Hamlet.

Remember thee!-I feel in such a flurry,
Egad, I shan't forget thee in a hurry.
Remember thee! Yea, from my souvenir,
All memoranda swift shall disappear;
There thy commandment all alone I'll write;
And if I e'er forget thee-blow me tight.

Horatio (without).

My Lord!

Marcellus.

Lord Hamlet!

Hamlet.

Damn those stupid fellows.

Horatio, here am I.-Hollo, Marcellus.

Enter HORATIO and MARCELLUS.

Marcellus.

How is't, my Lord? What news? What said the Ghost?

Hamlet.

You'll blab.

Marcellus.

Not I.

Horatio.

I'm silent as a post.

Hamlet.

He said each Danish villian is a knave!

Horatio.

That all?-He might have staid then in his grave.

E

Hamlet.

That's as he pleases.-So good night-but ho!
I have a word to say before you go.

Never make known what you have seen to night.

But that's not all: Now swear that if, perchance,
Like Merry Andrew, (r) I think fit to dance
And skip about the house, you'll never dare
To tell, or even hint, the reason-

Ghost (beneath).

Swear!

[They swear again.

Hamlet.

Lie still, old Grey-bones.-'Tis such chilling weather,
Suppose we go and get some drink together?

Horatio.

With all my heart-Egad, I like your plan-
Marcellus, what say you, lad?

Marcellus.

I'm your man.

Hamlet.

The world's gone mad-Curs'd fate, that ever I

Was born to have a finger in the pie!

[Exeunt.

SCENE V.

An Apartment in POLONIUS's House.

Enter POLONIUS, meeting OPHELIA.

Polonius.

You look stark mad, Ophelia !-What's the row? (s)

I've had a precious fright.

Ophelia.

Polonius.

Pray tell me how.

SONG.-OPHELIA.

(Tune-" Mrs. Clarke.")

My Lord, you must know,

A few minutes ago,

In my room I was darning a stocking:
Now conceive my alarm,

When (not dreaming of harm)

I was roused by a violent knocking.

Polonius.

Come, go with me,-I will go seek the king:
Hamlet's behaviour is not quite the thing.
Have you of late been snappish to him, pray?

Ophelia.

Oh, no-I never did a cross word say:

I merely sent his letters back by scores,

And when he call'd, I turn'd him out o'doors.

Polonius.

Aye! that hath made him mad—I do not doubt it.
We'll to the king, and tell him all about it.

[Exeunt.

SCENE VI.

The Palace.

Enter KING, QUEEN, ROSENCRANTZ, and GUILDENSTERN.

King.

Welcome, dear Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern :

You have come just in time to serve our turn.
Something you've heard of Hamlet's transformation;
But to account for his sad situation

We find impossible; so you must pump him:

If he won't tell by fair means-why then-thump him.

Queen.

Good gentlemen, right heartily he'll greet you,
For very often hath he wish'd to meet you;
So stay, and find out what his real state is,
And we will give you board and lodging gratis.