end his part in peace; the clown shail make those laugh, whose lungs are tickled o'the sere; and the lady shall say her mind freely, or the blank verse shall halt for 't.-What players are they?

Ro. Even those you were wont to take such delight in, the tragedians of the city.

Ham. How chances it, they travel? their residence, both in reputation and profit, was better both ways.

Ro. I think their inhibition comes by the means of the late innovation.

Ham. Do they hold the same estimation they did when I was in the city? Are they so followed? Ro. No, indeed, they are not.

Ham. How comes it? Do they grow rusty?

Ro. Nay, their endeavor keeps in the wonted pace but there is, sir, an eyry 2 of children, little eyases,3 that cry out on the top of question,+ and are most tyrannically clapped for 't: these are now the fashion; and so berattle the common stages, (so they call them) that many, wearing rapiers, are afraid of goose quills, and dare scarce come thither.

Ham. What, are they children? Who maintains them? how are they escoted? 5 Will they pursue the quality 6 no longer than they can sing? will they not say afterwards, if they should grow them

i. e. shall make even those laugh, whose lungs are almost withered. 2 Nest. 3 Unfledged hawks. i. e. who perpetually declaim in the highest notes of the 6 Profession.

roice.

& Paid.

selves to common players, (as it is most like, if their means are no better) their writers do them wrong, to make them exclaim against their own succession?

Ro. Faith, there has been much to do on both sides; and the nation holds it no sin to tarre1 them on to controversy: there was, for awhile, no money bid for argument, unless the poet and the player went to cuffs in the question.

Ham. Is it possible?

Guil. O, there has been much throwing about of brains.

Ham. Do the boys carry it away?

Ro. Ay, that they do, my lord; Hercules and his load too.2

Hum. It is not very strange: for my uncle is king of Denmark; and those, that would make mouths at him while my father lived, give twenty, forty, fifty, a hundred ducats apiece, for his picture in little. Sblood, there is something in this more than natural, if philosophy could find it out.

[florish of trumpets within.

Guil. There are the players.

Ham. Gentlemen, you are welcome to Elsinore. Your hands. Come then the appurtenance of weicome is fashion and ceremony: let me comply with

1 Provoke.

i. e. not only the world, but the world-bearer too: in allusion to the story of Hercules relieving Atlas.

• Compliment.

You

you in this garb; lest my extent to the players, which, I tell you, must show fairly outward, snould more appear like entertainment than yours. are welcome; but my uncle-father and aunt-mother are deceived.

Guii. In what, my dear lord?

Ham. I am but mad north-north-west: when the wind is southerly, I know a hawk from a handsaw.

Enter POLONIUS.

Po. Well be with you, gentlemen!

Ham. Hark you, Guildenstern,—and you too ;at each ear a hearer: that great baby, you see there, is not yet out of his swaddling-clouts.

Ro. Happily, he's the second time come to them; for, they say, an old man is twice a child.

Ham. I will prophesy, he comes to tell me of the players; mark it.-You say right, sir: o' Monday morning; 'twas then, indeed.

Po. My lord, I have news to tell you.
Ham. My lord, I have news to tell you.
Roscius was an actor in Rome,-

Po. The actors are come hither, my lord.
Ham. Buz, buz!

Po. Upon my honor,

་

Ham. Then came each actor on his ass,'

When

Po. The best actors in the world, either for tragedy, comedy, history, pastoral, pastoral-comica, historical-pastoral, tragical-historical, tragical-comical, historical-pastoral, scene individable, or poem

unlimited Seneca cannot be too heavy, nor Plautus

:

too light. For the law of writ,' and the liberty, these are the only men.

Ham. O Jephthah, judge of Israel,-what a treasure hadst thou!

Po. What a treasure had he, my lord?

Ham. Why-' One fair daughter, and no more, The which he loved passing well.'

Po. Still on my daughter.

Ham. Am I not i' the right, old Jephthah?

[aside.

Po. If you call me Jephthah, my lord, I have a daughter, that I love passing well.

Ham. Nay, that follows not.

Po. What follows then, my lord?

Ham. Why, 'As by lot, God wot,' and then, you know, 'It came to pass, As most like it was,' -The first row of the pious chanson will show you more; for look, my abridgment comes.

Enter FOUR or FIVE PLAYERS.

3

You are welcome, masters; welcome, all :-I am glad to see thee well: welcome, good friends.-0, old friend! Why, thy face is valanced 3 since I saw thee last; comest thou to beard me in Denmark?— What! my young lady and mistress! By-'r lady, your ladyship is nearer to heaven, than when I saw you last, by the altitude of a chopine: pray God,

Writing.

4

2 The pious chansons were a kind of Christmas carols.

Fringed with a beard.

A high shoe or c'og.

your voice, like a piece of uncurrent gold, be not

cracked within the ring.

welcome. We'll ev'n to't

Masters, you are all like French falconers,

fiy at any thing we see: we'll have a speech straight come, give us a taste of your quality; ? come, a passionate speech.

1 Play. What speech, my lord?

Ham. I heard thee speak me a speech once,—but it was never acted; or, if it was, not above once: for the play, I remember, pleased not the million : 'twas caviare 3 to the general: but it was (as I received it, and others, whose judgments, in such matters, cried in the top of mine5) an excellent play; well digested in the scenes, set down with as much modesty as cunning. I remember, one said, there were no sallets in the lines, to make the matter savory; nor no matter in the phrase, that might indite the author of affection: but called it an honest method, as wholesome as sweet, and by very much more handsome than fine. One speech in it I chiefly loved: 'twas Æneas' tale to Dido; and thereabout of it especially, where he speaks of Priam's slaughter: if it live in your memory, begin at this line; let me see, let me see ;

This is said to a young player who acted the parts of 2 Profession.

women.

An Italian dish made of the roes of fishes.

4 Multitude.

5 i. e. were higher than my own. 6 i. e. convict the author of being a fantastical, affected

writer.