92 Jane Shore 93 Oorsican Brothers 94 Mind your own Business 95 Writing on the Wall 96 Heir at Law VOL. XIII. 97 Soldier's Daughter 'dZ Douglas 99 Marco Spada 100 Nature's Nobleman 101 Sardanapalufl 102 Civilization 103 The Robbers 104 Katharine and-Petruchio VOL, XIV. 105 Game of Love 106 Midsummer Night's 107 Ernestine [Dream 108 Rag Picker of Paris 109 Flying Dutchman 110 Hvpocrite 111 Therese 112 La Tour de Nesle VOL. XV. 113 Ireland As It Is 114 Sea of Ice 115 Seven Clerks 116 Game of Life 117 Forty Thieves 118 Bryan Boroihme 119 Romance and Reality 120 Ugolino VOL. XVL 121 The Tempest 122 The Pilot -«»■ 123 Carpenter of Eouen 124 King's Rival 125 Little Treasure 126 Dombey and Son 127 Parents and Guardians 128 Jewess VOL. XVII '% 129 Camille * 130 Married Life 131 Wenlock of Wenlock 132 Ro.se of Ett'ickvale 133 David Co; irfield 134 Aline, or i Rose of 135 Pauline [Killarney 136 Jane Eyre VOL. XVIIL 137 Night and Morning 138 ./Ethiop 139 Three Guardsmen 140 Tom Cringle 141 Henriette, the Forsaken 142 Bustaohe Baudin 143 Ernest Maltraverfl 144 Bold Dragoons VOL. XIX. 145 Dred, or the Dismal [Swamp 146 Last Days of Pompeii 147 Esmeralda 148 Peter Wilkins 149 Ben the Boatswain 150 Jonathan Bradford 151 Retribution 152 Minerali VOL. XX, 153 French Spy 134 Wept of Wish-ton Wish 155 Evil Genius 156 Ben Bolt 157 Sailor of France 158 Red Mask 159 Life of an Actress 160 Wedding Day VOL. XXI. 161 All's Fair in Love 162 Hofer 163 Self ](j4 Cinderella 165 Phantom 166 Franklin [Moscow 167 The Gunmaker of 163 The Love of a Prince VOL. XXII. 169 Son of the Night 170 Rory O'More 171 Golden Eagle 172 Rienzi 173 Broken Sword 174 Rip Van Winkle 175 Isabelle 176 Heart of Mid Lothian VOL. XXIII. 177 Actress of Padua 178 Floating Beacon 179 Bride of Lamermoor 180 Cataract of the Ganges 181 Robber of the Rhine 182 School of Reform 183 Wandering Boys 184 Mazeppa VOL. XXIV. 185 Young New York 186 The Victims 187 Romance after Marriage 138 Brigand 189 Poor of New York 190 Ambrose Gwinett 191 Raymond and AgneS 192 Gambler's Fate VOL. XXV. 193 Father and Son 194 MassanieUo 195 Sixteen String Jack 196 Youthful Queen 197 Skeleton Witness 198 Innkeeper of Abbeville 199 Miller and his Men 200 Aladdin VOL. XXVI. 201 Adrienne the Actress 202 Undine 203 Jessie Brown 204 Asmodeus 205 Mormons 206 Blanche of Brandywine 207 Viola 208 Deseret Deserted VOL. X.XIVII. 209 Americans in Paris 210 Victorine 211 Wizard of the Wave 212 Castle Spectre 213 Horse-shoe Robinson 214 Armand, Mrs Mowatt 215 Fashion, Mrs Mowatt 216 Glance at New York VOL. XXVIII. 217 Inconstant 218 Uncle Tom's Cabin 219 Guide to the Stage 220 Veteran 221 Miller of New Jersey 222 Dark Hour before Dawn 223 Midsum'r Night's Dream [Laura Keene's Edition 224 Art and Artifice VOL. XXIX 225 Poor Young Man 226 Ossawattomie Brown 227 Pope of Rome 223 Oliver Twist 229 Pauvrette 230 Man in the Iron Mask 231 Knight of Arva 232 Moll Pitcher VOL. XXX. 233 Black Eyed Susan 234 Satan in Paris 235 Rosina Meadows [ess 236 West End, or Irish Heir- 237 Six Degrees of Crime 238 The Lady and the Devil 239 Avenger.or Moor of Sici- 240 Masks and Faces [ly (Catalogue continued on third page of cover. y VOL. XXXI. 241 Merry Wi^es of Windsoi 242 Mary's Birthday 243 Shandy Maguii'e 244 Wild <")ats 245 Michael Erie 246 Idiot Witness 247 Willow Copse 248 People's Lawyer VOL. XXXII. 249 The Boy Martyrs 250 Lucretia Borgia 251 Surgeon of Paris 252 Patrician's Daughter 253 Shoemaker of Toulouse 254 Momentous Question 255 Love aud Loyalty 256 Robber's Wife VOL. XXXIII. 257 Dumb Girl of Genoa 258 Wreck Ashore 259 Clari 260 Rural Felicity 261 Wallace '262 Madelaine 263 The Fireman 264 Grist to the Mill VOL. XXXIV. 265 Two Loves and a JAt9 266 Annie Blake 267 Steward 268 Captain Kyd 269 Nick of the Woods 270 Marble Heart 271 Second Love 272 Dream at Sea VOL. XXXV. 273 Breach of Promise 274 Review 275 Lady of the Lake 276 Still Water Runs Deep 277 The Scholar 278 Helping Hands 279 Faust and Marguerite 280 Last Man VOL. XXXVI. 281 Belle's Stratagem 282 Old and Young 283 Eaffaella 284 Ruth Oakley 285 British Slave 286 A Life's Ransom 287 Giraida 288 Time Tries All VOL. XXXVII. 289 Ella Rosenburg 290 Warlock of the Glen 291 Zelina 292 Beatrice 293 Neighbor Jackwood 294 Wonder 295 Robert Emmet 296 Green Bushes V^OL. XXXVIII. 297 Flowers of the Forest 298 A Bachelor of Arts 299 The Midnight Banquet 300 Husband of an Hour 301 Love's Labor Lost 302 Naiad Queen 303 Caprice 304 Cradle of Liberty VOL. XXXIX. 305 The Lost Ship 306 Country Squire 307 Fraud and its Victims 308 Putnam 309 King and Deserter ^j,-^ 310 La Fiammina ? 311 A Hard Struggle 312 Gwinnette Vaughaa VOL. XL. 313 The Love Knot [Judge 314 Lavater, or Not a Bad 315 The Noble Heart 316 Corjolanus 317 The Winter's Tale 3l8Eveleen Wilson 319 Ivanhoe 320 Jonatl tn in England ■a— i^— ■mwi II No. XVHL FRE^JCH'S STANDARD DRAM HAMLET. IN FIVE ACTS. BY WILLIAM SHAK SPEAR E. II THE STAGE EDITlONj WITft THE STAGE BUSINESS, CAST OF CHAEACTEIS, OM TTMES, RELATIVE POSITIONS, 4to. ■iN^^^ NEW YORK: SAM U -EL FRENCH, P U B L I S II E li^ 122 Nassau Strkbt, (Up Staiks.) CAST OF CHARACTER! Dirury Lane, 1823l Claudius King- of Denmark Mr. PoweJl. Hamlet " Macready. Polonius ^ " Terry. Laertes .' " Mercer. ffm-atio " Arclier. Rosencrantz " Wel-.ster. GuildenBtern " Coveney. Qjtrick ' Ff^nley. Man-Uus " King. Bernardo . " Howell. Vrancisco *' Turtiour. First Actor Firal Grave-Digger " Dowrcn. Second Grace- Dig-ffcr " Hughes. Giiust of Hamlefs Father " \7allack. Queen Mrs. Glover. Ophelia Mis6 Povey. dctress Priest, Sailors, Ladies, ifC Park, 1&45. Mr. Ficiiiiiig. ' Charles Keaa " Bass. *' Bliiiid. " Barry. " S. Pearson. " Crocker. " De VValden. " M' Douall " Galltt. " King-. " Aiidersoa. " Fisher. " Heath. " Dyott. Mrs. Abbott, " Charles Keas. Miss F. Gordon COST UMES. KING. — Brown velvet doublet and trunks, richly embroidered, crimson vcivet robe trimmed with gold ; white silk stockings, white shoes. HA.'VILET. — Black doublet, trunks, and cloak, trimuied with bugles and black sa tin, black hose, round black hat, and black plumes. In the grave-vard scenfi ho war* a dark green cloak, triaimed with scarle.. HORATIO. — Crimson doublet and trunks, richly embroidered, white pantal<»on8, russet boots, gauntlets, round black hat, with gold band and white plumes. LAERTES. — Green vest, mantle, and trunks, embroidered with gold, whue silk pantaloons and shoes, gauntlets, round black hat, white plumes, and sword. — Se- cond dress- Black. POIiONIUS. — Crimson doublet, mantle, and trunks, richly embroidered ; white eilk stockings, white shoes with piok roses. ROSENCRANTZ and GUILDEMSTERN.— Crimson vest, mantle and truuks, eia- broidered, white stockings and shoes. OSRIC. — White vest, white breeches, bla.:k silk mantle with rich gold spangie^ white .?ilk stockings, white shoes, round black hat with white plumes. GHOST. — Steel armour and helmet. GRAVE DIGGERS.— Coarse drab-coloured dresaea, with belts and buckle*. QUEEN. — White satin dress, trimmed with silver, purple v ^Ivet robi. OPHELIA.— Plain white rnuelin. VIRGINS.— Plain white muslin. ICTRESS. — Plain gray calico, trimmed with satin. ^ EXITS AND ENTRAMOEo R. moans Right: L. Left: R. D. Right Door; L. D. Left Door, 8. B. Second Entrance; U. E. Upper Entrance; M. D. Middle Door RELATIVE POSITIONS. R., means Riglit; L., Left; C, C nitre ; R. C, Right of Centrt L. C, Left of Centra n.B. Passages marked with h vnrteu Commas, are usually omitttd in tk« rf.presentation. EDITOU^AL IlNxRODUCTION, [he bicgraphcr of Jolm Fhilip Kemble relates, that on a-n OC' jeAon of the question bemg agitated, whether Othello oi Macbeth were Shakspeare's greatest production, John Philip remarked : " The critics may decide that point for themselves ; but, as for the people, take up any Shakspeare you will, froin the first vo- lume of his v/orks to the last, which has been read, and see which play bears the most obvious signs of perusal. My life for it, they will be found in the volume which contains the play of Hamlet." Every reader's experience will confirm this test. No merely literary production in the language has been so nmch read and studied, or has been made the subject of so much comment and criticism. The present acting edition is that prepared by Kem- ble. It differs from the original play simply in its abridgment ; few liberties having been taken with the language, except where they were essential to its appropriate condensation. Garrirk produced an altered version at Drury Lane in 1771, in which he left out Osrick and the Grave-Diggers, and introduced some ab- surd changes in the last scene. He seems to have been so mucli ashamed, however, of his attempt, that he never published it. As commentators upon " Hamlet" are sufficiently abundant, we tliink we cannot render a better service to those by whom the present edition will be principally sought, than ty giving some account of the peculiarities of the most eminent Hamlets, who have been memorable in the annals of the Stage. The following isColley Gibber's account oi Bettertori' s appear- ance in this part : — " You may have seen a Hamlet perhaps, who on the first appear?inco of his lather's spirit has thrown himself" into all the straining vocifera- tion requisite to express rage and fury; and tiie house has thundered with applause, though the misguided actor was all the while Tearing a passion iuto rags. I am the more bt/ld to otier you this instance, be- cause the late Mr. Addison, while I sat by l*im to see this scene acted, inade the same observation, asking me with some surprise if I thought HamJet should be ii; so violent a passion with tlie ghost, which, though !▼ EDITORIAL !NTROJ>UCTION. it might have astonished, had not provoked him ? Betlerton opened this scene with a pause of mute amazement ; then rising slowly to a solemn trembling voice, he made the ghost equalhj terrible to the spec- tator as to himself : and in the descriptive part uf the natural emotions which the ghastly vision gave him, the boldness of his expostulation was still governed by decency, manly, but not braving, his voice never rising into that seeming outrage or wild defiance of what he naturally revered. But alas ! to preserve this medium between mouthing and meaning too little, to keep the attention more pleasingly awake by a tempered spirit than by mere vehemence of voice, is of all the mas- ter-strokes of an actor the most difBcult to reach. In this none have yet equalled Betterton." ** I have been told," says another writer, "by a gentleman who has frequently seen Betterton perform Hamlet, that he observed his cour- tenance, which was naturally ruddy and sanguine, in the scene of tire third act where his father's ghost appears, through the violent and sud den emotion of amazement and horror, turn, instantly on the sight of his father's spirit, as pale as his neckcloth ; when his whole body seem- ed to be affected with a tremor inexpressible; so that, had his father's ghost actually risen before him, he could not have been seized with more real agonies. And this was felt so strongly by the audience, that the blood seemed to shudder in their veins likewise; and they, in some measure, partook of the astonishment and horror, with which they saw this excellent actor affected." " Of this same Betterton, the good and great Addison remarks: — 'Such an actor as Mr. Betterton ought to be recorded with the same respc-t as Roscius among the Romans.' And he adds in vindication of the stage : ' there is no human invention so aptly calculated for the forming a free-boi'u people as that of a theatre.' " Murphy speaks thus of GarricJc^s demeanor in the same part " When Garrick entered the scene, the character he assumed was legible in his countenance. By the force of deep meditation he trans- formed himself into the very man. He remained fixed in a pensive at- titude, and the sentiments that possessed his mind could be discovered by the attentive spectator. When he spoke, the tone of his voice was hi unison with the workings of his mind, and as soon as he said — " But I have that within, which passeth show," his every feature proved and confirmed the truth. The soliloquy be ginning, " O that this too, too solid flesh would melt," brings to light, as if by accident, the character of Hamlet. His gi'ief, his anxiety, nd irresolute temper, are strongly marked. He does no! as yet know that his father was poisoned, but his mother's marriage excites resentment and abhorrence. He begins, but stops for want ol words. Reflections crovw'd upon him and he runs o F in commendation of his deceased father. His thoughts soon turn again to his mother. In an instant he flies off again, and continues in a strain of sudden tran- sitions, taking no less than eighteen lines to tell us, that in less than two months his mother tnarried his father's brother. In all these ghiftings of thepassions, Garrick's voice and attitude changed with won derful celerity, and, at every pause, his face was an indey to his mind fJDITORIAL INTRODUCTION. , > •"'On the first appearance of the ghost, such a figure of coiistfraatioi was never seen He stood fixed in mute astonishment, and the audi ence saw him growing paler and paler. At'lei- an interval of suspense, he spoke in a low, trembhng accent, and uttered his questions with the gi-(«atest difficulty. His direcvions to the players were given con umoie. The closet-scene with his mother w?.s highly interesting, vt-arrn and path-^:ic. He spoke daggers to her, till her conscience turned her eyes inward on her own guilt. In the various soliloquies, Garrick proved himself the proper organ of Shakspeare's genius." It was on the 30th of September, 1783, that John Philip Kern- hie made his first appearance at Drury Lane in the character of Hamlet. His biographer, Boaden, says of his performance : ** To his general conception of the character I remember but one objection — that the deportment was too scrupulously graceful. There were points in the dialogue in almost every scene, which called upon the critic, where the young actor indulged his own sense of the mean- ing; and these were to be referred to the text or context of Sliaks- peare, and also to the previous manner of Garrick's delivery, or the existing one of Henderson's. For instance, Kemble said : • And for my soul, what can it do to that, Being a thing immortal as itself!' Grarrick here, with great quickness, said: 'What can it do to thai ?' There is more impressiveness in Kemble's manner of putting it. Hav- ing drav^^n his sword to menace the friends, who would prevent him following the Ghost, every Hamlet before Mr. Kemble presented the point to the phantom as he followed him to the removed ground. Kemble, having drawn it on his friends, retained it in his right ha-nd, but turned his left towards the Ghost, and drooped the weapon afte* him — a change both tasteful and judicious. As a defence against such a being, a sword was ridiculous. The kneeling at the descent of the Ghost was censured as a trick. Henderson saw it, and adopted it im mediately. These two great actors agreed in the seeming intention of particular disclosure to Horatio. ' Yes, but there is, Horatio — and much offence too' — and they turned off upon the pressing forward of Marcellus to partake the communication. Kemble only, however, prepared the way for this by the marked address to Horatio, " Did you not speak to it?" *■ In the scene with Polonius, where Hamlet is asked what is th« matter that he reads, and he answers, ' Slanders, sir,' Kemble, to giv« the stronger impression of his wildness, tore the leaf out of the book. The mobled queen.' "^Garrick repeated this after the player, as in doubt;* Kemble, as in sympathy. And accordingly Polonius echoes his approbation, ami says the expression is good. Henderson and Kemble ccacuiTed Li Baying to Horatio : "Ay, in ray heart of heart, as I do thee !" * We think that h(ire Garrick was unquestionably right. The remark of Polo« Blue would fje more appropriate in the case of Hamlet's appearing puzzled by tht tara *' mobled "• -Ed ^ 71 EDITORIAL INTRODUCTION. Garrick gave it differently ; heart of heart. The emphasis should be on the first word lieart, according to our judgment. In the mock play before the king, Garrick threw out as an unmeaning rant, addressed to Lucianus, the line, " The croaking raven doth bellow for revenfc." But Kerable and Henderson made it a reflection of Hamlet applicable to his own case.