Pagina-afbeeldingen
PDF
ePub

Enter GHOST.

Hamlet.

Zounds! here's a pretty rig! (7) O Lord, defend us!
Prythee no more such frightful spectres send us!
Be thou a jovial sprite or goblin damn'd;
Be thou or ether-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 dad.
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!

[blocks in formation]

You'd better hold your jaw (m),-be quiet, will you?

Horatio.

Now blow me if

you go.

Hamlet.

My fate cries out

And gives me pluck-so mind what you're about.

Still am I call'd-paws off (n)—the time we're wastingCome, 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. Hor. and Mar.

SCENE IV.

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.

[blocks in formation]

Then hold your gab (o), 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 tol 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, (p)
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.
Ri tol tiddy, &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 (q) 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.

[blocks in formation]

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.

[The Ghost vanishes.

Hamlet.

Remember thee !-I feel in such a flurry,
Egad, I shan't forget thee in a hurry.
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 (without).

My Lord!

Marcellus.

Lord Hamlet!

Hamlet.

Damn those stupid fellows.

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 villian is a knave!

Horatio.

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

« VorigeDoorgaan »