"For where there is advantage to be given,

66

Both more and less have given him the revolt," &c.

Johnson proposed advantage to be gone," &c.; Steevens, " advantage to be got," &c. (Mr. Collier's Ms. Corrector reads “ advantage to be gotten," &c.); and Mr. Singer, in his ed. of Shakespeare, 1826, “. advantage to be gain'd," &c.

Here "forc'd" means strengthened (see Todd's Johnson's Dict. sub "To force," 10th sign. of the word); which I should not have thought it necessary to mention but for the strange alteration of Mr. Collier's Ms. Corrector,-" farc'd" (i. e. stuffed).

The folio marks neither the exit nor the re-entrance of Seyton.-On the words, "The queen, my lord, is dead," Mr. Collier observes: "We must suppose that Seyton has gone to what we now call the wing' of the stage to inquire." But "going to the wing,” and standing there to glean information, was surely as unusual on the old stage as it is on the modern; and I have no doubt that formerly Seyton went out and re-entered, just as he does when this play is performed now-a-days:· see any acting-copy of Macbeth. (See, too, Mr. Collier's one-volume Shakespeare, where Seyton makes his "Exit" and "Reenters" on the authority of the Ms. Corrector.)

:

I have already had occasion to notice the absurdity of the old stage-directions in this scene: see vol. iv. p. 425, note (66).

HAMLET.

DRAMATIS PERSONE.

CLAUDIUS, king of Denmark.

HAMLET, Son to the former, and nephew to the present king.

GERTRUDE, queen of Denmark, and mother to Hamlet.
OPHELIA, daughter to Polonius.

Lords, Ladies, Officers, Soldiers, Sailors, Messengers, and other

Attendants.

Ghost of Hamlet's Father.

SCENE-Elsinore.

HAMLET, PRINCE OF DENMARK.

ACT I.

SCENE I. Elsinore. A platform before the castle.

FRANCISCO at his post. Enter to him BERNARDO.

Ber. Who's there?

Fran. Nay, answer me: stand, and unfold yourself.
Ber. Long live the king!

Fran. Bernardo?

Ber. He.

Fran. You come most carefully upon your hour.

Ber. 'Tis now (1) struck twelve; get thee to bed, Fran

cisco.

Fran. For this relief much thanks: 'tis bitter cold,

And I am sick at heart.

Ber. Have you had quiet guard?

Fran.

Ber. Well, good night.

Not a mouse stirring.

If you do meet Horatio and Marcellus,

The rivals of my watch, bid them make haste.

Fran. I think I hear them.-Stand, ho! Who's there?

Enter HORATIO and MARCELLUS.

Hor. Friends to this ground.

Mar.

Fran. Give you good night.

And liegemen to the Dane.