* In the adjuration to the Queen, 'Mother, for love of grace,' &c., Kemble knelt. His exclamation on hearing that the dead body was Ophelia's had not the pathos of Henderson's, who seemed here struck to the very soul. ' What ! the fair Ophelia!' Henderson's mode of uttering this was so inimitably line, that his tones lingered like some exquisite strain of music in the memory. " Kemble played this part in a modern court dress of rich black vel- vet, widi a star on his breast, the garter and pendant ribbon of an or- der, mourning sword and buckles, with deep ruffles; the hair in pow- der, which, in the scene of feigned distraction, flowed dishevelled in front and over his shoulders." Of the comparative styles of Edmund Keaii and Charles Kem- ble in this character, Hazlitt, one of the best theatrical critics of his day, remarks as follows : " Mr. Kemble unavoidably fails in this character for want of ease and variety. The character of Hamlet is made up of undulating lines It has the yielding flexibility of a * wave o'th' sea.' Mr*. Kemble plays it like a man in armor, with a determined inveteracy of purptjse, in one undeviating straight line, which is as remote from the natural grace and refined susceptibility of the character, as the sharp angles and ab- rupt starts which Mr. Kean introduces into the part. Mr. Kean is as much too splenetic and rash as Mr Kemble is too deliberate and form- al. His manner is too sti-ong and pointed. He throws a severity ap- proaching to virulence into the common observations and answers. — There is nothing of this in Hamlet. He is, as it were, wrapped up in his own reflections, and only fMnks aloud. There should therefore be no attempt to impress what he says upon others by a studied exagge- ration of emphasis or manner ; no talking at his hearers. There should be as much of the gentleman and scholar as possible, infused into the part, and as little of the actor." The following remarks by Da^des have reference to a point in the received mode of enacting Hamlet, which we think might well be reformed. Retszch, the celebrated German artist, who has so exquisitely illustrated this play, appears to have seen the absurdity of the miniatures, and represents Hamlet in the scen« * We think that here too Garrick's construction was the most judicious. Hamlet «vas quizzing the actor, as, where he asks if tliis " was a prolog^ue oi die posy of a rtiig " Shakspeare would hanily have made a raven bellow, except by way of ridi- raling:the jnmeaning I "jmbast of some of the dramatists of his day. — Ed. Standard Urama. m EDITORIAL INTiCODLCTlUIM. Vll referred to, as regarding the likenesses of his father and nncla hung upon the wall : — " ' Look here upon this picture, and on this.' •' It has h'^^u tlie constant practice of the stage, ever since the Eoa* toratJ jn, for Hamlet, in this scene, to produce from his pocket two pic- tures in little, of his father and uncle, not much bigger than two largo cfiins or medallions. How the graceful attitude of a man could be given in miniature, I cannot conceive. In the infancy of the stage, w« know that our thi-'atres had no moving scenes, nor were they acquaint- ed with them till Betterton brought some from Paris, 1662. In our antnors time they made use of tapestry ; and the figures in tapestry might be of service to the action of the player in the scene between Hamlet and the Queen. But, if the scantiness of decorations compel- led the old actors to have recourse to miniature pictures, why should the play-house continue the practice when it is no longer necessary — when tiie scene might be shown to more advantage by two portraits, at length, in different panels of the Queen's closet? Dr.Armstrong long ago pointed out the supposed absurdity of these hand-pictures. The other mode of large portraits would add to tlie graceful action of the player, in pointing at the figures in the wainscot. He might resume the chair immediately after he had done witii the subject, and go on with the expostulation." From the first repre-sentation of Hamlet to the present day, it is calculated that no dramatic production whatever has been so frequently acted both in the theatres of Great Britain and the United States. It is generally the first play thumbed by stage- struck aspirants ; and yet there is no character in which it is so difficult to satisfy an intelligent audience. The reason is, that almost every one has his own beau ideal of Hamlet, and it is dif- ficult for any actor to come up to that standard of the imagination. Mr. Macready, Mr. Forrest, the elder VandenhofT, and Charles Kean, hav€ all gained some celebrity in this part ; but we must confess we would rather see them in any other one of their favor- ite characters. There are fine points, undoubtedly, in the per- formances of all ; but v/e have invariably risen fi'om the represen' tation with a se.ise of dissatisfaction — a feeling that it was not our old acquaintance, the melancholy prince, whom we had beer, seeing. From descriptions that have come down to us ')f Bet- i*»^rton's acting in this character, we should infer that he was bj ''ir th3 greatest and truest Hamlet that the stage has yet known HAMLET. AC T I. Scene l.^Elstnore.—A Platform near the Palace—Night. Francisco at his Post, r, Enter Bernardo, l. Ber. (l.) Who's there 1 Fra7i. 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. (l. c.) 'Tis now struck twelve; get thee to bed, Francisco. Fran. (r. c.) For this relief, much thanks : — 'tis bitter cold, And I am sick at heart. Ber. Have you had quiet guard ] Fran. (l. c.) Not a mouse stirring. Ber. (r.) Well, good night. If you do meet Horatio and Marcellus, The rivals of my watch, bid them make haste. Fran. I think I hear them. Stand, ho ! (l.) Who ii there 1 Enter Horatio and INIarcellus, l. Hor. (l.) Friends to this ground. Mar.^-^R.) And liegemen to the Dane, Fran. Give you ga^d night. P HAMLET. [Ac» I Mar. Oh^ farewell, honest soldier ! Who halh relieved you ] Fran. Bernardo hath my place. Give you good night. • [Exit, L Mar. Holloa ! Bernardo ! Ber. Say, What, is Horatio there 1 Ho?: A piece of him. [Giving his hand Ber. Welcome, Horatio ; welcome, good Marcellus. Hor. What, has this thing appeared again to-night ] Ber. I have seen nothing. Mar. (l. c.) Horatio says, 'tis but our fantasy : And will not let belief take hold of him. Touching this dreaded sight, twice seen of us ; Theref<»re 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. Hor. (r. c.) Tush ! tush ! 'twill not appear Ber. Come, let us once again assail your ears. That are so fortified against our story, What we two nights have seen. Hor. (c.) Well, let us hear Bernardo speak of this. Ber. 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. (c.) Peace, break thee off; look, where it comeii again ! Enter Ghost, l. Ber. In the same figure, like the king that's dead. Hor. (r. c.) Most like : — it harrows me with fear and wonder. Ber. 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, In which the majesty of buried Denmark Di d sometimes march 1 By heaven, I charge thee, speak. [Ghost crosses to & •c-Wfft :.\ HAMLET 8 Mar, It is offended. Ber. See ! it stalks away. Uor. Slay; speak; speak, I charge tliec, speak! [Exit GJl3Sti B. Mar. 'Tia gone, and will not answer. Bcr. How row, Horatio '^ you tremble and look pale : ts not this son.ething more than fantasy 1 What think you of it ? Ilor. (r.) I might not this believe, Without the sensible and true avouch Of mine own eyes. Mar. (c.) Is it not like the king 1 Hor. As thou art to thyself: Such was the very armour he had on. When he the ambitious Norway combated. Mar. Thus, twice before, and jump at this dead hour, With martial stalk he hath gone by our watch. Hor. In what particular thought to work, I know rot \ But, in the gross and scope of mine opinion. This bodes some strange eruption to our state. Ee-enter Ghost, l. But, soft ; behold ! lo, where it comes again ! I'll cross it, though it blast me. \Ghost crosses to r.] Stay illusion ! ^ If thou hast any sound or use of voice, Speak to me : YGhost stops at E, If there be any good thing to be done, That may to thee do ease, and grace to me, Speak to me. (l. c.) If thou art privy to thy country's fate, Which, happily, fore-knowing may avoid -~ Oh, speak ! Or, if thou hast uphoarded in thy life Extorted treasure in the womb of the earth, For which, they say, you spirits oft walk in death, Sjieak of it . — \Flxit Ghost, l.] — stay, and speak. Mar. 'Tis gone ! We do it wrong, being so raajestical, T J offer it the show of violence. Ber. It was about to speak, when the cock crew. Hor, (r.) And tlien it started like a guilty thing 10 HAMLET. [ACT i Upon a fearful summons. I have heard, The cc'ck, that is the trumpet of the morn, Doth, with his k~>fty and shrill-sounding throat, Awake the god of day ; and, at his warning, Whether in sea or fire, in earth or air, The extravagant and erring spirit hies To his confine. But, Icok, the morn, in russet mantle clad, Walks o'er the dew of yon high eastern hill : l>reak we our watch up; [Crosses, l.] and, by my ad^ic€ Let (l. c.) us impart what we have seen to-night Unto young Hamlet; for, upon my life, This spirit, dumb to us, will speak to him. [Exeunt, L. S'^ENE II. — The Palace. — Flourish of Trumpets. Enter Polontus, t/ie King, Queen, Hamlet, Ladies and Attendants, l., Laertes, r., and stand thus : R. Laertes. Polon. King. Queen. Hamlet, l. Kirig. (c.) Though yet of Hamlet, our dear brother** death, The memory be green ; and that it us befitted To bear our hearts in grief, and our whole kingdom To be contracted in one brow of woe ; Yet so far hath discretion fought with nature, That we. with wisest sorrow, think on him. Together with remembrance of ourselves. Therefore, our sometime sister, now our queen, Tiie imperial jointress of this warlike state, Have we, as 'twere with a defeated jo}'-, Taken to wife ; nor have we herein barred Your better wisdoms, which have freely gone With this affair along : f^i all, our thanks. — And now, Laertes, what's the news with you 1 You told us of some suit. — What is't, Laeites ? Laer, My dread Lord, Your leave and favour to return to France ; From whence, though willingly, I came to Denmark, To show my duty in your coronation ; Yet now, I must confess, that duty done. My thoughts and wishes bend again toward France, A.^ bow them to your gracious leave and pardon. tfCEim il.] HAMLET. 11 King. Have you your father's leave ? Whal says Po- lonius 1 Vol. He hath, my Lord ; I do beseech you, give him leave to go. King. Take thy fair hour, Laertes ; time be thine, And thy best graces ; spend it at thy will. Bat now, my cousin Hamlet, and my son- Ham. A little more than kin, and less than kind. [Aside, King. How is it that the clouds still hang on you ] Ham. Not so, my Lord ; I am too much i'the sun. Qiiecn. Good Hamlet, cast thy nighted coh)ur off, A.nd let thine eye look like a friend on Denmark. Do not, forever, with thy vailed lids, Seek for thy noble father in the dust : Thou know'st 'tis common ; all that live must die, Passing through nature to eternity. Ham. Ay, madam, it is common. Queen. If it be. Why seems it so particular with thee 1 Ham. Seems, madam ! nay, it is; I know not sceras 'Tis not alone my inky cloak, good mother, Nor the dejected 'haviour of the visage, No, nor the fruitful river in the eye. Together with all forms, modes, shows of g^rief, That can denote me truly : these, indeed, seem. For they are actions that a man might play ; But I have that within, which passeth show; These but the trappings and the suits of woe. King. 'Tis sweet and commendable in youi DtiKrsrfl^ Hamlet, To give these mourning duties to your father: But, you must know, your father lost a father ; That father lost, lost his ; and the survivor bound In filial obligation for some term. To do obsequious sorrow : but to persevere In obstinate condolement, is a course Of impious stubbornness; 'tis unmanly grief; It shows a will most incorrect to heaven. We pray you, throw to earth This unprevaihng woe, and think of us As ol' a father ; for let the world take note, s IS HAMLET. [Act I You aro the m^st immediate to our throne, Our chiefest courtier, cousin, and our son. Qiceen. Let not thy mother lose her prayers, Hamlet, T pray thee, stay with us, go not to Wittenberg. Ham. I shall, in all my best, obey you, madam. King. Why, 'tis a loving and a fair reply ; Be as ourself in Denmark. Madam, come; This gentle and unforced accord of Hamlet Sits smiling to my heart : in grace whereof. No jocund health, that Denmark drinks to-day, But the great cannon to the clouds shall tell, Re-speaking earthly thunder. [Flouris/i of Trumpets. [Exeunt in tlie following order, viz. 1st, Polonious, with a White Rod, formally leading the way j 2d, the King and Queen ; 3d, Laertes ; Ath, male and fo- •male Attendants. Ham. [Standing alone, "L.^ Oh, that this too, too solid flesh would melt. Thaw, and resolve itself into a dew ! Or that the Everlasting had not fixed His canon 'gainst self-slaughter! God ! O God ! How weary, stale, flat, and unprofitable. Seem to me all the uses of this world ! Fie on't ! O fie ! (c.) 'Tis an unweeded garden. That grows to seed ; things rank and gross in nature, Possess it merely. That it should come to this ! But two months dead ! — nay, not so much, not two — So excellent a king; that was, to this, Hyperion to a satyr ; so loving to my mother, That he might not beteem the winds of heaven Visit her face too roughly. Heaven and earth ! Must I remember ] Why, she would hang on him. As if increase of appetite had grown By what it fed on — and yet. within a month — Let me not think on't ; — Frailty, thy name is woman ! — A little month ; or ere those shoes were old. With which she followed my poor father's body, Like Niobe, all tears ; — She married with my uncle, My father's brother ; but no more like my father, Than I to Hercules. It 13 not, nor it cannot come to, good ; — But break, my beart : (l.> for I must hold my tongrief II.] HAMLET. \^ Enter Horatio, Marcellus, and Bernardo, r. Ilor. (r.) Hail to your Lordship ! Ham. I am glad to see you well : Horatio — or I do forget myself? Ilor. The same, my Lord, and your poor servant ever. Ham. (r.) Sir, my good friend ; I'll change that nam© with you. And what make you from Wittenberg, Horatio 1 — Marcellus ? Mai', (r.) My good Lord — Ham. (c.) I am very glad to see you— Good even, sir - But what, in faith, make yoii from Wittenberg'^ Hor. (l. c.) a truant disposition, good my lord. [Marcellus and Bernardo stand, R, Ham. I would not hear your enemy say so ; Nor shall you do mine ear that violence, To make it truster of your own report Against yourself: I know you are no truant. But, what is your affair in Elsinore "? « We'll teach you to drink deep, ere you depart. Hor. My lord, I came to see your father's funeral. Ham. I pray thee, do not mock me, fellow-student ; I think it was to see my mothers wedding. Hor. Indeed, my lord, it followed hard upon. Ham. Thrift, thrift, Horatio ! the funeral baked meats Did coldly furnish forth the marriage tables. Would I had met my dearest foe in heaven. Or ever I had seen that day, Horatio ! My father — methinks, I see my father. Hor. Where, My lord ] Ham. In ray mind's eye, Horatio ! Hor. I saw him once : he was a goodly king. Ham. He was a man, take him for all in all, J shall not look upon his like again, (l. c.) Hor. (r. c.) My lord, I think I saw him yesternight. Ham. (l.) Saw ! who % Hor. My lord, the king, your father. Ham. The king, my father ! Hor. Season your admiration for awhile With an attent e-ir ; till I may deliver. 