HAMLET, PRINCE OF DENMARK. LITERARY AND HISTORICAL NOTICE. THIS tragedy is supposed to have been written in 1596. The principal incidents were probably drawn from a dramatic piece by one Thomas Ryd, and from a Historie of Hamblet, in black letter, adopted by Belleforest in his collection of novels (published 1564) from the narrative of Saxo-Grammations, the old Danish historian, The play has long been accounted a first-rate dramatic production, for, with some egregious blunders, it con tains a variety of unparalleled beauties. As originally written, it consumed four hours in the representation ; persons, in Shakspeare's time, visiting the theatre so early as four o'clock, and regarding the quality less than the quantity obtained for their money: this will excuse some of those trifling interlocutions which yet remain. Perhaps uone of our poet's undertakings have been subjected to so much erudite and ingenious criticism as this; and none, certainly, after its most severe exercise, have been left with so much to approve. For although it has been observed, with some appearance of justice, that in the management of the piece, Shakspeare has been rather unfortunate, all its most striking circumstances arising so early in the formation, as "not to leave him room for a conclusion suitable to the importance of its beginning;" yet this defect is amply recompensed by the sublimity of conception, the didactic morality of sentiment, the pathetic intenseness of feeling, the power and comprehensiveness of diction, and the delightful diversity of character, which are displayed in almost every scene. Indeed, were each drama of Shakspeare to be characterized by the particular quality which distinguishes it from the rest, the praise of variety must especially be given to the tragedy of Hamlet; as it is interchangeably contrasted "with merriment that includes judicious and instructive observations; and with solemnity not strained by peetical violence above the natural sentiments of man." To those, however, who are mentally capable of appreciating its excellences as a play, the charm of perusing it in the closet will probably be greater than the delight of witnessing its exhibition; since it is rich in the treasures of contemplative and philosophical speculation; divested of the glare and bustle which captivate or bewilder the senses; whilst the principal character, though furnished with abundant materials, is almost the only support of the piece, and seldom meets with a representative in whom the beauties of the original are effectively embodied. Of the plot it may be observed, that it teems with slanghter, and is justly obnoxious to criticism in many of its parts; but the catastrophe is certainly its most disgusting feature, and can only be tolerated by the known partiality of an English audience for a multiplicity of deaths and bloodshed. "The manner of l'amlet's death (says Dr. Johnson) is not very happily produced; for the exchange of weapons is rather an expedient of necessity, than a stroke of art." CLAUDIUS, King of Denmark. DRAMATIS PERSONÆ. FRANCISCO, a Soldier. HAMLET, Son to the former, and Nephew to REYNALDO, Servant to Polonius. the present King. POLONIUS, Lord Chamberlain. HORATIO, Friend to Hamlet. LAERTES, Son to Polonius. A CAPTAIN.-An AMBASSADOR. FORTINBRAS, Prince of Norway. 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. ACT I. SCENE 1.-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, Fran. For this relief, much thanks: 'tis bit- And I am sick at heart. Ber. Have you had quiet guard? Ber. Well, good night. If you do meet Horatio and Marcellus, The rivals of my watch, bid them make haste. Fran. I think, I hear them.-Stand, ho! Whe Hor. Friends to this ground. Mar. And liegemen to the Dane. Fran. Bernardo hath my place. Give you good night. Mar. Holla! Bernardo! Ber. Say. What, is Horatio there? Hor. A piece of him. [Exit FRANCISCO. Ber. Welcome, Horatio; welcome, good Marcellus. Hor. What, has this thing appear'd again to-night? Ber. I have seen nothing. Mar. Horatio says, 'tis but our fantasy; And let us once again assail your ears, Hor. Well, sit we down, And let us hear Bernardo speak of this. When yon same star, that's westward from the Had made his course to illume that part of heaven Why this same strict and most observant watch task Does not divide the Sunday from the week: Who is't, that can inform me? At least, the whisper goes so. Our last king, Had he been vanquisher; as, by the same co- And carriage of the article design'd, † Mar. Peace, break thee off-look, where it (As it doth well appear unto our state,) Mar. It is offended. Ber. See! it stalks away. Hor. Stay; speak: speak I charge thee, speak. Is not this something more than fantasy? Hor. Before my God, I might not this believe, Mar. Is it not like the king? Mar. Thus, twice before, and jump at this With martial stalk hath he gone by our watch. But to recover of us, by strong hand, Of this post-haste and romage ¶ in the land. That was, and is, the question of these wars. [dead As, stars with trains of fire and dews of blood, Re-enter GHOST. But, soft; behold! lo, where it comes again ! If thou hast any sound, or use of voice, If there be any good thing to be done, If thou art privy to thy country's fate, Or, if thou hast uphoarded in thy life + Dispute. An inhabitant of Poland. Just. tt Victorious. Search. 1: The moon. Picked. **Suit. Event. Speak of it-stay, and speak.-Stop it, Mar- Mar. Shall I strike at it with my partizan ? Mar. 