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,

"If it rains, my dear Gertrude, pray take my umbrella:"
When too roughly the winds have beset her, he'th said,
"My dear, take my belcher (c) to tie round your head.”

Derry down, &c.

Why zounds! she'd hang on him, as much as to say,
"The better I love you, the better I may:"
Yet before one could whistle, as I am a true man,
He's forgotten!-Oh, frailty, thy name sure is woman!

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.-
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.—
I never should have thought it of your mother.

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.

SONG. HORATIO.

(Tune-" Heigho! says Rowley.")

Two nights to watch these gentlemen went,
"Heigho!" says Horatio;

When, just at the time when the night was spent,
A spectre, to frighten them, thither was sent;

With his bare skull, jaw-bone, skeleton raw-bone,
"I'm not to be hoax'd," says Horatio.

The ghost like your father look'd, arm'd cap-à-pé. "Heigho!" says Horatio;

They came in a twitter to tell this to me,

Saying, "If you don't credit us, pray come and see."

With his bare skull, &c.

"A cock and a bull,” says Horatio.

I promis'd to keep the watch with them next night.
"Heigho!" says Horatio;

When lo! as they'd told me, the ghost came in sight!
Says I," "Tis too plain that there's something not right.”

With his bare skull, &c.

"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 bare skull, &c.

"He's no blabber, I find," says Horatio.

He turn'd on his heel, and went off in a pet;

Heigho!" says Horatio;

But he frown'd on us all ere away we could get,
"I've not done with you yet."

Just as much as to say,

With my bare skull, &c.

"We had better make off," says Horatio.

He soon came again, so I told him my mind:

"Heigho!" says Horatio;

Says I, "I'm quite sure you've left something behind,"Some treasure, perhaps, your relations can't find."

With your bare skull, &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 bare skull, &c. ̧

"You're a rum kind of ghost," says Horatio.

Hamlet.

Perchance 'twill walk again;-I'll watch to-night,
And beg a conversation with the sprite :

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

Soon after supper.

Horatio.

Honour?

Hamlet.

Poz.-Adieu!

[Exeunt Hor. Mar. and Ber.

I smoke some dirty work, if this be true.

Would it were supper-time! this tale so wheedies,
Till then I'm sitting upon pins and needles (f). [Exit.

If dad will get it frank'd (g) so much the better.

Ophelia.

Do'st think I'd grudge the postage of a letter?

Laertes.

Be not too easily by Hamlet caught,
For all his swearing is not worth a groat.
He may not, like we folks of meaner station,
Take up with any trollop in the nation:
So look before you leap; depend upon it
'Tis moonshine all in valentine and sonnet.