14 HAMLET. [ActI. Upon the witness of these gentlemen, This marvel to you. Hajfi. (c.) For heaven's h)ve, let me hear. Ilor. (c.) Two nights together had these gentlemen, Marcellus and Bernardo, on their v/atch, In the dead waste and middle of the night, Been thus encountered ; — a figure like your father, Armed at point, exactly cap-a-pe, Appears bef(jre them, and, with solemn march. Goes slow and stately by them : thrice he walked, By their oppressed and fear surprised eyes, Within his truncheon's length ; whilst tliey, distilled Almost to jelly with the act of fear, Stand dumb and speak not to him. This to me In dreadful secresy impart they did ; And I with them, the third night, kept the watch : Where, as they had delivered, both in time. Form of the thing, each word made true and good, The apparition comes. Ham. \To Bernardo and Marcellus, R.] But where was this 1 Mar. My lord, upon the platform where we watched. Ham. Did you not speak to it ] Ror. (l.) My lord, I did ; But answer made it none ; yet once, methought. It lifted up its head, and did address Itself to motion, like as it would speak ; But, even then, the morning cock crew loud; — And, at the sound, it shrunk in haste away, And vanished from our sight. Ham, 'Tis very strange. Hor. As I do live, my honoured lord, 'tis true ; And we did think it writ down in our duty. To let you know of it. Ham. (r. c.) Indeed, indeed, sirs : but this tr<>ublBfl me. — Hold you the watch to-night ] Mar. We do, my lord. Ham. Armed, say you ] Mar. Armed, my lord. Han. From top to toe ] Mar. My lord, frorr bead to foot. ScEnll.j HAMLET. 1^ Ham. Then saw you not his face ! Ilor. Oh, yes, my lord, he wore his beaver U|p* Ham. What, looked he frowningly ] Ilor. A countenance more In sorrow than in anger. Ham. Pale, or red ? Hor. Nay, very pale. Ham. And fixed his eyes upon you 1 Hor. Most constantly. Ham. I would I had been there. Hor. It would have much amazed you. Ham. Very like, Very like : — stayed it long 1 Ilor. While one, with moderate haste, Might tell a hundred. Mar. Longer, longer. Hor. Not when I saw it. Ham. His beard was grizzled ? — no % Hor. It was, as I have seen it in his life, A sable silvered. Ham. I will watch to-night; Perchance, 'twill walk again. Hor. I warrant 'twill. Ham. If it assume my noble father's person, I'll speak to it, though hell itself should gape, And bid me hold my peace. \Crosses, L.j I pray you all, \Iieturns to r If you have hitherto concealed this sight. Let it be tenable in your silence still ; And whatsoever else shall hap to-night, Give it an understanding, but no tongue. I will requite your loves : so, fare you well : Upon the platform, 'twixt eleven and twelve, I'll visit you. Hor. (r.) Our duty to your honour. Ham. (r.) Your loves, as mine to you : [Exeunt all hut Hairdetj »« My father's spirit ! (c.) — in arms ! — all is not well ; 1 doubt some foul play : 'would the niglit were come ! Till then, sit still, my soul : (l.) foul deeds will rise, Though all the earth o'erwhelm them, to men's eyes. b2 \ExU, l. 13 HAMLET. [Act I Scene 111.-^ An Apartment in I olonius's House. Enter Laertes and Ophelia, r. Laer. (r.) My necessaries are embarked : farewell ! A.nd, sister, as the winds give benefit, Pray, lot me hear from you. Oph. (r.) Do you doubt that? Jjaer. For Hamlet, and the trifling of his favour, Hold it a fashion, and a toy in blood ; He may not, as unvalued persons do. Carve for himself; for on his choice depends The safety and the health of the whole state ; Then weigh what loss your honour may sustain, If with too credent ear you list his songs. Fear it, Ophelia, fear it, my dear sister ; And keep you in the rear of your affection, Out ef the shot and danger of desire ; The chariest maid is prodigal enough. If she unmask her beauty to the moon. Oph. (r. c.) I shall the effect of this good lesson keep As watchman to my heart. But, good my brother, Do not, as some ungracious pastors do, 1^'how me the sWep and horny way to heaven : Whilst, like a reckless libertine, Himself the primrose path of dalliance treads. And recks not his own rede. Laer. (c.) Oh, fear me not ! 1 stay too long ; — But here my father comes. Enter Polonius, l. Fol. (l. c.) Yet here, Laertes ! aboard, aboart^, for shame ; The wind sits in the shoulder of your sail, A.nd you are staid for. Laer. Most humbly do I take my leave, my lord. Faiewell, Ophelia, and remember well What I have said to you. Oph. 'Tis in my memory locked. And you yourself shall keep the key of it. Laer. Farewell. \Exit^ L, Pol What is't, Ophelia, he hath said to you 1 4CKRS IV .J HAMLET. 17 Oph. So please you, something touching the lord Ham* let. PoZ. (c.) Marry, well bethought ; 'Tis told to m3, he hath very oft of late, Given private time to you ; and you yourself Have of your audience been most free and bounteous. If it be so, (as so 'tis put on me, And that in way of caution,) I must tell you, You do not understand yourself so clearly, As it behoves my daughter, and your honour. W^at is between you % give me up the truth. Oph. (c.) He hath, my lord, of late made many tenders Of his affection to me. PoZ Affection ! puh ! you speak like a green girl, Unsifted in such perilous circumstance. Do you believe his tenders, as you call them % Oph. I do not know, my lord, what I should think. Tol. Marry, I'll teach you : think yourself a baby; That you have ta'en these tenders for true pay, Which are not sterling. Tender yourself more dearly; Or you'll tender me a fool. Oph. My lord, he hath importuned me with love, In honourable fashion. Pol. Ay, fashion you may call it ; go to, go to. Oph. And hath given countenance to his speech, my lord, With almost all the holy vows of heaven. Pol. Ay, springes to catch woodcocks. I do know, When the blood burns, how prodigal the soul Lends the tongue vows. This is for all, — I would not, in plain terms, from this time forth, Have you so slander any moment's leisure, As to give words or talk with the lord Hamlet. Look to't, I charge you ; \Crossesy r.] come your ways. Oph. (r.) I shall obey, my lord. \lE^xeunt, r Scene IV. — The Platform. Enter 'Hamlet, Horatio, and Marcellus, r. u. e. Hatn. (r.) The air bites shrewdly ; it is very cold, (c.) Hot, (r.) It is a nipping and an eager air. 18 HAMLET. [An 1 Ham. "What hour now ? Ilor. (c.) I tliink it lacks cf twelve. Mar. (r. c) No, it is struck. Hor. I heard it not ; it then draws near the seasoD, Wherein the spirit held his wont to walk. [Flourish of Trumpets and Drums, and Ordnance shot ' off, within. "What does this mean, my lord % Ham. (l.) The king doth wake to-night, and takes his rouse ; And as he drains his draughts of Rhenish down The kettle-drum and trumpet thus bray out The triumph of his pledge. Hor. Is it a custom % Ham. Ay, marry, is't ; I But to my mind — though I am native here, And to the manner born — it is a custom More honoured in the breach, than the observance. Enter Ghost, l. Hor. (r.) Look, my lord, it comes ! Ham. (r. c.) [Horatio stands about two yards from tk4 hack of Hamlet ; Marcellus about the same distance from ' Hamlet, up the Stage.\ Angels and ministeis of grace do- fend us ! [ Ghost stops L. c Be thou a spirit of health, or goblin damned, Bring with thee airs from heaven, or blasts from hell. Be thy intents wicked, or charitable, Thou com'st in such a questionable shape, That I will speak to thee : I'll call thee Hamlet, King, father ! — Royal Dane : Oh, answer me ! Let me not burst in ignorance ! but tell, Why thy canonized bones, hearsed in death, Have burst their cerements ! why the sepulchre. Wherein we saw thee quietly in-urned. Hath op'd his ponderous and marble jaws, To cast thee up again ! What may this mean, That thou, dead corse, again, in complete steel, Revisit'st thus the glimpes of the moon, Making night hideous ; and we fools of nature, So horridly to shake our disposition, With thoughts beyond the reaches of oui souli % Scxjrz V.J HAMLET. 19 Say, why is this 1 wherefore 1 what should we do ? [Ghost heikana Ho^, It beckons you to go away with it. As if it some impartment did desire » To you alone. Mar. Look with what courteous action It waves you to a more removed ground ; But do not go with it. Hor. No, by no means. Ham. ft will not speak ; then I will follow it. Hnr. [Taking Hamlefs arm.] Do not, my lord. Ham. Why, what should be the fear ] T do not set my life at a pin's fee ; And, for my soul, what can it do to that, Eeincr a thino: immortal as itself? — v^ It waves me forth again ; — I'll follow it. Hor. What, if it tempt you toward the flood, my lord 1 Or to the dreadful summit of the cliff, And there assume some other horrible form, And draw you info madness 1 Ham. (c.) It waves me still ; Go on, I'll follow thee. [Breaks away, and crosses, l. c. Mar. You shall not go, my lord. [Both hold him again. Ham. (c.) Hold off your hands. Hor. (c.) Be ruled, you shall not go. Ham. My fate cries out, And makes each petty artery in this body A? hardy as the Nemean lion's nerve. [Ghost heckons Still am I called — unhand me, gentlemen ; — By heaven, I'll make a ghost of him that lets me. [B?-eaks away from ikerrk I say away : — Go on — I'll follow thee. [Exeunt Ghost and Hamlet, l. — Hoiatio and Marcei lus slowly follow. Scene V. — A remote part of the Platform,. Re-enter Ghost and Hamlet, froin l. v. e. to l. c, Hayn. (c.) Whither wilt thou lead me ] speak rU go no further. Ghost, (l. c.) Mark me. Ham. (r. c.) I will. 20 HAMLET. {Aetl Ghost. My hour is almost come When I to sulph'rous and tormenting flames Must lender up myself. Ham. Alas poor ghost ! Ghost. Pity me not, but lend thy serious hearing ^ J what I shall unfold. Ham. Speak, 1 am bound to hear. Ghost. So art thou to revenge, when thou shalt hear. Ham. What] Ghost, I am thy father's spirit ; Doomed for a certain term to walk the night ; And, for the day, confined to fast in fires, Till the foul crimes, done in my days of nature, , Are burnt and purged away. But that I am forbid To tell the secrets of my prison-house, I could a tale unfold, whose lightest word Would harrow up thy soul ; freeze thy young bhjod ; Make thy two eyes, like stars, start from their spheres j Thy knotted and combined locks to part, And each particular hair to stand on end, Like quills upon the fretful porcupine : But this eternal blazon must not be To ears of flesh and blood : — List, list. Oh, list ! — If thou didst ever thy dear father love — Ham. Oh, heaven ! Ghost. Revenge his foul and most unnatural murder Ham. Murder ! Ghost, Murder most foul, as in the best it is ; But this most foul, strange, and unnatural. Ham. Haste me to know it, that I with wiii;i?« »* pwift As meditation, or the thoughts of love, May sweep to my revenge. Ghost. I find thee apt. — Now, Hamlet, hear : *Tis given out, that, sleeping in my orchard, ' A serpent stung me ; so the whole ear of DennwM'k Is by a forged process of my death Rankly abused : but knqw, thou noble youth. The serpent that did sting thy father's life, Now wears his crown. Ham. Oh, my ]>rophetic soul ! my uncle ] Ghost. Ay, that incestuous, tliat adulterate beaat. icc9« v., HAMLET. With witchcraft of his wit, with traitoroL.« gifta.^ Won to his shameful lust The will of my most seeming- virtuous queen : Oh, Hamlet, what a falling off was there ! From me, whose love was of that aignitVj That it went hand in hand, even with the vow I made to her in mamage ; and to decline Upon a wretch, whose natural gifts were poor To those of mine !— But, soft, methinks I scent the morning air^ — Brief let me be : — sleeping within mine orchard My custom always of the afternoon. Upon my secure hour thy uncle stole, With juice of cursed hebenon in a phial, And in the porches of mine ears did pour The leperous distilment : whose effect , Holds such an enmity with blood of man, That swift as quicksilver it courses through The natural gates and alleys of the body ; So it did mine. Thus w^s I, sleeping, by a brother's hand. Of life, of crown, of queen, at once despatched! Cut off, even in the blossoms of my sin, No reck'ning made, but sent to my account With all my imperfections on my head. Ham. Oh, horrible ! Oh, horrible ! most hov -lids I Ghost. Jf thou hast nature in thee, bear it not ; Let not the royal bed of Denmark be A couch for luxury and damned incest But, howsoever thou pursu'st this act, Taint not thy mind, nor let thy soul contrive Against thy mother aught ; leave her to Heaven, And to those thorns that in her bosom lodore. To goad and sting her. Fare thee well at once ! The glow-worm shows the matin to be near, And 'gins to pale his uneffectual fire. — Adieu, adieu, adieu ! remember me. [ Vamshes, t, Ha7n. (r.) Hold, hold, my heart; And you, my sinews, grow not instant old, But bear me stiffly up ; — (c.) — Remember thee ] Ay, thou poor ghost, while memory holds a seat In this distracted globe. Remember thee 1 S2 HAMLET. (AOI i Yea, from the table of my memory I'll wipe away all forms, all pressures past, And thy commandment all alone shall live Within the book and volume of my brain, Unmix'd with baser matter; yes, by heaven, [ have sworii it. Jlor. I Within^ L.] My lord, my lord. — Mar. [ Within.] Lord Hamlet, — Ilor. [ JVitkin.] Heaven secure him ! Ham. So be it ! Hor. [ Within.] Hillo, ho, ho, my lord ! Ilarn. Hillo, ho, ho, boy ! come, bird, come ! Enter Horatio and Marcellus, l.u.e. Mar. (r. c.) How is*t, my noble lord ] Hor. (l. c.) What news, my lord ] Ham. (c.) Oh, wonderful ! Hor. Good, my lord, tell it? Ham. No ; you will reveal it. Hor. Not I, my lord, by heaven. Ham. How say you, then ; would heart of man onc9 think it \ — But you'll be secret % Hor. Ay, by heaven, my lord. Ham. There's ne'er a villain, dwelling in all Denmark^ But he's an arrant knave. Hor. There needs no ghost, my lord, come from the grave. To tell us this. Ham. Why, right ; you are in the right ; And so, without more circumstance at all, I hold it fit, that we shake hands and part ; You, as your business and desire shall point you ;— For every man hath business and desire, Such as it is — and, for my own poor part, [ will go pray. Hor. These are but wild and whirling words, my lord Ham. I am sorry they offend you, heartily. Hor, There's no offence, my lord. Ham. Yos, by Saint Patrick, but there is, Horatio, And much offence, too. [ Takes his hand.] Touching thiA vision here — fcERS ?.] HAMLET. 23 [t is an honest ghost, that let me tell yon . For voiir desire to know what is between us, O'or-master it as you may. [Part.] And new, good fiicnds, \Cro3se8i L. As you are friends, scholars, and soldiers, Give me one poor request. Ilor. What is't, my lord ? V\^e will. Ham. (c.) Never make known what you have seen tc night. ITor. Sf Ma?\ My lord, we will not. Ham. Nay, but swear it. Ho?