Enter GHOST. Hamlet. Zounds! here's a pretty rig! (7) O Lord, defend us! Horatio. He'd have a tête-à-tête with you-alone. Hamlet. Would he?-Here goes then-now, my cock, lead on! 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. Then hold your gab (o), and hear what I've to tell; So pray attend to me. Hamlet. SONG.-GHOST. (Tune" Giles Scroggins' Ghost.") Behold in me your father's sprite, Doom'd for a term to walk the night, 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. But that I am forbid to blow, (p) The dreadful secrets which I know, I could such a dismal tale unfold, As would make your precious blood run cold! Your father suddenly you miss'd, 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- 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, One afternoon, as was my use, I went to my orchard to take a snooze; When your uncle into my ear did pour ' A bottle of cursed hellebore ! How little did I think I should wake no more! Doom'd by a brother's hand was I, To lose my crown, my wife,-to die. I should like to have settled my worldly affairs, That I hadn't even time to say my pray'rs. Let him never be at peace, asleep or awake. Your mother's plague let her conscience be- Ri tol tiddy, &c. [The Ghost vanishes. Hamlet. Remember thee !-I feel in such a flurry, 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. |