Hamlet.

Poz. -Adieu !

[Exeunt Hor. Mar. and Ber.

No doubt some dirty work, if this be true.
Would it were supper time, this tale so wheedles,
Till then I'm sitting upon pins and needles.

SCENE II.

The Platform.

Enter Hamlet, Horatio, and Marcellus.
Hamlet.

The air bites shrewdly-it is very cold.

Horatio.

[Exit.

(Aside) Why any fool, methinks, might that have told.

What is't o'clock?

Hamlet.

Horatio.

Half past eleven at most.

Marcellus.

My watch says twelve (e).

Horatio.

But see! here comes the ghost.

Enter Ghost.

Hamlet.

Zounds! here's a pretty rig! (ƒ) O Lord, defend us! Prythee no more such frightful spectres send us!

dad.

Be thou a jovial sprite or goblin damn'd;
Be thou or æther-puff'd or sulphur-cramm'd;
Be thy intents indiff'rent, good, or bad,
I'll speak to thee, thou look'st so like my
In a trim grave so snugly wast thou lain,
Say what the devil brought thee out again?
I like a joke myself; but 'tis not right,
To come and frighten us to death at night.
Say, why is this? and straight the reason tell us,
For fright'ning me, Horatio, and Marcellus.-

Horatio.

He'd have a tête-à-tête with you-alone.

Hamlet,

Would he?-Here goes then-now, my cock, lead on!

You shall not go.

Marcellus.

Horatio.

Perhaps he means to kill you.

Hamlet.

You'd better hold your jaw (g),—be quiet, will you?

My fate cries out

And gives me pluck-so mind what you're about.
Still am I call'd-paws off-the time we're wasting-
Come, brush; or else I'll give you both a basting.
[Breaking from them.

Hop off, I say! (To Ghost) Lead on, I'll quickly follow.

(To Hor. and Mar.) Wait here, and if I want ye, lads, I'll hollo.

[Exeunt Ghost and Ham.

SCENE III.

Hor. und Mar.

A remote part of the Platform.

Enter Ghost and Hamlet.

Hamlet.

Hollo, you Sir! Where is't you mean to go?
I'll go no further.

Ghost.

You had better.

Hamlet.

No!

Ghost.

Then hold your gab (h), and hear what I've to tell; I'm press'd for time-we keep good hours in h―ll. Soon must I go and have another roast;

So pray attend to me.

Hamlet.

Alas, poor Ghost!

SONG.-GHOST.

(Tune-Giles Scroggins' Ghost.)

Behold in me your father's sprite,

Ri tol tiddy lol de ray,

Doom'd for a term to walk the night.
Tiddy, tiddy, &c.

You'll scarce believe me when I say,
That I'm bound to fast in fires all day,
Till my crimes are burnt and purg'd away.
Ri tol tiddy, &c.

But that I am forbid to blow,
Ri tol tiddy, &c.

The dreadful secrets which I know.
Tiddy, tiddy, &c.

I could such a dismal tale unfold,

As would make your precious blood run cold!
But ah! those things must not be told.
Ritol diddy, &c.

Your father suddenly you miss'd,
Ri tol tiddy, &c.

I'll tell you how:-List! List! O list!
Tiddy, tiddy, &c.

'Twas given out to all the town,

That a serpent pull'd your father down—
But now that serpent wears his crown.
Ri tol tiddy, &c.

Your uncle is the man I mean,

Ri tol tiddy, &c.

That diddled (i) me out of my crown and my queen.

Tiddy, tiddy, &c.

O what a falling off was there!

But brief let me be, I must back repair,
For methinks I scent the morning air,
Ri tol tiddy, &c.

One afternoon as was my use,
Ri tol tiddy, &c.

I went to my orchard to take a snooze;
Tiddy, tiddy, &c.

When your uncle into my ear did pour

A bottle of cursed hellebore.

How little did I think I should wake no more!
Ri tol tiddy, &c.

Doom'd by a brother's hand was I,
Ri tol tiddy, &c.

To lose my crown, my wife,—to die.
Tiddy, tiddy, &c.

I should like to have settled my worldly affairs,
But the rascal came on so unawares,

That I hadn't even time to say my pray❜rs.
Ri tol tiddy, &c.

Torment your uncle for my sake;

Ri tol tiddy, &c.

Let him never be at peace, asleep or awake.
Tiddy, tiddy, &c.

Your mother's plague let her conscience be
But I must be off for the day-light I see.-
Adieu, adieu, adieu! Remember me!

Ri tol tiddy, &c.

Hamlet.

[The Ghost vanishes.

Remember thee?-I feel in such a flurry,
Egad, I shan't forget thee in a hurry.