SCENE II.

An other Room in the Palace.

Enter Queen and Horatio.

Queen.

I will not speak to her.

Horatio.

She'll breed a riot;

You'd better have her in to keep her quiet.

Queen.

Well, send her up. (Exit Hor.) I think the devil's

in it,

That I can never be alone a minute.

Enter Horatio with Ophelia.

Ophelia (sings.)

Three children sliding on the ice,

All on a summer's day;

The ice it broke-they all fell in

The rest they ran away.

Queen.

Sweet lady, what's the meaning of this song?

Ophelia.

I'll sing the rest-for 'tis not very long.

(Sings.)

Now had these children staid at home,
And slid upon dry ground;

They broken necks had had, perchance,
But never had been drown'd.

Ophelia.

Where's the use of sorrow?

For, ah! we're here to-day and gone to-morrow!

SONG.-OPHELIA.

(Tune- "How happy could I be with either.")

"Tis the fashion for lads to court lasses,
But I know a case quite contrary:
Peggy Tomkins (c) lov'd Johnny the butler,
And she whistled for John down the area.

King.

Pretty Ophelia.

Ri tol, &c.

Ophelia.

Aye, 'tis true, depend on't;

And so, without an oath, I'll make an end on't.

(Sings.)

Says John, "go to the back-kitchen-window,
And quickly I'll come and unbar it.".
But, to shorten a very long story,

Peggy staid all night long in John's garret.

Ri tol, &c.

King.

How long hath she been thus ?

Queen.

I cannot tell.

Ophelia.

We must be patient; all may yet be well.
Yet I must weep-to lay him in the dirt is
A dirty trick-I'll tell it to Laertes.

I thank you-so 'tis best you counsel right—
My coach-three thirty-five-(d) good night, good

night.

King.

[Exit Ophelia.

Follow her close: Horatio, you be at her;

See you look sharp. (Exit Hor.) Hollo, there! what's

the matter?

[Noise within.

Enter Marcellus.

Marcellus.

My lord, my lord, Laertes heads a mob,

And comes to knock about your royal nob.

The rabble swear your majesty shall swing;
And loudly cry, "Laertes shall be king.”

Enter Laertes.

Laertes.

You blackguard! (To the King)

Queen.

Fie! Laertes.

[Exit Marcellus [Noise without.

Laertes.

I had rather

You'd mind your business. (To King) Give me back

my father.

King.

Hold him fast, Gertrude, I'll get out o' th' way;
He's twice as big as I am. (Going.)

I'll prove my innocence beyond all doubt.

Laertes.

None of your blarney,-(e) but I'll soon find out.
I'll twig ye all for't-I'll not stand your humming.

Enter Horatio.

Here's Miss Ophelia, Sir.

Horatio.

King.

Pray let her come in.

Enter Ophelia, fantastically dressed with straws and flowers; her clothes splashed with mud and

dirt.

Laertes.

My pretty maid-This is too much to bear!
By Gemini she's mad as a March hare!

Ophelia. (sings.)

Giles Scroggins courted Molly Brown,

Ri tol, &c.

The fairest wench in all the town,

Tiddy. tiddy, &c.

Laertes.

To see her thus-O, 'tis a doleful pity!

Ophelia.

What must be, must-but hush!—I'll end my ditty.