The facsimile opposite represents the title-page of the Elizabethan Club copy of the Second Quarto (1604). Only three copies of this edition are known to survive.

THE

Tragicall Hiftorie of HAMLET,

Prince of Denmarke.

By William Shakespeare.

Newly imprinted and enlarged to almost as much againe as it was, according to the true and perfect Coppie.

Printed by I. R. for N. L. and are to be fold at his shoppe vnder Saint Dunftons Church in

Fleetstreet. 1604.

[DRAMATIS PERSONE

CLAUDIUS, King of Denmark

HAMLET, Son to the late, and Nephew to the present

English Ambassadors

Players. Two Clowns, Grave-diggers

GERTRUDE, Queen of Denmark and Mother to Hamlet OPHELIA, Daughter to Polonius

Lords, Ladies, Officers, Soldiers, Sailor, Messenger, and Attendants

Ghost of Hamlet's Father

SCENE: Denmark.]

Dramatis Personæ; cf. n.

Hamlet-Prince of Denmark

ACT FIRST

Scene One

[Elsinore. A Platform of the Castle]

Enter Bernardo and Francisco, two Sentinels.

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, Francisco.

Fran. For this relief much thanks; 'tis bitter cold, 8 And I am sick at heart.

Ber. Have you had quiet guard?

Fran.

Ber. Well, good-night.

Not a mouse stirring.

If you do meet Horatio and Marcellus,

The rivals of my watch, bid them make haste.

Enter Horatio and Marcellus.

12

Fran. I think I hear them. Stand, ho! Who's there?

Hor. Friends to this ground.

Ber. Welcome, Horatio; welcome, good Marcellus.

20

Mar. What! has this thing appear'd again to-night? Ber. I have seen nothing.

Mar. Horatio says 'tis but our fantasy,

And will not let belief take hold of him

Touching this dreaded sight twice seen of us:
Therefore I have entreated him along
With us to watch the minutes of this night;
That if again this apparition come,
He may approve our eyes and speak to it.
Hor. Tush, tush! 'twill not appear.
Ber.

24

24

28

Sit down awhile,

And let us once again assail your ears,
That are so fortified against our story,
What we two nights have seen.

Hor.

32

Well, sit we down,

And let us hear Bernardo speak of this.

Ber. Last night of all,

When yond same star that's westward from the pole 36

Had made his course to illume that part of heaven

Where now it burns, Marcellus and myself,

The bell then beating one,—

Enter the Ghost.

Mar. Peace! break thee off; look, where it comes

again!

19 piece; cf. n.

29 approve: confirm

40

23 fantasy: imagination 37 his; cf. n.