\ Propose the oath, my lord. Ham. Never to speak of this that you have seen ; (r.) Swear by ray sword. Ghost. [Beneath.] Swear! Hor. Oh, day and night, but this is wond'rous stran^^l Hayn. And therefore as a stranger give'- it welcome. There are moie thing's in heav'n and earth, Horatio, Than are dreamt of in your philosophy. But come: — Here, [All three stand, r.J as before, never, so help you mei'cy ! How strantre or odd soe'er I bear myself — As I, perchance, hereafter shall think meet To put an antic dispixsition on — That you, at such times seeing me, never shall, With arms encumbered thus, or this head-shake, Or by pn^nouncing of some doubtful phrase. As, " Well, well, we know:" — or, " We could, an if we would :" or, " If we list to speak;" or, " There be, an if they might ;" Or such ambiguous giving out, to note That you know aught of me : — this do ye swear. So j^iace and mercy at your most need help you ! Cxhost. \Bencath.] Swear! Ham. llest, rest, perturbed spirit ! [All at c] — So, gen- tlemen, With all my love I do commend me to you : And what so poor a man as Hamlet is, [ Takes a hand of each* May do to express his love and friending to you. 24 HAKLBrr [Awfl Heaven willing shall not lack. Let uo go in toj^ether; [Grotg€f, It And still your fingers on your lips, T pray. The time is out ojf joint; — Oh, cui-sed spite ! That e?ei i was born to set it right ! [ExeUKtf u END OF ACT I. AC T II Scene I. — An Apartment in Tolonius's House, Enter Polonius, l., and Ophelia, r. Pol. (i-.) How now, Ophelia 1 what's the raatter ? Oph. (r.) Oh, my lord, my lord, I have been no frighted ! Pol. With wliat, in the name of hea\'en 1 Oph. My lord, as I was sewing in my closet, Lerd Hamlet — with his doublet all unbraced. No hat upon his head. Pale as his shirt, his knees knocking each other. He comes befiU'e me. Pol. (c.) JNIa.l for thy love ] Oph. (c.) My lord, I do not know ; But, trulv, I do fear it. Vol. What s^xid he ] Oph. He took me by the wrist, and held me hard; Then goes ht. to the length of all his arm, And with his other hand thus o'er his brow, He falls to such perusal of my face. As he would draw it. Lohg stayed he so ; At last, a little shaking of mine arm, And thrice his head thus waving up and down-™- He raised a sigh so piteous and profound. As it did seem to slatter all bis bulk, And end his being : that done, he lets me go ; And, with his head over his shoulder turned, Ho seemed to find his way without his eyes ; For out o'doors he went Vv^itbout their heips, And. to the last, bended their light on me Basmlt.^ HAMLET. 26 Pol. Ccme» go with me ; T will go seek the ling riiis is the very ecstasy of love. What, have you given him any hard words of late % Opli. No, my good lord ; but, as you did command, r did repel his letters, and denied His access to me. ToL That hath made him mad. Come, go we to the king : This must be known ; which, being kept close^ might move iVIore grief to hide, than hate to utter love. \Exeunt, l. Scene II. — The Palace^ Enter the King, Queen, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, l, Francisco and Bernardo, r. King, (c.) Welcome, dear, Rosencrantz and <"^uild*3n- stern ! Moreover that we did much Ions: to see you, Tlie need we have, to use you, did provoke Our hasty sending. Something have you heard Of Hamlet's transformation : What it should be, More than his father's death, that thus liath put him ^ So much from the understanding of himself,. [ cannot dream of; I entreat you both, That you vouchsafe your rest here in our court Some little time ; so by your companies. To draw him on to pleasures, and to gather, Whether aught, to us unknown, afflicts him thus. That, opened, lies within our remedy. Queen, (c.) Good gentlemen, he hath much talced of you; And, sure I am, two men there are not living To whom he more adheres. If it will please you So to expend your time with us a while, Your visitation shall receive such thanks As fits a king's remembrance. Ros. (l.) Both your majest'/es Might, by the sovereicjn power you tave of us. Put your dread pleasures more intc comraaud Than to entreaty. GuU. (l.) But we both obey; 26 HAMLET. ^Ac»n And here give up ourselves, in the full bent, To lay our service freely at your feet. King, Thanks, Rosencrantz and gentle Guildtnsteni Queen. I do beseech you instantly to visit My too much changed son. Go, some of you, !\nd bring '^bese gentlemen where Hamlet is. \^Exeuni all hut King and Queen, it Enter Polonius, l. Pol. (l. c.) I now do think (or else this brain of mine Hunts not the trail of policy so sure As it hath used to do), that 1 have found The very cause of Hamlet's lunacy. King, (c.) Oh, speak of that ; that do I long to hear Pol. My liege and madam, to expostulate What majesty should be, what duty is, Why day is day, night, night, and time is time, Were nothing but to waste night, day, and time. Therefore — since brevity is the soul of wit, And tediousness the limbs and outward flourishes— I will be brief: your noble son is mad : Mad call I it ; for, to define true madness, What is't, but to be nothing else but mad % But let that go. Queen, (r. c.) More matter, with less ait. Pol. Madam, I swear, I use no art at all. That he is mad, 'tis true ; 'tis true, 'tis pity ; And pity 'tis, 'tis true ; a foolish figure ; But farewell it ; for I will use no art. Mad let us grant him, then : and now remains, That we find out the cause of this effect; Or, rather say, the cause of this defect ; For this effect, defective, comes by cause : Thus it remains, and the remainder thus. Perpend — I have a daughter : have, while she is mine ; Who, in her duty and obedience, mark, Hath given me this : [Shews a jjaper.] now gather, and surmise, [Reads.]—-" To the celestial, and my soul's idol, the most beautified Ophelia," — That's an ill phrase, a vile phrase ; beautified is a vile phrase • but you shall hear ;— f CEIIE II.] HAMLET. 27 [Reads.] — " In her excellent white bosom, these," &c Queen. Came this from Hamlet to lier 1 Pn/. Good madam, stay awhile ; 1 will be faithful :— \Reads.\ — '* Doubt thou, tlie stars are fire ; Doubt, that the sun tloth move; Doubt truth to be a liar; But never (lr»ubt, 1 love. " Oh, dear Ophelia, I am ill at these numbers ; I have no art to reckon my groans ; but, that 1 love thee best, oh, most best, believe it ! Adien, *' Thine evermo'-^. most dear lady, whilst this machin<5 is to him, Hamlet." This, in obedience, hath my dnucrhter shown me ; And more above, hatfi his solicitipfr«, As they fell out by time, by means »nd place, All triven to mine ear. King. How haih she Received his love 1 Pol. What do you think of me 1 King. As of a man faithful and horrnvrnble. Pol. I would fain prove so. But wh^t ^pightyou think, When I had seen this hot love on the v/'m^ (As I perceived it, I must tell you that. Before my daughter told me), what might ya-v Or my dear majesty, yoyr queen here, think. If I had played the desk or table-book ; Or looked upon this k)ve with idle sight ; What might you think 1 No, I went round tP n-^k, And my young mistress thus did I bespeak ! Lord Hamlet is a prince ; out of thy sphere ; This must not be : and then I precepts gave h^ That she should lock herself from his resort, Admit no messengers, receive no tokens ; "Which done, she took the fruits of my advice: And he, repulsed, (a short tale to make), Fell into a sadness ; Thence into a weakness ; Thence to a lightness ; and by this declensioOp Into the madness wherein now lie raves, And all we mourn for. Kireg. Do you think 'tis this 1 Queen. It may be, very likely. c2 S8 HAMLET. [Ac»li Pol. HaA there been such a tince, (I'd fain knc w that)» Tl:al 1 have positively said, 'Tia so, Whtjn it |"»foved olhorwiso ? Krni\ Not tliEit 1 know. iW. Take lliis from this, iftliis be otherwise. [Point ir/g to //is head and shoulders. If circumstances lead me, I will find Where truth is liid, thoufjh it were hid indeed Wilhin the centre. , King. How may we try it further? Pol. You know, sometimes he walks for hours together Here in the lobby. Qtwen. 80 he does, indeed. Pol. At such a time, I'll loose my daughter to hinn ; Mark the encounter : if he love her not. And be not from his reason fallen thereon, Let me be no assistant for a state, But keep a farm, and carters. \Crosses, l. King. (11.) We will try it. Queen, (r.) But, look, where sadly the poor wretch comes reading ! Pol. Away, I do beseech you; both away! I'll board him presently. [Exeunt King and Queen, r. s. b Enter Hamlet, m. d., reading. (r. c.) How does my good Lord Hamlet 'I Hatn. (l. c) Excellent well. Pol. (c.) Do you know me, my lord 1 Ham. (r. c.) Excellent well : you are a fishmonger Pol. Not I, my lord. Ham,. Then I would you were so honest a man. Pol. Honest, my lord 1 Ham. Ay, sir ! to be honest as this world goes, is to be one man picked out often thousand. Pol. That's very true, my lord. Ham. For, if the sun breed maggots in a dead dog, be- ing a god, kissin*^ carrion — Have you a daughter \ Pol. 1 have, my lord. Ham. Let her not walk i' the sun : conception is u bles BiTig; but as your daughter may conceive — friend, look to t. [ Turns to the k. and reads. Pol (c.) Still ha'-pirg or my daughter! — y3t he knew ScBOTt U.] HAMLET. 29 m« not at first ; he said, I was a fishmcjige: 7*11 speak to him agahi. — \Asf(le.] — Wl;at do you read, ny lord ] ILim. (u.) Words, vv.wrds, words. Pol. What is the matter, my lord ?• Ham. Between who ] J*ol. I mean, the matter that you read, my lord ? Ham. (o.) Slanders, sir; fur the satirical rogue saya here, that old men have grey beards : that their faces are wrinkled ; their eyes purging thick amber and plum-tree gum ; and that they have a plentiful lack of wit, together with most weak hams : all of which, sir, though I most powerfully and potently believe, yet I hold it not honesty to have it thus set down ; for yourself, sir, shall bo old as I am, if, like a cryb, you could go backward. Pol. Though this be madness, yet there's method in't. \As'ule.\ Will you walk out of the air, my lord % Ham. (n.) into my gi*ave ! Pol. Indeed, that is out o'the air. How pregnant some- times his replies are ! a happiness that often madness Ints on, which reason and sanity could not so prosperously be delivered of. 1 will leave him, and suddenly contiive the means of meeting between him and my daughter, (c.) \Asidc.\ — My honourable lord, (r. c.) I will most humbly take my leave (»f you. liatn. Vou cannot, sir, take from me anything that T will more wilhngly part withal ; except my life, except my life, except my life. \^CrosscSy r. Pol. Fare you well, my lord. Ham. These tedious old fools ! [Aside. Enter Rosencrantz and Guildenstern, i. Pol, You go to seek the I Drd Hamlet 1 there he is. Ros. (l.) Heaven save you, sir ! [Exit Polo?iius, l. Guil. (l.) My honoured lord ! Ham. My excellent good friends ! How dost thou, >Tui1denstern ? [Crosses, c] Ah, Rosencrantz ? Good lads, how do ye both ] What news 1 Ros. (l. c.) None, my lord; but that the w Drld's grown honest. Ham, Then is dooms-day near : but your news is not tine. In the beaten way of iriendship, what make you sU Elsmore 1 30 HAMLET lAer ki. Ros Tc visit ynT7, my lord ; no other f »ccasic9. Ham Beggar that I am, I fim even poor in thanks! but I th&Tik you. Were you not sent for ] Is it your own in- clining] Is it a fiee visitation 1 Come, come ; deal justly v/ith me ; come ; nay, s})eak. Gad. (ii. c.) What should we say, ray lord 1 Ham. Anything — but to the purpose. You were sent for ; and there is a kind of confession in your looks, which your modesties have not craft enough to colour ; I know, the good king and queen have sent for you. , Kos. To what end, my lord ] Ham. That you must teach me. But let me conjure you, by the rights of our fellowship, by the consonancy of our youth, by the obHgation of our ever-preserved love, and by what more dear a better proposei* could chaj-ge you withal, be even and direct with me, whether you were sent for, or no ] Bos. What say you 1 [Aside to Gwhlcnsfcrn. Ham. Nay, then, 1 have an eye of you. [-^az^c.J If you love me, hold not off' Gad. JMy lord, we were sent for. Ham. 1 will tell you why ; so shall my anticipation pre- vent your discovery, and your secrecy to the King and Queen moult no feaihsr. I have of late, (but wherefore, I knov/ not,) lost all my mirth, forgone all custom of exer- cises : and, indeed, it goes so heavily with my disposition, that this goodly frarr.e, the earth, seems to me a sterile pro- montory ; this most excellent canopy, the air, look you, this biave o'oi'-hanging firmament, this majestical roof fret- ted with golden fii"e, why, it a])pears no other thing to mo than a ioul and pestilent congregation of vapours. — What a piece of work is a man ! How noble in reason ! how inuuite in faculties ! in form and moving, how express and admirable ! inaction, how like an angel! in appie hension, how like a god ! the beauty of tlie world ! the pa ragon of animals! And yet, to me, what is this quintes- sence of dust? Man delights not me — nor woman nei ther: though, by your smiling^, you seem to say so. Ros. (r.) My lord, there was no such sturi m my thoughts. Ha7n. (l.) Why did you laugt then, when I said, '* Man delights not me "'I SciCiisII.J HAMLET. 31 Ros. To think, my lord, if you delfght not in man, what lenten entertainment the players shail receive from you : we mot them on the way ; and hither are they coming, to ofl'er you service. ^ Ham. He that plays the King shall be welcome ; (c.) hifl Majesty shall have tribute of me ; the adventurous knight shall use his foil and target; the lover shall not sigh gratis : the humorous man shall end his part in peace ; and ihe lady shall say her mirjd freely, or the blank verse shall nalt for't. — What players are they 1 Ros. Even those you were wont to take such delight in, the tragedians of the city. Ham. (r.) How chances it they travel ? Their resi- dence, both in reputation and profit, was belter both ways. Do they hold the same estimation they did when I was in the city ? Are they so followed '{ Ros. No, indeed, they are not. Ilain. It is not very stiange : for my uncle is king of Denmark ; and those that would make mouths at him while ray father lived, give twenty, forty, fifty, an hundred ducats a-piece, for his picture in little. There is some- thing in this more than natural, if philosophy could find it out. [Flourish of Trumjjefs, l. Gail, (l.) There are the players. Ilam. (c.) Gentlemen, you are welcome to Elsinore : your bauds ; you are welcome : — but my uncle-father and aimt-moiher are deceived. Guil. In what, my dear lord ? Ham. I am but mad north-north-west : when the wind ia southerly, I know a hawk from a hernshaw. \Crosses, r. FoL. [ Within, L.] Well be with you, gentlemen ! Ham. (r.) Hark you, Guildenstern and Rosencrantz— - that groat baby you see there, is not yet out of his svmd. «ilJng-clouts. Ros. (r.) Happily, he's the second time come to them; for, they say, an old man is twice a child. H(im, (c.) I will prophecy, he comes to tell me of th« players ; mark it. You say right, sir ; o' M )nday morn lag; 'twas then, indeed — Enter Polonius, l. Vol. (c.) My lord, I have news to tell you. 32 HAMLET. Aov n. Ham. MjT lord, I have news to tell fou. When K.oscius was an actor in Rome — Pol. The actors are come hither, my lord. Ham. Buz, buz ! Po}. Upon my honour — Ham. " Then came each actor on his ass" — Pol. The best actors in the world, either for tragedy, comedy, history, pastoral, pastoral-comical, historical-pas- tv^ral, scene individable, or poem unlimited ; Seneca can- I20t be too heavy, nor Plautus too light. For the law of writ, and the liberty, these are the only men. Hai7i. " Oh, Jephthah, Judge of Israel" — what a trea- sure hadst thou ! Pol. What a treasure had he, my lord ? Ham. Why — " One fair daughter, and no more, The which he loved passing v/ell." Pol (c.) Still on my daughter. [Aside. Ham. Am I not i' the right, old Jephthah ] Pol. (r. c.) If you call me Jephthah, my lord, I have a daughter that I love passing well. Ham. Nay, that follows not. Pol. What follows, then, my lord ! Ham. VVhy, *' As by lot, God wot" — and then, you know, " It came to pass, as most like it was" — The first row of the pious chanson will show you more ; for look, my abridgment comes. [Goes to the Actors, l. — Polonius, Guildcnstern^ and liosencrantz stand, r. Enter two Actors and an Actress, l. You are welcome, masters ; welcome, all. Oh, old friend ! Why, thy face is valanced since I saw thee last : Com'sl thou to beard me in Denmark ? What, my young lady and mistress ! By-'r-lady, your ladyship is nearer to hea- ven than when I saw you last, by the altitude of a chopine. You are all welcome. We'll e'en to't like French falcon- ers, iiy at anything we see : we'll have a speech straig!)t • — Come, give us a taste of your quality : come, apassion- nle speech. \Thc 2d Actor and Actress retire up the stage, near l. u. E. 1 Act What speech, my lord 1 Haiti. I heard fbee speak me a speech Oiice — but it was B«Ki:Il] HAMLET. 