Hamlet.
Hollo, you Sir! Where is't you mean to go?
I'll go no further.

Ghost.
You had better.

Hamlet.
No!

Ghost.
Then hold your gab (h)8Q0008, and hear what I've to tell;
I'm press'd for time—we keep good hours in h&sblank;ll.
Soon must I go and have another roast;
So pray attend to me.

Hamlet.
Alas, poor Ghost!

SONG.—Ghost. (Tune—Giles Scroggins' Ghost.)
Behold in me your father's sprite,
  Ri tol tiddy lol de ray,
Doom'd for a term to walk the night.
  Tiddy, tiddy, &c.
You'll scarce believe me when I say,
That I'm bound to fast in fires all day,
Till my crimes are burnt and purg'd away.
  Ri tol tiddy, &c.
But that I am forbid to blow,
  Ri tol tiddy, &c.
The dreadful secrets which I know.
  Tiddy, tiddy, &c.
I could such a dismal tale unfold,
As would make your precious blood run cold!
But ah! those things must not be told.
  Ri tol diddy, &c.
Your father suddenly you miss'd,
  Ri tol tiddy, &c.
I'll tell you how:—List! List! O list!
  Tiddy, tiddy, &c.
'Twas given out to all the town,
That a serpent pull'd your father down—
But now that serpent wears his crown.
  Ri tol tiddy, &c.
Your uncle is the man I mean,
  Ri tol tiddy, &c.
That diddled (i)8Q0009 me out of my crown and my queen.
  Tiddy, tiddy, &c.

O what a falling off was there!
But brief let me be, I must back repair,
For methinks I scent the morning air.
  Ri tol tiddy, &c.
One afternoon as was my use,
  Ri tol tiddy, &c.
I went to my orchard to take a snooze;
  Tiddy, tiddy, &c.
When your uncle into my ear did pour
A bottle of cursed hellebore.—
How little did I think I should wake no more!
  Ri tol tiddy, &c.
Doom'd by a brother's hand was I,
  Ri tol tiddy, &c.
To lose my crown, my wife,—to die.
  Tiddy, tiddy, &c.
I should like to have settled my worldly affairs,
But the rascal came on so unawares,
That I hadn't even time to say my pray'rs.
  Ri tol tiddy, &c.
Torment your uncle for my sake;
  Ri tol tiddy, &c.
Let him never be at peace, asleep or awake.
  Tiddy, tiddy, &c.
Your mother's plague let her conscience be—
But I must be off for the day-light I see.—
Adieu, adieu, adieu! Remember me!
  Ri tol tiddy, &c. [The Ghost vanishes.

Hamlet.
Remember thee?—I feel in such a flurry,
Egad, I shan't forget thee in a hurry.

Remember thee? Yea, from my souvenir,
All memoranda swift shall disappear;
There thy commandment all alone I'll write;
And if I e'er forget thee—blow me tight.

Horatio (without.)
My Lord!

Marcellus.
Lord Hamlet!

Hamlet.
Damn those stupid fellows.
Horatio, here am I.—Hollo, Marcellus. Enter Horatio and Marcellus.

Marcellus.
How is't, my Lord?—What news?—What said the Ghost?

Hamlet.
You'll blab.

Marcellus.
Not I.

Horatio.
I'm silent as a post.

Hamlet.
He said each Danish villain is a knave!

Horatio.
That all?—He might have staid then in his grave.

Hamlet.
That's as he pleases.—So good night—but ho!
I have a word to say before you go.
Never make known what you have seen to night.

Horatio.
Not I.

Marcellus.
Nor I.

Hamlet.
Swear!

Ghost (beneath.)
Make 'em swear. That's right! [They swear.

Hamlet.
But that's not all: Now swear that if, perchance,
Like Merry Andrew, I think fit to dance
And skip about the house, you'll never dare
To tell, or even hint, the reason—

Ghost (beneath.)
Swear! [They swear again.

Hamlet.
Lie still, Old Grey-bones.—'Tis such chilling weather,
Suppose we go and get some drink together?

Horatio.
With all my heart—Egad, I like your plan—
Marcellus, what say you, lad?

Marcellus.
I'm your man.

Hamlet.
The world's gone mad—Curs'd fate, that ever I
Was born to have a finger in the pie! [Exeunt.

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