"That youth and obfervation copied there;
"And thy commandment all alone fhall live
"Within the book and volume of my brain,
"Unmix'd with bafer matter. Yes, by heav'n:
Oh most pernicious woman!

Oh villain, villain, fmiling damned villain!
My tables,meet it is, I fet it down,

That one may fmile, and smile, and be a villain;
At least, I'm sure, it may be fo in Denmark.

[Writing. So, uncle, there you are; now to my word; It is; Adieu, adieu, remember me :

Mar. So be it.

Hor. Illo, ho, ho, my lord!

Ham. Hillo, ho, ho, boy; 7 come, bird, come.

Mar. How is't, my noble lord?

Hor. What news, my lord?

Ham. Oh, wonderful!

Hor. Good my lord, tell it.

Ham. No, you'll reveal it.

Hor. Not I, my lord, by heav'n.

Mar. Nor I, my lord.

Ham. How fay you then, would heart of man once

think it?

But you'll be fecret

7-come, bird, come.] This is the call which Falconers ufe to their hawk in the air when they would have him come down to them.

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Oxford Editor.

Both.

Both. Ay, by heav'n, my lord.

Ham. There's ne'er a villain, dwelling in all Denmark,

But he's an arrant knave.

Hor. There needs no Ghoft, my lord, come from the Grave

To tell us this.

Ham. Why, right, you are i' th' right;
And fo without more circumftance at all,
I hold it fit that we shake hands, and part;
You, as your business and defires shall point you;
(For every man has bufinefs and defire,

Such as it is) and, for my own poor part,

I will go pray.

Hor. Thefe are but wild and whurling words, my lord.

Ham. I'm forry they offend you, heartily;

Yes, heartily.

Hor. There's no offence, my lord.

Ham. Yes, by St. Patrick, but there is, my lord, And much offence too. Touching this Vifion hereIt is an honest Ghost, that let me tell you: For your defire to know what is between us, O'er-mafter it as you may. And now, good friends, As you are friends, fcholars, and foldiers,

Give me one poor request.

Hor. What is't, my lord?

Ham. Never make known what you have feen to night.

Both. My lord, we will not.

Ham, Nay, but fwear't.

8 By St. Patrick, How the Poet comes to make Hamlet fwear by St. Patrick, I know not. However at this time whole northern world had their learning from Ireland; to which place it had retired, and there flourished under the aufpices of this Saint. But it was, I fuppofe, only faid at random ; for he makes Hamlet a ftudent of Wittenberg.

Hor.

, Prince of

Hor. In faith, my lord, not I.

Mar. Nor I, my lord, in faith.

Ham. Upon my fword.

Mar. We have fworn, my lord, already.
Ham. Indeed, upon my fword, indeed.

Ghost. Swear

[Ghost cries under the Stage. Ham. Ah ha, boy, say'st thou fo? art thou there, true-penny?

Come on, you hear this fellow in the cellaridge.
Confent to fwear.

Hor. Propofe the oath, my lord.

Ham. Never to fpeak of this that you have seen, Swear by my fword.

Ghoft. Swear.

Ham. Hic & ubique? then we'll fhift our ground. Come hither, gentlemen,

And lay your hands again upon my fword.

Never to fpeak of this which you have heard,
Swear by my fword.'

1:

Ghost. Swear by his fword.

Ham. Well faid, old mole, can't work i' th' ground fo faft?

A worthy pioneer! Once more remove, good friends. Hor. Oh day and night, but this is wondrous ftrange.

Ham. And therefore as a ftranger give it wel

come.

There are more things in heav'n and earth, Horatio,
Than are dreamt of in your philofophy. But come,
Here, as before, never (fo help you mercy!)
How ftrange or odd foe'er I bear my self
(As I, perchance, hereafter fhall think meet

upon

9 Savear by my fword.] Here the poet has preferved the manners of the ancient Danes, with whom it was Religion to fwear their fwords. See Bartholine, De caufis contemp. mort. apud Dan. 1 And therefore as a firanger give it welcome!] i. e. receive it to yourself; take it under your own roof; as much as to fay, Keep it fecret. Alluding to the laws of hospitality.

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Το

To put an antick difpofition on)

That you, at fuch time feeing me, never fhall,
With arms encumbred thus, or this head-fhake,
Or by pronouncing of fome doubtful phrase,

As, well

would

we know

Or, if we lift to fpeak

might

or, we could, and if we

or, there be, and if there

(Or fuch ambiguous givings out) denote

That you know aught of me; This do ye fwear,
So grace and mercy at your moft need help you!
Swear.

Ghoft. Swear.

Ham. Reft, reft, perturbed Spirit. So, Gentlemen,
With all my love do I commend me to you;
And what fo poor a man as Hamlet is

May do t' exprefs his love and friending to you,
God willing, fhall not lack; let us go in together,
And ftill your fingers on your lips, I pray:
The Time is out of joint; oh, curfed fpight!
That ever I was born to fet it right.
Nay, come, let's go together.

[Exeunt.

АСТ II.

SCENE I.

An Apartment in Polonius's House.

Enter Polonius and Reynoldo,

POLONIUS,

GRey. I will, my lord.

IVE him this mony, and these notes, Reynoldo.

Pol. You fhall do marvellous wifely, good Rey

noldo,

Before

Before you visit him, to make inquiry

Of his behaviour.

Rey. My lord, I did intend it.

Pol. Marry, well faid; very well faid. Look you,
Sir,

Enquire me first what Danskers are in Paris;
And how, and who, what means, and where they
keep,

What company, at what expence; and finding,
By this encompaffment and drift of queftion,
That they do know my fon, come you more near;
Then your particular demands will touch it;

Take you, as 'twere fome diftant knowledge of him,
As thus I know his father and his friends,

-

And, in part, him-Do you mark this, Reynoldo?
Rey. Ay, very well, my lord.

Pol. And, in part, him-but you may fay-not well;

But if't be he, I mean, he's very wild;

Addicted fo and fo-and there put on him
What forgeries you pleafe; marry, none fo rank,
As may difhonour him; take heed of that;
But Sir, fuch wanton, wild, and ufual flips,
As are companions noted and most known
To youth and liberty.

Rey. As gaming, my lord

Pol. Ay, or drinking, [fencing,] fwearing, Quarrelling, drabbing-You may go fo far. Rey. My lord, that would difhonour him. Pol. Faith, no, as you may season it in the Charge; You must not put (a) an utter fcandal on him, That he is open to incontinency,

That's not my meaning; but breathe his faults fo quaintly,

1-drinking, [fencing] fwearing,] Fencing, an interpolation.

[(a)

feandal.]

an utter fcandal. Mr. Theobald.

-Vulg. another

That