PERSONS REPRESENTED. CLAUDIUS, King of Denmark. Appears, Act I. sc. 2. Act II. sc. 2. Act III. sc. 1; sc. 2; sc. 3. HAMLET, Son to the former, and nephew to the present Appears, Act I. sc. 2; sc. 2; sc. 3; sc. 4. sc. 2. King. sc. 4; sc. 5. Act II. sc. 2. Act III. sc. 1; Act IV. sc. 2; sc. 3; sc. 4. Act V. sc. 1; POLONIUS, Lord Chamberlain. Appears, Act I. sc. 2; sc. 3. Act II. sc. 1; sc. 2. sc. 2; sc. 3; sc. 4. HORATIO, friend to Hamlet. Act III. sc. 1; Appears, Act I. sc. 1; sc. 2; sc. 4; sc. 5. Act III. sc. 2. Act IV. sc. 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. CORNELIUS, a courtier. Appears, Act I. sc. 2. Act II. sc. 2. Appears, Act II. sc. 2. Act III. sc. 1; sc. 2; sc. 3. sc. 1; sc. 2; sc. 3; sc. 4. GUILDENSTERN, a courtier. Appears, Act II. sc. 2. Act III. sc. 1; sc. 2; sc. 3. sc. 1; sc. 2; sc. 3; sc. 4. OSRIC, a courtier. A Courtier. Appears, Act IV. sc. 5. Act IV. Act .V. A Priest. MARCELLUS, an officer. Appears, Act I. sc. 1; sc. 2; sc. 4; sc. 5. BERNARDO, an officer. REYNALDO, servant to Polonius. An Ambassador. Ghost of Hamlet's Father. Appears, Act I. sc. 1; sc. 4; sc. 5. Act III. sc. 4. FORTINBRAS, Prince of Norway. 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. Act III. sc. 1; sc. 2; sc. 4. OPHELIA, daughter 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. cisco. Fran. For this relief, much thanks: 't is bitter cold, And I am sick at heart. If Ber. Have you had quiet guard? Ber. Well, good night. you Not a mouse stirring. do meet Horatio and Marcellus, The rivals of my watch, bid them make haste. 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!" b Rivals-partners, companions. 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: With us to watch the minutes of this night; Sit down awhile; And let us once again assail your ears, 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, 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. 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. See! it stalks away. Hor. Stay; speak: speak I charge thee, speak. Mar. 'T is gone, and will not answer. [Exit GHOST. 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; So frown'd he once, when, in an angry parle, He smote the sledded Polacks b on the ice. "T is strange. a Exorcisms were usually performed in Latin-the language of the church-service. b Polacks-Poles. |