HAMLET,

PRINCE of DENMARK.

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

Hamlet, Sn to the former, and Nephew to the present:
King.

Polonius, Lord Chamberlain.

Horatio, Friend to Hamlet.

Laertes, Son to Polonius.

Gertrude, Queen of Denmark, and Mother to Hamlet:

Ophelia, Daugher to Polonius..

Ladies attending on the Queen..

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

SCENE, ELSINO O R.

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

Of this Play the Editions are,

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

2.

3.

4.

1611. W. S. for John Smethwicke, 1637. R. Young, for John Smethwicke. No date. W. S. for John Smethwicke.

*** I have only the third Quarto and Folio.

PRINCE of DENMARK.

* ACT I. SCENE I

A Platform before the Palace.

Enter Bernardo and Francifco, two Centinels.

W

BERNARD O.

HO's there!

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

Ber. Long live the King!

Fran. Bernardo ?

Ber. He.

Fran. You come moft carefully upon your hour.
Ber. 'Tis now ftruck twelve. Get thee to bed,
Francifco.

Fran. For this relief, much thanks. "Tis bitter cold, And I am fick at heart.

Ber. Have you had quiet Guard?

Fran. Not a mouse stirring.

Ber. Well, good night.

This Play is printed both in the folio of 1623, and in the quarto of 1637, more correctly, than almost any other of the works of Shakespeare.

If

you do meet Horatio and Marcellus,

(1) The rivals of my Watch, bid them make hafte.

Enter Horatio and Marcellus.

Fran. I think, I hear them. Stand, ho! Who is there?

Hor. Friends to this ground.

Mar. And liege-men to the Dane.

Fran. Give you good night.

Mar. Oh, farewel, honeft foldier. Who hath reliev'd you?

Fran. Bernardo has my place. Give you good night.

Mar. Holla Bernardo.

Ber. Say, what, is Horatio there?

(2) Hor. A piece of him.

[Exit Francifco

Ber. Welcome, Horatio; welcome, good Marcel-. lus.

Mar. What, has this thing appear'd. again to · night?

Ber. I have seen nothing.

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

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

With us, to watch the minutes of this night,
That if again this apparition come,

He may (3) approve our eyes, and speak to it.
Hor. Tufh! tufh! 'twill not appear.

Ber. Sit down a while,

And let us once again affail your ears,
That are fo fortified against our story,

(1) The rivals of my Watch,- 1 Rivals, for partners.

WARBURTON,

By Rivals of the Watch are meant thofe who were to watch on the next adjoining ground. Rivals, in the original sense of the word, were proprietors of neighbouring lands, parted only by a brook, which belonged equally to both. Hanmer.

(2) Hor. A piece of him.] But why a piece? He fays this as. he gives his hand. Which direction should be marked.

WARBURTON.

-Approve our eyes,] Add a new testimony to that of our

What