HAMLET TRAVESTIE.. ACT THE SECOND.. SCENE I. A Chamber in the Palace. Enter KING, QUEEN, POLONIUS, OPHELIA, ROSENCRANTZ,, and GUILDEnstern. King. And can you, by no drift of conversation, Rosen. He does confess himself non compos mentis, (a) Guilden. He'll not be sounded; he knows well enough He jump❜d for joy to hear it: they're at court; Polonius. "Tis true; and Hamlet says, that if your graces Will come to see the play, he'll book you places. King. With all my heart: right glad am I to find Pray, gentlemen, give him a further zest Rosen. My Lord, we'll do our best. King. Sweet Gertrude, march your carcase: we have sent He here may meet Ophelia.-Thro' the key-hole Polonius. (To Ophelia) Here, take this book; he'll think you're at your pray❜rs. (To the King) Come, let's be off; I hear him on the stairs. [Exeunt King and Polonius. Enter HAMLET. SONG.-HAMLET. (Tune-" Here we go up, up, up.”) When a man becomes tir'd of his life, His reflections most serious ought to be. Ri tol de rol, &c. To die is to sleep-nothing more- Ri tol de rol, &c. 'Tis the doubt of our ending all snugly Kicks, cuffs, frowns, and many an odd thing, Ri tol de rol, &c. Truly, death is a fine thing to talk of, But I'll leave it to men of more learning; To bear up as we can 'gainst our sorrow : Let us hope they'll go better to-morrow. Ri tol de rol, &c. Hamlet. Oh, ho! Ophelia here. I'll shew my airs.- (Aside.) Think of my pranks, Ophelia, in your pray❜rs. Ophelia. I hope you're well, my Lord. (Aside) I fear he'll bite (c). Hamlet. Methinks I'm something better, though not quite. Ophelia. I've got your present here; I'll now return it, Of worsted garters from the Easter fair. You know you gave them, and with words bewitching, Last week when I was frying in the kitchen. I've left them ever since upon the shelf, In hopes you'd come and put them on yourself; Let me tell you, Miss Ophelia, your behaviour's very rude, And your whims and freaks and fancies ought in time to be subdu'd; So if my advice will better you, to give it 'tis my duty:Imprimis :-let your honesty discourse not with your beauty. Won't you, won't you, won't you to a nunnery go? |