PERSONS REPRESENTED. CLAUDIUS, King of Denmark. Appears, Act I. sc. 2. Act II. sc. 2. Act III. sc. 1; sc. 2: sc. 8. Act IV. sc. 1; sc. 3; sc. 5; sc. 6. Act V. sc. 1; sc. 2. HAMLET, son to the former, and nephew to the present King. Appears, Act I. sc. 2; sc. 2; sc. 3; sc. 4. sc. 2. sc. 4; se. 5. Act II. sc. 2. Act III. sc. 1; Act IV. sc. 2; sc. 3; se. 4. Act V. sc. 1; POLONIUS, Lord Chamberlain. Appears, Act I. sc. 2; sc. 3. Act II. sc. 1; sc. 2. Act III. sc. 1; sc. 2; sc. 3; sc. 4. HORATIO, friend to Hamlet. Appears, Act I. sc. 1; sc. 2; sc. 4; sc. 5. Act III. sc. 2. Act IV. se. 5; sc. 6. Act V. sc. 1; sc. 2. LAERTES, son to Polonius. Appears, Act I. sc. 2; sc. 3. Act IV. sc. 5; sc. 6. Act V. sc. 1; sc. 2. VOLTIMAND, a courtier. Appears, Act I. sc. 2. Act II. sc. 2. CORNELIUS, a courtier. Appears, Act I. sc. 2. Act II. sc. 2. ROSENCRANTZ, a courtier. Appears, Act II. sc. 2. Act III. sc. 1; sc. 2; sc. 3. Act IV. sc. 1; sc. 2; sc. 3; sc. 4. GUILDENSTERN, a courtier. Appears, Act II. sc. 2. Act III. sc. 1; sc. 2; sc. 3. Act.V. sc. 1; sc. 2; sc. 3; sc. 4. OSRIC, a courtier. A Courtier. Appears, Act IV. sc. 5. A Priest. Appears, Act V. sc. 1. MARCELLUS, an officer. BERNARDO, an officer. FRANCISCO, a soldier. REYNALDO, servant to Polonius. Appears, Act II. sc. 1. A Captain. An Ambassador. Appears, Act V. sc. 2. Ghost of Hamlet's Father. Appears, Act I. sc. 1; sc. 4; sc. 5. Act III. sc. 4. GERTRUDE, Queen of Denmark, and mother of Hamlet. Appears, Act I. sc. 2. Act II. sc. 2. Act IV. sc. 1; sc. 5; sc. 6. OPHELIA, daughter Act III. sc. 1; sc. 2; sc. 4. of Polonius. Appears, Act I. sc. 3. Act II. sc. 1. Act III. sc. 1; sc. 2. Act IV. sc. 5. Lords, Ladies, Officers, Soldiers, Players, Gravediggers, Sailors, Messengers, and other Attendants. SCENE, ELSINORE. HAMLET, PRINCE OF DENMARK. ACT I. SCENE I.-Elsinore. A Platform before the Castle. FRANCISCO on his post. Enter to him BERNARDO. Fran. You come most carefully upon your hour. Ber. 'T is now struck twelve; get thee to bed, Fran cisco. Fran. For this relief, much thanks: 't is bitter cold, And I am sick at heart. Ber. Have you had quiet guard? Ber. Well, good night. Not a mouse stirring. If you do meet Horatio and Marcellus, Enter HORATIO and MARCELLUS. Fran. I think I hear them. - Stand! who is there? a Answer me. I, the sentinel, challenge you. Bernardo then gives the answer to the challenge, or watch-word-" Long live the king!" Rivals-partners, companions. A piece of him. Ber. Welcome, Horatio; welcome, good Marcellus. Mar. What, has this thing appear'd again to-night? Ber. I have seen nothing. Mar. Horatio says, 't is 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 That, if again this apparition come, eyes, and speak He may approve our eyes, b to it. Sit down awhile; Hor. Tush! tush! 't will not appear. Ber. And let us once again assail your ears, 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, * This form of expression is an abbreviation of "may God give you good night;" and our "good night" is an abbreviation abbreviated. b Confirm what we have seen. Mar. Peace, break thee off; look, where it comes again! Enter GHOST. 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, Horatio. Hor. Most like:-it harrows me with fear, and won der. Ber. It would be spoke to. Mar. Question 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 buried Denmark Did sometimes march? by heaven I charge thee, speak. Mar. It is offended. Ber. Hor. Stay; speak: speak I charge thee, speak. See! it stalks away. [Exit GHOST. Mar. "T is gone, and will not answer. Ber. How now, Horatio? you tremble, and look pale: Is not this something more than fantasy? What think you on 't? Hor. Before my God, I might not this believe, Without the sensible and true avouch Of mine own eyes. Mar. Is it not like the king? Hor. As thou art to thyself: Such was the very armour he had on, When he the ambitious Norway combated; '"T is strange. a Exorcisms were usually performed in Latin-the language of the church-service. b Polacks-Poles. |