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Horatio.

To see dad's funeral I popp'd my head in..

Hamlet.

No quizzing (d)-'twas to see my mother's wedding.

Horatio.

Indeed, my lord, one follow'd hard on t'other.
I never should have thought it of your mother.

Hamlet.

Thrift, thrift, Horatio! Denmark's cooks were able With funeral meats to cheer (e) the marriage-table.— Methinks I have my father in my sight.

Horatio.

My lord, I'll swear I saw him yesternight.

Saw! Who?

Hamlet.

Horatio.

The king, your father.

Hamlet.

Much I doubt it.

Marcellus.

'Tis true, my lord.

Horatio.

I'll tell you all about it..

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Heigho!" says Horatio;

When, just at the time when the night was spent,
A spectre to frighten them thither was sent ;

With his tomb-stone, jaw-bone, skull, shroud, and skeleton,
"Too strange to be true," says Horatio.

The ghost like your father look'd, arm'd cap-à-pié.
Heigho!" says Horatio;

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They came in a twitter to tell this to me,

Saying, "If you don't credit us, pray come and see.

"A cock and a bull," says

With his tomb-stone, &c.
Horatio.

I promis'd with them to keep watch the next night:

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When lo! as they'd told me, the ghost came in sight-
Says I, ""Tis too plain that there's something not right.
With his tomb-stone, &c.

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I intended to say a few words to the ghost;

"Heigho!" says Horatio;

Horatio.

(I shouldn't have kept him five minutes at most) But I found the poor fellow as dumb as a post.

With his tomb-stone, &c. "He's no blabber, I find," says Horatio.

He turn'd on his heel, and went off in a pet,

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But he frown'd on us all ere away we could get,

Just as much as to say, "I've not done with you yet,"
With his tomb-stone, &c.
"We had better make off," says Horatio.

He soon came in again, so I told him my mind:

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Says I, "I'm quite sure you've left something behind,
"Some treasure, perhaps, your exec'tors can't find :
With his tomb-stone, &c.

"You'd best shew where 'tis hid," says Horatio.

He seem'd not to like it, and look'd rather black,
"Heigho!" says Horatio,

As much as to say, " You had best hold your clack;"
But he heard the cock crow, and was off in a crack.
With his tomb-stone, &c.
"You're a rum kind of ghost," says Horatio.

Hamlet.

Perchance 'twill walk again;-I'll watch to-night,
And beg a conversation with the sprite :

If in my father's form it come to scare me, I'll speak to it, should e'en Old Harry dare me. (To Hor. and Mar.) Don't let the cat out of the bag, I

prythee.

Never fear me.

Horatio.

Marcellus.

Nor me.

Hamlet.

Then I'll be with ye

Soon after supper.

Horatio.

Honour?

Hamlet.

Poz.-Adieu!

Exeunt Hor. Mar. and Ber.

No doubt some dirty work, if this be true.
Would it were supper-time, this tale so wheedles,
Till then I'm sitting upon pins and needles (ƒ). [Exit.

SCENE II.

An Apartment in POLONIUS's House.

Enter OPHELIA and LAERTES.

Laertes.

I've pack'd off bag and baggage.

To let me have a letter ev'ry mail

Never fail

If Dad will get it frank'd (g) so much the better.

Ophelia.

Do'st think I'd grudge the postage of a letter?

Laertes.

Be not too easily by Hamlet caught,
For all his swearing is not worth a groat.
He may not, like we folks of meaner station,
Take up with any trollop in the nation;
So look before you leap; depend upon it,
"Tis moonshine all, in valentine or sonnet:

He'll flirt with any wench in town, then leave her;
For know, that Hamlet is a gay deceiver.
She sports her figure quite enough (take note)
Who wears a flannel under-petticoat (h).

Ophelia.

I take the hint: but do not, good my brother,
Shew me one road, and go yourself another:
Like our good priest, who, whilst our sports retrenching,
Himself goes nightly round the village wenching.

Laertés.

O, fear me not; I hope you do not doubt me.-
But I must run for't, or they'll sail without me. [Exeunt.

SCENE III.

The Platform.

Enter HAMLET, HORATIO, and MARCELLUS.

Hamlet.

Jack Frost is gadding (i)—it is very cold.

Horatio.

Why, any fool, methinks, might that have told. (Aside.}

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