33 never acted . cr, if it was not above once : for 'be [lay, 1 remember, pleased not the milboii ; 'twas caviare io iba general: but it was an excellent play; well dig-esled in the scenes, set down with as much modesty as cnnnnig. One speech in it 1 chiefly loved : 'twas ^Eneas' tale to Di- do ; and thereabout of it especially, where he speaks of Tiiam's slaughter : If it live in your memory, begin at ihii line : «* The rugged Pyrrhus, like the Hyrcanian beast" — 'Tis not so ; it begins with Pyrrhus. " The rugged Pyrrhus — he, whose sable arms, Black as his purpose, did the night resemble Old grandsire Priam seeks." Pol. (c.) 'Fore heaven, my lord, well spoken; with gocJ accent, and good discretion. Ham. (l. c.) So ; — proceed you. 1 Act. " Anon he finds him Striking too short at Greeks ; his antique sword. Rebellious to his arm, lies v.'here it fails, Repugnant to command. Unequal irzatchcd, Pyrrhus at Priam drives; in rage, strikes wide, But wiih the whiff and wind of his fell svrord The unnerved father falls. But as we often see. against some storm, A silence in the heavens, the rack stand still, The bold winds speechless, and the orb below As hush as death : anon, the dreadful thunder Doth rend the region : So, after Pyrrhus' pause, Aroused vengeance sets him new awork, And never did the Cyclops' hammers fall On Mars's armour, forged for proof eterne. With less remorse than Pyrrhus' bleeding swcrd Now falls on Priam. — Out, out, thoii citrumpet, Fortune !" Pol. This is too long. Ham. It shall to the barber's, with ycur beard. — Say sn : come to Hecuba. 1 Act. " But who, ah, woe ! had seen the mobled q'leen" — Ham. The mobled queen ! Pol. That's good ; the mobled queen is good. 1 Act. "Run baiefoot up and down, threatening tho flaxnes ; 34 HAMLET. A -» II A clout u^jf^n that head, Where late the diadem stood ; and, for a robo, A bhmket, in the alarm of fear caught up : Who this had seen, with tongue in venom stoeped, 'Gainst fortune's state would treason have pronounced ?** Pol. [Pomlhg to Hcunlet.] Look, whether he has not turned his colour, and has tears in's eyes. Pr'ythee, no moie. Ham. 'Tis well ; I'll have thee speak out the rest of this soon. Good my lord, will you see the players well bestowed ? Do you hear, let them be well used; for they are the abstract and brief chronicles of the time ; after your death you were better have a bad epitaph, than their ill report while you live. Pol. My lord, I will use them according to their desert. Ham. Much better. Use every man aiier his dee.ert, and who shall 'scape whipping ] Use thom after your own honour and dignity; the less they d-^seive, the niore merit is in ^''our bounty. Take them in. Pol. (l.) Come, sirs. \ To Actors, Ham. Follow him, friends ; we'll he?r a play to-mor- row. Old friend. — [T^^ ist Actor. My good friends, [ To Rosencrantz and GvJldf.vstern.\ I'll leave you 'till night ; you are welcome "o Elsiixoi'e. [Exeunt Rosencrantz avA Guildenstern, r. Can you play the murder of Gonzago 1 1 Act. Ay, my lord. Ham. We'll have it to-morrow nigh*;. You ^f^ould, for a need, study a speech of some dozen or six^/^^n lineg, which I would set down, and insert in't 1 could, you not I 1 Act. Ay, my lord Hcun. Very well. Follow that lord: and l^-^k yaa mock him not. [Exeunt Polonius and J'^^rs, I* Now 1 am alone, (c.) Oh, what a rogue and peasant slave am I \ Is it not monstrous, that this player here, But in a fiction, in a dream of passion, Could force his soul so to his own conceit. That, from her working, all his visage wann^jd: Tears in his eyes, distraction in's aspect, A broken voice, and his whole function suiting With forms to his conceit 1 And all for nothir^ ^ swnbH,] hamlet. 36 For Hecuba ! What's Hecuba to him, or he to Hecuba, That he should weep for her ] What would he do, Had he the' motive. and the cue for passion, That I have ] He would drown the stage with toar^;, And cleave the general ear with horrid speecJi ; Make mad the guilty, and appal tlie free, Confound the ignorant, and amaze, indeed, 1 he very faculties of eyes and ears. Yet I, A dull and muddy-mettled rascal, peak, Jiike John a-droams, unpregnant of my cause, And can say nothing ; no, not for a king, cTpon whose property, and most dear life, A damned defeat was made. Am I a coward ] Who calls me villain 1 breaks my pate across ? Plucks off my beard, and blows it in my face ? Tweaks me by the nose 1 gives me the lie i' the throat, As deep as to the lungs 1 Who does me this ] Ha! Why, I should take it : for it cannot be, But I am pigeon-livered, and lack gall To make oppression bitter; or, ere this, I shf)uld have fatted all the region kites With this slave's offal : Bloody, bawdy villain ! Remorseless, treacherous, lecherous, kindless villain! Why, what an ass am I 1 This is most brave ; That I, the son of a dear father murdered, Prompted to my revenge by heaven and hell, Must, like a whore, unpack my heart with words. And fall a cursing like a very drab, A scullion ! Fie upon't ! fob ! About, my brains ! Humph ! I nave heard. That guilty creatures, sitting at a play, Have, by the very cunning of the scene. Been struck so to the soul, that presently They have proclaimed their malefactions ; For murder, though it have no tongue, will speak With most miraculous organ. I'll have these playeiB Play something like the murder of my father, Bfcfoie mine uncle : I'll observe his looks ; 36 HAMLET ("Act in I'll tent him to the quick ; if he do !)lench, 1 know my course. The spirit that I have seen, May be a devil : and the devil hath power To assume a pleasing shape : yea, and, perhaps, Out of my w^eakriess, and my melancholy, (As he is very potent with such spirits,) Abuses me to damn me : I'll have grounds More relative than this : The play's the thing, Wherein I'll catch the conscience of the king. [Exii, lu END OP ACT II. ACT III. Scene I. — A Hall in tlie Palace. Theatre in hack Grounds Enter PoLONius, King, Queen and Ophelia, l., Rosen- ciiANTz and Guildenstern, r. King, (b.) And can you, by no drift of conference, Get from him, why he puts on this confusion ] Ros. (r. c.) He does confess he feels himself distracted; But from what cause, he will by no means speak. Guil. Nor do we find him forward to be sounded ; But with a crafty madness, keeps aloof. When we would bring him on to some confession Of his true state. Queen, (c.) Did you assay him To any pastime % Ros. Madam, it so fell out, that certain players We o'er-raught on the way : of these we told him j And there did seem in him a kind of joy To hear of it : they are about the court ; And, as I think, they have already order This night to play before him. Pol. 'Tis most true : And he beseeched me to entreat your majesties, To hear and see the matter. King. With all my heart ; and it doth much ontectma To hear him so inclined. Good gentlemen, give him a further edge, Avid drive bis purpose on to these delightis. Bern I.J HAMLET 37 Ros. We shall, my lord. \Exeunt Roscncrantz and Guildcnsiern, a, Kmg. Sweet Gertrude, leaves u, too. For w'e have closely sent for Hamlet hither; That he, as 'twere by accident, may here Affront Ophelia : Her father and myself (lawful espials,) Will so bestow ourselves, that, seeing, unseen, We may of their encounter frankly judge ; And gather by him, as he is behaved, If 't be tiie affliction of his love, or no, That thus he suffers for. Queen, (r.) 1 shall obey you : — And, for your part, Ophelia, I do wish. That your good beauties be the happy cause Of Hamlet's wildness ; so shall I hope, your virtues Will bring him to his wonted way again, To both your honours. Ojyh. (l.) Madam, I wish it may. \Exit Queen, R. Pol. (l. c.) Ophelia, walk you here : Fead on this book ; That show of such an exercise may colour V'our loneliness. [Op/iclia goes up the stage, and retires at r. u. e. [ bear him coming ; let's withdraw, my lord. [Exeunt, r. s. a. Enter Hamlet, l, Havi. (l.) To be, or not to be, that is the question . Wliether 'tis nobler in the mind, to suffer The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune; Or to take arms against a sea of troubles. And, by opposing, end them 1 (c.) — to die 1 — to sleep,- No more ; — and, by a sleep, to say we end 'i he heart-ache, and the thousand natural shocks That flesh is heir to — 'tis a consummation l^evoutly to be wished. To die : — to sleep : — To sleep ! — perchance, to dream — Ay, there's the rub^ For in that sleep of death what dreams may rotne, When we have shuffled off this mortal coil, Must give us pause : there's the respect That makes calamity of so long life : ^ HAMLET. [Act in For wh) would bear the whips and scorns of time, The oppressor's wrong, the proud niai/s contumely, The pangs of despised love, the law's delay, The insolence of office, and the spurns That patient merit of the unworthy takes, When he himself might his quietus make With a bare bodkin '? who would fardels bear, To groan and sweat under a weary life ; But that the dread of something after death — The undiscovered country, from whose bourn No traveller returns — puzzles the will, And makes us rather bear those ills we have, Than fly to others that we know not of ? \Ophelia re-enters at R. u. B Thus conscience does make cowards of us all; And thus the native hue of resolution Is sicklied o'er with the pale cast of thought; And enterprizes of great pith and moment, With this regard, their currents turn awry, And lose the name of action. — Soft you now ! [Seeing Ophelia, who advances^ R The fair Ophelia : — Nymph, in thy orisons Be all my sins remembered ! Oph. (r.) Good my lord, How does your honour for this many a day % liam. I humbly thank you ; well. Oph, My lord, I have remembrances of yours, That I have longed long to re-deliver. I pray you, now receive them. Ham. No, not I ; I never gave you aught. Oph. My honoured lord, you know right well, yoi? 4»dl ; And, with them, words of so sweet breath composea As made the things more rich : their perfume io«tj Take these again ; for to the noble mind, Rich gifts wax poor, v/hen givers \ rove unkind There, my lord. Ham. Ha, ha ! are you honest ] Ofii. My lord ! liam. Are you fair 1 Oph. What means your lordship % icfc»E Lj HAMLET 39 Ilam. That if you be honest and fair, you shr.ild admit your hoiiestv to nut use all gently : for i>i the very tor- rent, tempest, and (as I may say) whirlwind of your p?fs- sit^n, you must acquire and beget a temperance, that may give it smoothness. Oh, it orf'ends me to the soul, to hear a robustious, periwig-pated fellow tear a passion to tattets, to very rags, to spht the ears of the groundlings ; who, for the most part, are capable of nothing but inexpli- cable dumb shows, and noise : I would have such a fellow whipped for o'erdoing Termagant ; it out-herods Herod ? pray you, avoid it. Isi^ Act. (k.) I warrant your honour. Ham. Be not too tame, neither; but let your own dis- cretion be your tutor : suit the action to the word, and the word to the action ; with this special observance, that you o'erstep not the modesty of nature : for anything so over- done is from the purpose of playing, whose e!id, both at the first, and now, was and is, to hold, as 'twere, the mir- ror up to nature ; to show virtue her own feature, scorn her own image, and the very age and body of the time, his f)rm and pressure. Now this, over-done, or come tar- dy off, though it make the unskilful laugh, cannot but make the judicious grieve ; the censure of which one, must, in your allowance, o'erweigh a whole theatre of others. Oh, there be players that I have seen play — £tfid heard others praise, and that highly — not to speak it profanely, that nei- ther having the accent of Christians, nor the gait of Chris- tian, Pagan, or man, have so strutted, and bellowed, that 1 have thought some of nature's journeymen had made men, and not made them well, they imitated humanity so abo- minably. 1st Act. I hope we have reformed that indifferently with us. Ham. (c.) Oh, reform it altogether. And let those, that play your clowns, speak no more than is set down for them ; for there be of them, that will themselves laugh, to set on some quantity of barren spectators to laugh too ; though, in the mean time, some necessary question of the play be then to be considered ; that's villainous ; and shows a most pitiful ambition in the fool that uses itr Go, 43 HAMLET. [Act III make y )u ready. — Horatio ! [Exit Ist Actor ^ 5* Enter Horatio, r. Ilor. (u.) Here, sweet lord, at your service. Ham. Hoi-atio, tbou art e'en as just a man As e'er my conversation coped withal. Hor. Oh, my dear lord ! — Ham. Nay, do not think I flatter : For what advancement may I hope from thee. That no revenue hast, but thy good spirits, To feed and clothe thee 1 Why should the poor be flat tered 1 No, let the candied tongue lick absurd pomp, And crook the pregnant hinges of the knee, Where thrift may follow fawning. Dost thou hear 1 Since my dear soul was mistress of her choice, And could of men distinguish her election, She hath sealed thee for herself: for thou hast been As ene» io suffering all, that cuffers nothingf ; \ man, tiiat fortune s Dulfets ana re^ arcis Hast ta'en with equal thanks : and blessed are those Whose blood and judgmetit are so well co-mingled, That they are not a pipe for fortune's finger To sound what stop she please ; give me that man That is not passion's slave, and I will wear him In rny heart's core, ay, in my heart of heart. As I do thee. Something too much of this. — There is a play to-night before the king ; One scene of it comes near the circumstance, Which I have told thee of my fathex^'s death. I pr'ythee, when thou see'st that act a-foot. Even with the very comment of thy soul Observe my uncle; if his occulted guilt Do not itself unkennel in one speech, It is a damnetl ghost that we have seen; And my imaginations are as foul As Vulcan's stithy ; give him heedful note : For 1 mine eyes will rivet to his face; A^nd. after, we will both our judgments joia ai censure of his seeming. Hor Well, my lord. [Exit, it. o. ■ SCBIfE I.J HAMLST. 