Dramatis Perfonæ. CLAUDIUS, King of Denmark. Fortinbras, Prince of Norway. Hamlet, Son to the former, and Nephew to the prefent King Gertrude, Queen of Denmark, and Mother to Hamlet. Ladies attending on the Queen. Players, Grave-makers, Sailors, Messengers, and other Attendants. SCENE, Elfinoor. HAM LE T. (1) ACT I. SCENE, a Platform before the Palace. Enter BERNARDO and FRANCISCO, two Centinels. W BERNARDO. HO's there? Fran. Nay, anfwer me: ftand, and un fold yourself. Ber. Long live the King! (1) Honeft Langbaine (in his account of Dramatic Poets) having told us that he knew not whether this story were true or false, not finding in the lift given by Doctor Heylin such a King of Denmark as Claudius; Mr Pope comes and tells us, that this story was not invented by our Author, though from whence he took it he knows not. Langbaine gives us a sensible reason for his ignorance in this point; what to make of Mr Pope's affertion, upon the grounds he gives us for it, I confefs I know not. But we'll allow this gentleman, for once, a prophet in his declaration; for the ftory is taken from Saxo Grammaticus, in his Danish history. "I'll fubjoin a fhort extract of the material circumftances on which the groundwork of the plot is built; and how happily the Poet has adapted his incidents, I fhall leave to the obfervation of every reader. The hiftorian calls our Poet's hero Amlethus; his father, Horwendillus; his uncle, Fengo; and his mother Gerutha. The old King in fingle combat flew Collerus, King of Norway; Fengo makes away with his brother Horwendillus, and marries his widow Gerutha. Amlethus, to avoid being suspected by his uncle of defigns, affumes a form of utter madness. A fine woman is planted upon him, to try if he would yield to the impreffions of love. Fengo contrives that Amlethus, in order to found him, Fran. Bernardo? Ber. He. Fran. You come moft carefully rpon your hour. Ber. 'Tis now ftruck twelve; get thee to bed, Francifco. Fran. For this relief, much thanks: 'tis bitter And I am fick at heart. Ber. Have you had quiet guard? Ber. Well, good-night. If you do meet Horatio and Marcellus, [cold, The rivals of my watch, bid them make haste. Enter HORATIO and MARCELLUS. Fran. I think I hear them. Stand, ho! who is Hor. Friends to this ground. Mar. And liege-men to the Dane. Fran. Give you good night.. [here? Mar. Oh, farewel, honeft foldier; who hath relieved you? Fran. Bernardo has my place; give you good night. [Exit Francifco. Mar. Holla! Bernardo. fhould be closeted by his mother. A man is concealed in the ruflies to overhear their difcourfe, whom Amlethus difcovers and kills. When the Queen is frighted at this be haviour of his, he talks her about her criminal courfe of life, and incestuous converfation with her former husband's murderer; confeffes his madnefs is but counterfeited, to preferve himself and fecure bis revenge for his father; to which he injoins the Queen filence. Fengo fends mlethus to Britain; two of the King's fervants attend him, with letters to the British King, ftrictly preffing the death of Amlethus, who in the night time, coming at their commiffion, overreads it, forms a new one, and turns the deftruction, defigned towards himself, on the bearers of the letters. lethus, returning home, by a wile furprizes and kills his uncle, Am Ber. Say, what, is Horatio there? Hor. A piece of him. [cellus. Ber. Welcome, Horatio; welcome, good Mar- [night? Mar. Horatio fays, 'tis but our fantasy; And let us once again affail your ears, And let us hear Bernardo speak of this. When yon fame ftar, that's weftward from the pole, Mar. Peace, break thee off; Enter the Ghost. Look, where it comes again. Ber. In the fame figure, like the King that's dead. Ber. It would be spoke to. Mar. Speak to it, Horatio. [night, Hor. What art thou, that ufurpeft this time f 1 Together with that fair and warlike form, In which the majesty of buried Denmark Did fometime march? by Heaven, I charge thee, Mar. It is offended. Ber. See! it stalks away. Hor. Stay; fpeak: I charge thee, speak. [fpeak. [Exit Ghoft. Mar. 'Tis gone, and will not answer. Ber. How now, Horatio? you tremble and look Is not this fomething more than fantasy? What think you of it? [pale. Hor. Before my God, I might not this believe, Without the fenfible and true avouch Of mine own eyes. Mar. Is it not like the King? Hor. As thou art to thyself. Such was the very armour he had on, 'Tis ftrange----- [hour, Mar. Thus twice before, and just at this dead With martial ftalk, he has gone by our watch. Hor. In what particular thought to work, I know But, in the grofs and scope of my opinion, [not: This bodes fome strange eruption to our state. Mar. Good now fit down, and tell me, he that Why this fame strict and most obfervant watch |