Bal. I brought my master news of Juliet's death?

And then in post he came from Mantua,
To this same place, to this same monument.
This letter he early bid me give his father;
And threaten'd me with death, going in the
vault,

If I departed not, and left him there.

Prince. Give me the letter, I will look on it.— Where is the county's page, that rais'd the watch? Sirrah, what made your master in this place? Page. He came with flowers to strew his lady's grave;

And bid me stand aloof, and so I did;
Anon, comes one with light to ope the tomb;
And, by and by, my master drew on him;
And then I ran away to call the watch.

Prince. This letter doth make good the friar's words,

Their course of love, the tidings of her death: And here he writes-that he did buy a poison Of a poor 'pothecary, and therewithal

Came to this vault to die, and lie with Juliet.-
Where be these enemies? Capulet! Montague!-
See, what a scourge is laid upon your hate,
That heaven finds means to kill your joys with
love!

And I, for winking at your discords too,
Have lost a brace of kinsmen :-all are punish'd.
Cap. O, brother Montague, give me thy hand;
This is my daughter's jointure, for no more
Can I demand.

Mon.
But I can give thee more:
For I will raise her statue in pure gold;
That, while Verona by that name is known,
There shall no figure at such rate be set,
As that of true and faithful Juliet.

Cap. As rich shall Romeo by his lady lie; Poor sacrifices of our enmity!

Prince. A glooming peace this morning with it brings:

The sun for sorrow will not show his head: Go hence, to have more talk of these sad things; Some shall be pardoned, and some punished; For never was a story of more woe, Than this of Juliet and her Romeo.

[Exeunt.

HAMLET,

PRINCE OF DENMARK.

VOL. VIII.

PERSONS REPRESENTED.

CLAUDIUS, King of Denmark.

HAMLET, Son to the former, and Nephew to the present King.

POLONIUS, Lord Chamberlain.

HORATIO, Friend to Hamlet.

LAERTES, Son to Polonius.

VOLTIMAND,

CORNELIUS,

ROSENCRANTZ,

GUILDENSTERN,

OSRIC, a Courtier.
Another Courtier.
A Priest.
MARCELLUS,
BERNARDO,

Courtiers.

} Officers.

FRANCISCO, a Soldier.

REYNALDO, Servant to Polonius.
A Captain. An Ambassador.
Ghost of Hamlet's Father.

FORTINBRAS, Prince of Norway.

GERTRUDE, Queen of Denmark, and Mother to Hamlet.

OPHELIA, Daughter to Polonius.

Lords, Ladies, Officers, Soldiers, Players, Grave-diggers, 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. Ber. WHO's there?

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

Ber. Long live the king!

Fran.

Ber.

Bernardo ?

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.

Ber. Well, good night.

Not a mouse stirring.

If you do meet Horatio and Marcellus,

The rivals of my watch, bid them make baste.

Enter HORATIO and MARCELLUS.

Fran. I think, I hear them.-Stand, ho! Who

is there?

Hor. Friends to this ground.

Mar.

And liegemen to the Dane.

O, farewell, honest soldier:

Fran. Give you good night.
Mar.
Who hath reliev'd you?

Fran.
Give you good night.
Mar.

Bernardo hath my place.. [Exit FRANCISCO. Holla! Bernardo!,

Ber.

What, is Horatio there?

Hor.

A piece of him.

Say.

Ber. Welcome, Horatio; welcome, good Marcellus.

[night? Hor. What, has this thing appear'd again toBer. 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 awhile; 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 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 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 buried Denmark Did sometimes march? by heaven I charge thee, speak.