SCENE II. A Theatre in the Palace. Enter Hamlet and the First Actor. SONG.-HAMLET. (Tune-" Liberty Hall.") Tho' a talent for acting must nature impart, Tol de rol, &c. When speaking a speech, it an actor becomes or W. without it? Tol de rol, &c. All actors should study what folks call the graces— That's the twist of their legs, and the set of their faces: But for gracefully using their arms, my advice is, They, like C Some will tell you, "be calm;" but in spite of their cant, And their critical jargon, strut, bellow, and rant: To bamboozle the flats and to keep them from snoring, proves that there's nothing like ranting and roaring. Tol de rol, &c. R But in speeches which, teeming with passion, require -'s spirit, a K- -'s own fire, All an E If you'd hope H S- to equal in fame, You, like him, must be lifeless, insipid, and tame. Some critics assert (but I stoutly dispute it), Tol de rol, &c. That each word stands in need of an action to suit it:- C C Tol de rol, &e. Always garnish the author's, when playing the clown, Enter Horatio. Hamlet. Tol de rol, &c. [Exit First Actor. Horatio, is that you? I'm glad to meet you. Horatio. My honour'd lord, most proud am I to greet you. Hamlet. Horatio, you're as tight a lad, I say, As one may meet with in a summer's day. Horatio. Come, that won't do, my lord :-now that's all gam mon (c). He's throwing out a sprat to catch a salmon. Hamlet. Sir, if you think it gammon, you mistake me; You're ne'er down-hearted; fortune's freaks you smother; And when she slaps one cheek, you hold up t'other. Give me the man that stands all sorts of weather, And we shall soon be hand and glove together. Something too much of this. Your lordship sent for me? Horatio. Pray what's the reason Hamlet. To smoke out treason. You must with me in a good joke unite: To represent my dad's untimely end. To do't in stile I've made great preparations- If not, this spectre is a lying elf, And I have all this time been drunk or dreaming. My lord, we will. Horatio. [Flourish of Trumpets and Drums. Hamlet. This trumpeting and drumming Gives notice that the King and Queen are coming. A GRAND MARCH. Enter Polonius, King, Queen, Ophelia, Rosencrantz, Guildenstern, Osrick, Marcellus, Bernardo, Gentlemen and Ladies. King. How fares our cousin Hamlet? Hamlet. Tightly, tightly; I eat the air :-You can't feed pigs so lightly. King. Pooh! Nonsense, Sir,-Such words I don't acknow ledge. Hamlet. (To Pol.) You told me, Sir, you acted once at college. Polonius. I acted Cæsar-Brutus laid me lower. Hamlet. A brute indeed, to kill so great a bore! Queen. Come, sit by me, dear Hamlet, whilst they're acting. Hamlet. I'd rather not; here's metal more attracting. (To Ophelia) Ophelia, may I lie upon your knees? Ophelia. O, surely; or wherever else you please. Hamlet. Look at mama-She's grinning by the pow'rs, Two months. Ophelia. Hamlet. So long? Nay, then, I'll turn the tables. The deuce take black, I'll have a suit of sables. Ophelia. Pray what's the play, my Lord? Hamlet. I've ne'er a bill; I cannot tell ;-but that rum jockey will. THE CURTAIN RISES. Enter 2d Actor as Prologue.. For us and for our pantomime, We beg you'll give us needful time. [Exit. |