Two months have scarce pass'd since dad's death, and my mother, Like a brute as she is, has just married his brother.— To wed such a bore !-but 'tis all too late now: We can't make a silk purse of the ear of a sow. Derry down, &c. So fondly he lov'd her, I've oft heard him tell her, Why, zounds! she'd hang on him, as much as to say, He's forgotten!-Oh, frailty, thy name sure is woman! Derry down, &c. To marry my uncle! my father's own brother! I'm as much like a lion as one's like the other. It will not, by jingo, it can't come to good- Derry down, &c. Enter HORATIO, MARCELLUS, and BERNARDO. Hamlet. My lads, I'm glad to see you. I implore You'll tell me what brought you to Elsinore. [To Horatio. Horatio. To see dad's funeral I popp'd my head in. Hamlet. No quizzing (d)-'twas to see my mother's wedding. Horatio. Indeed, my lord, one follow'd hard on t'other.- Hamlet. Thrift, thrift, Horatio! Denmark's cooks were able With funeral meats to cheer (e) the marriage-table.— Methinks I have my father in my sight. Horatio. My lord, I'll swear I saw him yesternight. SONG. HORATIO. (Tune-" Heigho! says Rowley.") Two nights to watch these gentlemen went, "Heigho!" says Horatio; When, just at the time when the night was spent, A spectre to frighten them thither was sent; With his tomb-stone, jaw-bone, skull, shroud and skeleton, "Too strange to be true," says Horatio. The ghost like your father look'd, arm'd cap-à-pié. "Heigho!" says Horatio; They came in a twitter to tell this to me, Saying, "If you don't credit us, pray come and see. "A cock and a bull," says Horatio. I promis'd with them to keep watch the next night: "Heigho!" says Horatio; When lo! as they'd told me, the ghost came in sight- With his tomb-stone, &c. "But we'll soon find it out," says Horatio. I intended to say a few words to the ghost; "Heigho!" says Horatio; (I shouldn't have kept him five minutes at most) But I found the poor fellow as dumb as a post. With his tomb-stone, &c. "He's no blabber, I find," says Horatio. He turn'd on his heel, and went off in a pet, But he frown'd on us all ere away we could get, Just as much as to say, "I've not done with you yet,” "We had better make off," says Horatio. He soon came in again, so I told him my mind : "Heigho!" says Horatio; Says I, "I'm quite sure you've left something behind, With his tomb-stone, &c. "You'd best shew where 'tis hid," says Horatio. He seem'd not to like it, and look'd rather black, As much as to say, “You had best hold your clack ;” With his tomb-stone, &c. "You're a rum kind of ghost," says Horatio. Hamlet. Perchance 'twill walk again;-I'll watch to-night, If in my father's form it come to scare me, I'll speak to it, should e'en Old Harry dare me. (To Hor. and Mar.) Don't let the cat out of the bag, I prythee. Never fear me. Horatio. Marcellus. Nor me. Hamlet. Then I'll be with ye Soon after supper. Horatio. Honour ? Hamlet. Poz.-Adieu ! Exeunt Hor Mar. and Ber. No doubt some dirty work, if this be true. Would it were supper-time, this tale so wheedles, SCENE II. An Apartment in POLONIUS's House. Enter OPHELIA and LAERtes. Laertes. I've pack'd off bag and baggage. Never fail If Dad will get it frank'd (g) so much the better. Ophelia. Do'st think I'd grudge the postage of a letter? Laertes. Be not too easily by Hamlet caught, |