Queen. What act d'you mean?-You hoax-there's nothing in it. Hamlet. I'll let you know my meaning in a minute. SONG.-HAMLET. (Tune-" Drops of Brandy.") Come sit you down here, ma'am, a little, Come, none of your fine airs and graces. You'll now please to look upon this: Ri tol, &c. Zounds! the fellow looks like a baboon ! The one I now hold in my hand, mother? Queen. O, say no more-I'll mind what I'm about: Hamlet. Nay, but to live, (in not the best repute,) A King of shreds and patches-(Enter Ghost,) Ha! here's dad! What is't you're come about? Queen. Alas! he's mad! TRIO-HAMLET, GHOST, QUEEN. (Tune" O, Lady Fair.") Hamlet-O, spectre grim! What brings thee here now?. Thou com'st thy tardy son to chide, I fear now. Ghost I own thy commission, as yet, is not quite done; Thee of thy promise I come to remind, Sir :(Bass) A nod's like a wink to a horse that is blind, Sir. Queen-Say, Hamlet, say, on what art thou staring; On what art thou looking? To whom art thou talking? I can see nothing! O, where art thou walking? Ghost-But look at thy mother; she seems in a stew, Sir; Tell her she'd better not be frighten'd-pray do, Sir! Hamlet-Whom 'tis I look at, fain you'd be knowing: - Whom 'tis you look at, fain she'd be knowing: Queen. Together. [Ghost sinks. Hamlet, these pranks of your's do much amaze me; Hamlet. Mother, I fear your crimes are past all cure; Queen. O, Hamlet, you have cut my heart in twain. Hamlet. Then throw away the rotten part, good mother, And strive to make a better use of t'other. Good night; and, when you next lay down your head, Be sure you kick my uncle out of bed: For tho' at best you're no great things-'twere right [Exit Queen. I must be staunch with her--I dare not falter: And thus we whip a thief, to save him from the halter. [Exit Hamlet. END OF THE SECOND ACT. HAMLET TRAVESTIE. ACT THE THIRD. SCENE I. An Apartment in the Palace. Enter KING and QUEEN. King. Explain these sighs; 'tis fit we share the fun: Queen. Mad as butter in the sun: (a) Hearing a noise, "a rat, a rat," he roar'd, And in his crazy fit whipp'd out his sword, And ran Polonius thro' behind the curtain. King. Had we been there, he'd have spik'd us for certain. Soon as 'tis day-light he shall buy a brush; And this unlucky job we'll try to hush. Ho! Guildenstern! (Enter GUILD. and ROSEN.) Just now hath Hamlet slain, By way of joke, our poor lord-chamberlain. |