may

**THE original story on which this play is built, be found in Saxo Grammaticus the Danish historian. From thence Belleforest adopted it in his collec tion of novels, in seven volumes, which he began in 1564, and continued to publish through succeeding years. From this work, The Hystorie of Hamblett, quarto, bl. 1. was translated,

Persons Represented.

Claudius, King of Denmark.

Hamlet, son to the former, and nephew to the present,

king.

Polonins, Lord Chamberlain,

Horatio, friend to Hamlet,

Laertes, son to Polonius.

Gertrude, Queen of Denmark, and mother of Hamlet, Ophelia, daughter of Polonius,

Lords, Ladies, Officers, Soldiers, Players, Grave-diggers, Sailors, Messengers, and other Attendants.

SCENE, Elsinore.

H A M L

E
E T.

ACT I. SCENE I.

Elsinore, A Platform before the Castle

FRANCISCO on his post. Enter to him BERNARDO,

Ber. WHO's there?

Fran. Nay, answer me; stand, and unfold yourself.

Ber, Long live the king!

Fran. Bernardo?

Ber. He.

Fran. You come most carefully upon your hour.

Ber. 'Tis now struck twelve; get thee to bed, Francisco.

Fran. For this relief, much thanks: 'tis bitter cold,

And I am sick at heart.

Ber. Have you had quiet guard?
Fran. Not a mouse stirring.

Ber. Well, good night.

If you do meet Horatio and Marcellus,

The rivals of my watch, bid them make haste.

Enter HORATIO, and MARCELLUS.

Fran. I think, I hear them.

Who is there?

Hor. Friends to this ground.
Mar. And liegemen to the Dane.
Fran. Give you good night.

Mar. O, farewel, honest soldier:

Who hath reliev'd you?

Fran. Bernardo hath my place.

Stand, ho!

Give you good night.

Mar. Holla! Bernardo!

[Exit Francisco.

Bern. Say,

What, is Horatio there?

Hor. A piece of him.

Ber. Welcome, Horatio; welcome, good Mar

cellus.

Hor. What, has this thing appear'd again tonight?

Ber. I have seen nothing.

Mar. Horatio says, 'tis but our fantasy; And will not let belief take hold of him,

Touching this dreaded sight, twice seen of us:
Therefore I have entreated him along,

With us to watch the minutes of this night;
That, if again this apparition come,
He may approve our eyes, and speak to it.

Hor. Tush tush! 'twill not appear.
Ber. Sit down a while;

And let us once again assail your ears,
That are so fortified against our story,
What we two nights have seen.

Hor. Well, sit we down,

And let us hear Bernardo speak of this.
Ber. Last night of all,

When yon same star, that's westward from the

pole,

Had made his course to illume that part of heaven

Where now it burns, Marcellus, and myself,
The bell then beating one,

Mar. Peace, break thee off; look, where it
comes again!

Enter G II O ST.

Ber. In the same figure, like the king that's
dead.

Mar. Thou art a scholar, speak to it, Horatio.
Ber. Looks it not like the king? mark it, Ho-

ratio. Hor. Most like:

it harrows me with fear,

and wonder.

Ber. It would be spoke to.

Mar. Speak to it, Horatio.

Hor. What art thou, that usurp'st this time
of night,

Together with that fair and warlike form
In which the majesty of bury'd Denmark
Did sometimes march? by heaven I charge thee,
speak.

Mar. It is offended.

Ber. See! it stalks away.

Hor. Stay; speak; speak I charge thee, speak.

[Exit Ghost.