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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,
"If it rains, my dear Gertrude, pray take my umbrella :"
When too roughly the winds have beset her, he'th said,
"My dear, take my belcher (c) to tie round your head."
Derry down, &c.

Why, zounds! she'd hang on him, as much as to say,
"The longer I love you, the longer I may :"-
Yet before one could whistle, as I am a true man,

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-
But break, my poor heart :—I'd say more if I could.

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.-
I never should have thought it of your mother.

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.

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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.
With his tomb-stone, &c.

"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-
Says I, ""Tis too plain that there's something not right.

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,
"Heigho!" says Horatio;

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,”
With his tomb-stone, &c.

"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,
"Some treasure, perhaps, your exec'tors can't find:

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,
"Heigho!" says Horatio;

As much as to say, “You had best hold your clack ;”
But he heard the cock crow and was off in a crack.

With his tomb-stone, &c.

"You're a rum kind of ghost," says Horatio.

Hamlet.

Perchance 'twill walk again;-I'll watch to-night,
And beg a conversation with the sprite :

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,
Till then I'm sitting upon pins and needles (f). [Exit.

SCENE II.

An Apartment in POLONIUS's House.

Enter OPHELIA and LAERtes.

Laertes.

I've pack'd off bag and baggage. Never fail
To let me have a letter ev'ry mail—

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,
For all his swearing is not worth a groat.
He may not, like we folks of meaner station,
Take up with any trollop in the nation;
So look before you leap; depend upon it,
'Tis moonshine all, in valentine or sonnet:

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