Remember thee? Yea, from my souvenir,
All memoranda swift shall disappear;

There thy commandment all alone I'll write ;
And if I e'er forget thee-blow me tight.

Horatio, here am I.-Hollo, Marcellus.

Enter Horatio and Marcellus.

Marcellus.

How is't, my Lord?-What news?-What said the Ghost?

Hamlet.

You'll blab.

Marcellus.

Not I.

Horatio.

I'm silent as a post.

Hamlet.

He said each Danish villain is a knave!

Horatio.

That all? He might have staid then in his grave.

Hamlet.

That's as he pleases. So good night-but ho!
I have a word to say before you go.

Never make known what you have seen to night.

But that's not all: Now swear that if, perchance,
Like Merry Andrew, I think fit to dance
And skip about the house, you'll never dare
To tell, or even hint, the reason-

Ghost (beneath.)

Swear!

[They swear again.

Hamlet.

Lie still, Old Grey-bones.-'Tis such chilling weather, Suppose we go and get some drink together?

Horatio.

With all my heart--Egad, I like your plan-
Marcellus, what say you, lad?

Marcellus.

I'm your man.

Hamlet.

The world's gone mad-Curs'd fate, that ever I
Was born to have a finger in the pie!

[Exeunt.

SCENE IV.

An Apartment in Polonius's House.

Enter Polonius, meeting Ophelia.

Polonius.

You look stark mad, Ophelia!-What's the row? (k)

Ophelia.

I've had a precious fright.

Polonius.

Pray tell me how.

SONG.-OPHELIA.

(Tune-" Mrs. Clarke.")

My Lord, you must know,
A few minutes ago,

In my room I was darning a stocking:
Now conceive my alarm,

When, (not dreaming of harm),

I was rous'd by a violent knocking.

I thought 'twas Old Scratch,
So I fasten'd the latch,

And went on with my work as before;
But whilst my needle I was threading,
Lord Hamlet popp'd his head in—
For, d'ye mind, he kick'd open the door.

His doublet unbrac'd,

Was slung round his waist,

And his stockings were dirty and loose;
He was pale as a sheet,

And could scarce keep his feet.
Thus he came in, and star'd like a goose!

He took hold of my wrist,

And gave it a twist

That made me to quiver and quake:
He then began to quiz

As tho' he meant to draw my phiz;
And then gave me a terrible shake.

Next, so sadly he sigh'd,

Lord! I thought he'd have died;

Then he thrice up and down shook his noddle. After treating me so,

He thought fit to let me go;

And then tow'rds the stairs did he waddle.

'Twas a chance he didn't fall

Over bannisters and all,

For I vow not a step could he see;

To my utter surprize,

He found his way without his eyes,

To the last they were bent upon me.

Polonius.

Come, go with me ;-I will go seek the king:
Hamlet's behaviour is not quite the thing.
Have you of late been snappish to him, pray?

Ophelia.

Oh, no-I never did a cross word say:
I merely sent his letters back by scores,

And when he came to see me, turn'd him out o'doors.

Polonius.

Aye! that hath made him mad-I do not doubt it.
We'll to the king and tell him all about it.

SCENE V.

[Exeunt.

The Palace.

Enter King, Queen, Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern.

King.

Welcome, dear Rosencrantz, and Guildenstern:
You have come just in time to serve our turn.
Something you've heard of Hamlet's transformation;
But to account for his sad situation

We find impossible; so you must pump him:
If he won't tell by fair means-why then-thump him.

Queen.

Good gentlemen, right heartily he'll greet you,
For very often hath he wish'd to meet you;
So stay, and find out what his real state is,
And we will give you board and lodging gratis.