43 Ham, They are coming to the play ; I must be idle. Get you a place. [Goes and stands, R. — Music. Enter Polonius, King, Queen, Ophelia, Rosencrantz, GUILDENSTERN, OsRICK, MaRCELLUS, BeRNARDO, FrAN- cisco, Lords and Ladies, l. s. e. King. [Seated.] How fares our cousin Hamlet 1 Ham. (r. c.) Excellent, i'faith ; of the camelion's dish: I eat the" air, promise-crammed ; you cannot feed capons King. I have nothing with this answer, Hamlet ; these ♦vords are not mine. Ham. No, nor mina now. My lord, you played once in the university, you say ] \^^^ Polonius. Pol. (c.) That did I, my lord ; and was accounted a good actor. Ham. (c.) And what did you enact ? Pol. I did enact .Julius Caesar : I was killed i'the capi- r,ol ; Brutus killed me. Ham. It was a brute part of him to kill so capital a calf there. Be the players ready ] Ros. Ay, my lord ; they stay upon your patience. Queen. Come hither, my dear Hamlet, sit by me. Ham. No, good mother, here's metal more attractive. Pol. Oh, ho! do you mark that? [Aside to the King, Ham. Lady, shall I lie in your lap ] [Lying dow7i at Ophelia's feet, Oph. [Seated, r.] You are merry, my lord. Ham. Oh ! your only jig-maker. What should a man do, but be merry 1 for, look you, how cheerfully my mo- ther looks, and my father died within these two houis. [Polonius goes and stands at the back of the State Chairs, l. ; Horatio stands r. Oph. Nay, 'tis twice two months, my lord. Ham. So long ? Nay, then, let the devil wear black, for I'll have a suit of sables. Die two months ago, and not forgotten yet 1 Then there's hope a great man's me- mory may outlive his life half a year : but, by'r-ludy, he must build churches, then. Oph. What means tlie play, my lord ] Ham. Miching mallecho ; it means mischief. Oph. But what is the argument of the play % 44 HAMLET. {Act III Enter Second Actor as tlie Prologue, on a raised Stage, l. Ham. We shall kDow by this fellow. \Lies at the feet of Ophelia, and amuses himself with her Jan, 2d Act. " For us, and for our tragedy, Here stooping to your clemency, ' We beg your hearing patiently." [Exitf k. JIain. Is this a prologue, or the posy of a ring 1 Oph. 'Tis brief, my lord. Ham. As woman's love. Enter First Actor and the Actress, l., as a Duke and Duchess ; on the raised stage. 1st Act. " Full thirty times hath Phcebus' cart gone round, Since love our hearts, and Hymen did our hands Unite commutual in most sacred bands." Actress. "So many journeys may the sun and m.>on Make us as:airi count o'er, ere love be done ! But, woe is me ! you are so sick of late. So far from cheer, and from your former state, That I distrust you. Yet, though I distrust. Discomfort you, my lord, it nothing must ; For women fear too much, even as they love. Now, what my love is, proof hath made you know; And as my love is fixed, my fear is so. Where love is great, the littlest doubts are fear, Where little fears grow e^reat, great love grows there " 1st Act. "Faith, I must leave thee, love, and shoitly too ; My operant powers their functions leave to do : And thou shalt live in this fair world behind, Honoured, beloved, — and, haply, one as kind For husband shalt thou" — Actress. "Oh, confound the rest ! Such love must needs be treason in my breast : In second husband let me be accurst ! None wed the second, but who killed the first." Ham. That's wormwood [Asiiei 1st Act. " J do believe, you think what now yoi. speak j But what we do determine, oft we break. SCEBTZ 1] HAMLET. 45 So think thou wilt nj second husband wed, But die thy thoughts, when thy first lord is deaa." Actress. " Nor eartli to me give food, nor heaven light, Sport and repose lock from me, day and night, Both here, a'jd hence, pursue me, lasting strife, If once a widow, ever 1 be wife !" [Emh?'ac€s him 1st Act " 'Tis deeply sworn." IJa??i. If she should break it now — 1*^ Act. " Sweet, leave me here aw^hile ; My spirits grow dull, and fain I would beguile The tedious day with sleep." [Crosses to the seat — sleeps^ Actress. " Sleep rock thy brain ; ^v.i\ never come mischance between us twain." [Exit, l. Ham. Madam, how like you this play 1 Queen. The lady doth protest too much, methinks. Ham. Oh, but she'll keep her word. King. Have you heard the argument ] Is there no of^ fence in't ] Ham. No, no, they do but jest, poison in jest ; no of- fence i'the world. King. What do you call the play 1 Ham,. The mouse-trap. Marry, how % Tropically. This play is the image of a murder done in Vienna : Gon- zago is the duke's name ,• his wife, Eaptista. ^ou shall see anon ; 'tis a knavish piece of work : but what of that ] your majesty, and we that have free souls, it touches us not; let the galled jade wince, our withers are unwrung. Enter Third Actor as Lucianus, l. This is one Lucianus, nephew to the duke. Ojyh. You are as good as a chorus, my lord. Ham. I eould interpret between you and your love, if 1 could see the puppets dallying. Begin, murderer — iearo thy damnable faces, and be2:in. Come : — The croaking: raven Doth bellow for reveng^e. Kid Act. *• Thoughts black, hands apt, drugs fit, and tinaa agreeing^; Confederate season, else no creature seeing ; Tiiou mixture rank, of midnight weeds collected, With Hecate's ban thiice blasted, thrice infected. Thy natural magic, and dire propert;^-. £6 HAMLET. [AcTia On wholesome life usurp iramediaf; I would give you some violets, but they withered all wheu ay father died. — They say he made a good end — [Sings] — " For my bonny sweet Robin is all my 'oy." Laer. Thought and affliction, passion, hell itself, She turns t3 favour, and to prettiness. Opk. \Sijigs. — Kneeling, r. c] And will he not come again 1 And will he not come again ] No, no, he is dead. Go to thy death-bed. He never will come again. [Rrses.] — His beard was as v/hite as snow, All flaxen was his poll : (c.) — He is gone, he is gone, And we cast away moan ; And peace be with his soul ! And with all christian souls ! I pray heaven. [Exeunt Ophelia and Queen^ i* King, (r.) Laertes, I must commune with your grief Or you deny me right. Go but apart, Make choice of whom your wisest friends you will, And they shall hear and judge 'twixt you and me ; If by direct, or by collateral hand They find us touched, we will our kingdom give, Our crown, our life, and all that we call ours, To you in satisfaction ; but, if not. Be you content to lend your patience to us, And we shall jointly labor with your soul, To give it due content. JLaer. (r. c.) Let this be so ; His means of death, his obscure funeral, — No trophy, sword or hatchment, o'er his bones, No noble right, nor formal ostentation — Cry to be heard, as 'twere, from heaven to earthy That I must call't in question. King, So you shall ; Vnd, where the offence is, let the great axe fall. [Exeunti n. Scene "V'. — An Apartment in the Palace. Enter Horatio and Francisco, r. llor (r.) What are they that would speak with me .«i«TI.J HAMLET §1 Fran, (r.) Sailors, sir : They say they have letters for you. lior. (r. o.) Let them come in, — [Exit Fiandtco, L. [ do not know from what part of the world i should be greeted, if not from Lord Hamlet. Enter two Sailors, l. 1st Sail, (l.) Heaven bless you, sir. Uor. Let him bless thee too. 1*^ Sail. He shall, sir, an't please him. There's a letter for you, sir — it comes from the ambassador that was bound for England — if Your name be Horatio, as I am let to know It is. Ilor. [Reads the letter?^ " Horatio, when thou shalt have overlooked this, give these fellows some means to the King ; they have letters for him, Rosencrantz and Guil- denstern hold their course for England ; of them I have much to tell thee. — A pirate of very warlike appointmenJ. gave us chase. Finding ourselves too slow of sail, we put on a compelled valour, and in the grapple, I boarded them : on the instant, they got clear of our ship ; so I alone be- came their prisoner. They have dealt with me like thieves of mercy ; but they knew what they did ; 1 am to do a good turn for them. Let the King have the letters I have Bent ; and repair thou to me, with as much naste as thou would St fly death. These good fellows will bring theQ where I am. Farewell. " He that thou knowest thine, " Hamlet." Come, I will give you way for these your letters, (l.) And do't the speedier, that you may direct me To him from whom you brought them. [Exeunt^ l Scene VL — A Room in the Palace. Enter the King and Laertes, r. King, (o.) Now must your conscience my acquittance seal: 8ilh you have heard, and with a knowing ear, That he, which hath your noble father slain, Pursued my life. haer. (ii. c.) And so have I a noble father lost ; 62 HAMLET. [AcTlir A sister driven nto desperate terms ; Whose worth, Stood challenger on mount of all the ajje For her perfections : but my revenge will come. King. Break not your sleeps for that : you must not think, ^ That we are made of stuff so flat and dull. That we can let our beard be shook with danger, And think it pastime. You shortly shall hear more.-" How now ] What news 1 Enter Bernardo, l. Be7\ (l. c.) Letters, my lord, from Hamlet : This to your majesty ; this to the Queen. King. From Hamlet ! Who brought them 1 Ber. Sailors, my lord, they say ; I saw them not. King. Laertes, yf)u shall hear them. Leave us. [To Berna?'do, who c?-osses and exits, r. [Reads.] ** High and mighty, you shall know, I am set na- ked on your kingdom. To-morrow shall I beg leave to see your kingly eyes : when I shall, first asking your par- don thereunto, recount the occasion of my sudden and more strange return. '' Hamlet." What should this mean 1 Are all the rest come back 1 Or is it some abuse, and no such thing 1 Lacr. (r.) Know you the hand ] King. 'Tis Hamlet's character. — " Naked"— And, in a postcript here, he says, " alone." Can you advise me 1 Laer. I am lost in it, my lord. But let him come ; It warms the very sickness in my heart, That I shall live and tell him to his teeth, " Thus diddest thou." Ki?ig. If it be so, Laertes, Will you be ruled by me 1 Laer. Ay, my lord ; ^^ So you will not o'er-rule me to a peace. King. To thine own peace. If he be now leturned— As checking at his voyage, and that he means No more to undertake it — I will work him To an exploit, now ripe in my device, Under the which he shall not choose but fall ; cam fi.] HAMLET. S3 And for his death no wind of blame slial breath©; But even his mother shall uncharge the practice, And call it, accidrn;. Laer. My lord, I will be ruled ; The rather, if you could devise it so, That I might be the organ. King. It falls right. You have been talked of since your travel much. And that in Hamlet's hearing, for a quality Wherein, they say, you shine. Laer. What part is that, my lord ? King. A very ribband in the cap of youth. Here was a gentleman of Normandy — He made confession of you; And gave you such a masterly report For art and exercise in your defence, And for your rapier most especial, That he cried out, 'twould be a sight indeed, If one could match you ; This report of his, Did Hamlet so envenom with his envy, That he could nothing do, but wish and beg Your sudden coming o'er to play with you. Now, out of this — Laer. What out of this, my lord 1 King. Laertes, was your father dear to you 1 Or, are you like the painting of a sorrow, A face without a heart 1 Laer. Why ask you this ? King. Hamlet comes back : what would you undeil*k« To show yourself in deed your father's son. More than in words ? Laer. To cut his throat i'the church. King. No place, indeed, should murder sanctuarize, Hamlet, returned, shall know you are come home: We'll put on tliose shall praise your excellence. And set a double varnish on the fame The Frenchman gave you; bring you, in fine, togethei And wager o'er your heads : he, being remiss, Most generous, and free from all contriving, Will not peruse the foils ; so, that with ease, Or with a little shuffling, you may choose f2 64 HAMLE': l^cvT A sword unbated, and, in a pass of practice, Requite hira for your father. Laer. I will do't : Anil, for the purpose, I'll anoint my sword. I bought an unction of a mountebank, So mortal, that, but dip a knife in^ it, Where it draws bloo'37 iio cataplasm so rare, Collected from all simples that have virtue Under the moon, can save the thing from death, That is but scratched withal : \I'll touch my point With this contagion ; that, if I gall him slightly, It may be death. King. Let's further think of this ; We'll make a solemn wager on your cunnings. When in your motion you are hot and dry, (As make your bouts more violent to that end,) And that he calls for drink, I'll have preferred him A- chalice for the nonce ; whereon but sipping, If he by chance escape your venomed stuck. Our purpose may hold there. But stay, what noise ? Enter the Queen, l. Queen, (l.) One woe floth tread upon another's heel, So fast they follow : — your sister's drowned, Laertes. Lac?', (r..) Drowned ! OIt, where ] Queen, (c.) There is a willow grows ascaunt the brook That shows his hoar leaves in the glassy stream : Therewith fantastic garlands did she make Of crow-fiowers, nettles, daisies, and long purples j There on the pendant boughs her coronet weeds Clambering to hang, an envious sliver broke ; When down her weedy trophies, and herself, Fell in the weeping brook. Laer. I forbid my tears : — but yet It is our trick ; nature her custom holds, Let shame say what it will : — Adieu, my lord ! I have a speech of fire, that fain would blazo, Uizt that this folly drowns it. [Exeunt Laertes, r., Km^ and Queen, L. END OF ACT IV. leBKS I. KAMLEI 65 ACT V Scene I. — A Cliurcli- Yard. Writer tioo Grave-Diggers, l. s. e. 1st Grave, (c.) Is she to be buried in christian ouria., that wilfully seeks her own salvation 1 2d Grave, (c.) I tell thee, she is ; therefore, make her gi'ave straight ; the crowner hath set on her, and finds it christian burial. 1st Grave, (r.) How can that be, unless sh'e drowned herself in her own defence 1 2d Grave. Why, 'tis found so. 1*^ Grave. It must be se offendendo ; it cannot be else. (r. c.) For here lies the point : if I drown myself witting- ly, it argues an act ; and an act hath three branches ; it is, to act, to do, and to perform, Argal^ she drowned herself wittingly. 2d Grave. Nay, but heai you, goodraan delver. 1st Grave. Give me leave. \Crosses, l.] Here lies the water; good: \^Crosses, r.] here stands the man; good.^ If the man go to this water, and drown himself, it is, will he, nill he, he goes : mark you that : but, if the water come to him, and drown him, he drowns not himself. Ar- gal, he that is not guilty of his own death, shortens not his own life. 2d Grave. But is this law ] 1.?^ Grave. Ay, marry is't, crown er's-quest law. 2d Grave. Will you ha' the truth on't 1 If this had not Deen a gentlev/cman, she should have been, buried out oi christian burial. 1st Grave. Why, there thou say'st ; and the more pity, that great folks should have countenance in this world to drown or hang themselves, more than their ever Christian. (c.) Come, my spade. There is no ancient gentlemen but gardeners, ditchers, and grave-makers ; they hold up Adam's profession, 2d Grave. Was he a gentleman ? 1st. Grave. He was the first that ever bore arms. I'll put a question to thee : if thou answerest me not to thu purpjse, confess thyself — 66 H/iMLET. j-AcT V 2^? Grave. Go to. l*^ Grave. What is he, that builds stronger than eithei the mason, shipwright, or the carpenter 1 2d Grave. The gallows maker ; for that frame out-lives a thousand tenants. 1st Grave. I like thy wit well, in good faith ; the gallows does well. But how does it well % it does well to those that do ill : now thou dost ill to say the gallows is built stronger than the church. Argal, the gallows may do well to thee. To't again : come. 2d Grave. Who builds stronger than a mason, a ship Wright, or a carpenter % \st Grave. Ay, tell me that, and unyoke. 2d Grave. Marry, now I can tell. 1.9^ Grave. To't. 2d Grave. Mass, 1 cannot tell. \st Grave. Cudgel thy brains no more about it; fevyour dull ass will not mend his pace with beating ; and,, when yru are asked this question next, say, a grave-maker; the houses that he makes, last till doomsday. Go, get thee tc Yaughan, and fetch me a stoup of liquor. [Exit 2d Grave-digger, l. — 1*^ Grave-digger nngs whil$ digging. In youth, when I did love, did love, Methought it was very sweet, To contract, oh, the time, for, ah, my behove, Oh, methought there was nothing meet 1 Enter TLaiaIjWT and Horatio, and stand heJiindtlie Grave, c. Ham. Has this fellow no feeling of his business 1 he sings at grave-making. Ilor. (r. c.) Custom hath made it in him a property ol easiness. Ham. (r. c.) 