'Tis gone! Now for ourself, and for this time of meeting. We do it wrong, being so najestical, Ber. It was about to speak, when the cock crew. Hor. And then it started like a guilty thing Mar. It faded on the crowing of the cock. No fairy takes, nor witch hath power to charm ; Hor. So I have heard, and do in part believe But look, the morn, in russet mantle clad, Where we shall find him most convenient. [Exeunt. SCENE II.-The same.-A Room of State in the same. Enter the KING, QUEEN, HAMLET, POLONIUS, LAERTES, VOLTIMAND, CORNELIUS, LORDS, and Attendants. King. Though yet of Hamlet our dear brother's death The memory be green; and that it us befitted To bear our hearts in grief, and our whole kingdom To be contracted in one brow of woe; Yet so far hath discretion fought with nature, In equal scale weighing delight and dole, Holding a weak supposal of our worth; •Wandering. King. We doubt it nothing; heartily fare- [Exeunt VOLTIMAND and CORNELIUS. That shall not be my offer, not thy asking? Laer. My dread lord, Your leave and favour to return to France; To show my duty in your coronation; And how them to your gracious leave and pardon. Pol. He hath, my lord, [wrung from me my By laboursome petition; and, at last, thine, And thy best graces; spend it at thy will.- kind. + [Aside. King. How is it, that the clouds still hang on you? Ham. Not so, my lord, I am too much 'the child. + Kin is the Teutonick word for * Dejected eyes. But, you must know, your father lost a father; To do obsequions sorrow: But to persever mon As any the most vulgar thing to sense, Than that which dearest father bears his son, I pray thee, stay with us; go not to Wittenberg. Ham. I shall in all my best obey you, na dam. King. Why, 'tis a loving and a fair reply; Be as ourself in Denmark.-Madam, come; This gentle and unforc'd accord of Hamlet Sits smiling to my heart: in grace whereof, No jocund health that Denmark drinks to-day, But the great cannon to the clouds shall tell, And the king's rouse the heaven shall bruit again, Re-speaking earthly thunder. Come away. [Exeunt KING, QUEEN, Lords, &c. POLONIUS, and LAERTES. Visit her face too roughly. Heaven and earth! Must I remember? why, she would hang on him, As if increase of appetite had grown By what it fed on: And yet, within a month,-Let me not think on't;-Frailty, thy name is woman!- A little month or ere those shoes were old, Would have mourn'd longer,-married with my uncle, My father's brother; but no more like my father, Than I to Hercules: Within a month, But what, in faith, make you from Wittenberg ? Ham. I pray thee, do not mock me, fellow student; I think, it was to see my mother's wedding. meats * Ham. In my mind's eye, Horatio. Hor. I saw him once, he was a goodly king. Ham. He was a man, take him for all in all, I shall not look upon his like again. Hor. My lord, I think I saw him yesternight. Hor. My lord, the king your father. Hor. Season your admiration for a while Ham. For God's love, let me hear. By their oppress'd and fear-surprized eyes, Within his truncheon's length; whilst they, distill'd Almost to jelly with the act of fear, Where, as they had deliver'd, both in time, Form of the thing, each word made true and good, The apparition comes: I knew your father; Ham. But where was this? Hor. My lord, upon the platform where we watch'd. Ham. Did you not speak to it? Hor. My lord, I did; But answer made it none: yet once, methought, It lifted up its head, and did address It was anciently the custom to give a cod entertain ment at a funeral. Itself to motion, like as it would speak; But, even then, the morning cock crew loud, Ham. 'Tis very strange. Hor. As I do live, my honour'd lord, true; And we did think it writ down in our duty, 'tis Ham. Indeed, indeed, Sirs, but this troubles Hold you the watch to-night? All. We do, my lord. Ham. Arm'd, say you? All. Arm'd, my lord. Ham. From top to toe? All. My lord, from head to foot. Ham. Then saw you not His face. [me. Hor. O yes, my lord; he wore his beaver * up. Ham. What, look'd he frowningly? In sorrow than in anger. Ham. Pale, or red? Ham. And fix'd his eyes upon you? Ham. I would I had been there. Hor. It would have much amaz'd you. Very like Stay'd it long? And now no soil, nor cautel, doth besmirch + It fits your wisdom so far to believe it, May give his saying deed; which is no further, If with too credentear you list his songs; Hor. While one with moderate haste might Youth to itself rebels, though none else near. tell a hundred. Mar. Ber. Longer, longer. Hor. Not when I saw it. Ham. His beard was grizzl'd? no? Hor. It was, as I have seen it in his life, A sable silver'd. Ham. I will watch to-night: Perchance, 'twill walk again. Hor. I warrant it will. Ham. If it assume my noble father's person, All. Our duty to your honour. Ham. Your loves, as mine to you: Farewell. Oph. Do you doubt that? his fa [vour, Laer. For Hamlet, and the trifling of Oph. No more but so? Laer. Think it no more: For nature, crescent, + does not grow alone • That rart of the helmet which may be lifted up. Oph. I shall the effect of this good lesson keep, As watchman to my heart: But, good my brother, Laer. O fear me not. I stay too long ;-But here my father comes. A double blessing is a double grace; Pol. Yet here, Laertes! aboard, aboard, for shame; The wind sits in the shoulder of your sail, [Laying his Hand on LAERTES' Head. Be Nor any unproportion'd thought his act. ware judgment. Costly thy habit as thy purse can buy, in Licentious. + Regards not 65 Palm of the hand *** Chiefly. Listen to. (a) The lines following this are usually omitted; bat they contain a compact richuess of instruction deserv ing attention in public, and perusal in private. |