King. Cheer up, my hearty: tho' you've lost your dad, Your father lost a father; and 'tis certain Death o'er your great-grandfather drew the curtain. You've mourn'd enough: 'tis time your grief to smother; Don't cry; you shall be king some time or other. Queen. Go not to Wittenberg, my love, I pray you. Hamlet. Mamma, I shall in all my best obey you. King. Well said, my lad! Cheer up! (b) no more foul weather:We'll meet anon, and all get drunk together. [Flourish of trumpets and drums Exeunt all but Hamlet. SONG.-HAMLET. (Tune-" Derry Down.") A ducat I'd give if a sure way I knew Derry down, down, down, derry down. How weary, how profitless, stale, and how flat, Seem to me all life's uses, its joys,—and all that: Not worth living for-things rank and gross hold it merely. Derry down, &c. 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, " My dear, take my belcher (c) to tie round your head." Why, zounds! she'd hang on him,.as much as to say, Derry down, &c. To marry my uncle! my father's own brother!- 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.- 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. When, just at the time when the night was spent, With his tomb-stone, jaw-bone, skull, shroud, and skeleton, The ghost like your father look'd, arm'd cap-à-pié. 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: 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," He soon came in again, so I told him my mind: 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, 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 |