'Tis e'en so : the hand of little ernploy ment hath the daintier sense. [Grave-digger sings.] But age, with his stealing steps, Hath clawed me in his clutch, And hath shipped me into the land. As if I had never been such. [Throws up a skull. gCBKBl.] HAMLET. 67 Ham. That sli nil bad a tongue in it, an J could sVig once. How tlie knave jowls it to the ground as if it were Cain's jaw-bone, that did the first murder ! This might be the pate of a politician, which this ass now o'er-reaches ; one that would circumvent heaven ; might it not % [The Grave-digger tliroxcs up hones, Ilor. It might, my lord. Ham. Did these bones cost no more the breeding, but to play at loggats with them % Mine ache to think on't. [Grave-digger sings.^ A pick-axe and a spade, a spade, For — and a shrouding sheet : Oh, a pit of clay for to be made Fcr such a guest is meet. [Throws up another skull. Ham. There's another. Why may not that be the skull of a lawyer '] Where be his quiddits now, his quillets, his cases, his tenures, and his tricks 1 Why does he suffer this rude knave now to knock him about the sconce with a dirt^' shovel, and will not tell him of his action of bat- tery 1 I will speak to this fellow. — Whose grave's this, sirrah "^ 1st xravc. Mine, sir. )Sin^ J Oh, a pit of clay for to be made For such a guest is meet. Hum. I think it be thine, indeed ; for thou liest in it. 1*^ Grave. [Digging.] You lie out on't, sir, and therefore it is not yours ; for my part, I do not lie in't, yet it is mine. Ham. Thou dost lie in't, to be in't, and say it is thine ; 'tis for the dead, not for the quick ; therefore thou liest. l5^ Grave. 'Tis a quick lie, sir ; 'twill away again from me to you. Ham. What man dost thou dig it for ? l^,* Grave. For no man, sir. Ham. What woman, then 1 1st Grave. For none neither. Ham. Who is to be buried in't 1 1st Grave. One that was a womar, sir; but, rest hei soul ! she's dead. Ham. How absolute the knave is ' We must speak by 69 HAMLET Act T the card, or equivocation will indo m. How li ng hast thou been a grave-maker ! 1*^ Grave. [Leana on his spade.] Of ai the clays I'the -'ear, I came to't that day that our last king Hamlet over- came Fortinbras. Ham. How long is that since % 1st Grave. Cannot you tell that 1 every fool can tell that; it was that very day that young Hamlet was born ; he that is mad, and sent into England. Ham. Ay, marry, why was he sent into England ] Isi Grave. Why, because he was mad. He shall reco- ver his wits there ; or, if he do not, 'tis no great mattei there. Ham. Why 1 1st Grave. 'Twill not be seen in him there ; there th# men are as mad as he. Ham. How came he mad 1 1st Grave, Very strangely, they say. Ham. How strangely 1 1st Grave. 'Faith, e'en with losing his wits. Ham. Upon what ground 1 1st Gi'ave. Why, here in Denmark. 1 have been sexton here, man and boy, thirty years. Ham. How long will a man lie i'the earth ere he rot 1 1*^ Grave. [Sitting on the side of the grave, his face tO' wards the audience.] 'Faith, if he be not rotten before he die, he will last you some eight year, or nine year : a tan ner will last you nine year. Ham. Why he more than another 1 1*^ Grave. Why, sir, his hide is so tanned with his trade, that he will keep out water a great while ; and your water is a sore decayer of your whoreson dead body. \S>tands in the grave again, and turns over the earth and hones thrown ifji?.] Here's a skull, now, hath lain you i'the earth three- and -twenty years. Ham. Whose was it ? 1st Grave. A whoreson mad fellow's it was. Whose do yo\i think it was 1 Ham. Nay, I know not. 1.?^ G'rave. A pestilence on him for a mad rogue ! \Pati ike skull with his ka?id.] He poured a tlaggcn of Rhenish SesRE I J HAMLET. 69 on my head once! This same skull, sir, was Yorick'a ekull, the king's jester. [Gives skull 2fp to Hamlet^ a. Ham. This 1 1st Grave. E'en that. Ham. Alas! poor Y^rick! I knew him, Horatio; a fellow of infinite jest, cf most excellent fancy. He hath home me on his back a thousand times. Here hung those lips that I have kissed 1 know not how oft. Where be your gibes now % your gambols 1 your songs ? your flashes of merriment, that were wont to set the table in a roar] Not one now, to mock your own grinning ] quite chap-fal- len % Now get you to my lady's chamber, and tell her, let her paint an inch thick, to this favour she must come : make her laugh at that. — Pr'ythee, Horatio, tell me one thing. Hor. What's that, my lord 1 Ham. Dost thou think that Alexander looked o'this fa- shion i'the earth % Hor. E'en so. Ham. And smelt so % pah ! \hays down the slull Hor. E'en so, my lord. Ham. To what base uses we may return, Horatio ! Why may not imagination trace the noble dust of Alexan- der, till he find it stopping a bung-hole ] Hor. 'Twere to consider too curiously, to consider so. Ham. No, 'faith, not a jot; but to follow him. thither M^ith modesty enough, and likelihood to lead it : As thus, Alex- ander died, Alexander was buried, Alexander returned tc dust ; the dust is earth ; of earth we make loam : and why of that loam, whereto he was converted, might they not stop a beer-barrel 1 Imperious Caesar, dead and turned to clay, Might stop a hole to keep the wind away : Oh, that the earth, which kept the world in awe. Should patch a wall, t'expel the winter's flaw ! [Bell toJh But soft ! but soft ! aside : — here comes the king. The queen, the courtiers. W^ho is this they follow 1 And with such maimed rites ! This doth betoken, The corse they follow did, with desperate hand, F'jredo its own life. 'Twas of some estate : Couch we awhile, and mark. [Retires with Horatio, r. — Bell toUt '0 HAMLET. [ACT^ Enter King, QueeN; Laertes, Lo?-ds, Ladies, Priests, ^. through the gates, attending the corpse o/* Ophelia, l. u. h — [Bell tolls.) — Attendants, with torches, stand up the l side of stage. King and Queen stand c. heyond the grave Priest at r. end. 1st Grave-digger, at the l. end. haer. (l.) What ceremony else ? Ham. (r.) Thai is Laertes, A very noble youth. [Aside to HorrXva Priest. Her obsequies have been as far enlarged As we have warranty. Her death was doubtful; And, but that great command o'ersways the order, She should in ground unsanctified have lodged Till the last trumpet; for charitable prayers, Shards, flints, and pebbles, should be thrown on her*, Yet here she is allowed her virgin crants, Her maiden strewments, and the bringing home Of bell and burial. Laer, Must there no more be done 1 Priest. No more be done ? We should profane the service of the dead, To sing a requiem, and such rest to her, As to peace-parted souls. haer. Lay her i'the earth ; — And from her fair and unpolluted flesh, May violets spring ! — I tell thee, churlish Priest, A miriist'ring angel shall my sister be, When thou liest howling. Ham. What, the fair Ophelia ! Queen. Sweets to the sweet : farewell ! [Takes a basket from a Lady, and scatters flowen I hoped thou shouldst have been my Hamlet's wife : I thought thy bride-bed to have decked, sweet maid, And not have strewed thy grave. Jjaer. Oh, treble woe, Fall ten times treble on that cursed head. Whose wicked deed thy most ingenious sense » Deprived thee of! — Hold off the earth awhile, Till I have caught her once more in mine arms : [Leaps into the grawt Now Dile your dust upon the quick and dead. A ^63KB I '^ HAMLET. ^ ^ T V o'en ;op old Pelion, or the skyish head Ol ui«ic 01ym])iis. j.iam. [Advancing.] What is he whose grief Dears such an emphasis 1 Whose phrase of son'ow Conjures the vvand'ring stars, and makes them stand Like wonder-wounded hearers ? This is I, Hamlet the Dane. Laer. (r. c.) The devil take thy soul ! \Lc.apingjmt of the grave, and grappling with him. Ham. Tliou pray'st not well. I pr'ythee, take thy fingers from my throat ; For, though I am not splenetive and rash, Vet have I in me something dangerous, Which let thy wisdom fear. Hold off thy hand ! King. Pluck them asunder. [They are parted Ham. Why, I will fight with him upon this theme, (Jntil my eye-lids will no longer wag. Queen. C)h, my son ! what theme 1 Ham. I loved Ophelia ; forty thousand brothers Could not, with all their quantity of love, Make up my sum. What wilt thou do for her ] Queen. Oh, he is mad, Laertes. Ham. Come, show me what thou'lt do : Woul't weep 1 woul't fight % woul't fast ? v^^cuFt J:*^ thyself] I'll do it. Dost thou come here but to whine ? To outface me with leapinof in her ofiave % De buried quick with her, and so will I : And, if thou piate of mountains, let them throw Millions of acres on us , till our ground, Singing his pate against the burning zone, Make Ossa like a wart ! Nay, an thou'lt mouth, I'll rant as well as thou. Queen, (l.) This is mere madness; And thus awhile the fit will work on him; Anon, as patient as the female dove, When that her golden couplets are disclosed, His silence will sit drooping. Ham. Hear you, sir ; What is the reason that you use me thus I I loved you ever : but it is no matter : « Let Hercules himself do what he may, 72 ilAMLET [ACT^ The cat \yiM mew, and dog v^rih have his daj ,^ Sa^f, s King. I pray Ihee, good Hointio, wait upon him. [Exit Horatio^ r Strengthen your pauence in our iast night's speech ; [To Laertet We'll put the matter to the present push. Good Gertrude, set some watch over your son. [Exeunt tiing, i^uecn, and Eadies, L. u. E This grave shall have a hving mtjiiument : An hour of quiet thereby shall we see ; Till then, in patience, our proceeding be. [Bell tolls [Exeunt Bearers and Attendants through the gates, L. u. e. Scene II. — A Hall in the Palace Enter Hamlet aud Horatio, r. Ham. But I am veiy sorry, good Horatio, That to Laertes I forgot myself; For, by the image of my cause, I see The portraiture of his. Hor. Peace. Who comes here % Enter Osrick, l. Osr. (l.) Your lordship is right welcome back to Y)qw mark. Ham. (r. c.) I humbly thank you, sir. Dost know thia water-fly ? [Aside to Horatio. Hor. (r. c.) No, my good lord. Ham. Thy state is the more gracious : for 'tis a vice to know him. Osrick. Sweet lord, if your lordship were at leisure I should impart a thing to you, from his majesty. Hum. I will receive it, sir, with alTdiligence of spirit.— Your bonnet to his right use ; 'tis for the head. Osrick. I thank your lordship, 'tis very hot. Ham. No, believe me, 'tis very cold, the wind is nor tberly. Osrick. It is indifferent cold ; my lord, indeed. Ham. But yet, methinks, ii is very su?rry and hot ; oi my complexion — OsriciC. Exceedingly, my lord ; it is Tcry sultry — aa tv», ere — I cannot tell how. — My lord, his majesty baderae ecESE II.] HAMl.ET. 73 feigidfy to yoH, that he nas laid a great wager ^n your head; sir, this is the matter — Ham. I beseech you, remember — [Sig7is to him to put on his hat. Osrick. (c.) Nay, good my lord ; for my ease, in good faitli — Sir, here is newly come to court, Laertes ; believe mc, an absolute oentleman, full of most excellent differ- ences, of vei-y soft society, and great showing; indeed, to speak feelingly of him, he is the card or calendar of gen- try ; for you shall find in him, the continent of what part a gentleman v/ould see, Hmn. What imports the nomination of this gentleman 1 Osrick. Of Laertes 1 Hdw.. Of him, sir. Osrick. You are not ignorant of what excellence Laer- tes is — Ham. I dare not confess that, lest I should compare witn him in excellence ; but, to know a man well, were to know himself Osrick, I mean, sir, for his weapon. Ham. What is his weapon % Osrick. Rapier and dagger. Havi. That's two of his weapons : — But, well — Osrick. The king, sir, hath wagered with him, six Bai bary horses : against the which he hath' impawned, as I take it, six P'rench rapiers and poniards, with their assigns, at: gi-dle, hangers, and so : Three of the carriages, in faith, are very dear to fancy, very responsive to the hilts, most delicste carriages, and of very liberal conceit. Ham. What call you the carriages 1 Osrick. The carriages, sir, are the hangers. Ham. The phrase would be more germ an tothemattei, if we could carry a cannon by our sides. Osrick. The king, sir, hath laid, that in a dozen passes between yourself and him, he shall not exceed you three hits : and it would come to immediate trial, if your lord- fthip would vouchsafe the answer. Ham. How., if I answer, no ] Osrick. I mean, my lord, the opposition of your person in trial. Ham. Sir, it is the breathing time of day with me : let tbe fills be brought ; the gentleman willing, and the King T4 HAMLET. [A-ctV hold his purpose, I Vv^ll win for him, if 1 can : if not, I wiF gain nothing but my shame, and the odd hits. Osrick. Shall I deliver you so ] Ham. To this effect, sir ; after what flourish your natura will. Osrick. I commend my duty to your lordship. [Exity L Ilor, (l.) You wiH lose this wager, my lord. Ham. (c.) I do not think so ; since he went into France, I have been in continual practice ; 1 shall win at the odds. But thou wouldst not think, how ill all's here about my heart : but it is no matter. llor. Nay, good my lord — Ham. It is but foolery : but it is such a kind of gain-gi- ving, as would, perhaps, trouble a woman. Hor. If your mind dislike anything, obey it : I will fore Btall their repair hither, and say you are not fit. Ham. Not a whit, we defy augury ; there is a special providence in the fall of a sparrow. [Exeunt, l. Scene III. — The Court of DcnmarJc. King and Queen, seated ; Laertes. Osrick, Marcellus, Bernardo, Francisco, Lords, and Ladies discovered. — Flourish of Trumpets. Enter Hamlet and Horatio, l. King. [Rises and comes forward, c.) Come, Hamiet. and take this hand from me. [Joi7iing Hamlefs and Laertes* hand Ham. (c.) Give me your pardon, sir ; I 've done yoc wrong. \To Laertci. But pardon it, as you're a gentleman. Let my disclaiming from a purposed evil, Free me so far in your most j^enerous thoughts, That I have shot my aiTow o'er the house^ And hurt my brother. Laer. (c.) I am satisfied in nature, Whose motive, in this case, should stir ms most To my revenge : — I do receive your offered love like love, And will not wrong it. Ham. I embrace it freely ; Jj;£SE HI.] HAMLb And will this brotlier's wager fr xnkly play. Give us the f(.ils. Laer. Come, one for me. Ham, I'll be your foil, Laertes ; in mine ignorance, your skill shall, like a star i'the darkest nidit. Stick fiery off indeed. Laer. You mock me, sir. Ham. No, by this hand. King. Give them the foils, young Osrick. Cousin Ham let, You know the wager 1 [Returns to tJie tJirone Ham. Very well, my lord ; Your grace hath laid the odds o'the weaker side. King. I do not fear it ; 1 have seen you both ; — But since he's bettered, we have therefore odds. Lacr. (r.) [Examining the Jbils.] This is too heavy ; let me see another. Ham. (l.) This likes me well— these foils have all a length 1 Osrick. (r.) Ay, my good lord. * King. [Seated on the throne.] Set me the stoups of wine upon that table ; If Hamlet give the first or second hit, Or quit in answer of the third exchange, Let all the battlements their ordnance fire ; The king shall drink to Hamlet's better breath , And in the cup an union shall he throw. Richer than tliat which four successive king's In Denmark's crown have worn. — Give me the cups ; [To Francisco, And let the kettle to the trumpet speak — The trumpet to the cannoneer without — The cannons to the heavens — the heaven to earth — Now the king drinks to Hamlet. [Drinks, [Drums and Trumj^ts sound — Cannons withtn. Come, begin ; And you, the judges, bear a wary eye. Him. Come on, sir. Laer. Come, my lora \They pla% Ham. One. Laer. No. Ham. Judgment. 