I told you once I lov'd you; but 'twas easy to perceive If you marry, (just to comfort you,) this plague take for portion, That calumny will twig you, tho' you act with greatest caution: But get some fool to marry you, if disengag'd your heart is; I shall not tell the reason-but 'twere better for both parties. Won't you, won't you, &c. I've lately been inform'd that you paint both red and white: Heav'n gave you one face, and to make another is not right. Your pranks have made me mad-Marriage bells no more shall jingle The married may remain so, but the rest shall all keep single, Won't you, won't you, &c. [Exit Hamlet. Ophelia. O, what a pity such a charming lad Should, at his time of life, go roaring mad! RECITATIVE (accompanied,) and DUETT (d). HAMLET and OPHELIA. RECITATIVE. Ophelia. Dear Hamlet, pray come back. (Enter Hamlet.) I'm your's for ever. Hamlet. And shall we never part, love? (Together.) Ah! no, never! DUETT. (Tune-" I've kiss'd and I've prattled.") Hamlet. I've made love to fifty young women in Denmark, But if she would promise to love me-why, then mark- Ophelia. I've kiss'd and I've prattled with fifty young fellows, But if he would not be so devilish jealous, Hamlet. Your father, I know, doesn't much like the match; I'm a prince-and he ought to be glad of the catch, Hum. Oph. Oph. Ophelia. We know very well that advice cheap as dirt is, But in spite of the lessons of brother Laertes, Hamlet and Ophelia. Then here be an end to our squabbles and strife And as no other woman shall e'er be my wife, Young Hamlet's the lad for me. (Tune-" Liberty-Hall.") Tho' a talent for acting must nature impart, Tol de rol, &c. When speaking a speech, it an actor becomes Pray say what were W or M. without it? Tol de rol, &c. All actors should study what folks call the graces- They, like C -, saw the air, as it were, into slices. Some will tell you, "be calm;" but, in spite of their cant, To bamboozle the flats and to keep them from snoring, R proves that there's nothing like ranting and roaring. Tol de rol, &c. But in speeches which, teeming with passion, require -'s own fire, -'s spirit, a K If you'd hope H S- — to equal in fame, You, like him, must be lifeless, insipid, and tame. Some critics assert (but I stoutly dispute it), Tol de rol, &c. That each word stands in need of an action to suit it :- C Like M or D. Tol de rol, &c. —, when playing the clown, Tol de rol, &c. [Exit First Actor. Enter HORATIO. Hamlet. Horatio, is that you? I'm glad to meet you. Horatio. My honour'd lord, most proud am I to greet you. Hamlet. Horatio, you're as tight a lad, I say, As one may meet with in a summer's day. (e) Horatio. Come, that won't do, my lord:-now that's all gam mon. (ƒ) He's throwing out a sprat to catch a salmon. Sir, if Hamlet. you think it gammon, you mistake me; For if I gammon you, the devil take me: You know I cannot hope to gain a louse Since I could tell a dray-horse from a poney, (g) [Aside. You're ne'er down-hearted; fortune's freaks you smother, And when she slaps one cheek, you hold up t'other. And we shall soon be hand and glove together. |