O what a falling off was there!

But brief let me be, I must back repair,
For methinks I scent the morning air.
Ri tol tiddy, &c.

One afternoon, as was my use,
Ri tol tiddy, &c.

I went to my orchard to take a snooze;
Tiddy, tiddy, &c.

When your uncle into my ear did pour

A bottle of cursed hellebore !

How little did I think I should wake no more!
Ri tol tiddy, &c.

Doom'd by a brother's hand was I,
Ri tol tiddy, &c.

To lose my crown, my wife,-to die.
Tiddy, tiddy, &c.

I should like to have settled my worldly affairs,
But the rascal came on so unawares,
That I hadn't even time to say my pray'rs.
Ri tol tiddy, &c.

Torment your uncle for my sake;

Ri tol tiddy, &c.

Let him never be at peace, asleep or awake.
Tiddy, tiddy, &c.

Your mother's plague let her conscience be—
But I must be off for the day-light I see.-
Adieu, adieu, adieu! Remember me!

Ri tol tiddy, &c.

[The Ghost vanishes.

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.

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 thought 'twas Old Scratch,
So I fasten'd the latch,

And went on with my work as before;

But whilst my needle I was threading, Lord Hamlet popp'd his head in— For, d'ye mind, he kick'd open the door.

His doublet unbrac'd,

Was slung round his waist,

And his stockings were dirty and loose;
He was pale as a sheet,

And could scarce keep his feet :

Thus he came in, and star'd like a goose!

He took hold of my wrist,

And gave it a twist

That made me to quiver and quake:
He then began to quiz,

As tho' he meant to draw my phiz;

And then gave me a terrible shake.

Next so sadly he sigh'd,

Lord! I thought he'd have died!

Then he thrice up and down shook his noddle. After treating me so,

He thought fit to let me go;

And then tow'rds the stairs did he waddle.

"Twas a chance he didn't fall

Over bannisters and all,

For I vow not a step could he see;

To my utter surprize,

He found his way without his eyes,

To the last they were bent upon me.

C