82 T6 HAMLET. [Act f Osrick. A hit, a very palpable hit. Laer. Well — again — King. Stay, give me drink. — Hamlet, this pearl is thine ; Here's to thy health. [Pretends to drink, [Drums and Trumpets sound — Cannons shot ojf within^ frive him the cup. Ham. I'll play this bout first; set it by awhile. C'jme — [They play,] — another hit ! — What say you 1 haer. A touch, a touch, I do confess. King. Our son shall win. Queen. The Queen carouses to thy fortune, Hamlet. [The Queen dj-inks, and returns the cup to Francisco. TIa-m. Good madam — Kmg. [Aside to the Queen.] Gertrude, do not di'ink. Queen. I have, my lord. 1 pray you, pardon me. King. It is the poisoned cup — it is too late. [ Turning aside from the Queen, Laer. I'll hit him now ; And yet it ia almost against my conscience. [Aside, Ham. Come, for the third, Laertes. — You do but dally. I pray you, pass with your best violence ; I am afeard you make a wanton of me. Laer. Say you so : — Come on. [They play. — Laertei wounds Hamlet ; and, tuhile struggling, they exchange rapiers. King. Part them : they are incensed. [The Queen swoons. Ham. Nay, come again. [Ha7nlet wounds Laertes, who falls, Osrt^k. Look to the Queen there, ho ! Hor. How is't, my lord ] Osrick. How is't, Laertes 1 Laer. Why, as a woodcock to my own springe, Osrick .' [am justly killed with mine own treachery. Ham. How does the Queen % King. She swoons to see them bleed. Queen. No, no. the drink, the drink. — Oh, my dear ■ Hamlet ! — The drink, the drink. — I am poisoned. [She is led off, L. u. K Ham. Oh, villainy ! — Ho ! Ist the door be locked — ''^reacherv ! seek it out. acEKi^iV^l ^ hamljk.1. P Laer. It \6 }iere, Hamlet. — Hamlet, thou art slain ' No meaiji^.e ai the world can cio thee good i In thee there is not half an hour's life ; The treacherous instrument is in my hand, Unbated, and envenomed ; the foux practice Hati^. turned itself on me ; lo, here i lie, Nevor to rise agaiii j thy mother's ynoisoned ;— I can no more : the k\n^, the king's to bMme. Ham. (c.) The pomt Envenomed too ! Tfieiij ■venom, to thy work ! (Stabs the King on the throne. Here, thou incestuous, mui»iVous, d«;mned Dane, Follow my mother. [King dies Lae?\ He is justly served. Exchange forgiveness with me, nobjrj Hamlet : Mine and my father's death coaje not upon thee ; Nor thine on me ! [Dies Ham. Heaven make thee free of it ! I follow thee. You that look pale and tremble ai this chance That are but mutes or audience to this act, Had I but time, (as this fell sergeant, death. Is strict in his arrest,) Oh, I could tell you — But let it be. — Horatio, Report me and my cause aright To the unsatisfied. Hor. Never, believe it ; I am more an antique Roman than a Dane. Here's yet some liquor left. [Takes the cup Ham. As thou'rt a man — [Throws away the cup jrive me the cup — let go — by heaven, I'll have it. 3h, good Hrratio, what a wounded name. Things standing thus unknown, shall live behind me ! If thou didst ever hold rae in thy heart, Absent thee from felicity awhile, And in this harsh world draw thy breath in pain, To tell my story. — Oh ! I die, Horatio ! The potent poison quite o'erthrows my spirit- - The rest /s silence. \ljtu THE END. tee V £ L V y/ 4@=SJ&;i«D FOR A NEW DESCRIPTIVE CATALOGUE. VOL. XLI. !21 The Pirate's Legacy L'2 The Charcoal Burner 1-3 Adelgilha 121 Senor Taliente !'.'5 Forest Rose I'.T) Duke's Daughter l'-'7 Camilla's Husband !28 Pure Gold {Catalogue continued VOL. XLII. 329 Ticket of Leave Man 330 Fool's Revenge 331 O' Neil the Great 332 Handy x\ ndy 333 Pirate of the Isles 334 Fanchon 335 Little Barefoot 336 Wild Irish Girl from second page of cover. VOL. XLIII. 337 Pearl of Savoy 338 Dead Heart 339 Ten Nights in a Bar-room 310 Dumb Boy of Manchester 3il Belphegor the Mountebank 312 Cricket on the Hearth o!3 Printer's Devil 341 Meg's Diversion VOL. XLIV. 345 Drunkard's Doom 346 Chimney Corner .347 Fifteen Years of aDrunk- 348 No Thoroughfare fard's 349 Peep 0" Day . [Life 350 Everybody's Friend Hamlet, in Three Acts Guttle & Gulpit Cts. -TX-REAT SECRET OF SHADOW J-Sr^-JMIMES ; or, Harlequin in the Shades. u^o'W *''*'*^™ ^P and how to act them. With ^W anA c^ justructior>s. and numerous Illus- tratio'^*' '^•^ Denier. Price 2.5 ^ xS.IjOS'JL'E.AJJ'K.: or, Animated Pic- i,\f;j^,e use of Families, Schools, and Public jJxhibitijTiS. By Tony Denier. Price 25 ^.MA^ilUIl'S GUIDE TO HOME THH- ATia CAIjS. How to get them up, and how to act injtaem; to which is added, " How to get up TheajFicals in a Country House." with By-Laws, selecif d Scenes, Plays, and everything useful for ihoift ormation of amateur societies. Price 25 D:-IB GUJIDE to the stage, by Leman ThO'ias Rede. Containiog clear and full direc- tion, for obtaining Theatrical Engagements, with complete and valuable instructions for beginners, relative to salaries, rules, manner of going through Rcnearsals, securing proper Dresses, conduct at a fit St appearance, &c., &c. Price .15 CriE ART OE ACTING; or. Guide to the ■ ■^tage. In which the Dramatic Passions are de- Ijined, analyzed, and made easy of acquirement ; '^Iso the requisites necessary for performers of both sexes, heroes, gentlemen, lovers, tradesmen, clowns, heroines, fine ladies, hoydens, characters [ of middle and old age, etc. Price 15 Cts. MASSEY'S exhibition RECITER AND DRAWING-ROOM ENTER- TAINMENTS. Being choice Recitations in prose and verse. Together with an unique collec- tion of Petite Comedies, Dramas and Farces, adapted for the use of Schools and Families. Two numbers per number, .'{0 The two numbers, bound in cloth. School style 75 THE OLIO ; or Speaker's Companion. A col- lection of Recitations in Prose and Verse, Dia- logues and Burlesques, compiled for the use of Schools, Thespian Societies, etc., and for Public Declamation or Reading. In three parts. . . each, 15 DRAMAS FOR THE DRAWING- ROOM. By Miss Keating. Two parts, each, 40 PLAYS FOR THE PARLOR. By Miss Keating. Two parts each, 40 ACTING CHARADES. By Miss Picker- ing 40 COMIC DRAMAS, for College, Camp, or Cabin (Male Characters only), four parts each, 40 DRAMAS FOR BOYS (Male Characters only), by Miss Keating 40 HOME PLAYS FOR LADIES (Female Characters only), complete in three parts each, 40 AN EVENING'S ENTERTAINMENT, an original C omedy, a Burlesque and Farce 40 THE ETHIOPIAJST DHAMA. (NEW SERIES.) Blinks and Jinks kliucky Number ^mebody s Coat Pvp to P aris ■iTflt.Hl of Dickens 'Black OleBuU Blackest Tragedy of All L Robert Make- Airs 2 Box and Cox 5 Mazeppa 1 United States Mail j The Coopers 5 Old Dad's Cabin J The Rival Lovers 3 The Sham Doctor ) Jolly Millers ) Villikins andhisDinah L The Quack Doctor 2 The Mystic Spell J The Black Statue t Uncle Jeff ) The Mischievous Nigger 3 The BlacK Shoemaker no. 8 Tom and Jerry, and 'Who's been Here 9 No Tator. or Man Fish 10 Who Stole the Chickens 11 Upper Ten Thousand 12 Rip Van Winkle NO. 13 Ten Days in the Tombs 14 Two Pompeys 15 Running the Blockade 16 Jeemes the Poet 17 Intelligence Office 18 Echo Band NO. 19 Deserters 20 Deaf as a Post 21 Dead Alive 22 Cousin Joe's Visit 23 Boarding School 24 Academy of Stars NO. 17 The Magic Penny 18 The "Wreck [ny Cupids 19 Oh Hush! orTheVirgin- 20 The Portrait Painter 21 The Hop of Fashion 22 Bone Squash 23 The Virginia Mummy 24 Thieves at the Mill 25 Comedy of Errors 26 LesMiserables 27 New Year's Calls 28 Troublesome Servant 29 Great Arrival 30 Rooms to Let 31 Black Crook Burlesque 32 Ticket Taker NO. 83 Hypochondriac 34 William Tell 35 Rose Dale 36 Feast 37 Fenian Spy 38 Jack's the La<3 39 Othello 40 Camille 41 Nobody's Son 42 Sports on a Lark 43 Actor and Singer 44 Shylock 45 Quarrelsome Servants 46 Haunted House 47 No Cure, No Pay NO. 48 Fighting for the Union 49 Hamlet the Dainty 50 Corsican Twins 51 Deaf— in a Horn 52 Challenge Dance 53 De Trouble begins at Nine 54 Scenes at Gurney's 55 16.000 Years Ago 56 Stage-struck Darkey 57 Black Mail [Clothes 58 Highest Price for Old 59 Howls from the Owl Train 60 Old Hunks 61 The Three Black Smiths 62 Turkeys in Season Tony Denier's Parlor Pantomimes.— In Ten Parts, 25 Cts. each. No. v.— The Vivandiere ; or. The Daughter of the Regiment. Dame Trot and her Comicai. Cat; or, The Misfortunes of Johnny Greene. No. VI.— GODENSKI ; or, The Skaters of Wilnau. The Enchanted Horn ; or. The Witches' Gift. No. Vn.— THi5 SoLDif r for Love ; or, A Hero in Spite of Himself. Simeon's Mishaps; or, The Hungarian Rendezvous. No. VIII.— The Village Ghost; or, Love and Murder both Found Out. The Fairies' Frolic; or, The Good Wife's Three Wishes. No. IX.— The Rose op Sharon ; or, The Unlucky Fisherman. Pon'Go. the Intelligent Aps, and the Unfortunate Overseer. No. X.— Mons. ToiTPET, the Dancing Barber ; or, Love and Lather. Vol au Vent and the Millers ; or, A Night's Adventures. \o. I.— A Memoir of the Author. By Sylvester Bleeker, Esq. How to Express the Various Passions, Actions, etc. The Four Lovers ; or, Los Rivales' Rendezvous. The Frisky Cobbler ; or. The Rival Artisans. fo. II.— The Rise and Progress of Pantomime. The Schoolmaster ; ,or the School in an Uproar. Belle of Madrid; or, a Muleteer's Bride. La Statue Blanche ; or. The Lovers' Stratagem. To. III.— M. Dechalumeau ; or. The Birthday Pete. The Di.mon Lover; or. The Frightened Family. Robert Macaire ; or, LesDeuxFugitifs. lo. IV.— Jocko the Brazilian Ape; or, The Mischievous Monkey. The Conscript ; or. How to Avoid the Draft. The Magic Flute ; or, The Ma- gician's Spell. Samuel French, Publisher, ny of the above sent by Mail or Express, on receipt of price. 122 Pfassau Street (Up Statbs). FRENCH'S MIN library of congress Price 16 Cents each.— Bo VOL. 1. 1 The Irish Attorney 2 Boots lit the Swan 3 How to pay the Rent 4 The Loan "of a Lover 5 The Dead Shot 6 His Last Legs 7 The Invisible Prince 8 The Golden Parmer VOL. II. 9 Pride of the Market 10 Used Up 11 The Irish Tutor 12 The Barrack Room 13 Luke the Laborer 14 Beauty and the Beast 15 St. Patrick's Eve 16 Captain of th« Watch VOL. in. 17 The Secret fpers I 18 White Horse of the Pep- I 19 The Jacobite 20 The Bottle 21 Box and Cox 22 Bamboozling 23 Widow's Victim 24 Robert Macaire VOL, IV. 25 Secret Service 26 Omnibua 27 Irish Lion 28 Maid of Croisgy 29 The Old Guard 30 Raising the Wind 31 Slasher and Crashe/ 32 Naval Engagements VOL. V. 33 Oncknies in California. 34 Who Speaks First 35 Bombastes Purioso .36 Macbeth Travestie 87 Irish Ambassador 38 Delicate Ground 39 The Weathercock [Gold 40 All that Glitters is Not VOL. VI. 41 Grimshaw, Bagshaw and Bradshaw 42 Rough Diamond 43 Bloomer Costume 44 Two Bonnycastles 45 Born to Good Luck 46 Kiss in the Dark [jurer 47 'Twould Puzzle a Con- 48 Kill or Cure VOL. VII. 49 Box and Cox Married and 50 St. Cupid [Settled 51 Go-to-bed Tom 52 The Lawyers 53 Jack Sheppard 54 The Toodles I j 55 The Mobcap I I 66 Ladies Beware VOL. VIII. 57 Morning Call 55 Popping the Question 59Deaf as a Post 60 New Footman .61 Pleasant Neighbor 62 Paddy the Piper 63 Brian O'L'un 64 Irish Assurance VOL. IX. 65 Temptation 66 Paddy Carey 67 Two Gregories 63 King Charming 69 Po-ca-hon-tas 70 Clockmaker's Hat 71 Married Rake 72 Love and Murder VOL. XXXVII. 289 All the World's a Stage 290 Quash, or Nigger Practice 291 torn Him Out 292 Prellj Girlsof Stillherg 23S Angelof the Attic 294 Circumstances alter Cases 295 Katty O'Sheal 296 A Supper in Dixie VOL. X. 73 Ireland and America U5 C 74 Pretty Piece of Businessjl'16 H 75 Irish Broom-maker |l47 Lj 76 To Paris and Back for 148 P Five Pounds 77 That Blessed Baby 78 Our Gal 79 Swiss Cottage 80 Young Widow VOL. XI. 81 O'FIannigan and the Fa- S2 Irish Post (ries 83 My Neighbor's Wife 84 Irish Tiger 85 P . P . , or Man and Tiger| 86 To Oblige Benson 87 State Secrets 88 Irish Yankee 014 094 808 1 VOL. XII. 89 A Good Fellow 90 Cherry and Fair Star 91 Gale Breezely 92 Our Jemimy 93 Miller's Maid 94 Awkward An-ival 95 Crossing the Line 96 Conjugal Lesson VOL. XIII. 97 My Wife's Mirror 98 Life in New York 99 Middy Ashore 100 Crown Prince 101 T\r Queens . 102 Thumping Legacy 103 Unfinished Gentleman 104 House Dog VOL, XIV. 105 The Demon Lover 106 Matrimony 107 In and Out of Place 108 I Dine with My Mother 109 Hi-a-wa-tha 110 Andy Blake HI Love in '76 [tie 112 Romance under DifSoul- VOL. XV. 113 One Coat for 2 Suits 114 A Decided Case 115 Daughter [nority 116 No ; or, the Glorious Mi 117 Coroner's Inquisition 118 Love in Humble Life 119 Family Jars 120 Personation. VOL. XVL 121 Children in the Wood 122 Winning a Husband 123 Day after the Pair 124 Make Your Wills 125 Rendezvous 126 My Wife's Husband 127 Monsieur Tonson 123 Illustrious Stranger VOL. XVII 129 Mischief-Making [Mines 130 A Live Woman in the 131 The Corsair 132 Shy lock 133 Spoiled Child 134 Evil Eye- 135 Nothing to Nurse 1.36 Wanted a. Widow VOL. XVIIL 137 Lottery Ticket \',Z-i Fortune's Frolic liSS Is he Jealous? ;i40 Jiarriud B;t;;uelor il41 Husband n: Sight jl42 Irishman in London 343 Animal .Magnetism 1144 Highways and By-Ways VOL. XXXVIIL 297 Ici oc Parle Francais 298 Who Killed Cock Robin 299 Declaration of Independence 300 Heads or Tails 301 Obstinate Family g02 My Aunt 3b3 That Rasca) Pat 304 Don Paddy de Bazan 149 Cc 150 Opposite Neighbors 151 Dutchman's Ghost 152 persecuted Dutchman VOL. XX. 153 Musard Ball 154 Great Tragic Revival 155 High Low Jack & Game 156 A Gentleman from Ire- 157 Tom and Jerry [land 158 Village Lawyer 159 Captain's not A-miss 160 Amateurs and Actors VOL. XXI. 161 Promotion [ual 162 A Fascinating Individ- 163 Mrs. Caudle 164 Shakspeare's Dream 165 Neptune' s Defeat 166 Lady of Bedchamber 167 Take Care of Little 168 Irish Widow [ Charley VOL. XXIL 169 Yankee Peddlar 170 Hiram Hireout 171 Double-Bedded Room 172 The Drama Defended 173 Vermont Wool Dealer 174 Ebenezer Venture [ter 175 Principles from Charac- 176 Lady of the Lake (Trav) VOL. XXIII. 177 Mad Dogs 178 Barney the Barorj 179 Swiss Swains 180 Bachelor's Bedroom 131 A Rolaud for an Oliver 182 More Blunder* than One 183 Dumb Belle 184 Limerick Boy VOL. XXIV. 185 Nature and Philosophy 186 Teddy the Tiler 187 Spectre Bridgroom 188 Matteo Falcone 189 Jenny Lind 190 Two Buzzards 191 Happy Man 192 Betsy Baker VOL. XXV. 193 No. 1 Round the Corner 194 Teddy Roe 195 Object of Interest 196 My Fellow Clerk 197 Bengal Tiger 198 Laughing Hyena 199 The Victor Vanquished 200 Our Wife VOL. XXVI. 201 My Husband's Mirror 202 Yankee Land. 203 Norah Creina 20v Good for Nothing 205 The First Night 206 The Kion Boy 207 War-ijering Minsirel 20S Wanted, 1000 Milliner;; VOL. xxvn. 209 Poor Pilcoddy 210 The Mummy [Glasses 231 223 Siamese Twins 224 Sent to the ToW VOL. XXff 225 Somebody/' i 226 Ladles' B^ Irj 227 Art of V... ,i 228 The Lady oi thff . 229 The Eights of Ms 230 Mv Husband's G 231 Two Can Play, Game 232 Fighting by Pros VOL. XXX. 233 Unprotected Pen; 234PetofthePettic( 235 Forty and Fifty 236 Who Stole the ] 237 My Son Diana 238 Unwarrantable '. 239 Mr. and Mrs. Wl 240 A Quiet Family VOL. XXXI. 2il Cool as Cucumbe 242 Sudden Thought! 243 Jumbo Jum 244 A Blighted Being 245 Little Toddlekins 246 A Lover by Prox; 247 Maid -5?ith the ] 248 Perplexing P red! VOL. XXXII, 249 Dr. Dilworth 250 Out to Nurse •251 A Lucky Hit 252 The Dowager 25S Metamora (Eurle 254 Drear."'..? of Delusi 255 The Shaker Lovt 256 Ticklish Times VOL. XXX in 257 20 Minutes withE 258 Miralda: or, the of Tacon 259 A S.->ldier's Conr 260 Servants by Legs 261 Dyiug for Love 262 Alarming Sacrifi 263 Valet de Sham 264 Nicholas Niokleb VOL. SXXIV 265 The Last of the I 266 King Rene's Dati 267 The Grotto Nvm 268 A Devilish Good 269 A Twice Told Ta 270 Pas de Fasoinati 271 Revolutionary S' 272 A Man Without a VOL. XXXV 273 The Olio, Parti 274 The Olio, Part 2 (275 The Olio, Part 3 ?T6 The Trumpeter' s iV; Seeicg AVarrcn 2 "8 Civcev. Mountain 279 That Nose 2Si> 'V