HAMLET TRAVESTIE. ACT THE FIRST. SCENE I. A Room of State in the Palace. KING, QUEEN, HAMLET, POLONIUS, LAERTES, Flourish of Trumpets and Drums. King. THO' by our dismal phizzes plain 'tis seen -Have ta'en his widow Gertrude for our Queen.— Laertes. My Lord, that's true: I have a mighty wish to learn to dance, B Your suit is granted. King. Laertes. Sire, I'm much your debtor. King. Then brush! the sooner you are off the better. Exit Laertes. (To Hamlet) Cheer up, my son and cousin, never mind— Hamlet. A little more than kin, and less than kind. King. Why hang the clouds still on you? Come, have done. Hamlet. You're out, my Lord: I'm too much in the sun.— Queen. Come, Hamlet, leave off crying; 'tis in vain, Hamlet. Aye, Madam, it is common. Queen. If it be, Why seems there such a mighty fuss with thee? Hamlet. Talk not to me of seems-when husbands die, As for black clothes,-that's all my eye and Tommy (a). 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. 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, 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.- 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! I'm as much like a lion as one's like the other. 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. mother. 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. |